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Firefly’s Build Thread

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Andrew Theros, Aug 16, 2022.

  1. Aug 16, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    393
    86E152D4-DB49-4BD8-8C3B-101E25D166FF.jpeg Good evening everyone!
    I hesitated about starting a build thread, mostly because I don’t have a build in mind and because whatever I do, you guys have seen it all before.
    I finally decided to do it for the same reason many before me have said; To keep another record for myself!

    I called her Firefly for the old syfy series/movie “Serenity”, a POS spaceship held together by hope, wishes and love. Well mine is held together with stress sweat and a wallet that is loosing weight!

    I’ve been on here as long as I have owned it. To date (with tons of help here!) I have replaced the clutch, rebuilt the T14, re-habbed the rear (hubs bearings brakes etc…), replaced the timing set, timing cover, oil pump, rebuilt the 2G carb abs learned how to use a vacuum gauge to troubleshoot and time the V6.
    Next up is re-habbing the front end.
    Disc conversion, bearings and seals, knuckle stud mod, rebuild the saggy box and I’m sure much more to come before it’s on the road again. I work slow, and payday often dictates new parts.

    Pics are from the current front end project. Looks like PO had a cold chisel but not a hub socket…
    Other side was the same. I don’t know the hub nut torque spec is, but I’d bet a paycheck its a bit more than a tap on a drift to get the nut to loosen!

    More to come!
    Thanks again for all the help so far!

    Andy
     
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  2. Aug 16, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Nice...Blood and swearing can also help
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2022
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  3. Aug 17, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,626
    X2.
     
  4. Aug 18, 2022
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    Great name for the jeep, the Firefly series and subsequent Serenity movie are one of my all-time favorites. I wish they'd bring it back. I'll be following along!
     
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  5. Aug 18, 2022
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2022
    Messages:
    656
    Blood sacrifice is always necessary.

    Agreed. One of my favorites.
     
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  6. Aug 18, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    For you Serenity fans… 1CFE7E31-24BF-44B4-8188-0AD27BDEEF8D.jpeg
     
  7. Aug 19, 2022
    Moosanah

    Moosanah New Member

    Calgary, Alberta
    Joined:
    May 25, 2018
    Messages:
    24
    hmmmmm...Morena Baccarin :beer:
     
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  8. Aug 21, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    Kinda funny, I have been a telephone lineman/cable splicer for over 30 years so I know sometimes progress is lubed with blood but I haven’t given much on the work I’ve done here “so far”!

    Today’s update;
    Got the D27 stripped down to the globes, half of the wheel bearings cleaned. I think these will be reused. Got the locking hubs dis-assembled and cleaned as well as the spindles.
    Disc brakes are ordered from Rock Auto and brackets from Brennan. Still working on a 2 hole knuckle…
    Now it’s down to cleaning and waiting for parts!
    Sorry no pics today.
     
  9. Sep 24, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    C1F75DF6-F55B-4F62-82E7-CD728A4E23B6.jpeg Well, I said I work slow, couple that with a short notice week on Maui and I’m finally moving forward!

    Today I got the spheres cleaned and polished for the knuckles. Got the driver’s side mounted with new kingpin bearings and races and a new knuckle seal. I went with 1.5” button heads for the knuckle studs, looks like they will just clear the hubs, we’ll see.
    Should get the passenger side done tomorrow and maybe even experiment with the Metcalf bracket and caliper placement. The bump stop on the passenger side may foil my plans for a 9-10 o’clock placement.
     
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  10. Sep 24, 2022
    jeeper50

    jeeper50 jeeps 'till I die

    Spanish Fort. AL
    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2007
    Messages:
    844
    Just put the bleed port up and your good to go
     
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  11. Oct 2, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    24B5435C-662E-4FEE-9FC6-AD041EA6D97D.jpeg 1C11842D-38B7-4B11-8754-9F2D7AE9478F.jpeg Here we go!
    My clearance fears have been assuaged!
    The pic is only hand tight but still see plenty of clearance :bananatool:
    I bought the 1.5 inch button heads from Mcmaster Carr, but if this is on your list I think 1 3/8 would have been fine. It doesn’t look like there’s any issues with the extra 1/8” but no extra weight on the drag strip and all that!
    I’ll try to get the studs pressed into the hubs next week, then next payday will be shopping for brake hoses and the like.
    Still need to talk with partsdude about tie rods for the new 2 hole knuckle setup, but moving in the right direction!
    @Lockman it all came apart in about 2 weekends, cleaning, painting, waiting for parts and payday…6-8 weeks later? :susp:
     
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  12. Oct 16, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
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    Feb 24, 2021
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    FAE57728-0596-4A87-BFC4-D2C51F92AC05.jpeg More slo mo progress!
    I think I may have a local place to make me hoses from type 2 banjo to 3/8x24 reverse with the original style hold bracket on the frame. We’ll see…
    Shiny disc brakes sure are purdy!
     
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  13. Oct 19, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    24D53797-1DA7-4CEA-8F10-7DD215D39D1E.jpeg Some rare mid week progress.
    Brake lines weren’t cheap, but $85 local $ is probably better than $40 of cobbled together hoses and adapters from amazon and rock auto. Type 2 banjo to 3/8x24 imperial with the correct mounting groove!
     
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  14. Oct 19, 2022
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
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    971
    I wish I had seen you needed hoses sooner. I have used Brake Hoses Unlimited a few times, he can make any set up you want. His prices are very competitive and his turn around time is extremely fast.
     
  15. Oct 30, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
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    Feb 24, 2021
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    1A52CCA4-763C-4B41-8D14-8022567E3293.jpeg Good Sunday morning all!
    Mostly done with this job. Still want to re-bleed all 4 corners, pedal feel is not quite right.
    Next up will need to be caster shims and spring bushings. Tie rod clamps are just barely contacting the leaf springs. Just need to figure out how to accomplish that with my limited tools and sloping driveway!
     
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  16. Oct 30, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
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    Next on the list, in no particular order;
    I’ve got a new to me speedometer cluster coming from a member, so I’ll try to make it 1 more trip behind the dash. Rebuild the old Spartan turn signal to re install while I’m in there, maybe new wiring harness?

    Fuel needs to be addressed, when she sits for a bit, there’s always rust in the filter and it is just half a$$ed hokey right now.

    I would still love to get some 33x10.5’s on some wheels with proper backspace.
    My current 15x10 wheels have very little backspace. Partly visible in pic above.
     
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  17. Dec 26, 2022
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    Feb 5, 2006
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    1,430
    You are really coming along with this. The Cutlas hubs are nice though be sure to give them a light roll forward before getting on it. Takes a bit
    for them to engage. Went out at 3am to retrieve an ex brother in laws Willys panel delivery from a wash with the water rising. Blew the hub when
    I got on it on a sandy road. Pulled it from the wash with a come-along. Never ask if he got water in his 289. I am pretty sure they are not made anymore.
    Been years and it was a really nice guy out of Colorado that helped me and said I was lucky to get it.
    Used nordlocks and blue lock-tight on studs with Grade 8 nuts. I have rebuilt steering boxes but recommend you buy rebuilt. Mine came from the pick and pull
    and sat for some time. Reached through the steering wheel to start it up and it made an instant hard left with my arm in the spokes. Not good. Maybe
    that is what happened to the car. Steering, brakes and tires are more important than your life.
     
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  18. Jan 23, 2023
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    It seems like it’s been a long wet winter.
    A few posts ago, I was complaining about “pedal feel” after my front disc conversion.
    Back before Thanksgiving, i made some new brake lines from the mc to the dist block. Was planning on bleeding all 4 corners the following weekend, well it’s been raining every weekend since then!
    Finally, sunshine!
    Started with the new front discs, all is well. Pushing clean fluid and no air.
    Went to the rear…No fluid moving at all!
    Started cracking connections from the mc back, very slow drip from the hard to rubber connection at the rear differential. Okay, got a stick from FLAPS, figured I better replace the rubber line too. Completely blocked, couldn’t even blow air through it.
    So half of today under the jeep and I have brakes! On all 4 wheels no less!

    Now let’s see what comes next on the list…
     
  19. Apr 22, 2023
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
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    Feb 24, 2021
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    393
    2713E322-F6E7-45ED-9120-61D2F645BE34.jpeg Watch your eyes, it’s nekked!
    My first D18 dis assembly. Reading through everything I could fine on tear down/rebuild and the only thing that really scared me was the snap ring behind the front bearing. It took me several visits to summon the courage to drive a tool between the bearing and gear only to find…No snap ring!
    Tear down complete, hours of cleaning and a call to Novak coming soon.
     
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  20. Apr 22, 2023
    Jw60

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

    Sedalia MO.
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    4,716
    The one thing I wish I did when I rebuilt mine (on a college budget at the time) was the tapered bearing conversation on the intermediate shaft.
    It wasn't long before my replacement intermediate shaft was worse than the original.
     
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