First Jeep build

What's a guy gotta do to get some love on his build post?

 

Check out this jeep, might help give you a better idea of what yours will end up looking like.

http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_0607jpmp_1949_jeep_willys_cj_3/index.html

 

Was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the drafted pic.

 

Are you still working on this? Is it done? Id love to hear about the progress.

 

Actually, I'm BACK working on it. Its been a longtime since I've had room in my garage (cold weather/storage, etc) or the time/money/desire to jick with it at all. Furthermore, and I'm sure the reason for the death of alot of projects... I bought a driver. My Khaki Rubicon LJ!

Anyhow, now that I've been driving one someone else built (mfr), I've decided I'm ready to get with building my own again. My plans have changed again though so here's what's goin down.

I decided to buy a chassis, in lieu of building one, since I've had such a time getting all the cuts/angles right with a torch/grinder AND more importantly, I wanted some aftermarket support. I don't want to have to MAKE EVERYTHING I need. So I bought a 97 TJ chassis. I got it home a few days ago and me and the boys got it completely stripped. For now I'm going with the Dauntless cause it ran so good... and I already own it. I'm working on getting it located in the frame so I can get the body on there, mark it up and get cutting. Basically, I'm calling this project "TJ-5". Haven't heard that anywhere so I hope its relatively original... enough for me anyway.

So, keep your eyes peeled on this build cause I'm sure to change something again and I'll need your advice. THX

 

Had a chance today to work on some motormounts. I need to get a new set cause the rubbers are shot in mine but the ones I have will suffice for the set up. Treat me kindly as you critique my work. This is my first for real "build". I DO want your advice/ideas. if there is anyway to save time/effort, I'm in for that! I've put motors, tcases, trannies, axles and stuff into running vehicles but never a ground up... the welds won't be great but I'm teaching myself to weld so hopefully I'll get better as i do more.

It would be really nice to have a lift. I watched the guys at my local 4xshop and they make it look really easy. Lining it up side to side, front to back and the tilt is quite a job when you're installing motormounts that were never meant to fit a particular motor.
More to come as I have time.

 

Hey man, thanks for the advice. Yes, the alignment front to back/side to side has been a task. The info on the carb alignment is helpful too. That said, I will definitely be gusseting and bracing it all up but I needed to get it "set" first... VERY TOUGH to do by myself. I'm afraid I'm gonna be spending alot of time building "tools" to help me "hold" things in place if I'm alone!!! That's not near as fun as building on the Jeep but necessary nonetheless. Thanks for the help. Keep it coming.

 

Ok, got the mounts on and some gusseting done although I'm sure there will be more to come as I learn what the heck I'm doing. Anyhow, here's a few pics of them.


After I finished those, I'd planned on swapping out the bellhousings and mounting the SM420 and T221 to the motor so I could set them in to mock up my tranny crossmember/mounts but the bellhousing's don't line up. As I said, I'm keeping the Dauntless (or prefer to for now) and would like to use the 420. That's doable right? I know some of you guys are running them with the 225 so where do I go to find a bellhousing/adapter?


By the way, is there any sort of "order of operations" I should be abiding by? I'm sort of working my way into and through it and figure I should get the driveline in first so I can then see how to mount the body. Sound right?

Did I tell you I'm havin fun NOW?!