My CJ6 build thread

Figured it was time to start a thread. I won't go through all the details, just the stuff I think is cool.

After starting to cobble stuff together for my D44 front axle build, I started thinking about what to do for the rear, run it till the 2pc's break?, 71' D44?(too hard to find), Herms FF kit (didn't like the idea of the necked down axle shaft)? Well, after spending too much time in the garage, I got this funny idea. The small bearing D44 spindles on the GM axles I had been collecting for parts had the same number of bolt holes as the offset D44 in the back of my jeep. Right bolt pattern, wrong shoulder, wouldn't fit into the axle. But, the gears had started to grind. After a couple weekends of moving across the state, I had some free time, and took Nickmil up on his invitation to meet and talk jeeps in person. After eyeballing his CJ6 pretty hard (way cool), I bounced this GM spindle idea off of him, it just might work.

Turns out the house we ended up in is about 10 minutes down the road from R&P 4wd, so my first day off of work I cruised over to talk to Rich and Paul. In the course of the conversation, I bounced the GM spindle idea off of the guys, and Rich got this twinkle in his eye, and said "follow me". We headed out to the shop, and he pulled out a half machined GM D44 spindle. And the rest was downhill from there.

Since R&P actually put the work into figuring out how to make this work, I will skip the details, but here are a few pics(sorry, forgot to put the card back in the camera during the install).

This will let me run the same Ford bearing hub/rotor as the front, as well as the GM caliper, and hub. The axle shaft is full diameter (no neck down), and can pass through the spindle.


Since this is the rear axle, a parking brake was in order, and these Caddy calipers will do the trick. Just need to weld a bracket on the backing plate to run the cable through.

The only drawbacks I can see, are the fact that the internal spline Warn hub will stick out past the wheel if I run skinny tires, and, not so sure if this is bad, but the overall WMS to WMS grew by about 2". All in all, I'm a pretty happy camper.

Total cost

75' 1/2 ton Dana 44 $100
4.09 gears <$50>
flat top knuckles <$50>
machine spindles $200
Dutchman 30X19 shafts $500
bearing hubs (cl) $50
new rotors $60
new wheel studs $30
spindle seals $16
Caddy Calipers $130
Warn hubs (ebay) $90

Total$1076

I probably could have reused the hubs that came on the front axle I took the spindles from, as well as the rotors that were on the wheel hubs and saved a few bucks, but feel pretty good about the price tag for rear discs and a FF.

Thanks again Nickmil, and R&P

 

Nice, I personally like the Ford design. My rear has the Warn kit on it. I got no parking brake though.

 

Found the rest of the pictures.

 

Picked up the axle shafts today, slid them in, and bolted the hubs on.

 

A good thing in my opinion. It should give you a tighter turning radius.

 

Well, not much progress as of late, but a whole lot of cobbling together parts. Picked up a 67 Commando frame (v6), and have started to cut all of the stuff I don't need off.



Dragged home a running 225, and thanks to a few members here, have tracked down a Offy intake, TA carb, a Skylark Ps pump, and a BOP bell.



And just picked up the D18 after a rebuild, thanks Nick.



The BOP bell is at the machinists with the SM465 bearing retainer, and the CL SM465 w/Novak model18/20 adapter should be back by the time I finish grinding on the frame and am ready to weld spring hangars on it.

Now the hard part, Holbrook Longleafs, of Wrangler's SOA. Decisions, decisions...

 

Wrangler SUA. No drama from the spring-over issues, lots of spring availability, and no major issues if you bend or break a spring. You can usually find a replacement spring pack in any corner of the country.

 

Picked up a new(to me) toy for the garage today. Think it should come in handy.

 

Been slow moving lately, 13 on 1 off and 10 hour days doesn't leave much time to wrench. Managed to get the commando frame cut down to CJ6 length, and welded the rear spring hangars up. Installed a new clutch, and the Novak Hydro clutch throwout. Gonna try and get the front hangars on and the motor/tranny/t-case slid in in the next few days. Enjoy!

 

Got the motor in, still need to get the tranny bolted to the cross member.




Gonna try and go get a D44 for the front from R&P this week and hopefully have a roller by next weekend.

 

That tranny looks almost as big as the engine. looking good..

 

Yeah, the SM465 is a tank. I had plans to put the Ford t18 in, but this one popped up on CL with adapter for about a quarter of what the t18 would have cost me.

 

Nice! Lots of progress since I was over there last!

 

Yeah, its starting to come together. Frontend is down at Holbrook getting setup this week. I might have a roller by the weekend

 

R&P called this morning, the Holbrooks were done setting up my frontend. Got the knuckles put on, and slid it under today. Still need to get the shafts down to Dutchman to get cut, not gonna have a roller by the weekend .

 

Well, not a lot of progress as late. the commute home from my new job is a killer. Managed to pick up a windshield off a 70', and got some axle shafts back that were cut and re-splined.



The front end is coming together, got some hi-steer arms from R&P, and a couple more GM D44 small bearing spindles. I'm thinking the custom full floater was a great idea, one spare spindle in the rig, that will work on all four corners.

 

Well, got the front end buttoned up today. Pressed the wheel studs in, and put some hubs on it.