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Expedition Scrambler..?

Booty fabulous...

Well,
In an effort to get the heep out of the bay and into a parking spot for the Mon/tues I am not able to work on it I rigged up a truly ghetto steering set up. It worked well enough to toodle to a parking spot but yikes! Haha. If I can get the money the Army owes me I will just send off the knuckles from my 77 waggy axle to be machined and get the hi steer set up corrected. I also need to find a way to lower the front suspension a little. It sits nose up and I thing the longer HD shackles have a bit to do with it.?. Still have a few things on the to-do list befor I call the lift a success but so far it looks pretty good. pics will come soon...
 
"I also need to find a way to lower the front suspension a little."

Just replace your motor with a Hemi.:D
 
Why?

Bugman said:
"I also need to find a way to lower the front suspension a little."

Just replace your motor with a Hemi.:D
Click to expand...

Nah....I don't follow the hemi-crowd...Besides, a 4bt would be a better way to drop the height...LOL!
We recieved that strange substance called "Snow" here in the desert of hell-paso and of course I'm without the jeep...go figure. Got the day off and of course the shop is closed as well...Boo! So I am trying to get Parts Mike to help me finger out a steering solution that works well on a very tiny budget and with almost no time. Starting to feel the crunch and wondering how this will all turn out.
 
Parts Mike?

Hey Randy...Thanks for the finger crossing. I have been off for the last two days due to weather and haven't been able to spin one wrench! Driving me a little nuts. So much to do and a little free time yet no way to do stuff. To cold to paint the rockers in storage and the shop is closed so no jeep access either...ugh!
I've been trying to work with partsmike on a steering set up that will work reliably and feeling a little disconcerted. The person I have been trying to deal with there has given me the "I'll call you back" routine several times now and he doesn't. Plus he hasn't come up with much in the way on info or advice on which parts to buy to make this work. Guess I will call today and start all over with Mike himself. I know this is easy to do with the right parts its just really a matter of which do I already have and what do I need. Plus time to get stuff sent ASAP. Shrugs.
Off to phone world...
 
some progress...

Well today was a little progress I suppose. Started to paint the rocker gaurds and hope they will dry by wed enough to install. I wouldn't say they are my greatest work but I'm satisfied with them. I had debated on using spray on bed liner on the inside of them but I was afraid the thickness of it would mess up the bolt holes so I simply went with etch primer and some industrial enamel rattle can gloss black. Figured they will get dragged across rocks one day so maybe the touch ups will be easier.?.
Also got to work on the seats in between painting. For those that don't remember, I nabbed the seats of Ebay and they are heated leather buckets from an '02 Pathfinder. I had a harder time removing the factory mounting feet than I did getting them to fit. The Nissan folks really must get excited about fastening stuff. They were screwd, riveted, and spot welded onto the sliders...Holy COW!! Once those were off it was really easy-ish. I had some 3/16sX3" flat bar which worked out really well. The Nissan seats rails are about 3"s wider than the CJ ones. I welded the flat bar to the Nissan seat sliders after cutting them into 14" lengths. I then set the seat in place and maked the jeep holes with a sharpie, drilled, and Ta-DA! Fits perfect! Not a lot of room to recline the seat but certainly no less than the horrible Rugged Ridge seat I took out. I didn't have enough metal to do both sides so tomorrow I will try for that box to get checked.
One side note of interest is that the Nissan seats have the female end of the seat belts built in to the seat. I could have removed that but on a whim I just tried the CJ belt into it and what-do-you-know...it fits! So I will be looking pretty close to see how good it all works out and if luck is with me I will just use the Nissan females and remove the Jeep ones from the floorboards. That may give me a little more room to work in some sort of center console. The factory plastic one really is nearly useless IMHO.
Sorry I didn't get a chance to get any pics today but I will try to do that in the morning.
The early part of this week was pretty miserable for El Paso. It snowed on Mon and tues and while the snow wasn't really all that bad, the ice was. Mad for some nasty driving and brutal temps. I, like any good jeep nut, spent Wed. in my unheated storage unit tearing appart my "spare" 77 dana 44 for the flat top knuckles. Got those sent off to Parts mike and am hopint they will be done and returned ASAP. They are also going to make the tyerod and drag link as well as some more stout u-bolt plates. Mike is an amazing resource of information if you can get him on the phone. I was concerned about some of the strange components on the axle I have and he has been talking me through making it better.
The hysteer will obviously help the steering issues but I was concerned about having some semi-odd parts (Scout) that may be even harder to find if I need replacments. Not to mention that some of the things don't interchange and some have been "modified" by the PO in ways I am not sure about. To that end it looks like the final result will be something like this.
Dana 44 with the 77 waggy knuckles. I will use either the waggy or CJ8 (Dana 30) spindles which are 6 bolt (easier to find/common GM) and retain the Scout hubs. If I understand all this correctly, I will be able to use the scout rotors and the waggy's calipers. That is supposed to be a better caliper as well as I will then be able to use the braided and extended brake lines from my full size jeep parts bin. They are new but I don't think they would work with the Scout style caliper which would make me start hunting custom lines.
Mostly it all seems a little confusing but very do-able.
I also scheduled an appointment with 4wheel parts to have them install the detroit/4.10s in the rear axle on Thurs. I will drop the jeep off wed pm or thurs am depending on work and hope all goes well there. Then it is driveshafts, rear brake line...and bits and parts here and there. Time is almost gone so I'm trying to wrap up what I can. Should be a fun project that will continue while I am in Germany...I hope!
 
I don't want to open another can of worms, but I don't think the Scout hub assy is the best way to go. Using 70's ford F150 or 78/79 Bronco rotors and spindles will get you the 5 on 5 1/2 pattern with the stronger, more common internal hub setup. You have the Scout setup now and it's all "free", but down the road think about the Ford stuff.

Good luck!
 
look forward to pic of your seat mod/setup.. something I'd like to do one day... the Landcruiser guys use Volvo S60 seats (I think that's the model) in FJ60s. They look aweseome, and Volvo seats have a rep for being some of the best around.
 
As requested...

Here ya go "6"... pics of them installed. Sorry it took so long to get pics up but I'm either wrenching or working...not much time for lollygagging. Haha. The seats worked out pretty well in my opinion but I found that the pass side sits about 1 1/2-2"s higher than the driver one.?. Not sure why this is as both are using the same original jeep tilting risers and were adapted the same way for each. Maybe the pass side sits higher from the factory? Shrugs.
But they look pretty good, are pretty comfy and as I said they were fairly easy to install. Hardest part was getting the old Pathfinder brackets off. I then welded some 3/16s flat stock to the Nissan sliders, drilled them to fit the jeep risers, and wa-la! Nice leather seats to cushion my bum. I will likely add some reinforcment to them at some point as they feel a little...uh, loose? on the jeep risers. Feels like a little side to side play that I don't recall being there before. No biggie and for now at least they are in. I will wait till I'm in Germany to wire them up as there are to many other pressing things to do first.
I had hoped to find some neat way to use the Nissan fold/tumble rear seats in a custom deal so all my seats would have matched but alas...that can't be done. The rear seats are very different and without moving wheel wells etc it just isn't feesable. Not that I use a back seat much anyway but it was an idea. Oh well.
One other thing I will think about is the seatbelt deal. As I said, the jeep male fits in the Nissan female which are built into the seat. It works well and all but I just wonder if it would suffice in a wreck. I will look closer but as I said...they work for now as is.
I also rattle canned the rockers with several coats of black enamel (and etch primer) just to get them looking better. They may get more love later on but for now...geeze. Thats starting to sound like a theme here. Haha!
Anyway, here are a few pics. Enjoy and stay tuned.
 

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they look great... know exactly what you're saying about "later".. I've had MANY deferred issues.. tyring to finally catch up with that now.. keep plugging!
 
Thanks...

Well,
After much, MUCH irritation at my unit it now appears that I may finally recieve my orders for Germany. My report date for there is now (based on what I have been "officially told") 10 March so the clock is really ticking. Figure the last week is a wash since I will be in transit. Also need to figure the date I will be dropping the jeep off at Dallas for shipping etc...so time is short!
Sooooo many more things I would really like to get done but most, sadly, are not to be at present. So the best I can do is get what I can and hope for the best. I had hoped to be further along but I guess it is what it is, right?
I wouldn't be so bothered if I thought I would be able to do as much in Germany as I do here but I don't know. Not many garage/Jeep freaks around to pick their brains and so I go in blind. Hoping to be able to tinker some at least.
Tomorrow the jeep goes to 4wheel parts for the rear gear/locker install (I hope) and I will get them to measure for shocks while its there.Maybe it will work out.
I am still a bit stymied as to what to do about the front tires. They stick out...a lot. And in Germany that is a no-go. Even with the 6" bushwackers on they still stick out...about 1-2 inches! I'm afraid my only soultion is to build some crude tube fenders on the super quick. Either that or find some way to space the flares out and fill in the gap...? Any ideas would be great guys.
I also need to reweld the rear inner corner support so it doesn't look like poo. Should have built a rear bumper too but ahrghhhhh...not enough time. Maybe I can fake it a little.?.Shrugs.
I may try and get the rockers reinstalled along with the front bumper before taking it to 4WPs...depends on what time I can escape work. Also need to go pick up the gas tank from the radiator shop. I dropped it off yesterday and am hoping...praying it comes out well. We shall see. I may wait to install it after I get to Germany and just ship it with my stuff. That way I won't have any issues with it and find myself without a tank that works at all.
So...thats about where I am at today. Its a really nasty sandstorm out so its not very likely I will get anything done tonight with the shop closed. And working at the storage space in 40mph sand filled winds...Pass!
So Back later with an update! Cheers!!!
 
I don't envy your position.. been doing this for 18 years now and the PCSs never get any easier or more fun.. when I was single and lived light on my feet, I used to look forward to them, now I dread them (had 17k pounds of sh-t in my last move)

a little too late for good ideas but, you've got alot on your plate, may be in your interest to minimize how much your'e trying to get done, pay for what you MUST get done, and focus on getting moved/settled... the Jeep won't melt on you in the meantime..

good luck
 
the green weenie...

"6"...I get what your saying. I come up on 14 this year myself. Funny how I tried for the first 11 to get sent to Germany...now when I want Colorado off I go.?. LOL!!!! I know this will all work out, it always does. But the sheer level of ineptness shown by both my Bat and Brg lvl S-1 shops is off the chart. That adds to an already involved process that I am at least thankful for being single through. Had I been married or had kids this would likely neve have develloped. The jeep that is. And while I am thankful for whatever time I have to wrench, it is more my own fault for getting in so deep. At least it still runs...haha! I could have fixed that easy. But tomorrow will be only semi productive as it must go on the trailer for install work. I may have to bite the bullet on some things, true and fine. But eventually...it will be as I wish!
 
Randyzzz said:
Nice seats!
Click to expand...

X2 Ted!!! :cheers:

Too bad you don't have more time to get the necessary things done...but at least once you get to Germany & get settled, you'll be able to tinker.

Maybe hook up with a cute little fraulein with a garage :thumbsup:

Good luck with everything, and thanks again for your service! :flag:
 
OK,not to be a downer, but everything is metric over there:eek:
 
good luck with the change of station, hopefully the move will be less stress than getting to that point.

On your pass seat sitting higher, I changed my stockers for some mastercraft seats, everyhting went well until the beloved parasite decided she wanted for and aft adjustment, I did not have seat sliders on teh pass side with the tilt bracket. When I added that I ended up with a pas seat higher than the drivers, so now she can move it fore and aft but her fet doent reah the floor so I installed an old short square ammo box for her to put her feet on as she plays with her adjustable seat..... of course she hasnt ridden it since..........
 
You might be surprised on finding Jeep enthusiasts in Germany. I'll bet they're around. I know there's a guy from Germany on the IFSJA board with a nice Grand Wagoneer...
 
Off track but getting back...

Well, what with the 8 in the shop for install of the R&P/Detroit I was left to attend to other stuff. One of the biggest and much neglected has been my trailer. Following the 7K mile trek over the holidays it was a bit worse for wear. The rear crss member had been completely torn off the dovetail and the even the plate had fallen off. So I scrounged some steel from my storage and set about fixing it to the best of my ability. Not really what I wnated to be doing but thats life. I got it all finished up and even made a few needed upgrades while I was at it. The original ramps I had taken off since they were FAR to heavy duty for my use. They also weighed about 80 pounds each and rattled like crazy. So I reused some of the brackets and some left over tubing and now have some fixed points to which I can use removable ramps...which I gotta build one day.
But got the trailer all finished up in time to make 4wheelParts...almost. They were closing as I got there (at 3pm???) so I onlly had time to pay (big surprise) and get the keys. The guy working there told me that the gasket on my AMC20 was bad and they didn't have a replacment anywhere in town so they siliconed it. Well...ok? Thats what I usually do anyway but then he went on to tell me that it leaks. Uh...ok? And so now your still going to charge me for the Royal purple that is spilling out on the ground? Of course you are...yeesh. So I guess I will need to get on the web and find a good HD aftermarket rear diff cover now as well. Any suggestions? At least I know the Detroit is working as it was chirping tires all the way onto the trailer.
I am also still waiting on word from Parts Mike about my steering stuff. I know all vendors can warrant many opinions as to thier customer service but so far I am not impressed. Most folks I talked to had good things to say about them. And while I haven't quite formed a full opinion myself yet...so far its not so great. Mike himself is very knowledgable and good to talk to if you can get him on the phone. The two other folks I spoke with there have been less than stellar, and I'm a pretty easy going person. The one thing that will usually chap my hide is when you get the "give me your number and I will call you right back" and they don't. That has happened 4 or 5 times so far. Also the " let me get your information" with each time I call leads me to wonder why they don't have it all already...5 or 10 times?!?
Anyway...they should have the parts in hand as of thursday and maybe I can get some good intel on Monday. I will have to pay out the nose to get it sent ASAP but as long as it all works and is complete...I will be ok. Yet not hearing from them is bothersome as I asked several times to be notified when my parts arrived.
I went by the radiator shop on Friday as they were now on day 5 of what was supposed to be a quick turn around boiling out my gas tank and again... no call. So I went by and they said its still not done. I seems it had some kind of liner applied to it at one point which is being difficult to remove. Again...that is fine as long as they get it right but would a phone call have been that hard? Oh well...
So now I move on tomorrow to several projects at once. I need to clean and paint the outside portion of my corner armor and get it installed. I also need to repair the inside corner that I had pulled to try and straighten. I am most sure I am no body man and I can only hope it goes back without much head banging and creative vocabulary involved. I also should look at repairing the CJ-typical rust hole in the rocker by the drivers left foot. I should do this I am sure before I try to install the rocker armor for good which also needs doing. They are at least painted enough for install, though not perfect.
The other major thing needing done now is tube fender/tube flares(?)...not really sure what to call them as I will be keeping the original fenders and simply building flares that can and will cover the entire front tires. If they don't prove to be to hard I may build rears as well so I have a complete set and maybe save the bushwhackers for something else down the road...? But either way the fronts must get done.
I am also playing with rear bumper/carrier ideas. I lucked into a 5th American Racing Outlaw II which are no longer being made so now I have a spare wheel. Need to pick up another 35 while I am at it...ugh.
So much to do....sigh. O well, at least the lions share of the big stuff is done. The steering is the next biggie followed by the flares then...its reletivly little this and that.
Gonna go shower and hit the hay for an early start tomorrow....cheers!
 
day of crap...

What a wasted day. Try as I did I just couldn't get the tube fenders to come out. Wasted an entire day and about 60 bucks in material. Neither of which I can spare...just damn.
 
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