1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

2X4 frame for my CJ2A

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by 47v6, Aug 24, 2015.

  1. Apr 17, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    You guys rule. You're all much too nice and I think Fokker would do much nicer finish work than me. Without all your support this would have been a bit more of a slog for sure.

    I got my roll bar installed this afternoon. Wife says gotta have seat belts in it to drive the boys around. My rule is no roll bar, no seat belts. Wifes rule is no seat belts, no boys in jeep. Boys just wanna ride and dont care either way.

    Roll bar was free, think it was from a 70's cj5. Cant really be sure. Its canted back pretty good and has angle the full length. I think it could have been in a wreck cause its a bit twisted. It'll be fine if I roll it over easy.

    The urban 4 wheeling is in order for sure. Just gotta get the bugs out of the suspension.

    Whats really funny to me is that the title is 2x4 frame for my cj2a. That was the easy part. I did a bit more.
     
  2. Apr 18, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    We can change the title of the thread to:

    Stud Builds His Own Jeep
     
  3. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    Got the Rubicon Express 4" wrangler springs in the mail Monday while I was in Illinois. I put them on today. They are 5 leaves VS my old 4 leaf and have a military wrap whereas my old ones did not. The new ones do not have a pinion angle shim, but i dont need it as I have a d18 and not a high mounted whatever transfer case the wranglers came with. They were 100 bucks each with free shipping. I did need to buy the bushing kit and that was 40 bucks for both sides.
    [​IMG]

    I dont know much about what constitutes a good VS bad spring, but these do have sliders for the leaves. I followed the online directions and put the full wrap on the stationary spring mount side.
    [​IMG]
    I think the old ones were rancho. The center bolt for the rancho springs was 1/2", the center bolt of the rubicon express ones was 9/16. I had to drill out the spring perch.

    I didn't measure the shackle angle, but I did measure an equidistant spot on the bumper/ rear crossmember from the center of the shackle bolt in the spring and they are the exact same length, therefore the angle is the same.

    I didn't put on the longer shackles yet for the added movement of the longer springs because they are not here yet. I am also not too thrilled that it will add 1" to the lift on my jeep. Its already got too much with the absence of the angle block and the new springs that need to settle.
     
  4. Apr 21, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Small lowering block?
     
  5. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    maybe.


    drove off the curb out my yard and dropped it hard to see if the shackle would over extend. Sure enough it did. Pried it out to go to a side job some lady wants me to do. Came back, put it in reverse and both shackles over extended to locked position. I did notice that these springs were slightly longer than the old ones.

    Trap door came in real handy.
    [​IMG]

    Tank is out. Glad I only had 5 gallons in it. Going to cut off those shackle mounts and move them back an inch or more.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Apr 21, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Good luck! I don't envy that job. Don't go boom.
     
  7. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    cut off the old mounts and tacked them back up again.
    [​IMG]

    I moved the gas tank far away. I have been known to light things on fire accidentally. I think this is the right place. I will be getting longer shackles at some point. They are in the mail and that should make the angle a bit less, but probably not very much. I am really thinking about cutting off those risers. I think I should have enough room for the differential housing to gas tank clearance with the longer shackles. I have a lot of lift right now and the rear is kinda jacked up a bit compared to the front. I am probably going to do the same thing to the shackle mounts up front. Too much angle.
     
  8. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    cut off the risers. Tacked it back up, put the bushings back in for mock up.
    [​IMG]
    I will stuff the tank skid pan back in there before I finish weld it to see if it fits right.
     
  9. Apr 21, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    I've got to say, in the land of diplomats, snooty politicians, secret societies... there is something oddly satisfying about seeing DC plates on a beast like that. (y)
     
    69Willys likes this.
  10. Apr 21, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    An easy task for a guy like you!
     
  11. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    Yeah, I get that feeling too. Its like a giant middle finger to everyone around here. I fully enjoy it. Don't forget that this place isn't all "capitol hill" area. There are some nomal people too.

    Anyway,
    The reason I had those 1" spacer blocks was to get the top shackle bolt off the band that goes around the skid plate. It does zero to hold the tank in as the flanges on the tank itself touch the inside frame rails. If I had open c channel frame back there they would keep the tank centered, but I dont.

    I took off the bands on both sides. It is less strong for sure, but its bolted in 7 spots with 3/8 cap screws into the frame. This has solved that problem. My shackles have like 10 degrees now and I expect the springs to calm down some and give me more shackle angle. If my longer shackles were here I would install them, but they are not. These modifications should make that process easier later.

    I think I will finish weld those shackle mounts in where they are.
     
  12. Apr 21, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    no, its a PITA for sure. I just resign myself to doing it until it is finished.
     
  13. Apr 22, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    couple things
    1, the door in the bed to access the tank hoses is awesome.
    2, taking off the side bands from the tank skid plate made the install of the tank really fast and easy. The tank flanges are touching the inside frame rails so it cannot move anyway.
    3, the tank/skidplate and shackle setup leave about zero room. I had to dent the tank a bit to make sure the shackle bolt nut has room and won't rub the tank. The nylock nuts I am using are a bit wider.
    4, a custom tank/skidplate is what i would recommend to anyone relocating a gas tank to an early cj.

    I finished the shackle mount relocation, got it all bolted back together and the gas hoses hooked up and drove it hard off the curb to see if I can get it to do anything weird. Nope. Drove it fast over the speed bumps in my hood. no issue.

    I dont like my "new" jeep. I EFFING LOVE IT!!!
    Drives better than any jeep I have ever owned, Rides better, Handles better and probably has better brakes too. Its also the coolest jeep round these parts. I put some seat belts in the rear, so Im going to pick up my middle son from school. Half day. Front belts today or this weekend. Got some wiring to finish, like headlights too.
    [​IMG]

    Sits higher in the rear, front shackles need fixed a bit and I might bite the bullet and get the same springs for the front. Its really nice riding.
     
  14. Apr 22, 2016
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
    Messages:
    2,263
    Dayum. Looking good. congrats.
     
  15. Apr 22, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Nothing more can be said than this: (y)
     
  16. Apr 22, 2016
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    3,869
    Give em heck. Looks great now wheel it.
     
  17. Apr 22, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    It started raining lightly as I was going to pick up my middle son. I kept driving. no top, no wipers, no headlights. Sat in the rain waiting of him to get out. Some guy walks up and asked me if it was a kit car.o_O he didnt even know what a Willys jeep was. My son saw me sitting in the jeep and ran over so happy. He waved to all his friends and made sure they all saw him, not that you can miss it.

    I parked on a hill and I am not huge fan of hydraulic clutches because they feel funny to me. I put it in 1st and let the clutch out too fast and did a really loud 2 tire burn out. Scared the bejeezus out of all the weirdos. Lots of them are diplomats or some other thing.

    Ended up in the middle of the street , scared some more people, did a little bucking bronco and laughed and laughed.. Don't care, son is smiling, every things cool. Goofy guy driving his toy, picking up his son.

    I do have either the bearings going bad or end play is incorrect in the bottom of the transfer case where the output shafts are. Soon I will tear into it.
     
  18. Apr 22, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2004
    Messages:
    4,491
    Congratulations brother! The smile on your sons face should make all of your work worth it. That's the top right there. Happy for you. Drive the snot out of it now.
     
    47v6 likes this.
  19. Apr 23, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    Great job Chris!
     
  20. Apr 24, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    Wired the headlights , tach, and dash light/gauge lights. I also bent the shifter to clear the dash in 1st. I cut notches in the shaft and welded the void. There is no room on the floor because of where the pedals are for high/low beam floor switch so I had to get a switch and mount it on the dash next to the light switch. Works fine, but there is a momentary turning off of the headlights and if I leave it in the center position, no lights at all. As I recall as the floor switch cycled there was a flash of headlights off as well.

    I am having trouble with the headlight socket/pigtain for the front parking /turn signal on one side. The light assembly is straight up junk. They are sold all over the place for this purpose, but they are not fully finished, raw edges and not good quality. At 30 bucks a piece I expect a bit more.
    [​IMG]
     
New Posts