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Norcal69's Common Sense Build.

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Norcal69, Sep 11, 2014.

  1. Jul 5, 2021
    supertrooper

    supertrooper Member

    moreno valley, ca
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2007
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    742
    Champion and parts dude have the wide radiators back in stock.
     
    timsresort likes this.
  2. Jul 6, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Thanks! I'll call in the morning.
     
    Norcal69 likes this.
  3. Jul 26, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    After breaking an leaf spring pin, I am replacing all of them with grade 9 allen head bolts. I picked up 5 of them, one will go in the tool kit!
    They look like the shoulder is too long, but it's perfect length. There is about 1/2 thread in the spring, the rest is all solid shoulder!
    I have no idea when the center pin actually broke. It may have been broken when we started the Rubicon trip. It just took a long time to get to the point that the head broke off and allowed the pinion shim to get spit out. There was no sign of the old pin except the head when we made the trail repair.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Aug 8, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I finished replacing the rest of the spring pins with grade allen head bolts. Really glad I did! This was the LR.....

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Aug 9, 2021
    Lilbuff63

    Lilbuff63 Member 2022 Sponsor

    Sonoma County Ca
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    Jan 12, 2014
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    285
    You could have gotten a few more trips out of that one!
     
    timsresort likes this.
  6. Sep 6, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Just an update to this thread.
    As part of my exhaust project I widened my rear cross member. I am hoping that this will also protect the rear corners from ledge drop offs.

    Tailpipe side....

    [​IMG]

    Driver side...

    [​IMG]
     
    txtoller, Ol Fogie, locrwln and 6 others like this.
  7. Sep 6, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
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    1,998
    I like that mod, gets the tailpipe out of the way!
     
  8. Sep 10, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    As usual, any jeep exhaust mod leads to a steering shaft revamp.
    My old setup would have gone through the middle of the location where #5 cylinder tube is. No biggie, just a little shifting of universal joint locations.
    When I reworked all of this last time I used a made in China universal joint. In 2 years that joint wore out as well as the steering shaft support heim. This time around I'm installing an American made steering joint and support heim!

    New steering shaft location and Borgeson joint.

    [​IMG]


    High strength FK rod end.

    [​IMG]
     
    Ol Fogie, locrwln and givemethewillys like this.
  9. Sep 10, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    In order to minimize steering u joint angles I needed to notch the engine mount.
    A keen eye will catch my screw up….

    [​IMG]

    After much grinding and fitting I had a nice piece of 1-3/4” tube that fit perfect.

    [​IMG]

    Keep in mind I did this project with the fender on and engine in place. At some point down the road I will have the engine out and clean this up a bit. It’s otherwise fine for the time being. Needless to say I could not see where I was welding with engine accessories in place and arb compressor mounted on inner fender. It’s certainly welded in solid, there just isn’t room to get a grinder in to make it artwork worthy.
    Here is the finished notch….. and my next project, replacing the steel brake line that I accidentally cut. :banghead:

    [​IMG]
     
    Danefraz and Fireball like this.
  10. Sep 10, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    That's pretty darned good for blind welding.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2021
    Norcal69 likes this.
  11. Sep 11, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Sep 6, 2014
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    My welding is complete crap lately.
    Similar to when you go to the rifle range and shoot terrible. It’s not the equipments fault, your just being sloppy and having an off day……. Except my welding has sucked for a month. I think it’s time for new helmet lenses, gloves and a little concentration.
     
    Danefraz, Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  12. Sep 11, 2021
    AKjeff

    AKjeff Member

    Carson Valley, NV
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    Messages:
    162
    My welding wasn't the best when I began welding on the jeep in my avatar.
    I think I had the attitude that, I need to get this done so I can get going on what I want to do.

    It didn't help that I didn't check the settings on the machine before I began.
    I slowed down, took a couple steps back and ran some practice beads to verify I had the settings right.
    It still wasn't what I wanted to be doing but it turned out acceptable.
     
    truckee4x4, Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  13. Dec 20, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Maintenance Update.
    It was 4 years ago that I installed the YJ springs. I started noticing that the quality of the drive had really declined. Corner entry and corner exit felt darty, freeway driving was a bit of a chore.
    Toe checked out good, steering box was tight, steering shaft looked good..... so it was time to dive deeper.
    Spring bushings.......





    The spring bushings were Daystar brand that I had to modify a bit to work with the OME springs. The shackle hanger bushings came from Ruff Stuff with their hanger kit.
    Not wanting to spend the time to make standard YJ bushings fit the OME springs I decided to fork over the big money for OME spring bushings. $28 per spring and yellow in color :shock:
    I have a new set of hanger bushings on the way from Ruff Stuff.
    I am beginning to wonder if the type of grease I am using caused the bushings to deteriorate prematurely. I had been greasing them with standard chassis type grease every time I greased the ball joints.
     
    Lilbuff63, Danefraz and Ol Fogie like this.
  14. Dec 20, 2021
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    1,765
     
  15. Dec 20, 2021
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    Humm, 4 years. About how many miles? That sure sounds premature. I don't know about the grease but it what I use too. That special grease daystar sells is nearly 50 dollars a tube. Might get some and have a dedicated gun just for the spring bushings :shrug:.
     
  16. Dec 20, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    ODO is incorrect because speedometer is off, but its in the 20K mile range.
    After a little digging it looks like the Daystar grease is repackaged food grade grease. I can get a full size grease tube at McMaster Carr for $17. I think I will go ahead and get a dedicated grease gun setup for this.
     
  17. Dec 20, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I called Ruff Stuff to talk about the bushings. The tech said that they have updated their bushing material since I purchased my components. He said that the newer material was in improvement over the old and that they should last longer. :shrug:
    Replacements are on the way.
     
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  18. Dec 20, 2021
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
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    12,529
    Try using a silicone based grease instead of petroleum based. Sil-Glide is readily available at most flaps and works very well with polyurethane and rubber and doesn’t degrade the materials.
     
  19. Dec 20, 2021
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
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    1,765
    I have some of this for assambly lube when I get around to installing my OME springs and bushings. I do know it works really well on O rings and such, keeps them from drying out.

    [​IMG]
    3M 08946 Clear Silicone Paste
     
  20. Dec 20, 2021
    Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

    Hopkinton, NH
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2016
    Messages:
    217
    Kyle - do you think the center pins bent from trail abuse? Or could they have bent simply from being tightened against the degree shim? I have a set of Rough Country springs I removed from a cj7 - they have a pretty hefty shim on them. So I just went and took a look at them. The head of the pin looks to be sitting square to the top off the shim, and the nut seems to be square to the bottom of the spring. Looking at the spring from the side, it seems like the center pin must be bent. I know a recess could be machined in the top of the shim so that the pin head would sit flat - but then it would not be square to the axle pad. I do not know the solution to the problem...

    Thanks to all you guys who build and post here. The builds, the ideas, the execution of the ideas, putting it all into text and pictures for the rest of us with decency is much appreciated.
     
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