CJ6B - Family Sizing a CJ3B

O.k. the new helicoils are in with some red threadlock. The transfercase is back on and hopefully sealed up good. The front axle and leaf springs are in place. All of the bushings needed replaced, just like on the rear leaf springs. I'm not adding the gussets to the outboard plates until I'm sure the leaf spring perch doesn't need to shift for some reason.



I'm reusing the tranny mount from the MB, but with 2" of height taken off it. That's the amount I decided on for lifting the engine. The mount may need to shift some forward or back, but it's at my best guess location for the initial test fit of the driveline.


This is the frame work for the gas tank skid. It wil bolt to plates I hung from the bumper and the new 2"x2" cross member.


This is that skid plate frame with some 3/16" plate welded on. The 45 degree corners are to give me more working room at the shackle hanger bolts.


Plans for the weekend are to make some motor mounts, test fit the driveline and if all goes well, burn in the motor mounts.

 

Solid! I like the skid a lot.

I have had really good luck by replacing the bottom t-case bolts with studs, then using a lock washer and nut on the outside. Haven't had a leak yet after several hard trail rides. The bolts tended to strip out the threads, as you have mentioned.

 

I was able to get the driveline hoisted to what I think will be the optimum position, raised 2" higher than the stock engine mounts location and the same as it was left to right, which is about an inch off center to the driver's side. The 2"x2" has a 3/16" plate between it and the frame. I'm still waiting on a new motor mount for the driver's side before everything gets bolted in for good.



Not much room to spare, but I think it will be enough space between the firewall and the engine/bellhousing.



So, I'm up on all fours with the drivetrain in place. I'm feeling like I've made some good progress.



Next up is to try to get the clutch/brake pivot rod attached in the right place. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but I think it will come together best if I raise it up the same amount. There's nothing in place on the CJ6 frame. This is the rod housing on the MB. It's 1" inside diameter, so I could re-use this or just insert some tube into the CJ6 frame.

 

Coming together nicely!

 

The master cylinder is mounted. I re-used the Herm kit from the MB. I also welded on the clutch/brake pedal pivot pipe (or whatever it's called). I'm staying with the floor pedals for now, again trying to use what I already have.



Brake lines are in. New fuel line is in. Exhaust is lengthened and hung.
I didn't notice until I started putting the exhaust back on that my drivetrain has a little more downward tilt than it had when it was in the MB. To compensate and keep the muffler as high as possible I sectioned the pipe, bent it, and welded it closed.



This off the shelf 18" section of pipe moved my muffler back to a good spot.



I pieced together the back end from more store bought fittings. I'm not overly impressed with it, but I guess it will get the job done. It's a bit closer to the gas tank than I was thinking it would be. I'll add some header wrap for now and shift it outward later if need be.



The MB is now gone. I sold the tub, hood, fenders, and title for $400. The frame I gave away. The buyer didn't need/want it.
We're off to the Vista Rod Run tomorrow, so no more progress for this weekend. I hope to get the tub on (for the last time) sometime next week.

 

Moving right along! Cant wait to see it all done up. I cant remember, but are you keeping a flatty front end or a cj?

 

Well I lost a day's worth of progress on the stretch Sunday, but I ended up with an award from the Rod Run to show for it. "Best Offroad." I have no idea how this happened. Clearly the judges must have some weird affinity for rusty bumpers and dented quarter panels.



Maybe someday it will actually have real paint and a matching interior.

 

Congrats Mike,man the boys are getting big.

 

Your build is looking great. I'm just finishing up a cj6 build using parts from everything I could find and it's been a blast.

 

Chugging along. Tub and roll cage are on. Pedals are attached, but not adjusted. I sliced the tub, pushed it out and welded in a patch to get it close enough to the rear bumper for a tub mount bolt.


Fuel housing and hoses are installed. I added some angle iron for the rear tub mounts. It seemed to strenghten the area a bit.


Here's the battery tray. There's a brace that goes down to lower on the tub. The hood just clears it. Should've mounted it inward a bit more.


I'm using the MB windshield. I need to section out about three inches to get the glass lower. I don't like the field of vision it gives me right now, plus I want it a bit lower than the cage, not higher.


On the to do list is a tranny tunnel cover. I can use the stock one as a starting point and modify it to fit.


Photobucket has been a real pain to work with lately so loading pictures to post here has been a hassle. I'll probably update my website more often than here until I can switch to a better photo hosting site.
http://coastaldimensions.com/Album/index.html

I may be ready to fire it up this weekend. The biggest hurdle left is to mount the radiator. I was hoping to keep the existing stock shroud, but things will line up better if I trim it down and square off the slanted direction built into it.

 

Your really knocking this thing out! Looks good!

Kevo

 

Well, it probably just seems that way because I'm not posting much as I go. I must have had that tub on and off again six times working out all the little fitment issues.

I'm piecing together the steering linkage, trying to use the stock column from the CJ3B for a more old school look. It's a little wonky because when connecting to a u-joint rather than the old Ross box there's nothing to keep the inner shaft from moving up and down. So the metal I'm holding represents the floorboard; the shaft bearing to the left gets pressed into the column. I'm using the spring and a clamp on the shaft to push up against the washer. That will tension the inner shaft and keep it from having free play up and down. I can adjust the location of the clamp as needed. The u-joint will be a bit below the clamp.


On the top end I'm using a quick release coupler for the steering wheel. I got it finshed and installed last night and decided the steering wheel was sitting a couple inches too tall, so I'll be chopping it down this weekend and trying again.

 

I cobbled together a rear drive shaft from the old one and parts of others. The front driveshaft from the MB seems to fit okay. I'll have to check the lengths better when I get a chance to flex everything out. Then I can make some to the exact length needed and these can become trail spares.


My local fabric shop had the same material we used for the MB top six years ago. I don't remember the name, but I think it's considered a step below Sunbrella. This stuff is actually better for me because it stretches more. My wife hemmed the edges and I added the snaps that will connect it to the roll cage. The smaller piece was cut down from the old MB top and will snap to the back of the Jeep as an extra sun shade for the kids.


The Jeep is now drivable. It needs some more wiring, rear shocks, rear floor, and the roll cage bracing I mentioned in a different thread. A handful of other odds and ends before it’s ready for the trail, but it looks like I’m going to make my deadline for our first desert trip in October. I'll try get some pictures of the Jeep this weekend when I take it for a spin around town.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22474110@N00/7987568623/
Well, I tried to load a short video.

 

dude ,looks great and Sheri cracks me up..
actually ,today I'm taking my cage out to start getting serious .

 

Took her for a short drive to the gas station. Then in an epic Man vs. Jeep I parked it on the driveway and dared it to leak. So far so good.


Here's a pic of the top installed.



I much prefer the vented MB windshield to the stock 3B. After driving it, the line of sight isn't as bad as I thought, but I still want to section the frame and lower it a bit. I'm gonna need a new sticker (hint, hint).



Feel free to copy my Chapstick holder idea. You know you want to.



Bottle holder for the wife.



Clearance isn't too bad. There's more distance to the transfercase than the MB had, but the longer wheel base will more than cancel that out. It came in right at 102".

 

Wow! Just awesome.

 

Driveable in 4 months? Wow. I've got some projects you can work on if you get bored. Looks awesome!