What Did You Do To Your Jeep Today?

Autopsy complete. Surgery tomorrow.

 

I'll purposely seek out Japanese manufactured bearings now days.

Even Timken can't be trusted now days. They used to be the go to for unithubs on the XJs, YJ's, TJs and it's not uncommon to unbox a Timken hub and find Made in China stamped on it. Thankfully RockAuto has a wide selection of them.

A rep from Timken had an interview on The Jeep Talk Show probably about a year ago now. When he got cornered on the bearing questions he sidestepped every question about the unit hubs and started talking about rear axle bearings and how they're still made in the US.

I've also got a Purvis Bearing here locally and they can source me dang near anything bearing and seal wise.

 

I hear you...... Last winter I replaced my right front wheel hub on my XJ. Timken....Made in China.
Guess which started makn' noise last Week ? Now I'm

 

better start looking . looks like the pill rolled off table MIA

 

No pill, i do 2 low

 

Careful, your Jeep will spontaneously combust.

 

Picked up more pieces to the puzzle.



The donor.

 

Today was 1 step back 2 steps forward...
Turns out I had a coolant leak.
20210711_151111 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

It was a fitting for the heater under the alternator.
20210711_161506 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

I also found I had no exhaust hangers on the exhaust.
20210711_214236 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

Both issues now addressed and the coolant system is filled with flush so Colorado will have fresh coolant in a clean system.

I wanted to do more cutting and grinding but 11pm on a Sunday isn't the best when you live in town.

 

The heat beat me up today, got a late start. The kit does not include an output thrust washer or snap ring. Easily found a good thrust washer, snap ring I started getting antsy. The old one I wouldnt trust. Scrambled around til I remembered I had a kit assortment. Bingo!
Set the endplay tomorrow and drop in the intermediate if i dont get cooked.

 

Changed engine and front diff oil, plus finished installing the rear fender flares on the CJ7.

 

Spent 3 hrs futzing with the endplay. Not happy yet. Get it down to a fat . 001 or . 008. Gave up going to fish around tomorrow for some more shims, need variety.

 

Wheeling for Warriors is next week so I crawled under the 3b to see about rigging some stuff up and check out the overall condition of everything. The D20 is leaking everywhere, again, and it needs a new output bearing/seal. The exhaust after the header needs to be rehung or better yet removed completely so it can be redone. Where I would've mounted the limiting strap is where the rear brake line/hose mount, so I guess the best thing to do would be to make another cross-member just for it. I had planned on adding to the existing transmission cross-member and adding a skid plate to it so the D20 oil pan won't be getting bashed in worse than it has. I also have a possible new employer calling to ask when I'll be moving to start work and I haven't accepted their offer yet. One more trail ride would be nice before I have to put it away.
Decisions, Decisions.

 

Victory is mine! Took 2 evenings and a dozen Miller Lites.

 

I think I would re check it again tomorrow .

 

I have little patience for tedious chores. I sub out all my differential work. When i do decide to sink my teeth, I'm all in. Booze gives me patience and focus, quiets the noise in my skull..

 

Ok Im happy with it. Endplay right at minimum spec. Intermediate was a tight fit. Everything spins and sounds nice, gears move easy but no slop. All the seals and poppet balls are in. Seal it up tomorrow and should be going in tomorrow afternoon. Theres hope yet.

 

Plenty of time for you to get it back together before Colorado. Just don’t tear up anything else!

 

Road tested! Minor snafu yesterday. I had swapped the output shafts and didnt realize the one i used was earlier and threaded for 3/4-20. Any 1 guess which nut i had ? Local Napa saved the day.
Its definitely quieter ( my phone is crappy), the shifters dont rattle and it's smooth. Used to buck and whine on deceleration.
Thats it, Colorado or bust!

 

Adjusted the rear brake shoes & changed the Oil & filter. I use Brad Penn ZDDP 10-30W . The zinc is good for the flat tappets .
Oh Yeah....... I tested the Trac-Loc.

 

I finished up the modification to the frame for the Rover Axles and coil springs on all 4 corners.

Then rolled the frame out and sat the body down in place to see how it all fit.
Looks a little funny with 28" tires. The wheels are 16's so a set of 235/85R16's might fill it in, or maybe even 265/75R16

Wheel base was stretched from 81-93" and track is now 67" out side tire to outside.