JK and K5 build threads Bc you can never have too many toys

[iwaxmyjimmy]

I put the rearend back under it, all I have to do is jack up the pinion a little bit with the axle sitting on the ground and the bolts slide in fairly easily. Frame is clearanced for full bump, need to order some bump cans and come up with a bumpstop pad. I need to exchange my bottle Monday and I can get to burning a lot of stuff in. My fancy spines pieces can’t go all the way to the axle tube because of how close clearances are at full bump. I still plan on doing them but just to cover the flat parts on the top of the truss. I’ve got to figure out how I want to do my lower shock mounts and out board them as far as possible.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

I swapped back out to the 38.5s on the k5, looking to do a gear change to it as well soonish. The 39.5s are mocked up on the Jeep, I need to order some unit bearings for the front so I can start mocking up the front soon as I finish welding in these filler plates on the frame. I’ve got to do my rear coilover mounts and bump cans, and my plan is to drive it out of the garage on the bumps and back it in to do the front. Anyway more pics,

I just liked how it looked when I walked out to take the recycling out.

I like this fender to tire gap ratio. Mainly Bc I know I’ve got to cut a little higher to clear 100% full stuff and driverside drooped out 100%. Eventually I’ll remake the whole inner fenderwell. And skin the outside with 1/8” sheet. I’ve got an idea for a rub rail but not the towel rack looking kind. If steel ever goes back down I’ll need to cage it. When the 3.8 pops I’ll likely LS swap with a 4L80e. Keep the 4.0:1 t case.

Also started cleaning up the 60 front, gotta do the cast part now and flapper wheel the other side.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Fixed my back window today, now my GF won’t complain about the fumes. Had a plug wire work itself loose, also need new boots since these now after two years have burn marks on them. I need to pull the plugs and check them, but it’s a whole different animal with 5.38s and 38.5x14.50s on it. Likely going to 4.56 so I can actually drive it on the highway. I need to wheel it again soon I’ve got that itch kind of bad and the Jeep is a few months away from being finished.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Get on Summit and get a set of MSD wires. The ones with the flexible ends. You can bend them to whatever angle you want. Then hit up ebay for some heat socks to go on the boots. No more issues

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Get on Summit and get a set of MSD wires. The ones with the flexible ends. You can bend them to whatever angle you want. Then hit up ebay for some heat socks to go on the boots. No more issues

I’ve got the heat socks on them. OEM plug wires don’t work but the 135 degree ones clear pretty decently. The socks don’t touch the header tubes but your like 1/4-1/2” away from them. But even then, these block hugger headers I ran in order to clear a Y pipe to get my exhaust around the t case being clocked up still you can see the white spots on the socks where they do get rather warm where they are at. I’ve been thinking of getting some ceramic booted plug wires and doing away with the socks one day.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Got some progress made on tearing down the 60 housing and trimming off that driverside bracket. Need to pick up some more longer sawzall blades and I got the torch swapped out on my cheap plasma cutter to get ride of the rest of that shock mount.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

got most the casting cut off, need to pick up some longer sawzall blades and some cut off wheels to finish it off. I’ve heard rumors that this was a pain in the ass. It’s really not all that bad once rhe shock mounts are out of the way. I used a sawzall and cut off wheel to score the casting around the tube, then plasma cutter to cut the casting, then hammer and chisel to pop it off. I need to order some more 3/8 thick flat bar to make the front truss, gotta figure out how I want to do my bump stop mounting pads. Also I think I’ll tie that driverside control arm mount into the truss because there isnt much space to weld it. Also hoping the 10 degree lower control arm mount will allow the 38” lower control arm to clear the front shaft. I like a lot of caster (8-10 degrees) on my stuff so it handles good on the

the nick burna ball joint eliminators are stupid beefy

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Got the casting part all done, need to weld around the tube on that side and finish cleaning off the passenger side. I’ll likely do that tomorrow after my job interview. Hopefully with getting an actual job I’ll be able to fund my builds easier and get more stuff done. Scraping by every month and devoting a little here and there towards my builds just ain’t cutting the mustard living off my retirement stuff from the Army. Honestly I should have gotten a job as soon as I got back to NC in April 2015 but I was all snooty and felt I could easily sustain off what I was getting. Which is true but I can’t have the stuff I want like that. Anyway enough of my personal life issues and on to pics.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

So I just got hired on at a machine shop, I’ll be doing some welding and machining. I’m excited because I enjoy machining and this opportunity fell into my lap. Now I’m going over all my old machining books so I can hopefully hit the ground turning and milling. Ordered some 4.56s for the 14 bolt in k5, and I’ll be swapping those in as soon as they get here. I picked up a set of dana 60 4.56s a while back from Jody. I’ll swap those in another gm60 housing I’ve got, and I’ll just swap the housing in the front of the k5. I’m pretty stoked because this job will be a nice pay bump over living off my VA pay and working on stuff in the garage. I’ve got a new project of putting 1 tons under and XJ for a friend. I should have gotten a job a while back but I’ve been in a funk since getting out of the Army.

 

[skyhighZJ]

So I just got hired on at a machine shop, I’ll be doing some welding and machining. I’m excited because I enjoy machining and this opportunity fell into my lap. Now I’m going over all my old machining books so I can hopefully hit the ground turning and milling. Ordered some 4.56s for the 14 bolt in k5, and I’ll be swapping those in as soon as they get here. I picked up a set of dana 60 4.56s a while back from Jody. I’ll swap those in another gm60 housing I’ve got, and I’ll just swap the housing in the front of the k5. I’m pretty stoked because this job will be a nice pay bump over living off my VA pay and working on stuff in the garage. I’ve got a new project of putting 1 tons under and XJ for a friend. I should have gotten a job a while back but I’ve been in a funk since getting out of the Army.

Best of luck man !!

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Kick ass man! If you ever have any machining questions, feel free to hit me up.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Best of luck man !!

Thanks, hoping I can learn a lot and expand my skill set.

Kick ass man! If you ever have any machining questions, feel free to hit me up.

Thanks dude, I’m just stoked it’s 7-4 mon-Thursday, and 7-1 on Fridays.

 

[skyhighZJ]

Thanks dude, I’m just stoked it’s 7-4 mon-Thursday, and 7-1 on Fridays.

Sounds like a gov contractors hours.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Sounds like a gov contractors hours.

They have a few nuclear power plants they make parts for a military contract or two. It’s a family owned shop that the owners started back in the 50s. Eventually the company will be employee owned with a board.

 

[justjeepin86]

Congrats on the gig. I make my living in a machine shop too, so the offer stands just like it does with Jake.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Another resident of the machining world here. I may not be the sharpest crayon, but I know a thing or two, and have seen a lot.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Well the k5 has been a decent daily my first 3 days at work. Might try and get the truss welded on the k5 14 bolt abd setup the antiwrap bar, still waiting on the new rear wheel bearings to show up, before I swap in the 4.56 gears. I’ve got a 32 spline 465/208 I need to go pull and a 205 can I need to bore out to fit a 32 spline input. I wanna get all that ready so I can throw a nwf black box in there. Or Incase this trans/tcase shits the bed on me While I daily the k5 and pay off some stuff so I can buy a decent 3/4 truck to daily/tow rig stuff. At work I’m just doing little odd jobs not on their production stuff yet. Simple lathe and Bridgeport work, stared at a surface grinder for a few hours this morning. I honestly enjoy machining because I don’t know much about it really, so I’m learning everyday so far.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

So I didn’t verify part numbers and thought I had ordered some 4.56 gears to fit a 4.10 and down carrier. I was wrong so I’ll save up for other locker and carrier to put 4.56s in the k5. For now I swapped some 4.10s I had in there to help with my commute.

I got my new speedo gear delivered yesterday afternoon, I’ll likely get that swapped out sometime this week and have a working speedo again. I’ve gone through 2 factory ones.

some bushing sleeves I made at work the other day. Out of 5” diameter 1” wall DOM

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

I haven’t been doing anything but daily driving the k5. I need to change the oil this weekend, order a 4.56 rear carrier, some carrier bearings to get the 4.56s in it. It’s been cruising great at 70-80 on the highway. If I can decided if I just want to cut these fenders so I can take it wheeling or if we can get some dry days and I can get these frame plates welded in, shock mounts/engine cage welded in, front grill guard welded in, then make the inner fenders, relocate them battery and wiring in a new fuse panel under the hood and electric fans to my PCM. Also need to make a shroud, which if I mock it up, I can weld it at work. I’ve got a lot to do if I want to go wheeling for Veterans Day. Now that I’m almost done buying tools for work, I can free up funds to do some stuff. I have been scoring some good deals on mics and stuff. Still got a shit ton to learn, but really enjoying it.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Been making things at work for the Jeep, finally bent up and welded in my crossover tube for the k5 rear shock hoops. I’m making a basket to go over the spare tire. Going to make some brass bushings this week to make a pivot point for the basket. Going to dimple some aluminum panels, I may even bead roll them too. Really just because I want to play with my man toys. Working away from home, really makes me enjoy these projects but I really need to get these front frame plates welded on this weekend, and get the front shock hoops setup. If I can get the fenders trim, then atleast make a few panels keep the air filter and electrical bulkhead free from moisture and debris I’ll totally make it to uwharrie for Veterans Day.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Made my bushings and barrels for the k5 basket pivot point on my lunch break.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Somebody was back dragging his tool

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Somebody was back dragging his tool

You know no I’m not sure how the barrels got it, I know the bushings got it Bc I was rushing on those.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Pffft....it's fine. We all do it, I just try to remember not to on my final pass if anybody has to see it before I go shove the bushing in a hole. Airplanes and what not, you know...I guess they want it to look good or something.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Finally got most of the basket made, now for mounts after I decided how much I want it to be above the spare tire.