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'65 Rubicon Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. Mar 5, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    That is going to be the problem with all this stuff. All of the suspension, the headers, the seats, the roll bar, the carrier. All too big to ship cheaply. Maybe if any guys are coming to Tahoe for the Rubicon run...
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2021
  2. Mar 6, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,539
    Started off the morning simple enough. Trace and plasma out more boxing plates, weld into frame past the rear perches, square everything up, tack on the perches.
    [​IMG]
    Moving to the front, I assemble the parts for installing the hubs and rotors. The rotors and hubs are '85 F150. Wheel bearings are packed, inner seals pressed in.
    [​IMG]
    The caliper brackets are what I think are '76 blazer. And here is where I ran into trouble.
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    I might need some advice on this. And I thought I had the Dana 44 thing down. The hub goes on so far as the rotor rubs the caliper bracket. Hmm. Checked the bearings, set 45 outer, set 37 inner. They fit the spindle correctly. I am thinking the caliper bracket may be wrong. Anyone run into this?
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Mar 7, 2021
    Ohiowrangler

    Ohiowrangler Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Newark, Ohio
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    If I recall correctly the 3/4 ton brackets are different from the 1/2 ton. I've used the one's with less heavier steel and a tin gravel guard.
    [​IMG]
    These are after market, some years GM used this style. The caliper mounting position is more offset. But, I used 75 ford hubs and rotors, Ron
     
    timsresort likes this.
  4. Mar 7, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I have the ones with the tin guard on my 3B. So maybe these brackets I have are 3/4 ton? I think I will pull a wheel on the 3B today and get this figured out. And yes I have seen those brackets that numerous vendors sell, I thought I had them.
     
  5. Mar 7, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I want to get to the bottom of the mystery, so I get out the 3B, pull a wheel, caliper, hub, rotor. The caliper bracket is the same, exactly, so it is 1/2 ton chevy. The hub and rotor are the same, F150. I start to measure the spindle, not the same. Overall length is close, but the shoulder that the inner bearing pushes against is not as deep, by about a quarter. So the hub goes on a quarter too far, rubbing the backing plate. I look it up, it's an F150 small bearing spindle, not Chevy. The comment was, "you only make this mistake once". Yep.
    [​IMG]
    I put the jeep back together, order 2 spindles. I thought they came off a waggy front 44 I had, so either I'm wrong about that, or they were wrong on that front end. Whatever, it's water under the bridge now. Time for a little carpentry, I am making a low dolly for the body to sit on its side while I repair the floors.
    [​IMG]
    I think it will work well, I will be able to roll it in and out depending on weather.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Mar 11, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Man, work is really getting in the way of my jeep habit. Few little things this week, while awaiting the steering box. First, mounted up the Novak slave cylinder with their bellhousing mount. Had to adjust the rod length, for whatever reason, it comes with a short rod. I have seen other discussion on here about that. Other than that small issue, it's a nice product.
    [​IMG]
    Next, looking ahead to exhaust. I want the exhaust done before the body goes on, so I dummied the headers on. Right side is perfect, left, not so much. These are of unknown origin, from an old friend. I want to make them work, so I cut the flange, that was bent, and the rear tube, to get it bolted to the head.
    [​IMG]
    It needs a little re-weld at the flange, so I make a little piece to go in there. Welded it in, and was about to massage the rear tube with a torch, until I noticed I am out of oxygen. Good news, is it's not Saturday, like when I usually run out of gas.
    [​IMG]
     
    Danefraz, Rubicloak, Muzikp and 8 others like this.
  7. Mar 11, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Isn't that the truth.
     
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  8. Mar 17, 2021
    Jay's WWII Jeeps

    Jay's WWII Jeeps Member

    Napa CA
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    Mar 14, 2018
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    186
    Tim
    It looks like you need to find a new job!!! Not enough jeep time!!
    Jay
     
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  9. Mar 17, 2021
    Jeepsterjim

    Jeepsterjim Member

    Lincoln, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2019
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    Really enjoyed the Deer valley trail years ago. Went through it one year with a Bantam trailer in tow and the trail was still officially not open due to snow and high water level on the north end??. we had water coming inside. What fun!
     
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  10. Mar 18, 2021
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    Nov 15, 2003
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    One of my absolutely favorite trails. Technical in parts and the meadow in the middle is a great place to spend the night.
     
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  11. Mar 18, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    I know! But gotta pay for this somehow. I actually went off on weekend getaway last weekend, needed a break and to see some green grass. But I am back at it.
     
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  12. Mar 18, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I love that trail also. Not too long, not too hard. But plenty of challenges, great scenery, and history, as it was a wagon route. It has a narrow right of way through the wilderness area to allow access, based on the fact that it has been a throughway for 175 years. I have had all kind of adventures up there, winching through a 300 foot long snow field one time. Our local jeep club, the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo's have an annual poker run and camp out every August, for charity. Tons of cheap fun.
     
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  13. Mar 18, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Took a little break for a change of scenery, but am back on it. First, the reason I am so attached to the headers is that they came from a dear friend that passed in 2005. Ray Cronin had more jeep knowledge in his gear shifting hand than most of us ever can aspire to. He was a jeeper throughout, and had a love for speed, and raced for Art Archer in the 70's. He came into the Hi-Lo's when I was director of membership, and we became friends. We built 2 jeeps that went on their maiden voyages on the 50th Jeepers Jamboree. Though his favorite was 4-bangers, his last trail rig was a 3A with an oddfire. His license plate was "OBSOLETE". He loved Nick as a small child, when he came over to the house, usually on the way to a run, or dinner out at a Hi-Lo's meeting. He gave me these headers, so I am going to use them. This photo was in the late 60's at the Hi-Lo's Gamblers Rodeo, hill climb and cross country in Tahoe. He did well, was absolutely fearless. I will never forget the "Tijuana Ferrari" with the "Boss 139".
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Mar 19, 2021
    Madeline3b

    Madeline3b Optimized for analog

    PNW
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    Very cool bro!:watch:
     
  15. Mar 21, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Back to work. I want to get the rear springs hung today. I used a 2" hole saw for the 1-7/8" sleeves. Went through like butter.
    [​IMG]
    Cleaned up the holes and prepped for welding. Not shown, I ran a piece of 1" box tubing through both as an alignment bar, square, level, straight enough.
    [​IMG]
    Ran beads around the inside and outside, cleaned and painted.
    [​IMG]
    Also final welded the perches and painted. Reassembled the spring pack I had taken apart for mockup, and finally, I can hang these things. I am using WFO 4" straight shackles, no need for boomerangs on this frame, as it is longer and there is plenty of room for the 44" springs.
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Mar 22, 2021
    Madeline3b

    Madeline3b Optimized for analog

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  17. Mar 23, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Finally had time to pick up a bottle of oxygen so I can play with the exhaust some more. To get the rear tube back together, I decide to cut it completely out. I then heated the remaining 2 and pushed the tail end toward the frame. This got things close to lined up, and the collector is aimed more parallel with the frame.
    [​IMG]
    It's a little short now, so I had to give the bend a hot massage to join them up.
    [​IMG]
    I got these cool V-band clamps at Summit. Mild steel, so weldable, and I can tilt the joint a little more for alignment, so I tack the 2-1/2" by 2" reducer.
    [​IMG]
    The final weld turned out OK, and now I am lined up to continue rearwards.
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Mar 24, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    That is some impressive metal working to get that gap closed up. Nice job!
     
  19. Mar 25, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Before I had a spring over in my 3B, I tried some Alcan 3" lift springs in a spring under configuration. They were fine until I went to 58" wide axles with 37" BFG's. Nick sent me this photo from 2015 in the Rubicon. Big drop in the Big Sluice, full droop, then we came down, flipped the shackle and bent the main leaf. We couldn't believe it held for the rest of the trip. It was this event that finally got me to go SOA and get some real springs under there. When I got that pack out of the jeep later, I pounded the main leaf with a hammer to straighten it, and it broke right there. We dodged a bullet, as I didn't carry a main leaf.
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Mar 25, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    we bent the stock main leaf trying to climb a stup (at least i believe this was the cause), and we tried to heat it up and reform it, but it ended up breaking completely, though the damage was at the rear.
     
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