Varg In Jeep's Clothing

Ready to weld.

 

Wow!

 

Locations are good. This should work.



Here's a shot of the XJ shackles bolted to the removable mounts. The mounts are still in mock-up mode, but I like where they are. I think I'll incorporate a 'stop' into the mount to prevent inversion before final welding.

 

Jeez thats beautiful!

 

x2

 

Thanks guys. Sorry I'm posting so much with minimal updates; I'm just giddy like a child watching this thing finally come together.

I got the welding finished, the spring packs back together and the axle under it.







I may have to put this on hold for a few weeks for an upcoming job, but at least it's to a point where I can "wheelbarrow" it around if it's in my way.

I'm itching to fab up the front radius arms.

 

Alright, you're aware its beautiful. You gonna make a plate for the inside of the frame like you made for the other guy over those frenched in hangers? Do it! Either that or box the whole thing....

 

Yup, the whole thing will get boxed in the end.

I just spent the last half hour chipping the front axle out of a 3' tall chunk of ice. I really need to stop storing axles under the drip edge of the shop.

 

Wow, that axle looks really.............. cool.

 

A little late, but I love cow mat material. I cut a piece for the cargo area of the -6 and it cuts down noise and anything you drop on it will not hurt it. I have the remainder by my bench to stand on, and as I need it for various things, I just carve a little piece off. It cuts with a utility knife with a bit of work, but if you throw it in the snow for a while, the bandsaw and holesaws work through it pretty well too. Awesome stuff and durable as heck.

 

I had to throw the body on to make sure I'm on the right track. I know this look isn't for everybody, but I love it. Rear is stretched 3" and the front is 4", giving an 87" wheelbase. I have ratchet straps holding the rear at its finished ride hight.

 

So, are the toyota axles about 6 inches wider than a D44? Where did you stretch it? Did you cut the frame? My WB is about 92 1/2 or so.

 

The pics weren't coming up for me until now. All I can say is wow! Gorgeous work.

 

I can create rugged industrial looking stuff. It is functional, has nice welds and is good looking. Your stuff is a work of art,however, and I get different ideas every time I look at it. You truly think out of the box!

 

Thanks gentlemen. I'm constantly fighting the urge to just say "****-it" and do a basic build just to get it done. But I'm determined to see if it is possible to build a jeep that feels like a semi-modern car on the road, but can still get the snot wheeled out of it and have huge ground clearance. My 3B sits 3-4" higher than this and has 6" less breakover clearance. This shot blows me away. This will be the belly clearance, minus a bit of the driveshafts showing.

The truck axles are (F&R) 55" wms - wms. This looks extra-wide because of these $100 CL wheels have a weird offset, and they're 7" wide tires on 8 1/2" wide wheels. They're strictly for build-purposes. I hate these tires, and looking cool is about all they're good for.

When I built the body, I moved the rear wheel opening back 3" which allowed me to shift the axle back. That's why my shackle mounts are up in the rear bumper. Here you can see the end of the frame is still intact, and the rivet holes for the rear shackle mounts are still there. So I didn't technically stretch the frame...



And since I'm using coil springs up front, the frame length could technically end at the axle if it weren't for a steering box and possible winch mount out front. I'll probably add a few inches just to give me a little more real estate to work with up there, but it will be higher than stock to keep a healthy approach angle.

Thanks for following along.

 

That looks pretty darn sweet!!! Are those tires gonna be big enough?

 

i think it looks great! Going to wheel a lot better with the extra wheelbase too. I mounted my rear springs to the bumper like you, but I added about 8 inches to the front frame horns and ended up at 94 1/2" for wheelbase. I love the stretched look. There are more than enough short Jeeps in the world.

 

I think its official. I'm going to cut my project up and throw it out. Just going to live vicariously through your posts....

 

I sure have some good ideas if I want to go spring over. Nice to really see how another person approaches a problem and what their solution is.