TexasBlues Progress

After much internal debate and SO many words of encouragement for the fine folks here... i have decided to keep the JEEP... i did some work on it every day last week... small things one at a time and the pressure was GREATLY reduced..

THAT post is here...

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?94962-Losing-Interest-in-the-CJ

this weekend nwedgar came over and showed me his rig while he was on shakedown... it was beautiful...

i have an electrician in my house AS I WRITE, adding 2 20As for my garage... and since i needed to make room for him to work, i thought putting the tub on in a mock up would be cool... so heres what it will basically look like

i will be running 33s (maybe 35s) and i have a full frame attach cage for it... but this is a start... its on 31s now




thanks again guys... she wouldnt still be here if not for your help... and thanks again in advance norm (nwedgar) for the chance to take pix of yours for reference

all!

 

Glad you changed your mind. Remember to make it fun.

 

Glad to see that you stille have the passion in you !!!

 

X2, that tub looks in DANG good shape...........

 

i sure do love me some Brown Santa!!!

Shackles are backordered... but this gives me more to fiddle with!!

 

THANKS LYNN!

did some more last night... actually got in several hours of work... cleaned up the OE fuel tank skid pan and tried my hand at POR... that stuff is simply AMAZING...

i got too much out of the can, as a little goes a long way... which i didnt know... so instead of wasting it, i started on the frame and used what i had drawn out...

its so BLACK... i mean theres black and then theres BLACK... this stuff is BLACK...
the label on the can is right... get it on your skin and youre SOL for getting it off








one piece at a time... i thought my face was gonna crack, i was so happy after seeing this done

two questions though...

if you get it on the threads of something, are you in trouble?

and the new fuel tank... should it PORd as well? or is it treated at the factory?

 

OK guys... i got the materials for my rotisserie yesterday, but i am waiting on parts for my chop saw and i need to find a drill press... maybe this weekend...

in the meantime, i took advantage of a wild hair that i found and launched into my shock towers... heres what i have so far...

i could only do one side as it started raining like crazy and room is limited on the other side of the JEEP...

i DO have a couple questions though...

the bolts i used for the install are 1/2" grade 8s...

1. would welding be needless? part of me says yes... in case i want to do something different OR in case this doesnt work out like i wanted...

2. from bump stop to axle tube = 9" (less 1/2 = 8.5") and from bottom eye to top mount is 23.5"... any suggestions on shock length or where to go to find them?

heres the pix... from my phone so maybe blurry




it actually went on quite easily, the most time consuming aspect was measuring and getting the angles right

 

anyone know which shock to use?

im thinking something similar to a rancho 9028... problem is, i cant find them anywhere!!

HELP!

 

Matt, here is the Rancho shock length chart

 

thanks Jonah...

i want to make sure im doing the math right... will someone check my work please?

9.5" snubber to axle = 9.5" of COMPRESSION

23.5" eye to eye = Overall Length at neutral

23.5" - 9.5" = 14" of DROOP...

in saying that, and based on the following from the list:

MODEL- RS999006
ATT STYLE- L1 L1
COMP- 11.870
EXT- 17.330
TRAVEL- 5.460
NOTES- P915, P927, P1057

would probably be the SHORTEST i could safely run... correct?

if the amount allowed by the shock is GREATER than what the JEEP shows, it should be ok :?

and it should neither bottom out OR over extend... correct?

 

finally got the drill press...

got all the materials cut for the rotisserie chainsawguyand even put the casters together... hope to get some fab done on the rest through the week... pix to follow

 

Cool build, that will be nice having a rotisserie

I'm interested to see how you like the extended shock towers

 

thanks piffey!

hopefully, i ll be able to get into some serious progress this weekend... had to hold off on the fuel/brake lines until i get some more pix/data as to the how and where... so the rotiss will give me something to do in the meantime...

im going to use the 3 speed and TC i already have... it will save time... i ll use the 4 speed later or sell it... it needs to be rebuilt and im not sure what it is... all i DO know is that its a NP something

 

OK, well.... i found the data and the pix i needed to help get mine put back together... its not an exact match but it will surely help...

does this officially qualify me as an addict?

hard to believe that just a couple weeks ago i was considering selling the current build and now i have ADDED to my laundry list...

does it ever STOP?

all things told... i cant seem to get this stupid grin off my face





it was a reasonable price... has a 360 and has never had the suspension modified... it doesnt have a trans/TC, but i figure i can find those without too much trouble... i ll ask YOU guys!!

it took quite a bit of wrangling to get it on the dolly as the grass was wet and its been sitting for a couple years...



but we finally got it loaded and i took it to my house... where i tried UNsuccessfully 3x to back it into the driveway on a dolly... NOT and easy task, so i gave up and nosed it in... i need to get get 2 tires that hold air so i can roll it around... or get it up on stands so i can get under it and do research...



i took a tire off the current build to get it down here... my wife steered and braked while i walked beside with a chock... we got it where we wanted it and there she sits...

its rough to say the least, but MOST of it appears to be deep surface rust... the frame and everything under it looks good and solid... more pix to follow...





the VIN shows 79 with a 304/3spd... but theres a 360 in it now... can anyone else tell me anything off of the VIN other than the obvious?

i ll keep you guys posted....

after i take my medication for JEEP-addiction

 

We can never have to many jeeps,

Lucky you got a soft top.
Some where on this forum there should be a list or file to decode your vin number.

 

soft top is more like a swiss cheese top... its about as pliable as 12ga steel and full of holes... but thats ok...

i have the super secret VIN decoder ring, but wasnt sure about paint codes etc... i dont think THAT tag is intact anymore...

youre right, one can never have too many JEEPs... unless ones space is limited

i think the coolest thing is now that i have some experience and im building some other stuff to help with NACHOS, working on 'BLUE' will be a boatload easier... and i have YOU guys to thank!