The CheapJeep

Those black boxes look pretty sweet, but pricey. It'll be awhile before I decide on or can afford a doubler, atlas, etc... I'll just find a 205 for cheap and run it for now.

Here's my wishful list of things to accomplish over the winter break between hunting.

-Finish welding on stretch kit
-Make new upper rear shock mounts on frame
-Cut/turn/redrill 1-2" foward on new rear perches
-Lengthen rear brakelines
-Cut sections of the cage out for fuel cell and new dash setup
-Run new fuel lines and install fuel cell
-Pull old drivetrain
-Make new motormounts/tranny/t-case crossmember with new plasma
-Go through 350/th350/205
-Cut floorboard/drop in new drivetrain
-Lengthen/Shorten front and rear driveshafts
-Build anti wrap bar
-Install chevy power master cylinder
-Decide on radiator/electric fan setup
-Connect throttle cable/engine electrical/shifters

If I can scrape up the skrilla buy chromoly rear shafts from Clarke and figure out something for the front shafts.

There's several other things I'll need to get done over time as well such as redoing parts of the cage, building stinger/radiator hoop, front tube fenders, gauges, c.b., and sound system.

My objective is to get as much as I can accomplished over the break and have it ready before TCC.

Finally fired up the plasma tonight. It kicks some ass. Tomorrow I'm going to finish up the stretch kit, new perches, and get the axle back under it. I'll also begin cutting up the k5 frame and get the motor/trans out. I need to get everything situated in the shop so that I have room to start the drivetrain swap.

Got the stretch kit completely done. Just need a set of xj bushings for the shackle hanger's, I thought that yj bushings might work but they didn't. I got a little carried away with the plasma and cut my rear fenders some more. Plan is to weld the tailgate shut and put the taillights in there. Anyway, enough jibbajabba, heres some pics.

Start.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit001.jpg

Weapon of choice.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit003.jpg

Rear crossmember off and framerails shaved.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit005.jpg

Left frame rail bent so I straightened it as best as I could. Leveled and squared away, kit tacked on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit013.jpg

XJ spring hung, missing the bushing but you get the idea of how far the axle will be set back by the center pin.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit021.jpg

The 350/th350 combo, along with k5 frame and an assortment of parts.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit010.jpg

Oh, and if you look in the 3rd picture you can see how the left frame rail dips down and inward. As I said, I bent it back as best as I could, but it was still off by about .25"-.50" compared to the other side. I just had to compensate with the kit a little, no biggie.

If you're just gonna weld it shut anyway want to sell me the tailgate and surrounding sheetmetal and you just weld a solid piece of sheet in there?

sweet jackstands!

Sharpe, you're actually getting to something that I've been contemplating for quite some time. I've been thinking about "backhalfing" it, like just running tube from the main hoop back then make some removable sheetmetal skins or something like that. The other idea I had after getting the kit on today was dovetailing it... I really like the way that the BTF kit looks but the rear of the jeep just doesn't look the way I want it to.

I'll let you know once I make a decision on this, if you want it either you'll need to come down here and cut it out yourself or give me a pretty good description of what you want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redcagepatrol

sweet jackstands!

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Thanks Scott, I've been waiting for that. I mean first it was the scaffolding and hoists, now this. Wait til I get to the motor swap...

Here's some pics of what I've been thinking about as far as backhalfing it and whatnot. I'll need to make a decision on this soon because the fuel cell and other things will need to be planned with it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/blink05/135.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../image0003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...CT0013mail.jpg

you realized that if you back-half that thing, it might actually look nice and i thought you were trying to stay away from that :flipoff2:

oh yea, i wanna try that plasma out

I like that middle one - that's a pretty sweet looking rig!

I like the middle one too, I think you need a Beard loveseat in the back of Lynda's jeep Scott.

I busted ass on the Jeep today around the normal stall cleaning/horse stuff, yesterday was the first time I touched the jeep for the whole break. So I'm pleased with the progress I've made.

Here's some pics.

Bushings/springs/shackles on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit024.jpg

Axle shaved.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit027.jpg

Axle under, aligning perches.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit032.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit035.jpg

Holy, ****!!! It's a prerunner, I didn't expect the springs to sag that much.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit043.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit048.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...etchKit047.jpg

Lookin good Robbie!

It looks like it might be time for some rear springs, that right side looks almost flat from the pics. If you are going to cut up the tailgate and put it on like in this pic...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../image0003.jpg

then make sure it still opens and you can use the space for something. Keep it useable, not just bolted up cause that would be uber gay. :rainbow: :flipoff2:

I say a fuel cell with a cooler on top, very usable!!

looks badass robbie!

well robbie you are in luck i happen to have a set of 2" lift springs that i might let go

why don't you drop the front to match it is too high as it is already

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AggieTJ2007

why don't you drop the front to match it is too high as it is already

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x2

I wasn't planning on changing the rear, I love how low it sits now surprisingly enough. I think Ed was the one who mentioned something about changing them.

BWAHAHAHA, I recomend never listening to me on any advice I may give you on a jeep, it is probably as bad or maybe even worse than any that Kopecki may give you. :flipoff3: Now that the comp cut is finished, I say drop it like is hot and SUA that sucka!!!

Nah, I like it soa, flexes better. The stock xj springs have some arch to them, my spring hangers are way up there and make them look flat. With the 350 being close to the same weight as the 258 it's not going to sag anymore in the front. I'll probably just remove a couple of leafs or swap to a stock YJ pack.

It will sag more than you would think.

no the 258 and 4.0 are some heavy ass engine, they probably weigh more than the 350

how about you go buy a winch to add some weight

From Novak
Suspension & Engine Weight
You'll be replacing one of three factory engines. Their nominal estimated, accessory loaded weights are:
•2.8L V6, 365 lbs.
•2.5L I4, 340 lbs.
•4.0L I6, 515 lbs.

Engines you may replace these with may include:
•Chevy 4.3L V6, 425 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (Gen. I & II), 550 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (Gen.III), 470 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (LS1), 407 lbs.
•Buick 90 degree V6, 375 lbs.
•Buick 60 degree V6, 350 lbs.

ok i am guessing the a 258 weighs more than the 4.0l which weighs 515 lbs and a SBC only weighs 550 at most. therefore I think that they probably weigh the same and not enough difference to matter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CheapJeep

With the 350 being close to the same weight as the 258 it's not going to sag anymore in the front.

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:gigem:

I plan on welding a receiver hitch to the front so I can borrow my dad's M12000.

Kinda cool but my dad spotted this one night at a Whataburger in S.A. back during hunting season so he snapped a couple pics for me.

This is pretty much what mine is going to look like but without 49"s or whatever those are...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...rSighting2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...rsighting7.jpg

The plan right now is to install the new radiator, electric fans, hookup rear brakelines, rear driveshaft, etc... Just alot of tedious work. Then I'll wheel it like it is for the spring while I build my motor, 1 tons, etc.

Smokin'

I sure could use me a whataburger right about now....

maybe you should rename your name to expensive Jeep :flipoff2:

I think "money pit" is a more fitting term.

I was thinking something along the lines of "Project: I change my jeep more than my underwear" :flipoff2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redcagepatrol

maybe you should rename your name to expensive Jeep :flipoff2:

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Steepjeep rolls off the tongue better :gigem:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by afroman006

Skeetjeep rolls off the tongue better :gigem:

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What you two do behind closed doors stays there. Period.






















:flipoff2:

Well initially when I bought it in highschool my only intentions were to put a small lift and tires on it then wheel it at a couple of places back home and hunting at the ranch. My neighbor that I showed horses with had it sitting in their pasture and offered to sell it cheap so that's how I ended up getting it. It had alot of bondo, holes, and rust, not to mention that the rear right leaf was missing the bolt going through the hanger so whenever you made a left turn it'd smack the frame. The tires all leaked, hardly any brakes, channel locks held the downtube to the exhaust manifold (the previous owner even tied a string from the firewall to the CL's so you wouldn't lose them).

Somewhere in between deciding what I wanted to do with it and searching offroad forums I got lost and came across tamor... The rest is pretty much history, I bought some axles, a full width kit, etc, and started working on it the summer before college. Then I joined this band of hooligans and my jeep has continued to evolve into what you see above.

Set the pinion angle, welded perches on, and bolted spring plates/u-bolts back on. Hooked up rear brakelines and rear driveshaft. I'm gonna try and get the driveshaft lengthened at bvd sometime this week but if all else fails I'll just do it myself. Mounted rear shocks and ran the fuel lines through the tub but I need to find some fittings to mate them to the fuel cell lines. Tomorrow I'll install the radiator and hookup the electric fan, then see if I can get something done with the fuel cell. Other than that I just need to lengthen the rear driveshaft and it'll be ready to go.

Just thought of this but I might be able to use the k5 rear driveshaft I have laying around. I'll try it tomorrow.

Got the Jeep finished enough to load it on the trailer and brought it back to cs. I ended up using a k5 front driveshaft for the rear but I'll need to get a conversion u-joint 1310/1330 for the rear yoke. Installed the gas tank to where it'll work for the trip if I run out of time to get the fuel cell in. I got the radiator in but still need to hookup the electric fan. All seemed to be going really well, I hitched up the trailer and drove the Jeep around to load it. A couple trips back either Alto or TCC I noticed a popping sound coming from the rear, I assumed it was the drop in locker slipping. Well today when I gave it even a little bit of power it would disengage letting the driveshaft spin or only the rear left would spin. I put it in low and got it on the trailer while smoking the front tires. So now I need to pull the diff cover and assess the situation. My guess is that it's the locker but Sharpe said that it could be that the pinion bearing went out and allowed the gears to nuke themselves. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

what kind of locker, if its the one that i'm thinking of the little pins have a nasty habbit of breaking, all ya gota do is replace the broken of the 4

It's a powertrax