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YJ Truck Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Long&Low, Feb 12, 2017.

  1. Sep 3, 2018
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    Very cool.
     
  2. Sep 3, 2018
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Made the bed rail pieces today, combination of using my bead roller and metal brake. Need to get those fitted and make the four bed corner rounded pieces. Then onto making the bed sides. Gonna try and duplicated the raised edge that is on the front fenders for the rear wheel openings and fender flare mount area. Besides the spare being mounted in the bed, I'll have a five gallon jerry can mounted also.

    And that rear view is deceiving, the fuel tank skid plate is about 18" too long, so it looks like it hangs down a lot lower than it actually is. It's a YJ tank mounted lengthwise behind the rear axle. The filler opening will be on the passenger side front of the bed.

    Got the TJ door latches mounted.

    The rear panel of the metal cab will be removable. Actually the whole hard top will be removable, just not sure that I'm gonna be doing that much.

    And yes, I went with the older rounded CJ5 rear tail lights, and got a special idea for mounting them. Something very un-jeep like.

    And the pics do not show the CJ5 tail gate chains and attachment points welded on. So the gate will have chains and not the CJ7 cables.
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2018
    Focker likes this.
  3. Sep 4, 2018
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Looks great!
     
  4. Sep 4, 2018
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    I like it.

    Was wondering if you'd given thought to the 'flat fender' fender approach to the front end?
     
  5. Sep 6, 2018
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    Nope, no cut fenders on the front end. Want to keep the round fender look.

    Trying to put together something like Jeep would have done with a factory Gaucho or actual CJ Truck. Something like an export version.

    I want someone that doesn't know Jeeps to look at it and think, cool never saw one of those before.

    And then someone that does, to say, hmm, they never did that, all them pieces are bits from this and that. Touches like de-blistering the hood, adding the driver side mirror bump, adding the cowl battery box lid, the short nose, the CJ7 external chains on the tail gate, the TJ doors with no vent windows, and the cut Meyer top all are branches from the Jeep family tree but don't really connect to the same model trunk.

    I plan on doing some bead rolling to the external bed sides. Much like the bead work found on the Willys wagons and trucks.
     
    Posimoto and ojgrsoi like this.
  6. Sep 6, 2018
    heavychevy

    heavychevy Sponsor

    Danielsville georgia
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    Sep 7, 2008
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    Your project is looking great. I have pondered about something very similar myself. Lot of innovation and careful planning. Am looking forward see the finished product...!!
     
  7. Oct 17, 2018
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    Got my bedsides made. Running them thru the bead roller and ran a bead around the wheel well opening to mimic the raise edged on the front fenders. Gonna run some decorative beads down the sides of the beds to give the sides some body lines. Had my son and daughter out helping maneuver the sheet metal thru the manual crank bead roller.
     
    Posimoto and iharding like this.
  8. Oct 17, 2018
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

    Tacoma, WA
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    More pics please!
     
  9. Oct 18, 2018
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    Oct 12, 2003
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    847
    That is a neat project. I like the look of a CJ type truck.
    Nice metalwork.

    Dave
     
  10. Feb 4, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Well finally updated this thread with some posts:

    Well you can see the exterior of the bed is near complete. finished the cab bottom corners and the front of the bed bottom corners. The bead rolling on the bed side came out nice, along with the bead around the rear wheel opening. Now I can see why folks use power bead rollers, manual cranking can be tricky, and you need 2 - 3 people depending on the size of the material. Have not made as much progress as I would have liked, my funds a little low, and need to pick up more material to finish the bed frame floor, bed floor pan, and the sides of the top. And I['m going to use CJ fender flares, with the width of these axles, too much tire sticks out without them.


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    Last edited: Feb 4, 2019
    Downs, jeepstar, 73 cj5 and 3 others like this.
  11. Feb 4, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    The gravel drive was way to icy to push it out of the barn for better pics. And the more I look at the smooth hood, the more I like it.

    Still have no idea on color choice. Thinking dark grey metallic, and the top black, or red body with a white top. But I am pretty partial to the JK Anvil blue/gray.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2019
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  12. Feb 4, 2019
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    Oct 12, 2003
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    847
    Ok, so I went from the post of the Willys, Wagon, Truck thing which is sad to see to this project which is well done and looks cool and useful.

    You project is coming along well and looks very useful and professional.

    I like this project.

    Your metal work looks great.

    Dave
     
  13. Feb 4, 2019
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
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    Mar 29, 2018
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    Nice touch with the bead rolling. Very sharp!
     
  14. Feb 4, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    When I get done with this, I'd like to bring it out your way for some trail driving, nothing crazy, but need to get back out in the dirt.
     
  15. Mar 10, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    OK, I bought a new set of low back seats last year, the ones that were $99 a piece. Nice seats, but the seat bottoms are a good 1.5 - 2" taller than the old ones, so I'm gonna have to shorten the stock seat risers or my legs will be into the wheel, and my feet too far from the pedals. I did replace the fixed column with a tilt one, and while that helped, my feet are still too far away. Plus i'm gonna adjust the mount, so the seat back is a little more vertical.

    Got the rear tail lights mounted.

    And had to re-do my drag link length and column attachment, I did not have full turning going left.

    Got the gas filler mounted on the side of the bed, used an ECJ5 piece for that, passenger side, and in front of the rear tire.

    Finished the three last bed rail corners. (you can see the not finished one on the back right of the last photo above.

    And finished the final frame extension / receiver hitch mount location.

    I really like the height of this, I can reach in and touch the bed floor, given that I'm short, its gonna make access nice.

    Looking for a solid medium to dark red to paint the body, black (or black cherry) for the windshield frame, and hard door uppers, and sides of the hard top and white for the top of the hard top.

    Any comments from anyone on the de-blistered hood? Kinda surprised no one's really said anything about that. I figured, I'd get some moans or groans.....
     
    Twin2 likes this.
  16. Mar 11, 2019
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    I could warm up to the hood....
     
  17. Mar 12, 2019
    Skipjack

    Skipjack 1952 M38A1

    Tucson
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    MORE PICTURES
     
  18. Mar 12, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    The hood modification looks good, but the blister is kind of a trademark of the round-fendered Jeep. It will take some getting used to, but it is different, in a good way.
    I do like your addition of the battery cover (I have removed two of these over the years!) and the bump for mirror. Your raised rear wheelwell lip really looks great. What dies did it take to do that? Regular bead dies, and a lot of work, or is there a "step" die set? I'm waiting to see what tail lights you used to set off the rear look.
    -Donny
     
  19. Mar 12, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    I used a set of step dies to make the fender lip on the rear wheel openings. I picked up an Eastwood bead roller, and a set of their extra dies, the stepped ones came with the roller. After using it, I will upgrade to a motorized crank, while the manual works, manual cranking really needs two people.

    As for tail lights, I went with the round ECJ5 versions.

    With the some of the detail, I want a Jeep person to look at this, and think, man, that's not right they didn't do that. This is kinda my version of a early townside bed Gaucho prototype. that's a bid reason why I modify the Meyer steel top, and did not just cut down a CJ fiberglass one. I did go with a modern with the TJ doors, cuz I like them better without the vent windows from a CJ or YJ.

    More pics to come this weekend.
     
  20. Mar 25, 2019
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Got the rear tail lights wired, and starting on the trailer hitch wiring for the 4 prong, need to wire up the reverse light. Will get some pics shortly. Gonna put a set of side markers up on the front bumper, and I need to decide if I'm gonna have rear side markers, something kind of hidden from view, but visible when lit.
     
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