YJ (re)build - Next on the list..

[dan]

alright, I finally picked up another frame for the YJ. I'll be honest, this will be the slowest build in history, even slower than Bill's bumper! lol
so here it is, picked it up this afternoon from oak Hill.



it had a little cancer, but nothing that won't be properly replaced in time


look, the front end looks good! I will be bracing that also, before it gets put to use. it won't look much the same afterwards

the rear of the frame is excellent! I will have to re-inforce it, but there are no cracks, and no deep rust at the time. also, the rear crossmember that holds the bumperettes is in remarkable condition, it looks like it was just replaced possibly.


so as there are engine mounts and everything on the frame, I may be looking for a donor 2.5 block to put in the rails, and I will be assembling a rolling chassis, adding a few of my own changes through the process

[HardKorTJ]

you might as well put a 4.0 in it.

[Stevens]

Looks pretty good.

Definately reinforce the frame by the p/s box.

BTW, you can get the front gastank crossmember from the dealer still, IIRC it is in the neighborhood $100.

[dan]

the frame will be reinforced in many places, not just near the steering box.
I have other ideas in mind for the gastank crossmember. it will be replaced by 2x2 tube, and provisions will be there for the gas tank skid once things are all looked after.
I have thought of putting in a 4.0, but I'm not sure I want to. the 2.5 works so good on the trail. I like that the 2.5 is really light, also. if I change my mind, I hasve the 4.0 in the XJ to put in, but I like what I have

[The Garagemahal]

Cool ! Do what you need to do to it , then have it galvanized !

[Trever]

Looks like you got something there to build from!! Looking forward to seeing the build.

[HardKorTJ]

all this fab work going on in here, i gotta get cutting up on mine here soon

[89jeep2]

my yj build is going on 4 years.hoping to have it done for this summer.i started with a frame, rearends and a gastank.
will try to get some updated photos.
brian

[dan]

I hope to hell mine doesn't take 4 years. I'd like to have things pretty well done within the first year after I'm out of school. I'll be out in the work-force in May, so i don't think that is too ambitious

[dan]

Update!
first time the frame has moved since I brought it home. since we moved my XJ out of the barn, along with the Massey Harris tractor, my M38, and the M38-a1, I had some space to move a few new things into the barn, among other things, the lawn tractor was brought inside, and a few axles that we plan to look at over the next few months.
after bringing it in, I set it up on some blocks and leveled it out, then grabbed my spare rear leaf springs, and dad's old rear CJ-7 springs, and threw them under the frame.
I grabbed my spare axle housing, and bolted a set of old hub bearings on, and bolted them together with some threaded rod so they don't separate.
I dropped the front end in place, and let it hang on the springs, since I don't have any u-bolts. threw on my old 31's that I gave dad so I could see how things look so far.






This is what I'm working in, in case nobody has seen the whole area.

here is my new rear end, an 8.8 from a '97 Exploder

it's a little scaly, but I'll be taking it down the road and cleaning it with a needle scaler, and then sand-blasting it, before giving it a full overhaul

then I threw it under the frame too, for mock-up purposes. I will still need to build new spring perches, and shock mounts, and do something about the backing plates




then I threw on some rear tires, and called it a night after making a few measurements.


there probably won't be too many more updates in the next few weeks, with school and all, and the fact that I'm so poor I can't even buy the steel I need to work on the frame.
as things sit, the frame is 20" from the "floor" where the belly pan will be attached. I expect that when I am finished, the frame should sit 22"-23" from the floor in that location, and hope to have about 26" to the bottom at the rear of the frame.

[dan]

also, I plan to be doing a shackle reversal before this is all finished, and replacing all of the cross-members in some way or another, not telling what the plan is yet.

[Sandboxcowboy]

got some warm weather i see eh??? Keep it comin Dan!

[dan]

got some more done this morning.

wasn't sure what i was feeling like doing, so I picked up a couple of scraps I had laying around, and decided to start my shackle reversal.
I cut off the front brackets, and ground everything smooth on the inside of the frame, then cut a piece of 2x4x1/8" steel that was out in the cold.
all prep and grinding complete, and welded in place, then cut off the spring hanger from the front, cut it a bit, flipped it around, and then welded that to the front for the reversal.





Then, since I'm cheap as hell, I started to cut off my body mounts, one at a time, and welding them 1" higher o the frame, so I don't have to pay for a 1" body lift, bahhahha




I finished one side, less the further back mounts, and then cut off a couple of brackets I won't be needing.



not sure when I'll be on it next, but hopefully soon, I forgot how much I love doing this stuff.

[The Garagemahal]

Hahhaaha awesome ideas Dan

[Cherokee Chief]

Nice looking welds there Dan.
Darren