Wide Open Design LJ buggy build

Had an afternoon to start on the front half of my exhaust. With the 4 link up front, it's pretty tight underneath.
Cut up my old front driveshaft and tacked it up so I can route the downpipe around it. Forgot it was 3/8" wall DOM!
View attachment 457785
After pie cutting the drivers downpipe, I was able to mock up both sides and back to the 2 into 1 collector.
View attachment 457786View attachment 457787View attachment 457788View attachment 457789
Gotta run by the muffler shop and get the downpipes swelled a hair and then I can finish weld it all.
After I get the exhaust done, I can set it at ride height and move on to interior items.
1781287755355.gif
 
Had a few hours to chew on the seats and driver's floor. Sheetmetal work is my absolute least favorite automotive thing to do. All I can say is thank goodness for seam sealer and Herculiner when the body guy gets it in a couple months.
Got the driver's OG Corbeau seat bolted up to the slider and the Corbeau mount. Had a seat and quickly realized my ogre sized ass only had 1/2" between my noggin and the cage.
PXL_20260621_155306547.jpg

Luckily, there's a ton of extra height on the mounting legs to trim.
I made a jig to keep the mounting holes square and cut off the legs.
PXL_20260621_155918318.MP.jpg

All said and done, I was able to lower the seat about 3". Plenty of room for rollovers and flops.
Check out my precision measuring tool.
PXL_20260621_172631455.jpg

The area where the front inner driver's seat mounting bolt goes is in a scrap bin in Murfreesboro TN. I went ahead and drilled/tapped the other bolts to 7/16" vs the OEM 8mm x1.25.
Fabbed up a leg to attach the seat the (future) floor pan. I also started on the patch work to seal off the floor. It's not pretty, but it'll eventually be done. It is definitely a work in progress currently. Still need to make an access panel to service the shifter cables and allow removal of the Atlas
PXL_20260621_201722535.jpg

Self tappers are there to hold in place until I trim more and tack the rest in. A lot of what is screwed to the tub will be trimmed and removed.
I ran out of time and had to call it a day. But the driver's seat is all set and the passenger will bolt in with the higher height so my wife can see over the hood.
PXL_20260621_173048756.jpg
 
Last edited:
FANCY
I’M A SRVIVR
1 HEART
LIGHTS OUT N GRGA
CONCDR ME GON
WHEVR N NEW ENGLND
TRN ON RADIO
STRANGE
LITLE ROCK
CATHYS CLOWN
BECAUSE OF YOU
I could go on…
 
Haven't had much free time in the shop lately. Work is super busy, I jacked my back and apparently people want me to build axles for them.
Somehow I think all the above are correlated.
But I have made some progress here and there. Firewall is clearanced for the headers and the exhaust is ready for final assembly. I have decided to remove the OEM HVAC box so I have more useable space for all of my wiring, electronics and PCM. Just like in the Ranger. I'll get a hot rod style heater down the road.
Ordered my Atlas cable shifters and Genright console from @tobaccoroad4wd. All of my switches, shifters and most importantly, cup holders, will be there. Being an ogre, I want cable shifters to give me more leg room on the driver's side.
In other news, I am picking up @Joe_U4 old 347 stroker. You know, my current setup is really lacking for power :D.
I am undecided if I will rebuild it and install in the LJ next spring, or if I will shelf it for a future boosted hot rod project.
Blah, blah, blah.
We're busy, limited free time, but progress is being made in between makin $$$.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top