Project Never Gonna Finish.......

Project NGF...BUT the kids named it "General Jeep"

Ok guys. This will be a little departure from the normal early CJ5 thread. There no restoring here. In fact I'm creating a jeep from scratch. At least a bunch of little parts. Here is a rundown of the basic build:

CJ8 frame, CJ6 fiberglass tub, titled as a 73 "Jeep", and got to put tube fenders on it. More than likely, it will wind up with tires in the 39-44 range. Depends on what the final set up will take without hitting and what the final drive RPM will be at 60 MPH's.
401/T18 with 6.32 first/D20, CS-144 alt, TFI ignition, Performer intake and an undecided carb (Truck avenger?), Doug Thorley Try Y headders, Taurus fan.
J-truck D44/D60 with 4 wheel disc's, 4.56, Detroit Locker front, welded rear. Full cage, 4 point harness and real comfy seats.
Hydroboost brakes, and a way cool vented windshield. Winch's front and rear. I got a '56 speedo I might or might not use. Want to paint it like a WWII military jeep with the star on the hood, letters and numbers, etc.

I have always wanted this jeep and I'm building it just like I want it. I've been collecting parts and information for 4 years now. I have the parts I want........at least for right now. This build has nothing to do with common sense or practicality. It's what I want the way I want it, within reason of what's avaliable and within a reasonable budget.

It will be built for Florida wheeling...sand and mud, some trails. BUt it will also spend a lot of time on the road. Will have a top on it most of the time with the doors in the back and all windows rolled up. Basically a surry top. I want to be able to hose it out.

Back to the build.........

I have already set up the axles to get the BTF wideaxle it located. I got the tub on and the axles located and had the BTF kit welded up. Took it all apart, cleaned, primmed and painted. I'm finally getting it up and back together. Hopefully I will not have to take it all apart again.

Here she is, axles on but still working on the shakles. I need one more stock YJ shackle and some bolts.


Closer view of the front end and the BTF wide axle kit. Really like this kit.


Frame sits at 30.5" compleately unloaded. Sitting on worn out 36" tires. I hope once it is fully set up it will settle a bunch. Right not it's SOA with 4" Superlift CJ springs. I have a set of stock YJ springs I can lower it 2" with. Or go to stock hight CJ springs. Yaa, I know the BTF kit is for YJ springs but with a little spacers, the CJ springs work fine.


Started the de-rusting, primming and painting of the skid plate. Got the motor frame mounts bolted up. Got the motor out of the waggie.

Next step is to get it all ready. Needs a little cleaning and painting, TFI ignition, get the intake and carb changed out and the new alternator on it. Still need to order a new clutch.

I got to make the fiberglass tub subframe and get it located once the motor is in. Then figure the frame mounts for the cage. Then a can pull the tub back off and get it all painted, run all the brakes, fuel lines, fuel tank, etc.

But at lest I got progress. And I hope you guys still like me. I'm using parts from other jeeps that have been parted and building a Jeep that never existed. So there is no parts jeep I'm taking apart. But I do have another 74 titled jeep sitting in front of this one that is next on the build schedule.

 

Sweet Project. There's nothing wrong with being original or creative. Keep us updated.

 

Is that the 6 tub that the guy on boinks page took off to put on a new steel one? I thought he was in florida.

 

More than likely. His name is Scott. He got a new steel tub and now the jeep is painted red. He also has a way cool trailer with a tent on top. And yes, he lives near Tampa. Real nice guy.

 

Sounds like a well thought out project, keep us informed. I have always wanted a longer wheelbase, but prefer the CJ-6 body looks (must be the old style door openings) over the Scrambler with it's square doors.

Looks to me like you have the best of both worlds there.

 

I met a cool dude the other day. His name is Stan Gill and he has been building motors for as long as I've been alive. Anyway, he owns a place called "Bad *** Speed Shop" (www.diecast-badass.com) and he makes metal models of stuff. He used to make the nascar stuff but he has moved on. His shop is way cool. In the back he has a pile of race motors.

He asked about 100 questions on what I wanted to Jeep to do, how I was going to dirve it, on road, off road, tires, gears, just about everything and this is what he recomends for my motor. I want torque and a bunch of it.
The list, some of which I already have.............
Engine works ignition system, Quick Fuel carb (680 cfm), Performer intake, Comp cam (EX262H) kit, Doug Thorley try Y with a single exhaust and a centerforce II clutch. Stock compression pistions .030 over. Might do a competition valve job if it needs it. I'll be using some stronger motor mounts.
I'll get the parts ordered next monday and hopefully we can the motor done in a couple weeks...............
Then I can finally get back to updating this build thread......

 

Not much of an update but an update none the less.....

The motor is in the shop and I'm getting a final bill for the parts. So with luck, the parts should be ordered this week. I had the block sonic checked and the bores are fairly well centered from what I can tell. According to the AMC hotrod folks (theamcforum and bulltear and a few others) the block is fine to bore to at least .080 without heating issues.

Final motor stuff:
401
.040 over, speed pro forged 9.5 pistons
Molly rings, new main, rod and cam bearings
Comp cam 268 Kit
Holly truck avenger carb
Performer intake
Doug Thrley headders

The motor has been in the shop since September. I told them I was in no hurry. They took me serious. But at least I'm getting it exactly how I want it. Should be able to make lots and lots of torque. The orgional mechanic (Robert) I took the motor too has been my mechanic for 20 years. He has been building and racing cars since he was young. Once the block work is done Robert and I will assemble the motor. Motor picts when I get them.

While the block has been in the shop I've been piddling on other stuff. The last couple weeks I've been working on the tub. It's a fiberglass tub. CJ6 tubs in decient shape in Florida are almost non-existant. And I didn't want to spring for a new replacement tub. For what I'm doing, this will be fine. But it needs work.

Here it sits upright on the frame........


I turned it over and started on the bottom. PO had sprayed some sort of undercoating that was/is a PIA. I sprayed 6 cans of Enging cleaner, scrubbed with a wire brush and then pressure washed. Got most of it off. But it looks like the tub was painted black on the underside of the tub. I can at least sand without gumming up the paper.

Another issue on the tub (I need some advice here) on is the tub seems to be a lower quality tub. The sides are thin and easy to wiggle. They are not broken but have some stress cracks along the back corners (maybe add some metal corners?) and a few other places with spider cracks. To stiffen up the sides I had a plan. Let me know what you think....

THis is the side.

I have cut some 1/4 in exterrior grade fir plywood. I was going to use some epoxy to glue the plywood on the backside of the tub. The surface of the tub is real rough (too rough to sand smooth) so I thought I could use the epoxy to level out the surface and get 100% epoxy coverage on the plywood/tub joint.

Then go over the plywood with cloth and either epoxy (high dollar) or normal polyester resin.

I also have some delamination on the tub floor. I cut the bottom of the tub and pulled out the very wet plywood. It had standing water in the core. Once all dired out I'll cut new plywood and epoxy it in and repair the underside of the tub.

I'm also adding a 3/8 layer of fir on the underside of the back floor of the tub. Again, epoxy it down and then fiberglass it in with several layers of glass.

 

What your doing in is an awful lot like I wanted to do, with army paint and all, until my father changed my mind, LOL...

Definately watching!!

 

Like this, but with leaves, obviously

 

LOVE THOSE PICTS!! That is exactly the look I'm going for. A military-ish jeep. Kinda a stylized cj6. And the detail is great. Got any more picts?

Ya, now that I've got more time and the motor is finally getting done, maybe I can make some progress. I'd really like to make it to the Ecj5 Rubicon run this fall. Doubt it will happen but that is my goal...........

I also want to find a different name for the project. "Project never gonna finish" just does not work for me anymore..........

 

"Project finally gonna finish"

"Project might someday get finished"

 

No, I just had those two pics of that one....I can't even remember what site I found it at but I friggin love that thing!!!

 

As far as stiffing the fiberglass, you could cut some strips of your 1/4" plywood and fiberglass them in. About the size of a paint stir stick works good, and the paint stir sticks are free at some hardware stores....Working with fiberglass is fairly easy but a little messy. Use some disposable paint brushes to spread the liquid glass over the mat. Make sure to coat the wood.

 

OK, so I worked on the tub some more. I cleaned out the core spaces and cut some new 3/4 exterior grade plywood.

Then I mixed up some fiberglass and laid down a sheet, then coated it good and put in the new core. I weighted it down. I crawled under the tub and laid on my back and held the upside down floor agianst the new core. But it did not stick. I think I got an air pocket in there. I'll fix it when the tub is right side up.

I cut the back floorboard and found a lot of wet core. So I removed it.


Once it's dry I'll glass in the new 3/4 core just like the front. Hopefully I can get the wood to bond to the new glass so I don't have to mess with it once I flip the tub.


I think I'll lay in a 3x3 angle iron where the rear bed meets the front section.

This will give me a good part to glass the core in and it will also give me a good, strong attachment point to bolt things to.

 

Nice build. I'm definitely on board with the "build it exactly the way you want it........regardless" mentality. Hope to see you here for the Rubicon run this Summer, but I have to tell ya I'm just about finished with a build I thought would take me about 4 - 6 months and it's turned into 2 years really fast. Stick with your basic plan and don't look at the calendar. It'll be done when it's done.

 

For right or wrong, I filled in some gaps in the core today with construction adhesive. Couldn not think of a better filler to eliminate some air spaces and get it to bond. I've used it in several outdoor projects and it worked well. Nor could I find anything that would cause compatablilty issues. Especially once I grind it down for the next layer of fiberglass................

 

Go with the yj springs people do the switch for a good reason. Did they cut that jerry can down? It looks sweet all stubby like that. Wait a minute, is that the fuel tank?

 

I think this belongs to XtrmTJ over on the JEEPForum.

 

Went and paid for the motor parts and all machinging so far...........$1775. But I got all new and shiny parts. Went with a little bigger cam.

Final motor list:
.040 over
Forged speed pro pistons with 9.5 compression
Moly Rings
Comp cam xe256
Performer intake
Holley truck avenger carb, 660 cfm
Doug Thorley headders and duel exhaust with a cross over if I can get it to work
Some sort of high energy ignition (thinking about the ford TFI using the stock motorcraft dizzy)

Still got to get the carb and ignition set up.

But here are some picts his shop.....






He has motor and motor parts EVERYWHERE!!!! From little tiny stuff to race motors. Out back there about 25 motors in some sort of build stage.

And of course he does not have AMC blue but I think there is a Pontiac blue that will be fine..........or a red. Red might be nice. Then again a teal, kinda like the AMC teal.........

I know we have talked and posted of engine picts but darn if I can fine a good thread of the picts.................