Third go around for the Jalopy

If you can remember back 3 years ago or so, I build a custom frame with coil spring suspension for my trail rig, The Jalopy. Well, this past winter, I was driving across a frozen pond when the front axle broke through. Long story short, winch + ice = - front axle. I ended up ripping it out and destroying the front end so.... :twisted:

Already have a great starting platform. A strong frame, awesome running 225, T18 and large hole D18. Just gotta do something about them stock 2A axles...

I have big plans for it now. YJ leafs, D44 rear, NT D30 up front, tera low kit in the D18, Ox lockers front and rear, super swamper boggers 35 x 10.5s and some more goodies. I just can't resist myself on this build. Already have a stock 3A for wheeling (Ted) and now I want something a bit more radical that I would feel comfortable with letting a lady friend drive on the trail.

I picked these guys up today. $200 each. D30 has 2.92s and I think the 44 has 4.88s if I can do my math right. I spun the pinion 2 times, and the short axle spun just over once and the long side didn't move at all.

 

Pics of the "lady friend"??


Soundslike a fun build!

 

Haha, she's not my girlfriend. Don't have one so I can afford this stuff. But she does want to have a jeep to go wheeling with, so I'll let her use mine while I drive Ted!

 

This is the phase of the project that I call ramping up. All that is is collecting parts and getting ideas. For the YJ springs, I have two options. One is to go with a set of 2.5" lift ones that I picked up at a swap meet and have spring under. Two is to use the stock springs out of this crusty YJ I bought and go spring over. I'm leaning towards option 2 because the stock flat ones can flex in both directions where the lift ones have a lot of arch and will have very little drop.

 

Any pics of this brutal recovery?

 

I was gonna say, a "lady Friend" aaaaaand all your toys? Impossible I say, Impossible!!

 

Nope, haven't gotten it yet. I pulled it out of the pond with a temporary rear winch. The trail to it is way to mucky to drag it home with the tractor. I have to wait another month. In the mean time, I've been building a '55 Chevy drag truck. :twisted:

It has a 350 and a 700r4 transmission. I plan on adding a supercharger to it later on, which will fit under the hood without cutting a hole in it... I'm leaving the outside the way it is. New tires up front and new wheels/slicks for the rear. I want it look like a tractor trailer with the single wide rear wheels. I have the original flatbed for it too, which I'll be putting back on.

 

Nate, I'm getting the feeling you are spreading yourself a little thin-too many projects at the same time. Every time I tried that, everything slowed to a crawl.

Did not Jalopy have links/coils? Going back to leafs and spring-over?

I've never been a big fan of spring over's from the standpoint of spring wrap. You have enough ponies in that 225 to make for a pretty good hopping session but guess you could run a ladder bar. Tire size? If going 12.5" or more, a set of WT axles may be a better choice to keep the front tires off the frame rails. I know they may stick out a bit too far, but what's a little mud in your face?

 

Like I said, the jalopy is still out in the woods, so I can't start working on that until the trail dries up. Yes, it has links/coils, but it has been breaking a lot and now it is really destroyed. So I wan't to go back to leafs. much simpler. I'm not sure if I will do spring over or use the 2.5" lift yj springs. I haven't decided yet. I'd like to go with 35x10.5 super swamper boggers. But before picking a tire size, I want to get the axles under it and see how much room I have. They will be 10.5 wide. I like that width and performs good for me. Good floatation and good bite at the same time.

 

I don't know how you leave the outside the way it is.. I see stuff rusting and I go crazy. Had a 65 chevy that drove me insane because I could see rust starting inside out. Got rid of it so I could focus on the jeep.


keep the links and coils just make it better

 

Thats not rust, its patina. Two totally different things!

Nope, going with leafs. Sick of the coils.

 

Been a long time since I've posted in this thread. I picked up a decent body for it. What do you think of the TJ flares for the rear? I like them. The angles are the same as the front fenders.

 

Love the flares! Always wondered how they would look. I will now be persuing a set for my 3a.

Thanks

 

that looks really good wish they were steel but plastic will work

 

Thanks guys! Nice thing about the plastic is if you hit them against a tree, they won't bend. I'm going to fasten mine on with zip ties so they will snap and the flare will fall off and not get destroyed. You probably won't have the tree problem though Steve.

Only problem with them on a flatty body is that they are a tad long, so the back corner looks strange. I'll take a picture of this tomorrow.

 

I think they look a bit weird myself but sometimes function takes precedence over form and that is more important to me anyhow, and besides that I love junkyard innovation!

 

now if you cut the flair so you only see about an 1" thick (like the front fender ) man I think that be pretty spot on

 

That is an idea...

Here's the problem I have. With the curve on the body and the straightness of the flare, it leaves a gap. I'm not sure how to fill it. I would like to add to the flare so it follows the contour of the body. I was thinking about expandable foam, but the will stick to both the flare and the body....



It ends up being straight with the back of the tub.

 

Started working on my wheelhouse notch today.

 

A metal worker like you should have no problem extending that flare to the body....Just add a flange by duplicating the body contour in some 20 gage,, attach it temporarily to the the tub corner, then bolt on the flange and add a pie shaped piece of metal that fills the gap. A bit of welding and grinding and maybe some hammer work and you've got your customized flange. IF the flare is plastic, just bond the new extension to the flare.

Or....do it in fiberglass covered foam, just tape up the tub before you build it so it doesn't stick to the tub.