Gettin' Ready

[JeepDude360]

So I am finally getting the chance to rework the waggie. Right now she is pretty much stock minus a lift and lockers. Here in a few weeks she is going to be changing drasticly. The short run down is a one link with a track bar and 1/4 elip rear springs. I am going to leave the front SUA to help with body roll for now. Heck that might go also. Also going to shorten her up by close to 4'. We are going to slide the rear forward and lose the rear door openings (which the rear doors have been gone for a while) that way she will still look like a waggie from behind. Then some extensive cage work, and some sliders. I have the sliders mocked up and cut out the OE rockers to gain more clearance. The majority of it will be inside, but we are going to build a rub rail into the roof and front fenders. There will be no over hang off the rear so no need for protection back there. A set of DIY beadlocks will help keep the boggers on. I will have to figure how to post progress pictures, but it should be cool. Any input on that would be great. The guy that is doing the work with me runs an XJ buggy with a 4 link and 1/4 elip. Man does it flex.

Later.

[FSJ_Daniel]

If you have a photobucket account upload them on there or if not just make an account(free) and once you have the picture on photobucket just hover over the pic and then you will see an image code, copy that and post it on here and it will show the full size of the picture, sorry if there's any confusion in that just let me know if you need some more help with it

[Hutcho]

subscribed

[JeepDude360]

Originally Posted by FSJ_Daniel

If you have a photobucket account upload them on there or if not just make an account(free) and once you have the picture on photobucket just hover over the pic and then you will see an image code, copy that and post it on here and it will show the full size of the picture, sorry if there's any confusion in that just let me know if you need some more help with it

Got it sounds easy enough.

Thanks man!

[JeepDude360]

So my buddy picked up all of my link and crossmemeber material at .50 per pound .25 wall 2X2, and .25 wall 2X4. I ordered 200' of 1.75 OD .120 wall round HREW from a local place called T&L Manufacturing in Aurora (630.898.7100). It took a little to get the order placed (Because of the quantity)but they have everything you can think of, and have to be the closest place to me. Next weekend will kick it off. I will keep everybody posted on progress.

Later All!

[JeepDude360]

So the waggie is on the way. Got it to my buddies on Saturday and got the rear axle loacted where we wanted it. It is pretty much in the stock location give or take. Then we got it on his lift and pulled the springs out and fabbed up the new front cross member for the the link. Used some 2X4X .25 wall. On Sunday we fabbed up the link, the link mount out of .75 plate, and the rear axle link mounts. this whole link is going to bolt up to the rear axle for ton upgrades or whatever else. The rear link as pretty BA I must say. I also scored a set of 5125 14" travel shocks from Pirate for 120.00 and they are brand new and never been bolted in. Once I get the pics I will open a Photo Bucket and get them posted up.

Later.

[billyj7175]

Looking forward to pics!

[JeepDude360]

Here you go. We are pretty far along with the build. There are pics to be uploaded of her sitting on the 1/4 elip, but the springs were to close for comfort. So the back half of the body was cut off, and the frame is cut just about at the middle of the passenger rear door. The plan is to slighty inboard the springs and build a tube frame to support the rear of the body. Once we get those in I will post up again.

Enjoy my madness.

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=...yVec%2FA%3D%3D

[JeepDude360]

There have been more pics posted. The rear suspension is pretty much fabbed. There is the frame that needs to be built for the track bar and the body to sit on. Otherwise she is coming along. The rear section of the body will be going back on. The plan is to suck it up the distance of the rear door openings. That should leave NO rear over hang. Mega Thanks to my buddy Bob for doing all of the work he has done so far.

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=...yVec%2FA%3D%3D

Enjoy.

[mcjeep80]

i like it. cant wait to see it with the body back together. so are you going to be the first fsj with a comp cut rear??

[JeepDude360]

Originally Posted by mcjeep80

i like it. cant wait to see it with the body back together. so are you going to be the first fsj with a comp cut rear??

If it all works out as planned it should not look like comp cut. The plan is to have the tail lights right over the back edge of the tires. So when looking from the side it just looks short we are going to retain the factory(sawzalled) wheel openings. Just think about sliding the whole body forward till the tail lights come up to the tires. I think it will be different. Hope it will!

[blake5179]

The fab work is looking really cool.
Curious why you chose to do 1/4 eliptical instead of coils?
Is your wheel base shorter now or just the rear overhang going to be gone?

[JeepDude360]

Originally Posted by blake5179

The fab work is looking really cool.
Curious why you chose to do 1/4 eliptical instead of coils?
Is your wheel base shorter now or just the rear overhang going to be gone?

Yeah my buddy is doing a great job. The cage should be pretty cool also it is going to be mostly internal with a rub rail one the drip edge and front fenders.

I went 1/4 Elip just because..... My buddy is running an XJ based buggy with it and a double tri 4 link. I like how easy it is to tune if needed. Simply add some leaves, remove a leaf, or go with a different leaf. It also fits the era of the Jeep. They were a hot set up back in the early 80's. There should also be a bit more stability vs coils. You still have some friction between the leaves to help mitigate some body roll.

Wheel base is the same. Our WB always seemed to work for me with climbing rock and so on. Not having the over hang was my biggest goal.

Hoping to work on it this weekend and score some more pictures.

[JeepDude360]

Worked on her all weekend. There are a few more pictures, and more to come with the body back on. She looks like a PHAT Bronco II.

We found out that the trans mount is hashed. For the first time since reworking the suspesion we drove her under her own power and the TC yolk just wipes the joint, so gonna add a new urathane trans mount and maybe a 1/4 spacer to gain some more room. Also figured out the location of the schakles are off. The sit almost flat we are going to revisit that once the cage and other related weight is in and fine tune from there.

Later.

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=...yVec%2FA%3D%3D

[JeepDude360]

Pictures with the body back on are now posted. We are just going to move the B pillar back as shown in one of the pictures. The small area in front of the wheel well and back will be sheet metaled back in to appear like the factory (but sawzalled) opening.

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=...yVec%2FA%3D%3D

[pass45]

bad lands oct 13 you thank you will be done

[JeepDude360]

Originally Posted by pass45

bad lands oct 13 you thank you will be done

HELL NO. I am praying to have it done before I move Jan. 1.

Might be able to sneak the GF's XJ out......

Drop me a line at my e mail to remind me.

JeepDude360@GMail.Com