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Picked Up A 71 For A Buddy Of Mine......

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Norcal69, Jul 25, 2016.

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  1. Jun 8, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    why do you think my jeeps are still on the sketchy POS spectrum and have limited mods.....I much prefer driving a sketchy jeep than building a good one!
     
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  2. Jun 8, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    When I wasn't on overtime I was able to put in a half hour to forty-five min over lunch and that was ok. If you go too long between therapy sessions you forget where you put the parts you need.
     
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  3. Jun 9, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Buttoned up the rear axle install last night.
    First up the new U bolts and spring under plates were installed and torqued down.
    If I were making these plates again I would use 1-1/4" wide ears on the spring under plates. The 1" wide is nice and compact, but doesn't allow much room for a socket to fit over the nut. A standard socket must be used to tighten the nuts as the wall thickness of an impact socket will not fit in between the nut and the side of the plate.
    These however are the most compact mounting solution for a spring under setup.


    [​IMG]


    With the axle bolted in it was time to work on the rear shocks.
    These shocks were spec'd for Steve by Doestech Suspension, they are a step up from what RR sells with their kit. The shocks are longer than they need to be, but I'll use them for now...... Heck the shocks are one of the few things that I am reusing!
    Cleaned em up and slammed a set of new hourglass bushings in both of them before starting in with mocking up the axle mount.
    Some digging through various ruff stuff brackets and odd pieces I have made over the years led me to these beauties. For a couple years these brackets were welded to the front axle of my jeep to connect the swaybar link to the axle. The brackets are made out of some 2"x2" x1/4" box tube, from the Quaker Oats facility demo!
    Nice and crusty, fits this jeep well!


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    After sparks and loud noises......


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    More sparks...... I was glad to be wearing ear plugs while welding the brackets on. A nice not welding dingle bounced right into my ear and sizzled around for a bit!
    Pretty happy with how these came out!


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    Shock mounting done!
    This jeep is starting to be too nice..... way nicer that Steve would have wanted it to be!


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    Moving forward with rear axle progress it was time to install the rear drum brake backing plates and bend up some break lines.
    The chassis to axle brake hose was always too short when Steve ran the jeep. A 20" long 1979 F150 4x4 rear brake hose was installed.


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    The rear brake lines were made up out of a single 60" long piece of 3/16" brake line, I cut and flared the line at the T junction.
    I absolutely hate bending and making brake lines....... I have no idea why, but they never come out looking proper like factory units.....I even have a couple tubing benders.
    On my AMX build I am going to farm out the hard brake line and hard fuel line project...... For this heep of a jeep the lines will be just fine. I really like free form art anyhow ......


    [​IMG]


    How I left the jeep last night.
    The pile of parts is much smaller than it was a week ago. My plan is to make new tie rod/drag link tonight (Friday) and get the jeep roll able for a Saturday morning Flex test!!!!
    So the plan for tonight is:
    Tie rod/drag link
    Install rear hubs
    Install tires/wheels
    Set toe in adjustment
    Bleed brakes.


    [​IMG]
     
  4. Jun 9, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Those rear shock axle mounts are really nice.
     
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  5. Jun 9, 2023
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    The rear brake lines were made up out of a single 60" long piece of 3/16" brake line, I cut and flared the line at the T junction.
    I absolutely hate bending and making brake lines....... I have no idea why, but they never come out looking proper like factory units.....I even have a couple tubing benders.
    On my AMX build I am going to farm out the hard brake line and hard fuel line project...... For this heep of a jeep the lines will be just fine. I really like free form art anyhow ......


    [​IMG]


    IMG_2579.jpg
    looks like my “art” work
     
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  6. Jun 9, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I think yours look better than mine!
     
  7. Jun 10, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Friday night went fairly smooth.
    First up the rear hubs were installed and the drum brakes were adjusted before the wheel/tires went on.
    The jeep sat on the ground for the first time in nearly a month! There is a little rake built into the suspension, but with a full load of fuel and gear it should sit fairly level.


    [​IMG]


    With the jeep on the ground I was able to measure for lengths for the tie rod and drag link. Off to the band saw with a length of .188 wall DOM tube!
    Threading these in the lathe is the only way to go!


    [​IMG]


    Steering mocked up.
    I am waiting to address the bump steer until all of the weight is in/on the jeep.... winch, bumper, seats, fuel ect.....
    This pitman arm is of unknown origin... perhaps a chevy blazer.... who knows. It appears that a YJ drop arm would be about perfect.


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Jun 10, 2023
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    I thought you built ram assist for the steering?
     
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  9. Jun 10, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Nice that you are making your own tie rods. Are you using the stock jeep ends?
     
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  10. Jun 10, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes, my goal is to have the tie rod ends break before anything else. will carry spares for a quick trail fix.
     
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  11. Jun 11, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    To make my own TR/DL again, I would also have used stock Jeep ends.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2023
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  12. Jun 12, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    With the tie rod and drag link in place I set the toe adjustment to 1/16" in and started mocking up the ram assist.


    [​IMG]


    With the ram in place I was able to measure the exact travel required by this axle.
    A 1.12" spacer was cut to internally limit the ram.
    Disassembly of the Trail Gear ram was much easier than the PSC ram.


    [​IMG]


    After reassembly, the ram was installed for the final time. All this stuff looks so pretty when it is first assembled!


    [​IMG]


    Not many pictures taken of the progress as I was basically copying the existing setup on my 69'
    The hydraulic line clamp was mounted to the grill with riv-nuts just like on my jeep. My local hydraulic shop only crimped one end of the hoses, allowing me to custom fit the length.


    [​IMG]


    To wrap up the evening I welded in the front cross member/swaybar tube. I had put off welding it into place until the majority of the steering work was completed. Picture me ringing my bell on that thing 1/2 dozen times.....


    [​IMG]
     
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  13. Jun 12, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    With the jeep now steerable there seemed to be only one logical option for a Sunday at high noon..... FORKLIFT FLEX TEST!!!!!!!! with an iced coors latte to celebrate!
    On May 5 this jeep came into my work bay a complete basket case, hanging off of the forks of my 40' reach lift.
    On June 11 it drove out of my shop on its own fuel injected power.
    While the jeep was on the forklift measurements were taken for the front shock mounts.

    I gotta say.... this jeep is growing on me.... It looks pretty darn good!


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


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    The big reveal......
    Eat my shorts Rocky Road!
    This is a solid 5" more flex than RR was able to get out of their kit. Back on page 6 you can see the initial install flex pictures.....


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


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    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Jun 12, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    What's going on with the cable / line? Passing in front of the shock on the right rear?
     
  15. Jun 12, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That is the E brake cable.
    I was hesitant to mount/route them until the flex test. They are just a tad short when fully flexed out.... so I will need to reconfigure the E brake cables a bit.
     
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  16. Jun 12, 2023
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    I am sure glad you are documenting this....I am currently taking notes and changing everything on my CJ6. I should be done with removing the RR on the rear later this week, then I will start on the front.

    Thanks for all you are doing!
     
  17. Jun 12, 2023
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    With the flex test measurements out of the way I drove the jeep back into my bay and started working on the front shock mounts.
    I envisioned something more awe inspiring than the what the final product ended up being...... but they will work just fine...

    Mocking up the shocks, my rough guess is that 5ish degrees of forward tilt at full droop will yield a shock perpendicular to the spring eye datum line at full compression.

    [​IMG]


    The shock mounts are made out of some Quaker Oats 2"x2"x1/4" wall box tube.


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    [​IMG]


    There is about an inch in between the power steering belt and the shock mount.


    [​IMG]


    Passenger Side


    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Jun 12, 2023
    Tralehead

    Tralehead Member

    Silverado, CA
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    Really enjoying this build thread, learning a lot. But pardon my ignorance; you're installing a ram assist WITH power steering? Care to elaborate or point me in a direction?
    Reason for asking: My current Wagon has manual Sag. set-up. P.O. says he went this route for simplicity and that the smaller box fit under the grille, allowing the stock splash pan to remain (which I like). But 68 year old arms would love to have some power for parallel parking and mild off-roading. Thinking about adding electric/Prius but open to other ideas.
    Thanks

    Also; what's the finned alloy heat sink thingy?
     
  19. Jun 12, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Well, that's some nice flex. Plenty for what you're going to do. So much of the battle is keeping the tires on the ground. You have really busted this out quickly, and I look forward to watching it work.
     
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  20. Jun 12, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Read this build:
    http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/110768/
    And this isn't fun but it fills you in on the story:
    http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/151503/
     
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