Instigator Build

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Well just like everything else I get involved in at some point something or someone puts an idea in my head and thats were the trouble starts. After wheelin at HFO in Seymour earlier this month with a few people on this site (I won't mention any names you know who you are) I have a Jeep that is in pieces and a credit card melting away. I wish I never heard the word Rockwells.

This is the starting point. Nothing wrong with it as my friends would say but the voice in my head says different.

So I have been on a mission to sell the existing drive train and anything that is not nailed down at my house to get this to happen. Good news came Saturday morning. A local guy came by and looked over my drive train and with some negotiation he is buying and I am helping him put it in his rig.

Saturday night progress

That's what I have so far. Still waiting on the Rockwells to show up. So until then it is think, think, think on how I will do all this just a little different that the others. Also I guess I have pleanty of work to do putting the 44 and 60 in a ZJ for the buyer.

Thanks to Josh and Jason for the info so far I am sure there will be more to ask.

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Got some more work done last night. Stripped of all unusable brackets from the front of the frame. And then removed the entire back frame.

I didn't even have to cut the inside conned my buddy into it.

Going to sleave these pockets with the new 2 x 4 tube frame.

The new frame will be flush with the bottom of the tub. So I need to cut out the rear body sheet metal.

Other news the buyer on the existing drive train fell through so it is still for sale see the classifieds.

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Well I did get to do some more fabrication to the rear frame rails. Using 2 x 4 x 11ga. Tubing.

Where it passes through the body line on the back going to cut it off there.

Ended up 45 on both sides and will use this area as a bumper and to protect the winch.
I will end up notching the middle down to 2 x 2 were the fairlead will come out.

Good news going to pick up Rockwells on Friday. Found them local saved me a trip to Texas this weekend.
Working on getting all of my link ends and tubing ordered this week hope to start some fab this weekend.
Also moved the rear seat back 4" to give a little more leg room
to the kids but now I have to figure out a new gas tank. It used
to sit behind that seat. Any great ideas on where to put it????

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Well it has been rather busy and haven�t posted anything lately.
I have been working on it just going slow. Here are some progress pictures
I got the Rockwells and they are as you know big and heavy. I am so glad I have a trolley and hoist in the shop

Took the spider gears out and welded them up front and back.

The new parts started rolling in that I had to order these are the wheel centers I ordered.

While doing this project I wanted to move the rear seat back a little to give the kids more room but by doing this I had to extend the cage so we started on that.

This was the end result I need to get some better pictures of this part.

I will get some more pics tonight we have the axles back together and the wheels all done.

Punisher · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:44 am GMT Standard Time Post subject:

Well?

It's been a month since your last post....what are you doing?
Have you quit? Are you pullin' all nighters? Are you dead? Laughing

Come awn man put up some pics of the progress.

You gonna make it to the Memorial Day run at Flatnasty?
_________________
It's a Rock, Get Over it!

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Well I have not died yet but I have come close once with this build. Note to self do not pull the links out when the jack stands are not under the frame.
Anyway a few progress pictures it is coming together just very slowly. I am getting to the stuff that is a real PIA.
This is the rear link set up.

New cross member and link brackets

Pictures of the front towers and link set up.

I�ll get some more pictures tonight been really hectic lately. Trying to get steering and brakes done now and those two are fighting me tooth and nail.
I haven�t got a fuel cell done yet but it is lying in the shop ready to weld up. The dual cylinder setup I got from Josh won�t fit on the front with the brake
caliper so I am going to a single cylinder for now.
_________________
Instigator
That Just Happened!!

POPE · Spectator Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 8

Well its been done for awhile but I have been way behind on computer stuff. Here is some pics of the finished product. Trip to SMORR a month or so back.

Works great. What a good feeling knowing that its a litte harder to break an axle. Thanks for the help from the site. Trust me i looked at a million pictures and read a thousand articles prior to doing this.
_________________
Instigator
That Just Happened!!

Punisher · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:49 am GMT Standard Time Post subject:

See you this weekend.....

Very Happy

_________________
It's a Rock, Get Over it!