"Therapy" Progress Report With Pics

Sounds like your back on track with the Heep. I am sure it's liking the attention.

 

Yup, shock towers.

Just eyeballing, I think once the D30 is in, I'm going to use stock late CJ spring plates and mount the shock behind the axle so as not to interfere with the tie rod.

 

Awesome Jeep, I love that color!

 

Frustrating day in the garage yesterday. Despite doing some homework on this, ended up spending waaaay too long getting the swap done. Removing the D27 and heaving the D30 into place went smoothly, even working by myself.

Detroit locker (thanks, Warloch!) installed (thanks, Grannyscj!)


Out with the old


Troubles began when I started hooking up the D30.

First my spring plates were wrong. I had a box of u-bolts and plates that had been sitting in a cardboard box in my garage for years that I had labeled "D30 Parts." Well, they turned out to be D27. My spring plates wouldn't fit around my late-CJ 2" leafs. Trip to FLAPS turned up nothing. Lucky for me, I had an old 10 bolt project in the garage and found that '98 Blazer spring plates would bolt in place in a pinch.

Moving forward, go to hook up brakes and the brake lines are too short due to the lift springs. Could've probably made them work on the street, but first time the suspension flexed would've broke something for sure. Dangit! Second trip of the day to FLAPS digging through their back room turns up nothing that will work.

So I sit there contemplating my options. Considering bolting the D27 back in place, staring at it not wanting to make a move on account of I'm tired of heaving axles around the garage and I realize I've got Chevy brakes on the D27 that should work. And a 6 bolt knuckle on the D30. And so way, way late into the swap I start tearing down both axles. Luckily, everything swapped over no problem. Kinda glad I did anyway because I know they work well.

Then I take my TRE for the drag link out of the box and it's the wrong one. Tear down more D27 parts and finally get finished. Will have to post pics later. Took it for a test drive this morning. Drives good, alignment is set at neutral, probably will add a little toe-in. My body is beat this morning.

Still need to figure out a driveshaft. Thinking I might use an XJ double-cardan.

 

Thanks for the update. When I put the dana 30 under mine, I had the same issues as well as problems with shock placement. Glad you got it finished and looking forward to Pics.

 

I typed a bunch here, but deleted it. Long story short:

1) New-to-me Buick 350 is dropped off at the machine shop. Late model grille and radiator.
2) Putting shackles back in front, boxing front of frame, maybe a couple inches stretch.
3) Saginaw steering with DJ column and Astrovan box.
4) Possibly less lift, maybe 2-1/2" instead of 4"
5) Manifolds and quiet mufflers.
6) Stripping the inside of the tub and painting body color
7) Family cage

Been working a ton of hours. Going to be a slow process. Hoping to get it running again by summer. Will post pics when I have something worth posting.

 

All sounds like great ideas, except possibly changing the lift. It seems to sit real nice with the tire size you have and all. Does it ride crappy? The Buick 350 will be a nice swap. They are a good motor. Should fit pretty easy with the later grill. I will be looking forward to watching your progress. Have fun with it.
Greg

 

Clint,
Curious why you are going to manifolds? Thanks

 

Can I ask who makes the rims you have on it? You mentioned aftermarket, i'm guessing new American Racing or does someone else sell that style? Thanks and you did a great job on your CJ makes me want to take apart my Jeepster and resto it.

Tony

 

i thought i had seen in one of the pics you had a master cylinder for a hydraulic clutch. if so could you post some pics of this set up that would be awesome. I already have the hanging pedals and a master cylinder and am just looking for ideas on the hyro set up thanks. the build looks great.

 

Hey guys. Got a little preliminary prep work and parts gathering done on some down time I had over Christmas. Still hunting for a vac-controlled HEI; the engine I picked up has points and everything in the junkyard is computer.

I decided to go with manifolds because I am tired of leaky headers. I weld them, they crack again. The #6 tube in particular just does not seem to want to stay a part of the HEEP. It leaks so bad now that I'm getting some pretty loud popping on decel. I just feel like I'm getting older and want it a little more quiet when I am trying to enjoy some Jeep therapy.

I got the rims from a board member here. I think they are American Racing, can't remember off the top of my head. They are close in appearance to the intermediate Renegade style wheels.

I built a bracket for the hydro clutch out of some scrap angle iron I found laying on the road side. It's somewhere towards the middle of this build thread. Just make sure you get the pull-type slave.

 

Clint, I don't mean to jack your thread. I admire the work you've done, It is inspiring to us all to finish ours. I see a lot of Eddie's bumpers on here. (Ground Pounder Fab) How can I get a hold of this guy? I went to his ebay store and he has nothing on CJ bumpers there. Could you help me out?

Thanks in advance,
Ken

 

Go to www.jeepforum.com and PM username BSERK. He is a good dude. Highly recommend his work. Pretty much just send him the specs of what you want, and that's the way it's going to come to your door at a very reasonable price.

 

Clint, I got his telephone #. I'll try to reach him this week.

Thanks again, Ken

 

Well, poop. Got a call from the machine shop yesterday. Casting numbers were not matching up to Buick 350. Went into the shop today and did a little closer inspection, pretty sure I've got a '66 or '67 ironhead 300, not a 350. Didn't want to dump shop labor into a 300, so I dragged it home to my garage this morning. Contemplating my options at this point. At first I was a bit upset, but after thinking on it some I might just go with it.

Truth be known, I really don't need a bunch of c.i.d. in the HEEP; I've broken enough stuff already with the V6. All I really want is a reliable, smooth running torque motor. (I don't know if I posted this up above, but I'm replacing the V6 due to a bunch of blow-by, not for more power.) After lurking around some of the Buick forums, it looks like what I've got is a 9.0:1 small block with the right bell pattern, dist location, and a factory 300+ ft/lbs @ 2400rpm. A smog era 350 isn't going to gain me much more than that unless I were to dump a bunch of go-fast parts into it. With this 300, I'd probably just do a 4v intake and a Pertronix.

Ain't a whole lot on the 'net about 300. Any guys here run one?

 

I would go with the 300. It is a great motor. I have owned a couple as well as it's slightly bigger brother the 340. I have owned a 66 Buick Skylark since I was 15 and have played around with these engines for more than 20 years. The 225 is exactly 6 cylinders of the 300. They share many parts, including pistons and such. There are good cam grinds available (Crane and Poston) and they have good flowing manifolds. Intakes are quite hard to find and I have a factory aluminum one not being used, but I have someone already interested in it. You can drop in the HEI distributor from the 70s' Buick 350 as well. If you need to overbore when rebuilding you can use std. 231 pistons. I think the 300 would move that Jeep around just great and give you all kinds of torque. Even the low HP 2 barrel 300 with 9:1 compression is 220 Hp and 310 Lb/ft of torque. Plus you will get the great V8 growl. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask. I can try to dig up some more info for you as well if needed. Good luck with it. Cheers.
Greg

 

Shoot, that's not a scratch...that's Character! Lookin good.