My CJ6 Frankenstein Build, Little Of Everything!

Hope to get started in again. Stopped and ordered steel today so I can start on the rear floor.

 

Well shoot, was hoping to be posting a picture of my new rear floor. But, after a couple days work the tub still looks the same. Got my steel last week, got my rear pieces ready, and started mock-up. After leveling the body started checking measurements. Found the passenger side cowl was 1/2" narrow at the bottom, so I spent the last 2 shop days cutting, welding, and grinding to end up back where I started. But, at least the cowl is now square.

Going camping next week, so hopefully I will have the floor in in 2-3 weeks depending on when I can get into the shop.

 

Grind-to-shape, beat-to-fit. Finally getting started on my rear floor pan, realized I forgot some steel. See if I can finish it next week.

 

Finished welding the rear floor pan today.



Set it in place to test fit it, and it actually fits!



Next weekend after a couple hours of measuring I'll be ready to weld the front in place and start making my wheel tubs.

 

looks great. is that a miller 252? I would like one of them.

 

Millermatic 250X it's around 16 years old. Still runs good, few less bells and whistles than the 252.

 

Got the rear floor welded in today and the first tail light panel finished and welded in.

 

Been a while since I've been actually able to work on the CJ but, did get a little done today.

Getting ready to start modifying my Northern Tool "Jeep Style" trailer fenders.


Got 6" between the riser and the inner fender. Should be enough room to move the seats
back for extra leg room.


Looks like it should work, will have battery boxes in front of rear tire and speaker boxes behind.


Both sides cut to height and length. Still need to widen them 1.5". Maybe next week. Bet the person that stamped these "Jeep Style" trailer fenders never thought they would actually end up in a Jeep!

 

Might not be much but, I finally cut out the last piece of PO's body work today. Feels like a milestone to me! Even though I'm not ready for it I also found a Super HX30W turbo on ePay for a price that I could not pass up.

 

Great progress. Are you going to put a round inner fender inside of the trailer fender? I only ask because the plan is to put batteries and speakers and wondering how you were going to keep road debris off them.

 

Actually, I'm placing bulkheads in front and behind the wheels.

 

Fedex dropped off another piece for my 4bt parts pile. A Holset super HX30W turbo. Even though I'm not a fan of buying parts from China this one I have no choice in. This Turbo was only used on a European specification Duetz 4.2 liter motor and was never sold or produced in the USA. The only Holset factory that produces it currently is the one in Wuxi, China. The standard HX30W that is available in the USA has a smaller 40 mm inducer wheel that runs out of breath on modified 4BT's, the super has a 46 mm.

 

So picked up a pair of factory fenders yesterday for the CJ. Some work to do to them but, they are between 30 and 40 years old, and since CJ's came with rust factory installed they have had time to increase. 20-30 years ago these would have been scrap metal and factory replacements fitted. 10-20 years ago they would have possible been scrapped and replaced with better fenders from a scrap yard. Now the only hope is better factory ones from Arizona or Taiwanese repops that don't fit and are thinner. So this leaves me with these to fix, the repairs to these will not be anymore than to try to get the Taiwanese repops to fit correctly!

 

They look pretty good from here. Of course I am about 1500 miles away.

 

Have not abandoned the CJ yet, just been too busy working on other vehicles. Got the kid's car down to what looks like only 2 oil leaks. Got rid of all the anti-freeze leaks finally. It started out leaking so bad that you could not pin-point the exact locations. Now that we are slowly stopping leaks one at a time I can actually spot the last few!

 

The last couple days I actually got to work on my CJ6. Got the vertical panel cut and the hinge for the battery box installed yesterday, and got the panel welded in place. Today I started on the bulk heads to separate off the battery box and speaker box.



Also got the top spot welded to the vertical panel and welded to the outer sheet metal that I have currnetly on the CJ6.



Starting to think it would have been easier to just use factory style wheel tubs. Right now I'm making things up as I go along. Passenger side should be easier since I'll have the drivers side to use as a pattern!

 

Was lazy today and didn't hit the shop till after lunch. Got the top welded on, finished the front bulk head for the battery box. I welded both sides of the seam to make sure it was good and strong because I ended up grinding most of the weld off on the outside. Wanted it to be good and strong since my sport bar will mount to the top of the wheel well. And got a few more piddly jobs done. Still have to finish fitting the battery access door yet. For something that I designed in my mind I think it's turning out pretty good!

 

Milestone reached, last major patch panel on the driver's side cut and tacked into place! Drank a beer then welded it off. Still have to cut wheel opening to final size and put the lip on it. But hopefully by the end of this weekend I'll be ready to start slinging some mud on this side. Then spin the body around as start the passenger side!

 

The old gal has all of her curves back the driver's side her body. Some hammer and dolly work, filler, and primer. I'll be ready to spin it around and start on the passenger side!