58 Half Cab Build

Hope you come to the Willy's reunion in Jeff City this year. We need more Ecj5 guys there besides me Joe and Steve, besides you live closer than any of us...lol.

 

I already made sure I was off work that weekend. Its going to be a push to have the jeep ready for highway driving by then but I'll do my best.

 

I was able to travel home for all of 4 days last week. No new pictures but I got the front axle torn apart and found a big hole in the differential. Ended up finding a local guy selling a bunch of parts from his 68, thanks to oldtime, I bought a completely rebuilt Dana27 with 11" brakes and his 2.5" lift kit. I got the Jeep sitting on the axles before I left but forgot to snap a picture.

Ran into a few more issues with the original motor and have decided against reusing it. I have a running 302 sitting around that I am considering using and also passively looking for a 4.3 Chevy. I know oldtime has a Jeep T-18 that will soon be for sale which pushes me to the 4.3 but a Ford T-18 and Novak adapter on my 5.0 would also do me well.

Planning to start some body work to pass the time waiting to get the driveline figured out. That is if I ever get a project in town so I can get some garage time.

 

Got a bit of garage time in this weekend. Got the frame up on the axles and pulled the tub out of storage to start cancer treatments.

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Next steps:
Passively search for a motor/transmission.
New floor pans and hat channel on the tub..... (not looking forward to this....)

 

Unfortunately I've been travelling for work the last 4 weeks and have had no garage time. Before I left I set the body back on. Now fixing the body has taken a back burner as I really want to drive it.
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I was also able to collect a few more parts. I first picked up this Muncie 4 speed rock crusher transmission. It is out of an old hot rod so it does not have a granny low like I would have liked but it is already set up with an advanced adapter for the Dana 18 and it was cheap.
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The tranny purchase put me on the hunt for a Chevy motor. I picked up this TBI 4.3 last night off craigslist. It came with the wiring harness, computer, and all the accessories.
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This is some what comon on the frame. I suggest to find a local weld shop and have them build you a stub piece to replace the bad area and have them weld it in. The body shops i call on do this all the time on builders. some of them would scare me but they have not have any call backs.

the engine, I would hone it, mic the rings and see how far off they are, just be very careful taking it apart.



I am sorry i must not have been done reading all your posts

 

I love the wine of the M22 rock crusher.

Nice tranny

 

Been a few months since I've posted. I had a friend of mine point me towards Pirate4x4 and well as I'm sure you can imagine, some of my plans ended up changing.

I finished building the 4.3L
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Then sold the Muncie 4-speed and bought a TH350 adapted to a Dana20

I got ready to re-gear the rear Dana 44 about the time I got the Dana20 in and decided to go ahead and install the scout axles. The truss is installed and mostly welded. It is still an empty housing and is currently mocked up on the frame.
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With the auto transmission I am stretching the rear of the frame about 17 inches so I knew I wanted to stretch the body. After working on the tub more and more the decision was made that it was not worth repairing (specifically the rear). So it was cut in half.
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Here's the body mocked up with the rear axle stretched out to the back.
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Being that the tub was junk I started building a new frame structure.
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A cut here and a cut there...
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First time together, some adjustments were needed. I plan to skin the sides with 3/16" plate so It will look like body armor.
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Firewall had to go.
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Mocked up with the half cab and doors.
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My goal here is to build an extremely capable vehicle that I can drive around town, can handle hardcore wheelin, and replace the need for a pick-up truck. I have pulled inspiration from many people on here and other sites. This rendering shows 35" tires, not what it will start with but wanted to make sure I would clear them later.
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Nice. Better shape than my 57 half cab. Maybe this will inspire you.




Had a 4.3 in it too. Guy wanted 8k for it.

 

Love it!

...But you beat me to it ! Grrr....

Seriously looks great. Good for you for tackling it!

That is my plan with this. True truck cab with a true bed and my spare Meyers Hardtop.


But I'm using the spare parts from this for it. jeep toss