46 CJ2A build

I picked up a 46 CJ2A project a few months ago and have been slowly working on building it up and I finally got around to loading up the pics so I figured I would start a build thread. It was pretty much a stock 46 basket case which one of the previous owners started working on and gave up, my plans are a Waggy D44 front, Scout rear, Buick V6, TH400, D20 with lower gears, and 35-36" tires, outboarded springs, wheelbase stretch, and SOA on modified YJ springs. Here it is as I brought it home:



Sold off a bunch of parts and tore it down to the frame


Stripped the frame down and made up all new spring mounts, etc...




Got the front and rear under it and its rolling




D44 flattop knuckles drilled and tapped


AA Steering box mount


Thats pretty much where it stands now, working on the high steering (need some parts) and started welding up the holes and working on the body. I hate bodywork but will get some pics of my attempts up in a few days or so. All in all I'm pretty happy with how its coming so far....

 

dude first off you got some really good pics. that thing has got a wicked stance. can't wait to see this build through to the end. one more

 

If it’s a Northeast Jeep (NJ) it’s in good conditions to start a project with. Looking forward to more pics.

 

Very nice work....keep the pics coming.

 

Thanks it has had some bodywork done by one of the previous owners, its not the best but most of it will be good enough for now. I spent a few hours this weekend working on some of the bad spots, welding up holes, and sanding it down. I am hoping to have it primed in the next week or so. I'm going to get some rear corner guards and gonna make up some heavy duty rocker guards with a step too as the stock ones were rotten underneath. I suck at bodywork but at least the jeep is forgiving being so flat.

 

Nice work.. To bad your so far away, I'd swap you out of that L head.
Keith

 

looks :twisted:

back axle 59"? frt 64"?

just asking cause mine looks about the same but junkier.


edit: need to change my avatar....

 

Thanks, Yep 59" on the rear and I think the front is about 61-62", I haven't measured since the 5 on 5.5" hub swap.

 

Thanks, actually the motor was sold before I even pulled it out. I've actually made enough selling off all the parts I didn't need that I paid for the jeep itself already. All the other parts I keep buying are a different story

 

nice work
wish I had fabrication skills

 

Looks great so far. Keep those pics coming.

 

Looks great. Where did the Saginaw conversion bracket come from?

 

Its the Advance Adapters bracket, you can buy it seperately from their kit for around $55. Its nicely made and makes it alot easier, the only thing I had to do was add a little spacer under the top piece so the bolts would clear the frame rail. Also I'm using a junkyard DJ column and making up a steering shaft so my steering coversion is coming in alot cheaper than Advance's kit.

 

Hi,

That rig is one of the coolest flaties I’ve seen in a long time. A great start to a wicked rig. I love how you outboarded your springs. In looking at the pics I couldn't tell if your front shackles are pointing the right way to get maximum articulation on your suspension. I’m not one to point out other peoples work… but the reason I do here is I ran into the same issue doing my fab without the mechanicals in place. I had to go back and redo again – after I had already painted the frame. I thought I’d mention it before you get too far down the road. Maybe when you get the motor and other mechanicals in your springs will sag enough and bring the bottom of the shackle forward. I always thought when sitting on flat ground the bottom of the shackle (in the front) should be further forward than the top, giving more range of movement. But I’m far from an authorative figure of knowledge on the topic.

Please don’t take this as criticism – I’m just trying to help out. Please keep us posted on the build. It’s seeing progress like yours that makes me motivated to wrench on mine.

Oh yea, I wish I had your welding skills too.

 

Thanks for the complements, you are right the shackle angle in the pics is not ideal but with just the weight of me sitting on the front bumper it lines up with the bottom sticking out a little so with the weight of the drivetrain, cage, parts, seats, etc.... it should be good to go. I was a little nervous too when I actually got it rolling because I copied my mount measurements from a YJ and when I got it on 4 wheels the shackle angle was no good but after piling a bunch of weight on it comes down. I may also eventually swap to Wagoneer springs which are a bit longer and will give me 2 more inches of wheelbase at each end due to teh offset center pin but I'm waiting to see what I end up at when the drivetrain is in.
Thanks for the complement on the welds too, I actually have just recently gotten alot better after dedicating lots of practice time.

 

Good to hear. I could learn from you... something about measure twice, weld once... I was checking out your pics again. That flatie is going to look awesome. I got my eye on a 46 too. I just might have to pick it up.

 

Well after lots of welding, sanding, grinding, filling, etc... its all in primer. I didnt go too crazy on the body work because its just going to get a spraycan paint job and beat up on the rocks but heres a couple pics. Next up I have to get some steel for the rocker guards/side steps I am going to make up and a friend just told me he had a 225 I can rebuild so I gotta pick that up.

 

I was just wondering, beings you had to build new spring mounts, why you decided not to do a shackle reversal? They tend to work better for off road.
Keith

 

I thought about it as I've heard both sides of that argument and to me its a toss up as to which may be better. It works for some, others have problems with the shackles in back, personally I have never had a problem with the shackles in front as long as they are kept a reasonable length. As far as travel and flex I have never seen anything to prove to me one is better and this has worked fine for me in the past so I decided I would be better off with one less issue to deal with. I'm really trying to keep this rig as simple and cheap as I can while still being built enough to be strong and work well.