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New To Me 83--Parts Needed

Finally got it off of the concrete blocks and on to some jack stands. Ready to change front suspension out.

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One more damage picture, notice the curvature of the front drive shaft.

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Changed out the front springs and shocks with good used parts. All spring/shackle bushings are new. Changed out sway bar and sway bar end link bushings, too. Replaced bent sway bar end links, installed missing front shackle hanger. The welded nuts inside the frame were still intact and serviceable, the ones that hold the shackle hangers. The steering box bolts were all loose. I removed them all and installed longer bolts. All original nut inserts on this side were still in perfect shape, too.

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Quick picture with the front tires installed. The hardest part of this work was removing the original metal sleeves out of the main eyes on the used leaf springs. Those are a mother of epic proportions to remove. I am talking about the metal sleeve that goes around the bushing and is pressed into the spring eye, not the little bolt sleeves in the middle.

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Next was the rear end. One last look at the damaged leaf spring.

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Quick picture of the new used rear end. This axle assembly has a Detroit Locker, Superior 1 piece shafts, and 3.31 gears. A buddy that is swapping in tons under his 84 CJ-7 gave me this for free. Good thing I got this rear end, too, seeing how once I removed the rear drive shaft from the axle under the jeep, I could not turn the pinion with my hand. The existing rear diff/ring and pinion must have some severe damage, too. Also, the rear chunk is full of water, not a good sign. Also in the picture is my free high lift jack. A guy at work gave it to me. It went underwater during Katrina, but a liberal soaking of WD40 made it work like new again.

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Picture of the new rear end/rear suspension installed. I removed both shackle hangers to inspect the frame. The frame was perfect on the passenger side. On the driver side, one bolt was broke off into the welded nut insert that holds the shackle hanger to the frame. This did not surprise me, due to the bent leaf spring. I was able to drill out the broke bolt and re tap the nut insert. Since I had both shackle hangers off, I wire brushed the surface rust off of the top of the plates and the bottom of the frame and hit them with some paint, to help preserve the solid condition of this frame.

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Pile of rusty/broke old parts.

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One last picture of the jeep back on all 4's. The cool white walls suit the monster 235 tire size well. Jeep sits nice and level, front to back and side to side.

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Even thought the axles and suspension are under the jeep, I still need to do the following work:

Rear Axle

change gear oil
change outer axle bearings/seals (bearing have a little play)
pinion oil seal
install my good used brakes (only have about 500 miles on shoes, new springs, resurfaced drums)


Front Axle

change gear oil
change pinion oil seal
repack front wheel and spindle bearings
change out front axle u-joints
install Aussie locker
install my good used front rotors/calipers/pads
replace one front hub/lock in hub assembly with one of my good used sets


After all that is done, transmission/transfer case are next on my list.

That's it for now.
 
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Looking great :thumbsup: I can't wait to hit the trails in it. Maybe follow your red one around. I'll need some bigger tires but for now those freebies I got are looking good. :popcorn:
 
Picked up some parts yesterday:

Front End - pinion oil seal, inner axle oil seals, hub seals
Rear End - pinion oil seal and diff cover gasket

Case of brake parts cleaner (cheaper to buy it by the case):D


Going to pick up the rear axle bearings, inner and outer oil seals, and new spacer rings for the Yukon rear axles this afternoon, I hope:fingerscrossed:

I already have all the brake parts i need (shoes, drums, HW, calipers, pads, rotors), plus I already have spare good wheel bearings, hubs, lock in hubs, plus some new spindle bearings and seals left over from my Black/now Red Scrambler project, so I should be good to go on parts.

I hope to at least get the rear end fixed on Saturday, Saints game on Sunday.
 
despite all the rough edges (how exactly does one bend a driveshaft??), looks like a nice project find... and good to see it in the hands of someone (multiple "someones") that are going to give it the love it never got in it's previous life..
 
Noone is really sure of this runaway's life story. There is no history on this vehicle. The vin brings up nothing on previous owners or registration history. The last tag on the license plate was 1989. Technically, Raymond is now the original owner. Eventhough I own it. :crazy:
 
Bushmaster6 said:
despite all the rough edges (how exactly does one bend a driveshaft??), looks like a nice project find... and good to see it in the hands of someone (multiple "someones") that are going to give it the love it never got in it's previous life..
Click to expand...

I think that the jeep must have got high centered on the drive shaft some how while the drive shaft was spinning. The drive shaft is bent in all different directions:crazy: Its like it got caught on something, and somebody kept gassing it anyway.

Judging by the mechanical damage, I at first thought this jeep got stole by some kids, they went out on some private property somewhere, "dogged" it out until the rear axle broke, the front hub exploded, and the drive shaft was bent. The rear chunk is busted, too, but I have not pulled the cover yet to see what exactly the issue is. I figured the kids left it for dead, and the property owners just kept it. BUT, when we ran the VIN and I got the Title Bond, the VIN is/was clean. No leans and it was never reported stolen. And now I have a brand new, clean title on it, in MY name:D

I figure this is my "Act of Contrition", to make up for all my past Jeep "sins":D
 
More work on "project lawn ornament" completed.

Pulled the rear axles to change bearings and seals.

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Something looked a little "off" on this side - this rear axle "spun a tube" sometime in the past. After this side "spun", both tubes were stitch welded to the center section, four 1" long welds on each side. I guess whomever welded the tubes didn't feel like straightening this side. Beside this slight issue, everything else on and in the housing looks good. No rust, good diff and pinion bearings, no damage to the outer ends, etc.

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The two old axles pulled out.

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Picture of all the parts I used. I reused these 1 piece axles, but installed new bearings and inner and outer seals. I used the backing plates that came off of my project Scrambler since they were nice and painted. I used my "less then 1000 miles" rear brake parts, too. Shoes, drums, all springs and hardware, plus wheel cylinders. I put discs on the back of red Scrambler, so I didn't need these parts anymore.

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New bearings, seals, and backing plates installed.

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Picture of the rear diff, Detroit Locker. It has some slight aesthetic issues, i.e the pinion bearings must have let go in the past, causing the pinion to strike the diff case. It does not effect how it operates, just looks bad. Has newer looking 3.31 ring and pinion. It all meshes good, feels good, and looks good.

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And reassembled.

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Up next is the front axle. That's it for now.
 
What size tires are you planning on running on this one? Just wondering if 3.31's are going to be enough gear?
 
Polarfire said:
What size tires are you planning on running on this one? Just wondering if 3.31's are going to be enough gear?
Click to expand...

I told JeepAddict to not go bigger then a 32 x 11.50. My red Scrambler that used to be black had 3.31's and 32" tires and worked well for road and light duty off road use:thumbsup:
 
Tore the front end down, so first the good news.

Axle shafts look good, only one bad spindle bearing.

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Spindles, inner hubs, and wheel bearings look good.

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Pile of parts waiting to be cleaned up.

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On the drag link, the non-replaceable end was damaged. On the tie-rod, one end was wore out. I will swap the good used one from my red Scrambler project onto this jeep.

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I also received these front axle shafts from the same guy that gave me the rear end. These are Yukon front shafts that take the Dana 44 sized U-joint. I will probably clean these shafts up and install them. They are in really good shape, just covered in surface rust from sitting outside.

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So, besides a spindle bearing, the other lock in hub being broke, too, the tie-rod end and drag link being wore out, still in good shape.

Now, the bad news.

Loosened the front cover up, and water started running out. Never a good sign.

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And the inside of the diff.

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Surprisingly, it wasn't rusted. Just nasty old grease. After two cans of brake parts cleaner.

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What ran out.

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After cleaning it out, the front end would spin free. The ring and pinion are still in great shape, and so are the spider gears. I was planning on taking everything out and changing the pinion and carrier bearings, plus installing the Aussie Locker. I was pretty happy until I realized that the front ring and pinion are the dreaded 2.72 ratio. And of course, the rear end I just swapped in has 3.31 gears. I still have my stock Dana 30 front diff/ring and pinion from my red Scrambler project, so I guess I get to learn how to set up gears on this project now, too.

One last pic, front end ready to come out. Now that I know that I have to change out the ring and pinion, I am going to pull the whole front housing out to make it easier on myself.

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That's it for now.
 
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You'll be one heck of a side mechanic for CJ's once this job is through :bow:
That's good to know :woot:
 
I think Raymond is the single most productive member of these forums when it comes to notable progress on scramblers. He moves at a pace that makes my head spin.
How do you do it Raymond? Are you stashing a team of little minions that work on your jeeps all day while you're at work?
 
I think Raymond is the single most productive member of these forums when it comes to notable progress on scramblers. He moves at a pace that makes my head spin.
How do you do it Raymond? Are you stashing a team of little minions that work on your jeeps all day while you're at work?
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I agree! Makes me feel like a slacker!
 
/ \ / \ Appreciate it:thumbsup: / \ / \

I think that all the years of experience I have had on taking these things apart and putting them back together is finally paying off. I seem to get things done much quicker then I used to.

Progress will slow down due to this Scrambler being outside. I got rained out last night. Also, by the time I get home, I only have about 2 hours of daylight left. I have to plan ahead on my tasks due to the whole working outside issue. Need a bigger garage:crazy:

I plan on taking the front axle housing out from under the jeep tonight, and removing the differential and pinion gear assemblies. Going to take all this stuff to the shop at work on Saturday and steam clean all this mess. I hate working on nasty stuff:thumbsup:

If I didn't have to relearn how to set up a ring and pinion, I would get the front end back together much quicker. But, it is something that I have wanted to do again, so I will definitely take my time on this aspect. If I get to frustrated with the R&P set up, I can always punt and take it to an expert, but I think I should be able to get it done.

Sorry for no progress picks, but that's it for now.

PS - No work this Sunday, Saints game, no work next weekend, taking my Scrambler off road:cheers:
 
Me too! But that's basically because every conversation opens with "what didn't you get done today, slacker"
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Do you think that you may have earned it? :rolleyes:




Do I need to go "bump" you thread again
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I'm beginning to thing that he's unmotavatible.




I think the only way you are going to be able to redeem your tarnished reputation is to get the red Scrambler done in double time with lots and lots of pictures.:ZZZ:
 
... and he's single with no kids (unless your status has changed since we talked)... and trust me, that matters :crazy:

as you can see the arrival of my second child = zero updates on mine in over a month

I'm going to ask Raymond to adopt mine (the Scrambler, not the kids), as it'll likely get more love from him than me at this rate :)

spankrjs said:
I think that all the years of experience I have had on taking these things apart and putting them back together is finally paying off. I seem to get things done much quicker then I used to.
Click to expand...
 
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