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Seabee M38A1 Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by tymbom, Mar 30, 2014.

  1. Jun 12, 2015
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    1,214
    Looking good, any progress lately?
     
  2. Jun 15, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    Well I wish I had some progress to report, but I don't. I've been busy with work and life and bla bla bla.... Oh well. I have worked a lot of overtime hours, so parts will be enroute...
     
  3. Sep 25, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    So I've gotten the steering linkage all mocked up. The tie rod and drag link are stinkin huge... Now I need to move my steering box. It would have been fine with the Dana 30 and smaller tubing sizes, but with the 9in and bigger tubing, it won't work. So off to the wrecking yard this weekend to find a regular 4 bolt Saginaw to replace the Astro box. I'll try and get some pics up this weekend as well... Laters
     
  4. Sep 26, 2015
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    Messages:
    2,327
    It seems that you build a hyper-strog Jeep, all these parts are top quality.
    About the thumb, I try to work with gloves. Not always easy.
    Go on and good luck.
     
  5. Sep 26, 2015
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2007
    Messages:
    5,915
    Excellent build. Always looking for updates.
     
  6. Sep 27, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    Thanks for the inspiration guys... I don't always know if anybody is watching this, but the compliments mean a lot to me. Hopefully I can get going again.
     
  7. Sep 27, 2015
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2007
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    5,915
    Well you have had 7,715 views of your build. I would say you have a pretty good following. Just keep at it but don't make work of it. After all it is just a hobby, right?
     
  8. Sep 30, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    Engage James May voice: Good news!! Project Seabee M38a1 has a new steering box... Well, its in the shop at least...

    I went to the treasure yard today and pulled a steering box out a early 80s Camaro. It's a 3 bolt Saginaw. I have no idea what the ratios are, but it'll do to get us going with. I know a lot of people like the 4 bolt box, but the only treasure yard around here has a limited supply of plunder... For what we do, snow wheeling and light trail running in the summer, should be okay. If not I can rebuild with another bolt hole. Sorry no pics. I need to reload Photobucket on my phone. Thanks for checking in. Laters
     
  9. Oct 1, 2015
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
    Messages:
    1,214
  10. Oct 1, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    Thanks for the link... Good info. The treasure yard I frequent has an old Caprice police car, but the owner won't let me have any parts from it...
     
  11. Oct 1, 2015
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784

    Good Article Piff,..............Tom Lee from Lee Manufacturing an old friend of mine from So-Cal I see had some input in that article also...........Tom is one of the smartest guys around in Steering gears. Unfortunately due to Illness he closed up his business earlier this year. He will be missed.
     
  12. Oct 2, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    It's hard when the great ones have to move on, not by choice. I'm sure he has more knowledge that can be passed along...

    I have photos of my non Jeep pursuits this summer... First is a couple from our 500 mile wheeling and family trip to the Oregon Coast. We left Hwy 199 at O'Brien and went over the McGrew Trail. We connected the west end of the trail with a Forest Circus road that brought us to Hwy 101 at Smith River. 42 miles from pavement to pavement. We stayed a night in Gold Beach then went to the Prehistoric Gardens and the Wildlife Petting Zoo the next day. After a night in Bandon, we drove home on I-5. We had an awesome time with some friends.

    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]

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    I recommend the Oregon Coast to anyone who is thinking about it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2015
  13. Oct 2, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    I also purchased a new to me truck... An M1008 is a fun truck to drive, but for 90% of what I need, its not fun. So I picked this up from Craiglist in Redding. It has all the stuff inside that makes my wife happy, plus it'll be nice for towing the Jeep around when its ready to go to places like the Rubicon and Johnson Valley and Moab and etc...

    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]

    I also cut a ton of firewood and worked some overtime, but no pics of those... I'll get some Jeep stuff posted this weekend... Hopefully. Laters
     
  14. Oct 3, 2015
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    Absolutely some of the most stunning Coast line and Beach's in the Nation...........and hardly a sole on most days. If I lived near there I would never brag about it for fear of too many coming to enjoy it.
     
  15. Oct 4, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    So I spent a couple hours tinkering with this steering box... Looks like I'm gonna need to make some big changes to the frame to make it work. I moved to front axle forward and it doesn't leave any room for the steering box to fit. I need to extend the frame rails.

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    I built the front bumper out of 2x4 3/16th wall tubing. I cut a notch into the bottom and pushed the box as far forward as it would go. The front upper bolt can't be any farther forward unless I put it inside the bumper. But, the box would be tunneled through the bumper, loosing its strength. So I think the best way to fix this is to extend the frame rails and make more room for the box. I'll have to rebuild it all and make some changes...

    I left the original pitman arm on the box, but I positioned the draglink at the spot where my steering arm would be. The steering arm I have is flat, so it might make a little difference. It looks like the draglink and tie rod will interfere when the wheels are straight and the axle articulates or bump travel...
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2015
  16. Oct 5, 2015
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
    Messages:
    4,538
    I ran into the same issue when I moved the axle forward. I found a frame that had been t-boned and bought the front section of it and used that to stretch the frame horns.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Oct 5, 2015
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    That steering box out of the Camero maybe a fast ratio box. I really like my fast ratio box. It make it easier to drive on the trails. Less turns of the wheel. If you are worried about the 3 bolt box? Haven't had any issues with mine and hard wheeling.
     
  18. Oct 5, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    I'm not too worried about the 3 bolt box... I'm not a hardcore rocker... I'm gonna end up doing something like Posi... My frame rails are 2x3, so if I cut them at a 45° angle I can add something on the ends and be able to make it strong. Everything I've read tells me not to just chop them off at a 90°. I measured the difference between the Dana 30 and Dana 44 steering arms. The 44 are 7.5in and the 30 are 5.5. Another reason I've ran out of room...
     
  19. Oct 5, 2015
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    Jon, 45 degree is fine and not a bad Idea to plate the inside / outside or both over the joint with some .125 metal....
    On the steering arms are you talking about the length out at the spindle? A longer arm will take more input motion or turns to get to full stop or full turning radius......Most of those gear boxes are about 3-3.5 turns each direction lock / lock..........so you should check yours once mounted to see if it has enough motion in either direction. The Pittman arm length at the gear box will also have a similar effect.

    On the fast ratio steering gear boxes.........OK Off Road but personally I find them to be a little touchy at highway speeds in a short 81" WB Jeep.....I like a variable ratio gear box if the Jeep is going to see both trails and pavement.......the valving can be set "Slow in the middle" for the straight ahead pavement driving and then "Fast out at the edge's" when making turns. The slowness in the middle keeps the Jeep from wandering from slight steering wheel inputs.
     
  20. Oct 5, 2015
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    Tarry I was measuring from the ball joint to the tie rod, just a quick measurement...
     
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