Flatsam's Uk Based Cj5/mb Project

Hello, great forum some inspirational builds and some seriously clever folk in here. A lot of forums have dried up but seems like you guys are still going strong!
I thought i would post up some pictures of my long term Jeep project, im about 12 months in and work on it when i can.
Ill try to get this thread up to date in th next few days......

Im located in Wales, in the UK, our rules on what can and cant be road registered are pretty strict, so a scratch built frame wasnt an option.
I had some parts left over from previous projects and in my head had half a plan.
Had a freshly machined Chevy 283 v8, pair of toyota Pickup axles and a repop MB Tub.
Id like to end up with a fun vehicle that i can drive on the road and be a capable little Offroader, wheelbase around 90 inches,A low centre of gravity, and 35 inch tyres.
Just needed a frame to get me started
Ebay turned up a 1974 intermediate CJ5, this gets me a logbook (Title) and Historic vehicle Road Tax exemption, body and drivetrain were completely rotten chassis was Good.
IMG_20200926_110611 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20201007_172857 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Dropped the Mb tub on the the frame,
IMG_20201023_110052 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Ive seen people centre the rear wheel in the opening and have the rear cross member sticking out the back of the tub when using the cj5 frame,
Did some measuring and decided to push the tub all the way to the rear of frame and move the rear axle back. My thinking here was longer wheel base would mean more space for drive line and more bulkhead clearance. Tub was stretched 3 inches in the door way
IMG_20201112_110209 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
fabbed up a new rear crossmember decided to work my way forwards
IMG_20201106_164031 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Stretched the front cowl area to make some more room for the v8 and cooling package

IMG_20201122_155519 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20201122_161959 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20201123_170901 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Highlined the fenders
IMG_20201213_160417 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
and things begining to fit in place
IMG_20201213_161459 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210225_112644 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr

 

Welcome from Oklahoma! That looks like an interesting build. I hope you keep us up to date with your build thread. Are you going to set the MB tub up for right hand drive?

One of my favorite youtube channels is https://www.youtube.com/c/Greendot319 . He is also in the UK and has an beautifully restored MB.

 

Very cool project! Welcome to the forum. Subscribed.

 

Awesome!

 

Nice work, even if it is "doing it the hard way."

I see it rains in Britain...

 

Thank you all!
new front crossmember burned in
IMG_20210121_161210 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
had to remove the factory steering/Radiator crosmember to fit the Old warn 8200 winch
IMG_20201126_091635 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Started work on the drive train, Chevrolet 283 Motor, overbored to a 292, Power pack heads, RV camshaft and a Quadrajet carb.
IMG_20201126_155728 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210111_083919 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Rebuilt the D20 from the CJ5, and got my hands on an Sm420 4 speed, ordered a rebuild kit and adapter from Novak
IMG_20210223_181903 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210213_161254 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210223_181903 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr

 

if I missed you introduction . welcome to forum
I'll be watching too

 

Got the motor and trans bolted together
IMG_20210225_121734 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
Dropped the whole lot into the frame to see if things were going to fit, looking like that extra 4 inches of engine bay room has helped
IMG_20210225_180216 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210225_180200 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
IMG_20210225_180204 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr
New transmission tunnel needed
IMG_20210225_180129 by Sam Prankerd, on Flickr

 

looks like the driveshaft is going to be interesting.

 

Yup! hoping its a better solution than the transmission hanging down to low.
Plan on a double cardan joint and angle the pinion up towards the transfer case