progress on my heep wheelbase stretch, tube fenders, soa, full width swap. whew!

[Erik]

snapped some quick pics of the progress...

front axle is installed but nothing is put together on it... no knuckles, hubs, etc, which is why the tires are just sitting there and not quite in position right.

the tube fenders were from blue torch fab. i made inner fenders out of old washing machines i got for free. took two machines to get enough good metal. the whirlpool is much better made than the maytag, fyi.

the relays are for my electric fan, driving lights, and rock lights. they're all fused with a new fuse panel installed under the battery.

rear led's are BRIGHT AS HELL. definatly somewhat blinding. 62 LED lights i think.... got them off eBay
cb antenna mount is simple angle iron cut to size and drilled.

clevis mounts to be added to rear bumper still. rear bumper/crossmemeber replaced the oem crossmember and bumperettes. it's made of 2x4" steel tubing with 3/8" thick walls. it's the strongest bumper EVER! maybe not, but it's beefy.

still have not ordered my detroit or 5.38 gears, however the 35 spline yukon shafts are in there for the time being.

big rectangular PIAA in the picture is my reverse light.

fuel cell is a rci 2161 with a -8 to -6 AN reducer and a -6AN 90 degree barb summit racing fitting for the fuel supply. I ran 3.8" fuel injection hose from advance auto. the return is a -8 to -4AN receuver and 90 degree -4AN barb summit racing fitting. I ran 5/16" fuel injection hose for the return. The carter tbi fuel pump i'll be getting from summit will install on the crossmember where the fuel line makes two loops.... loops were my idea of a way to keep the pump primed but after rethinking it, they're useless and will not be part of the finished fuel system.

driveshafts need to be shortened still. need to make steering tie rod and drag link still.

 

[Erik]

 

[Erik]

plan to remove tc lowering kit and see what happens as well......

and the 3rd hella for my front bumper will be installed this week.

-Erik <--- loves his 4 banger

 

[Rich]

Looks tall.. or is it being supported under the frame and not the axles?

 

[BIGWOODY]

Mount your fuel cell on rubber and use straps over the top of it, otherwise it'll crack. I used to run a fuel cell like that and carried a spare one in the tow rig because they crack. It's also worth taking the filler neck off and using a hose clamp to attach the pick up hose, the hose fell off both the ones I had.The way it feeds out of the top, it'll be a royal biotch to get the fuel pump primed again if it runs out. I put a weight on the end of the pick up hose to help it slide around the bottom of the tank in off camber situations, otherwise you will starve it for fuel even with as much as half a tank in it. Take the plastic cap off the rollover vent and route a vent up high somewhere or it can cause the tank to swell and guess what???CRACK

 

[upnover]

Some good looking work. On your relays, might wanna coat them with some liquid electrical tape, good insulation, but also helps to keep them from vibrating loose. Like the use of washing machine stuff. use what ya got!

 

[sharksanddanger]

You doing all that at a townhouse/apt complex? I am suprised no one is complaing.. Looks good though.

 

[GMAC]

maybe its me but it looks like theres not much ground clearance under that front axle. LOVE the 4 banger though

 

[TheZenTree]

maybe its me but it looks like theres not much ground clearance under that front axle. LOVE the 4 banger though

Looks like it'll have more once the axle's built and the tires are mounted.

Erik, that thing is badass. I'm diggin those jackstands

 

[Erik]

Looks tall.. or is it being supported under the frame and not the axles?

rear is at ride height. front is being supported by cinder blocks until i finish asembling the front end parts.... still need to get the studs out of the driver's side knuckle and install new ones and high steer arm and brakes before i can mount wheels on the front....

Mount your fuel cell on rubber and use straps over the top of it, otherwise it'll crack. I used to run a fuel cell like that and carried a spare one in the tow rig because they crack. It's also worth taking the filler neck off and using a hose clamp to attach the pick up hose, the hose fell off both the ones I had.The way it feeds out of the top, it'll be a royal biotch to get the fuel pump primed again if it runs out. I put a weight on the end of the pick up hose to help it slide around the bottom of the tank in off camber situations, otherwise you will starve it for fuel even with as much as half a tank in it. Take the plastic cap off the rollover vent and route a vent up high somewhere or it can cause the tank to swell and guess what???CRACK

thanks for the suggestions.

i talked to a guy who had his mounted on rubber feet and it was too much weight on the tabs and they all broke. i do plan to add straps once i get it on the road though... just hadn't thought much more about the rubber feet after seeing his problem. i think if i had a rubber pad that was the same size as the footprint of the cell that would be a great solution and solve my problem. i'll look into that once everything else is finished up. i'll be doing the vent when i get the rest of my vents done. i plan to run them all into the air box I THINK... can anyone think of a reason NOT to? it'll always be dry and thats what i need, right? aside from long vent lines i can't seem to think of a reason not to do this. i have two multi-point fuel pickups inthe tank to help ensure i get fuel flow in off camber situations. i got them from apeusa.com if i remember right....

Some good looking work. On your relays, might wanna coat them with some liquid electrical tape, good insulation, but also helps to keep them from vibrating loose. Like the use of washing machine stuff. use what ya got!

plan to coat all connections in liquid electrical tape and then loom the wire. also using dielectric grease on all connections prior to sealing them with the liquid tape. just haven't gotten around to it yet.... good advice though... many people overlook that.

yea, washing machines are free.... sheet metal is expensive!

You doing all that at a townhouse/apt complex? I am suprised no one is complaing.. Looks good though.

yes i am and YES THEY ARE! $100 fine every 3 weeks. suuuuucks

maybe its me but it looks like theres not much ground clearance under that front axle. LOVE the 4 banger though

yea front axle is sitting on jackstands and cinder blocks. it should have plenty of clearance in a week or two.....

Looks like it'll have more once the axle's built and the tires are mounted.

Erik, that thing is badass. I'm diggin those jackstands

this damn jeep is killin me man, haha. my cinder blocks are awesome jackstands.... much more stable than the 6 ton jackstands i bought from harbor freight but only because i'm in the grass... when i was using them, the jeep would sink and fell over a few times as the ground got soaking wet and the stands sunk. not fun. thanks lowe's for picking the jeep up with the truck-mounted forklift (moffet), haha

 

[TheZenTree]

Haha workin outside sucks. Gimme a shout if you ever need a hand, I don't have anything to work on these days.

 

[Erik]

I don't have anything to work on these days.

must be nice... lol


i need money so i can buy more parts, and then i'd love help! haha, ESPECIALLY if you know anything about assembling dana 44 front axle parts since i can't hardly remember how i took the thing all apart anymore. haha

my buddy has all the parts for the front end riding around in his trunk except for calipers. once i buy calipers i'll have him drop off my goodies and then i'll be up for any help i can get

 

[rockmafia]

If you roll, and all you vents go into your airbox, you're gonna get gear oil, gas, trans fluid in you air box.

 

[Erik]

ok but chances of me rolling is far less likely than me being submerged in deep water or mud.....

i was also worried that there woudl be too much vacuum in the air box and it woudl actually suck too much and make the fuel pump work harder.....



the reallity is i just want a simple vent install for my axles and fuel cell and i don't know what to do. front is easy.... i'll just vent my axle tube at the top of the firewall. but the rear is where i find my problem. i can't seem to find a good place.... unless i vent everything into the cab... which would be fine for me i think because i hardly ever have a top on, however what happens when johnny cigarette pulls a lighter out of his pocket to spark up a smoke next to my fuel cell vent? nothing reallistically... usually... but maybe i'd be the one time the vent caused a fire..... don't want to risk that.

maybe i'll just vent everything on the top of the firewall and forget about the whole airbox idea....

 

[family xj]

Mount your fuel cell on rubber and use straps over the top of it, otherwise it'll crack. I used to run a fuel cell like that and carried a spare one in the tow rig because they crack. It's also worth taking the filler neck off and using a hose clamp to attach the pick up hose, the hose fell off both the ones I had.The way it feeds out of the top, it'll be a royal biotch to get the fuel pump primed again if it runs out. I put a weight on the end of the pick up hose to help it slide around the bottom of the tank in off camber situations, otherwise you will starve it for fuel even with as much as half a tank in it. Take the plastic cap off the rollover vent and route a vent up high somewhere or it can cause the tank to swell and guess what???CRACK

What about using the 12x12 square pads that are foam like you put down on floors for kids to play on? It would absorb shock and balance an uneven floor somewhat.

 

[Erik]

after reading the thread earlier and responding i've been thinkin about what i could use and although i know my lazyness will prohibit me from doing anything about this until the jeep is running and the bugs are worked out, i think i'll just get some rubber mat stuff from work (lowe's) and cut it to the same shape and size as the footprint of the cell....

 

[Josh C]

Haha workin outside sucks. Gimme a shout if you ever need a hand, I don't have anything to work on these days.

Here's your shout. I'll have plenty to do around the first of the year. Erik call me when the calipers come in. I'll show you how to put that 44 together. I'll even bring you that speaker you need

 

[highrollintj]

are you plannin on runnin bigger tires cus looks like you are gonna have plenty of room

 

[Erik]

i considered 42's very seriously, but no... i actually plan to lower the jeep one day... probably no time soon but eventually i'm going to remove the 3.5" lift springs and go with the 1.5" soa RE springs i think.....

 

[mbalbritton]

I love the lic plate! Wonder if you can leave it that way legally?

 

[Erik]

been that way since march.... so far so good....

cops aren't that bad here. most are actually pretty cool.

 

[Erik]

 

[TheZenTree]

Here's your shout. I'll have plenty to do around the first of the year. Erik call me when the calipers come in. I'll show you how to put that 44 together. I'll even bring you that speaker you need

Works for me, PM me when you got stuff to do.