British Columbia do it all CJ2A build with V8 Power

I have been lurking and making the odd post for a while here and I think I found a bit of a forum home, so I am finally going to start posting on my build up. I introduced myself a couple of months back and have been welcomed aboard. I had my plans for my jeep project before but have learned a few bits of info here as well. I have finally got my frame boxed and suspension mounts welded on as well as replaced most of my crossmembers. I am just installing the springs and axles this weekend so I can carry on fabricating shock mounts. I am running a 4.5" rubicon express late CJ lift with YJ style springs. This is a nice kit that is very complete. I just used all late CJ spring and shackle hangers. I am going to be purchasing an engine on Monday. It looks like I will be using a 2000 chevy vortec 4.8L engine complete with the FI. I will be using a sm 465 Dana 18 and hopefully a overdrive as well. Axles will be a 10 spline Dana 44 rear with an 82' narrow track Dana 30 front and 4:11 gears. I hope to convert the rear to a full floater as well but will probably do the initial build up stock to get everything together as I will already be spending plenty to get this thing together. I am running 34" x 10.50 swamper LTBs on procomp steel 15x8 wheels. I will keep posting here through the buildup. I intend to have the chassis completed over the winter and get into purchasing and installing a repo body next summer. For now I will use my rusted and beaten original body for all my mock up. Hope to here from you all.

Greg

 

I ended up installing a 70s' CJ 5 rear tank in the rear of the frame but it is looking like I will need to notch out the skid plate and gas tank to clear the rear axle. I need to get into the tank anyway so I can install a sump and fuel injection pump. Still I was kind of hoping not to have to do this. I don't want the axle cover hammering on the skid plate. Here are some more pictures of that.
Greg

 

Seems like you have a nice plan. Keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming.

 

Sweet ! biggest problem with a v8 in a flatty is cooling. Not alot of room to put a bigger radiator in

 

Looks good. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. good choice on the tires.:easy rider :stout:

 

Yes I am a little worried about what to do for a rad. I am thinking of going to a custom aluminum rad. I hear that Gen III GM LS style engines are easier to cool than the old Gen II, they are supposed to have much more efficient water jackets in the block. I bought my 4.8L Vortec engine the other day. It should be shipped and arrive home in another week or so. These GM Vortec 5.3L and especially 4.8L engines are so cheap it is crazy. I picked up my 35,000 mile 4.8L from a 2000 Silvarado for $300 complete with the injection and accessories, including the clutch and flywheel, but missing the starter. I can't even buy the parts to rebuild an engine, let alone machine and assemble one for that kind of money. It will cost some bucks to get it all working but I am sure I will still be far ahead. I was going to originally install my 340cu Buick V8 that I have kicking around, but I figured that after going through all of this work to build my Jeep, I might as well have a modern high tech engine for it. I feel it might help to hold a little value in the modified Jeep, and I want to make this jeep fairly comfortable, easy to drive, with good brakes, smooth running engine and somewhat comfortable ride. I think the 4.8L is going to be awesome. I hope to be working on my powertrain mock up over my Christmas break. I am getting excited to be working on the jeep. I am curious to see how the drivetrain comes together. Unfortunately I work away from home and will only be home for a week or so in November. The nice thing is, I am usually off for 2 weeks at a time, so once I catch up with my stuff at home, as well as my honey do list, I usually have a few days free to get some work done. I have to say that even though it can be dirty work, I almost enjoy the building of my projects, more than the driving. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement and the interest. I will keep posting pictures as I get more accomplished.
Greg

 

Radiator: I'm (still) putting together an M38, and the hacked in radiator had to go. Found a universal fit radiator from Summit Racing that fit perfect both height and width, except for having to notch the lower drivers side corner to clear the steering shaft. All aluminum, and cheaper than I expected.

Just finished putting together a floating mount for it a couple days ago.

Your build sounds interesting - one of these days I'll get to posting up on mine.

 

That summit rad looks good. I think that is what I might use as well. I am assuming you used the smallest one. It is 22" wide x 19" tall. Did you buy their fan and shroud kit for it as well? How did you notch the rad to clear the steering shaft? I will probably just lower my steering box a bit so the shaft clears the rad. I received my engine this week and it looks like it is going to work great. The clutch is going to work perfect with my SM 465. My Chevy bellhousing and tranny bolt right up to the 4.8L Vortec. I think this is going to make a great drivetrain combo. I am now trying to figure out what headers to use. I see Advanced Adapters now has LS1 style fenderwell headers for the 80's CJ5,6,7,8 but I am thinking they will not have the right shape to work in the old flatfender. I am considering using the Advanced Adapters Ford smallblock headers for the CJ2,3 and modifying them by welding on a LS1 header flange to them. The Ford bore spacing and exhaust port spacing is close to the Chevy LS1. I don't want to weld up headers from scratch. I think block hugger headers will interfere with the steering shaft, and I really love fenderwell headers. I think I could try corvette center dump manifolds as well but they could have the same problem as the block hugger headers with the steering shaft. I have lots of things to sort out and I am trying not to spend that much money before Christmas but it always seems that I need to figure one thing out ahead of another and I need to get the parts first so I don't have to do things twice. Lucky I have a understanding wife that is interested in this project and cars in general. I guess I better keep her.
Greg

 

My Brother has the ram style center dump manifold on his Chevy 350. This manifold would be the best for clearance issues. I never have had good luck with headers. I would try figure out the manifold and steering route before placement of the engine.

As for cooling. Your going to have problems. My Brother has a custom 5 row industrial radiator, running a narrow flex fan on the motor and a 12" electric pusher in the grill. And thats in a M38a1. Without the electric fan, he would run hot on the trail. Try to get a radiator that will fit with the most rows. You may also have problem getting the fan on the motor to fit. I couldn't do it with my V-6. Here is what I came up with.

http://scottmilliner.multiply.com/photos/album/1/scotts_jeep_pictures#9

http://scottmilliner.multiply.com/photos/album/1/scotts_jeep_pictures#26

 

Looking very good with the build. I haven't touched mine for 6 months now, but am just getting started again this week. We're at similar stages of the build, so it should be fun to follow along. Are you sure you want to run those 10-spline 2 piece D44 shafts behind v8 power? Might be cheaper in the long run to try and find the elusive 70-71 1/2, flanged rear d44, or build one up yourself? $300 for that motor is insane, nice find.

 

Do you think it will flex enough to hit the gas tank? I didn't think you'd get that much flex, of course it's not sitting with weight on it yet.

 

Yes I am not really stoked about the 10 spline Dana 44 but the previous owner just spent like $1200.00 buying and rebuilding it. It has new gears, seals and bearings, as well as a disk brake kit. I kind of felt bad to not use it as he is a friend of mine and he sold me the jeep for only $300. I plan to put everything together as is with this rear axle and I will just pull it apart again after the Jeep is finished and add a full floater axle kit to it from Herm the overdrive guy. I intend to do some flat towing with the jeep when it is done anyways. As for the Vortec 4.8L, anybody installing a V8 into anything these days should consider one of these engines. They are dirt cheap for 4.8L and 5.3L, plentiful, and powerful. There are tons of these engines around for really reasonable prices.

I am pretty sure the axle will hit the tank if I don't add some clearance. The springs haven't even started to compress yet. I am sure with the weight of the Jeep they will settle a couple of inches at least. I am going to extend the bump stops a bit to help keep it way as well.
Greg

 

Herm only has 19 spline kit. That full Floater is awsume. Its like towing a 4 wheeled trailer.

 

I will go with Herm's 30 spline kit. I am sure it will be available by the time I get this thing together. I will have many more carrier choices with the 30 spline. Flat towing will be really useful for the usage that I have planned.
Greg

 

I have 19 spline shafts and spider gears for a open carrier if you want to upgrade now?

Following along as this is sort of how I want mine.

 

Meet Herm in September. Told him I was the one looking for the 30 spline axles earlier this year. Herm still doesn't have that kit. Had to have mine custom made. Boy was that really expencive. I ended up paying $4000.00 for that set up. That was also buying a set of custom axles I still can never use. I found out this the hard way , after my Detroit was set up.

If you can go with 19 spline. You can get a Detroit Locker for that. FYI

 

I will hold out for Herm's kit. I really want the full floater setup for flat towing. I could go with his 19 spline kit with a lockrite as for another option but I have plenty of time to wait before I do the rear end. I have lots of other work to complete first. My completion date estimate is for Spring of 2010. It takes a lot of time and money to complete these projects.(as I am sure many of you know first hand) I am having a hard time coming up with both time and money to keep progressing at the rate that I would like, but there is progress. I have done a couple of car projects for myself and some jeep projects for others, so I do know what I am getting into. Even so the dreaded project creep and unforseen items, do put a wrench into these projects sometimes. I hope to have the chassis sitting on it's wheels with the engine, tranny and transfer case mocked up over the Christmas break. That will a reasonable goal. Thanks for the info and interest.
Greg

P.S.
I fired off a email to Herm about the axles. Here is his reply.

 

I finally ended up with a week off to work on my Jeep again. I thought that I would give an update and show some more pictures. I was hoping for some time off over Christmas but I only ended up with a week that was filled with the normal holiday stuff. I did manage to install my tie rod flip kit and my heavy duty tie rods though. So in the last week I finished some more frame welding, added my shock mounts, assembled the rear axle, installed the rear disk brake kit, assembled the front spindles and hubs and put the wheels on so it is on it's own feet. It is nice to have some visual progress. Here are some of my pictures









I have another free day yet so I am going to try and drag the body tub out from the back of the shed and drop it on the frame. Then I can assemble the driveline and hang it where I want it in the frame. Next project is the engine mounts and tranny/transfercase crossmember. Hopefully I can have that worked out over my next two weeks off. I generally work two weeks on (away from home) and two weeks off. I can make good progress if I don't have too many honeydoos to take care of. I just need more money to keep supplying me with parts. I am not allowed any more big purchases for a while. We need to catch up on some credit card debt. I may have to rebuild my body tub instead of replacing it with the replitub. I will evaluate it when I drag it out and sit it on the frame for mockup. It sucks to have all these great ideas but no cash to follow them through. Such is life.
Greg

 

I spy with my little eye...a KTM dirtbike! Sweet. Oh and the jeep looks good to.

 

Here is some more progress from today. I dragged the old body tub out from behind the shed and washed it down to evaluate it. I may go the repair route. I have seen some of you guys repair some pretty bad tubs. After I washed the tub down I rolled the chassis outside and dropped the tub on it. Now I can bolt the drivetrain together and get it sitting in the frame. Here are some pictures.










I am pretty happy with the ride height and tire size. I think it will look good when the springs settle with the weight of the engine and the rest of the Jeep. I am stoked.
Greg