DJCJ3A Trail Rig

do you think there will be a lot of stress on the frame rails during a recovery with just a washer and nut on other side of frame rail?

 

Piff,
Honestly not sure, just seemed like the best solution I could find for a recovery point/bumper mount. There are also 3/8" grade 8 bolts holding the bumper on the top and bottom of the frame on both sides.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! Thanks for the questions

Jake

 

Nice build! If I may make a suggestion, now's the time to add a rear mounted gas tank out of a CJ5. easy to do but may have to move your bumper back 2". At least thats what I had to do with my Flatty. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

Thanks! This is actually a dj3a so it came from the factory with a rear tanks. With everything where it is now, it fits nicely between the bumper and crossmember. I believe the DJ tank is a bit smaller than a intermediate rear tank though.

 

You're gonna surprise some people with that 302 in that flat fender!
Did you make your own engine mounts or did you buy some?
Thanks

 

Thanks, that's what I'm hoping! I picked up the mounts off ebay, and modified them to fit. They were a hot-rod universal mount.

 

Got a little more done tonight. Tunnel cover almost completed. Yes, that is a broiler pan, saw it in the scrap dumpster at work and thought it might work. This is my last bit of sheetmetal work, and boy am I happy! I am sick and tired of welding this stuff. This will be finished with a removable plate on top that will hold the shift boots for both the trans and transfer case. I will also be putting heat/sound barrier and then carpet in this, so at least I don't have to worry about my horrible welds showing! The shift boot plate will lay over the carpet so I will have access to the top side of the trans/t-case without having to pull the carpet.

 

love that broiler pan has some nice rounded edges on it.

 

Got my cage tacked together tonight. There may be some changes, but this is what I have so far. Now that I have 2yo and 3mo girls, I figured it was a good time to step up and put together a family cage. Hoping to do a lot of jeeping with them as they grow up, just as my Dad and I did. I purchased a kit off of extremecustomparts.com

I never really cared for the look of a family cage, but what's best for my girls is best for me.

Here's the progress:

 

Looking at my pics, I realized what to do to kill the boxy look of the cage I'm hating. I will be shortening the rearmost hoop 1-2", then leaning it forward some. That should fix it I hope.

 

Have you trial fitted the tub on the CJ5 frame? Will it work as-is, or are modifications required?

 

Yes, it's sitting on there as we speak. Most of the body mounts line right up, the exceptions are the mounts behind the seats, and the ones that attach to the rear bumper. Both of these are easy to remedy. I'll post some pics as soon as I get these taken care of.

 

After some work, I got the cage how I wanted it and finish welded as much as I could while it was still in the tub. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

Got my steering shaft mocked up tonight. Everything looks good, but I'm a little worried about the clearance by the header. Hoping one of you more experienced guys can tell me if this looks ok or not:



Piff, this is what I used the splined coupler to build. I will be placing a crossmember behind the box that the short shaft will pass through:



I used a piece of an old steering shaft to make mine collapsible via a 3/4 DD solid and 1" DD hollow shaft:





Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

 

I understand what you where talking about the other day..

what about that oil filter, and do you think the motor would flex the mount enough to touch that U-Joint?

Cage looks good btw

 

More than likely that will hit.........especially if you take it off road. You can add a fixed torque bracket from the motor to the chassis.........that will help. Or perhaps move the base of that column over a 1/4" or so?

 

Piff,
After some research at NAPA Auto, I found a filter that will clear, #1335, 3/4-16 input by 2.25" in height. Basically a standard Ford 1515 filter but stubby. Should clear the steering shaft nicely.

I ordered 2 today and will be picking them up tomorrow.

 

Thanks Tarry,
I think I have enough room to move it over a 1/4", so I'll give it a try. Wish I could start over and move the engine an inch or two to the passenger side. Guess that's how we learn! My other, last resort plan is to clearance the header a bit with a rounded punch. I really dont want this to look like a hack job though.

 

Got a little done over the weekend. Steering column is in (had to offset a little for header clearance), steering rod is completely welded, and radiator is mocked into place. Also started playing with the wilwood pedals, but am having a hard time deciding on placement. There just isn't enough room on the right side of the column without making some more major tub modifications that I would rather avoid. I've seen some jeeps with the brake on the left side, but I like the idea of being able to easily feather the throttle while my heel is on the brake. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I was able to move my column mount slightly, which gave me a bit more room by the header. Hoping this will be enough, otherwise my special tool (BFH) will be coming out to make a little more room:


Column mounted, fairly happy with how it came out:






1335 NAPA Oil filter worked out perfectly, and saved me from having to purchase a filter adapter. If I feel the need to change the oil more frequently because of it, no biggie. The filter is only 7$, and I feel it is a much cleaner look than the extra hoses and fittings that come with an adapter:



And last but not least, the 65 289 mustang radiator and mustang hoses, plenty of room for a mechanical fan!:







Now that the radiator is in, I can work on a custom crossmember that will fit behind it. At 113*F today, that isn't going to happen, but it's supposed to cool off towards the end of the week (3 day weekend!) so stay tuned, and thanks for looking.

 

Got a few things done on the 4th. Dana 30 disassembled and original perches cut off. I installed the new front springs for mock-up and set caster angle. Installed the Goferit tie rod flip, and mocked up my tie rods. I also got my Ford shock towers in place: