What Did You Do To Your Jeep Today?

Decided to spend a cold rainy day polishing the Jeep.

Step1: wet sand with 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper;

Step2: buff with McGuire's cutting compound;

Step3: polish with turtle wax polishing compound

Step4: buff

Only got through drivers side so far…

 

Those hands look as old and knarled as mine.

 

First jeep work in a while, it sort of goes in waves. Today I bought a new outer steering draglink for my stock ross steering, since some dummy (maybe me? Can't remember) smashed down the threads on the passenger tie rod end to disassemble it. I know it's slightly long, but it will check off the first part of the STEER, start, stop checklist. It'll be nice to be able to push it around and eventually aim it where I want to go.

I have a saginaw gearbox and power steering pump for my dauntless, but I think this will work for awhile until after I get things running and driving, and then I can work on saginaw as a side project.

 

Took some digging but there she is (3-53 Detroit). The guy couldn't recall what kind of transmission it had. That's probably an Allison 3 speed something. I'll be tearing the engine down and making sure it's a good core to build, but it was running a few years ago.

My plans right now...
SM420/SM465
Transfercase??
14b FF 4.10's
D44 or D60
Hmmwv takeoffs 36" or 37"
The frame is really the biggest issue. I don't know if plating the frame will be enough.... I plan to use GM (k10/k20) 47" leaves all around. If I can make the frame work then I'll chop the rear frame horns off and use 2x3 tubing and extend it just a tad. I'll probably make another fuel tank while back there (10 gallons isn't quite enough fuel). I'll have to cut off the front spring hangers and redo them entirely. There will probably be small changes to the cage as well.
Of course, this is just me spitballing...there are always a hundred other issues that arise when making changes.

 

Dang that is a little crusty, I hope your not beating a dead horse...

 

Yea, I knew this wasn't going to be a well supported idea but my crusty 3b is the perfect candidate for another free powerplant. The 3-53 turns freely so I'm moving forward...
I'm pretty bored with the 3b right now. The engine is worn out, the transmission has seen better days, D20 needs an overhaul.... I made a few dozen mistakes when I first put it together and this would be a good time to fix them. Fwiw, a fresh fhead and tbi would run me ~$2-3k but I also want to be able to go at least 65 mph and that would take a gear swap or OD, and then I'd want to go with 3.15 in the D20. It's a very slippery slope.

I used a bunch of wore out junk parts when I built the 3b so when it was all together I felt like I had just assembled something that already needed to be torn apart and rebuilt. Sticking a fresh drivetrain and axles in there would make it less of a pile.

 

I cut up an old foam rubber camping mat, then used an entire $1.99 bag of Harbor freight zip ties and padded my roll cage. Next time I get to town, I'll pick up a $7.00 roll of 3" wide electrical tape at Home Depot and wrap it. Real Hi Tech!!

 

Oh I'm not hesitant on the swap (although I haven't looked up anything about that motor model) it's just that this example is very well seasoned.

I just hate rusted bolts. Will there be a Turbo involved?

 

No plans for a turbo. Pretty much I'll just be swapping one boat anchor for another. There are pros and cons to fhead vs 353 but imo the 353 wins in my book.

 

Will the 353 be able to get you up to 65mph?

 

Up and over 65. About 73-74 mph before it's max rpm.

 

Not t be a Negative Nelly, but a 3-53 weighs 965 lbs and only makes 101hp at 2800rpm. It seems like there are a hundred other free engines that would be a better choice.

• https://swiftequipment.com/your-guide-to-understanding-the-detroit-3-53-diesel-engine/

I like different and interesting, but I also like good engineering solutions. I would think you could find a clapped out Astro van with a 4.3 or an old Volvo or something and be much further along. Heck, stacking a pair of Subaru boxers for an H-8 seems more practical.

 

I'd personally be looking to find the Turbo stuff, and making a 3-53T out of it. I had a buddy years back, that had a Dentside shortbox F150 4x4 with a 3-53T and what I think was an NP-435 in it, and it was a *great* rig. Course, I'm kind of partial to Detroits, my first job in parts was working for a Detroit Diesel Distributor. Are there *better* engine options out there to stuff in a CJ? Sure. But there's not any that might make me giggle more, than a CJ with a 2-stroke Detroit in it. I say build the thing. Of course it doesn't make any sense. Not everything has to make sense, or be practical.

 

I'm fairly stubborn.... and there's only room for one bricked Jeep around these parts.

If the engine is no good then I won't do the swap.

 

Reading up on it... I think the weight of it is a serious issue.
Kubota, vw, seem much better for the rest of the jeep.

 

A 180hp 300ftlb vw diesel would be slick and a whole lot less work digging out in the mud

 

Nothing like a Screaming Jimmy to wake up the neighborhood and let people know you're coming. Just go for it.

 

Been plugging away at the 231 swap and addition of Holley Sniper. Worked on the fuel tank and lines evenings this past week. Today I started the final preparations. Installed the radiator and primed the oil pump.



Put in the coolant and wouldn’t you know, the thermostat housing leaks!

The pretty SS housing that came with this intake is gone now for the old iron part from the Dauntless.



Put it all back together and wait until tomorrow to put the coolant back in. I’ll go over the Sniper instructions again tomorrow and hopefully crank it up. Got to run it a while straight off for Cam break-in.

 

Double check vacuum lines and maybe even pull all the non essential things that might cause an interruption to the cam break in. Charge the battery.

 

Nice work , Scott......