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Little progress from today. Spent 2 hours driving around, looking for the front axle bearings... But finally bought everything I needed. Front axle will be ready on Monday, and hopefully, the engine will be back in the engine bay, and front long arms built by the end of the next week.
Also, finished the slip yoke eliminator ( finally ) today.
During the last few days, I attached the t-case to the transmission and transmission to the engine
It took me, my brother and my dad about 20 minutes to set the motor in the engine bay. Only passenger side motor mount was a little problematic lol ( they sit really tight in the brackets )
Then I was working on connecting everything back together. The most time-consuming part haha
Also ordered the new radiator since the old one was garbage after someone put the "stop leak " stuff in there. Now I'm waiting for the new AC condenser, transmission cooler, and power steering cooler, so I can finish the front.
Also... I discovered yesterday that guys at the junkyard drained the oil from the transmission by making a half inch big hole in my transmission pan, so I had to order the new one. This time with drain plug
I bought all the new fluids as well. Can't wait to hear this thing again...
Interior is... empty lol. I'm making space for the roll cage and some new suspension seats ( maybe next week )
Well, plans changed a little bit...
Scored the Dynatrac D60 ( Chromoly axle shafts, Detroit locker, 4.56 gears etc. ) the other day.
Today, I picked up the Wagoneer D44.
The plan is to run 37" tires.
Few more upgrades ahead
*** If someone would be interested my WJ dana 30 (rebuilt, all new bearings, new seals, new ball joints, new poly bushings, new locker etc. ) and WJ dana 44A ( rebuilt, new bearings, new seals, etc. ) Will be for sale soon.
My 35 nitto trail grapplers with beadlock wheels are for sale too. ***
Figured that The ZJ might need some frame stiffeners. I sat with the cardboard and traced the unibody shape on it. Then cut it out, on the plasma table. I think it came out pretty well.
The reason, why I did only the front portion of the unibody is... I will be making a flat belly skid plate between the front and rear crossmembers, attached to the unibody, so it's going to add the strength to the center section. The rear section will have sleeves inside the unibody + I will do the tank tuck, and weld a lot of "stiffeners" during the process, to the unibody. After all that, the "frame" should be strong enough.
Parts for the Dana 44 and 60 are on the way.
* Going to fully rebuild the 44 + truss, and disc swap the 60 + truss with 4 link brackets.
I started with the rear truss yesterday and measured everything to give me an idea where to put all the brackets etc. I made only "base" for now. I think I'm going to make it a little bit lower to keep it low profile.
Made the rear triangulated shocks bracket, and welded it in place.
So... I got the truss, coils and shocks brackets done.
I also changed the bearings and seals on the axle shafts, while I had them out.
Today I finished the disc brake conversion as well. I used the rotors from the old ford f150 with 5x5.5 lug pattern, weld on brackets and GM metric big bore calipers. I will post some pictures soon.
I just need the 4 link brackets, rest of the bolts for the diff cover, and wheels studs (when I picked up the axle all wheel studs were different lol)
Almost every bolt that holds the flange to the axle tubes was stripped, so I went to the hardware store and picked up some grade 8 bolts.
Also, my 5.9 vents came in the mail a few days ago.
I decided that I don't want to put any fender flares on the jeep, but I still had to do something with the fenders to fit the big 37" tires.
I cut and rolled the fenders (opened them 4 inches per side and 4 inches up).
The front came out really clean and I love it. I have to work a little bit more on the rear, to make it look right.
11-18-2017, 08:32 PM
