Cherokee/M715 project off dead center.

[FSJeeper]

I have been asked a few times recently how this project is coming. It is finally getting off dead center. I hope to have a website with PICS soon.

It is a rustfree Cherokee Laredo with the top chopped off, A modified removeable J-10 truck cab top, full roll cage, M715 front clip and all the M715 military trim, rear tub to be fabbed like the M715. The rear tailgate will have a recess in the back of it with a hummer pioneer tool set built into it. (Shovel, pick, axe, etc.)

Engine is a GM 6.5 ltr diesel professionaly balanced and blueprinted, significant wieght removed from the reciprocating assembly, heads proted, gear cam drive, custom injection pump, high flow injectors, pennisular teflon/ceramic 18 to 1 pistons to allow 16 PSI boost from the all custom Banks turbo setup, intercooled, etc, etc.
300 HP and 580 ft lbs at 1900 rpm without propane.

It has a 30% Rockwell gear splitter/OD, 32 spline SM465 4 speed, ORD design doubler for a 32 spline NP203 GRB, and a 32 spline passenger side drop NP205. 32 forward gears.

Military Dana 60 front with detroit locker, 4.56's, and 35 spline shafts all the way out. Military 14 bolt rear with discs, 4.56 gears, and a detroit.

Late model hummer beadlock/runflat 2 piece rims with the good, 1 piece rubber beadlock/runflat. Will be running 42x15x16.5 Super Swampers.

Front MM 12,000 lb hyd winch, rear 9000 lb electric winch.

I am just trying to get it on the road now, and will figure out the suspension later. Am leaning towards custom national springs made for the orbit eyes, and either custom drops, or maybe just revolver shackls. Any ideas on suspension would be appreciated.

[sandmanb]

sounds like one sweet project. cant wait to see pics.

[Gladi8r]

I would greatly appreciate any detailed info on the GM diesel swap, as I am planning the same thing for my 71 Gladiator. The engine mods sound interesting. Any heads up on what to expect or what to look for would be great.

Thanks
:D

[mark]

i wanna see too!

http://www.montecarloss.com/ubb/graemlins/hail.gif

[Celadus]

Balanced and blueprinted?
Reciprocating mass balancing I understand, but how can you ensure the engine meets "Blueprint" specs? Most original engine manufactures are very reluctant to share their design drawings, and if obtained, documenting the engineering changes put the charges through the roof!


Really, it sounds like a great project. Hope you are having fun with it. smile.gif

[FSJeeper]

I know several guys who have done the GM diesel swap into a FSJ. It is basically the same as a Chevy big block swap. AA makes the motor mounts which are exactly the same for a small or big block chevy, the rest is pretty easy to sort out.

The blueprinting of the engine means making every critical part is fit as perfect as it can be well beyond the factory specs. Balancing is taken farther than the factory does, heads are ported, gaskets matched, etc. Factory specs allow for some varience and slop due to mass assembly line manufacturing.

The rods and crank were also shotpeened, fully polished, and nitrided adding strength.

[Bob Barry]

C'mon, man; when you going to get serious about modding your truck...? ;)

Of course you could go with the run-of-the-mill SOA/shackle-inversion, or four-corner coil-spring adaptation, but why be ordinary?

How about running 4psi in all the tires on beadlock rims, welding the axles right to the framerails, then chopping the chassis in half for an articulating steering setup, and building a 180º pivot encircling the rear output shaft for the rear chassis, kind of like those arctic oil-exploration rigs or the 6x6 Gamma Goat?

I mean, how else is that rig going to stand out from the crowd at a Jeep show???

;)

Seriously, it goes without saying that when it's done and you've got some shots of it, there's a feature spot waiting for you on the Wild! fsj page...

[FSJeeper]

Thank you so much for solving my suspension questions. I am now in the market for a giant swivle joint to connect the front half of my truck to the rear as soon as I cut it in half. But I want 360 degrees, not a wimpy 180. Do you have a source?

[Michael]

Uhhhhhhhhhh. I will leave this to the pros. But I want to say. This sounds like heaven and FSJeeper, when you are ready to show a crowd. I would make the trip to see her run. Cannot wait for the pics.

[FSJeeper]

Michael, when I get this thing done, hopefully by June, I will be doing a lot of wheeling in your area. I am sure we will hook up.

[Bob Barry]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by FSJeeper:
Thank you so much for solving my suspension questions. I am now in the market for a giant swivle joint to connect the front half of my truck to the rear as soon as I cut it in half. But I want 360 degrees, not a wimpy 180. Do you have a source?<hr></blockquote>

Sure; just find one of them really-small excavators that run on tracks (you know, the kind that rental places have), and use the pivot that the body swivel around the carriage on. It would be about 3' in diameter, but if you clock an offset rear output shaft upward (you're using a doubler, right? If not, the Rockwell cases used on early Chevy trucks have an offset output), you could put the bottom of that swivel at the lower part of your chassis.

As for the pivot and hydraulics for the articulation joint for steering, any old bucket-loader would work. just put the pivot centerline right through the rear output-shaft U-joint, and wail away at it! smile.gif

[FSJeeper]

I have a headache now!

[scotty]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mark:

http://www.montecarloss.com/ubb/graemlins/hail.gif<hr></blockquote>

now THAT is one cool-*ss smilie! where did you find him?

and that sounds like one heckuva rig when its done!

[tuckers89GW]

Sounds like your going to have one awsome rig. Can't wait for the pictures