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'65 Rubicon Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. Mar 25, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,382
    Once in camp, we put a jack under the apex of the bend, then 3 big guys all jumped on the frame on the count of 3. Straightened pretty good, but I bought a lot of beer for that.
     
  2. Mar 25, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    :lol:
     
  3. Mar 26, 2021
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
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    3,869
    Bent both fronts hitting a snow bank that was an ice bank stopped us dead with both front shackles at once ouch.
     
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  4. Mar 28, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    I have really good outside working weather, so I start eyeing the body. I took a flat bar and popped the 30-odd year old fiberglass that was poured into the floor. It was probably ugly when it was done, and let's just say time didn't heal it.
    [​IMG]
    Rounded up 3 friends for a little Sunday morning work party. Time to get the body in a position that I can work on.
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    Now on a dolly I can move, and the work is right in front of me. I want to see how far this is going to go, in case I'm ordering floor pans.
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    From the under side, the under tank area is ugly. I will tackle the driver side first.
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    I start hitting the spot welds with a rota-broach in a cordless drill. Some are easy to see, some aren't.
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    I think I can reuse the driver channel. This will clean up fine. The flat floor is gone. So I will get that coming.
    [​IMG]
    I have the customary moment of, "holy crap, what have I done?" But then settle into, "what a relief".
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2021
    Rubicloak, Twin2, locrwln and 5 others like this.
  5. Mar 28, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    that doesn't look bad, there's a panel on mine that is easily pulled up, after which you can stick your foot through the floor.
     
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  6. Mar 31, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,382
    Midweek stuff. Decided since I don't need the floor support channel, it will be quicker and cheaper to just get a driver floor bent locally. My local shop did good.
    [​IMG]
    Started working on my template with time-tested CAD methods.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Apr 2, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,382
    Parts are rolling in. My 3rd attempt at the Chevy small bearing spindles are finally here. Apparently there are Ford SB spindles floating around out there, and unless I put one right next to the Chevy, it's hard to spot. But kudos to ebay and the seller for making it right. Ventures Truck Parts in Utah, is my new Dana-Spicer favorite, BTW.
    [​IMG]
    Next to arrive today, the WFO 1-1/4" DOM tie rod and drag link. These are cut and threaded to my length for the Chevy 1 ton tie rod ends. They also re-tapered my pitman arm for the big drag link end. Very nice stuff.
    [​IMG]
    And, the coup-de-grace. BFG KM3 37-12.50-17's. Sam tipped me off that there is a serious shortage of large tires, and I checked Summit, they had 7 in the system. So I see no need to wait for the Memorial Day rush.
    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Apr 3, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,622
    Those tie-rods from WFO concepts look really nice. When I get around to my front 44, I'll have to look into those.
     
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  9. Apr 3, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,382
    I started the morning with placing the cardboard template on the 16 gauge, marked it and trimmed. It took multiple times of cautious cutting, so as to not go too far.
    [​IMG]
    Once it fit in there, I had to hold it long enough for some tacks. I have these little panel clamps, they work well, just not if you are by yourself and can't be on both sides at once.
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    After a LOT of welding, maybe 2 hours, inside and out, moving around so as to not create too much heat. Very low heat, kinda fast wire speed worked well.
    [​IMG]
    Cleaned the loose rust out of the channel, then slathered some Loctite rust treatment on the inside. Neutralizes and turns black in a few minutes, which means it's working.
    [​IMG]
    Sprayed some copper-weld- through primer under the channel, then started clamping and welding through the spot weld holes. Worked pretty good.
    [​IMG]
    I clamped near each spot weld to tighten it up. This part went pretty fast.
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    Quick coat of primer, and time for a beer. I am happy to have this behind me. The passenger side will be like half this amount of work, hopefully.
    [​IMG]
     
    Twin2, 73 cj5, montanacj and 7 others like this.
  10. Apr 3, 2021
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    I've been trained in Auto body. Looks like when I did my Jeep. Great Job.

    Oh. Like your Z71.
     
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  11. Apr 3, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Thanks, Scott, I appreciate it. I'm no expert, just trying to do my best, and hopefully get this thing done soon.
     
  12. Apr 5, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    Had to take a detour yesterday to work on other rigs. But back on it today after work, on the front 44. Packed and installed the wheel bearings, seals, spindles, caliper brackets and hubs. Now that I have the correct spindles, this kind of thing is easy.
    [​IMG]
    Found a pair of front internal 19 spline hubs on the shelf, banged up a little, but I call that "seasoned".
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    Getting more parts off the floor. The Dana 44, 5 by 5.5 Ford/Chevy front end is almost done on the outers.
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Apr 6, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    May 30, 2008
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    Nice work on the floor repair! And those tires are sweet. This is going to be ammoster rig.

    I have the exact same floor repair ahead of me this weekend, but with the luxury of having the Classic pre-formed replacement panel and new channel. My floor was 1/8" plate and 3" box tube....
     
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  14. Apr 8, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Time to flip her over. Of course, no one around this afternoon to help me, so I lowered it back down flat on the dolly, moved the hoist around to the other side, tipped it back up.
    [​IMG]
    Perhaps the worst area is under the passenger floor. This body mount is toast. But, good news, I don't think I have to get into the toolbox area.
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Apr 11, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I sent my Saginaw box out to West Texas Offroad to be rebuilt and ported for ram assist. They sell the very cost effective Redneck Ram kit that I have used on my 3B for 5 years with no complaints, so I am a returning customer. They have fast service, reliable components, great customer support, and half or less the price of a PSC. The box and kit are here, so time for some assembly.
    [​IMG]
    First, I installed the box back on the frame. This frame has the Advance Adapters Saginaw mount already there from when we did power steering for my dad, 15 years ago.
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    I ordered Chevy tie rod and drag link ends from Rockauto. Application- '76 K5. The 1-1/4" DOM tie rod, drag link and jam nuts came from WFO. I gave the measurements to them along with which ends I'm using, they do the math, cut and thread them. They also re-tapered my pitman arm for the larger drag link end.
    [​IMG]
    i installed the left and right ends and want to see how well the crossover steering goes together. I am pretty happy with the clearances above and below the springs, and coming in top down on the tie rod keeps it much higher and out of the rocks. The drag link has an acceptable angle, and the pitman swings unobstructed. One thing I still have to check is the winch driveline, which passes through near the pitman. I call this a win, so far.
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Apr 14, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    With the return of winter today, more inside work on the steering. Playing with placement of the ram mount on the axle tube, so everything will miss each other when cycling the steering.
    [​IMG]
    Tacked the mount on to the tube, then started with tie rod placement of the other end. This took a lot of measuring, to get everything centered, and the max travel.
    [​IMG]
    A better look at the ram mount and how it leans out over the front axle.
    [​IMG]
    With both ends set, cycling the steering to see how it works. Looks pretty good.
    [​IMG]
    I mounted up a 37 to check frame clearance, I would like to get a little more travel, but there is only so much room for the ram between the springs. I need to figure out how to measure the angle in relation to the frame.
    [​IMG]
    A little look ahead, the 37 looks good. I sometimes forget how big they are, and this one is well worn, off the 3B.
    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Apr 14, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    The tire makes the Dauntless look tiny.
     
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  18. Apr 19, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Many other things demanding my attention this week, but managed to get the passenger side floor cut out. This had the worst of the rot, and it is nice to get it out. I didn't bother cutting the spot welds, as I am going to replace the channel.
    [​IMG]
    The channel from Classic Ent. is a good fit, I will slice it and splice it to the rearward section under the tool box.
    [​IMG]
     
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  19. Apr 25, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    I have been seriously distracted trying to get ready for the big West Coast MVCC Military swap meet and camp out, coming up this week in Plymouth CA. Too much fun, but a lot of preparation required. Brakes, tune up, clean up, loading, shopping, etc. But, finally had some time this afternoon to work on the passenger floor. Of course it's snowing today, so I wheeled the body inside and turned on the Giants game. Made a template, and cut out a piece of 16 GA.
    [​IMG]
    Worked my way around, tacking, inside and out.
    [​IMG]
    Sprayed some weld through primer under the hard to reach areas, then lopped off the Classic channel to fit. Drilled several spot weld holes with a rota broach, and clamped it up.
    [​IMG]
    Clamped next to each plug weld to keep it tight, them worked my way around. It's solid now.
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Apr 25, 2021
    Jay's WWII Jeeps

    Jay's WWII Jeeps Member

    Napa CA
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    Mar 14, 2018
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    166
    Glad to see you have a good reason for your lack of posting!! See you Wednesday!!
    Jay
     
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