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71 Wheeling Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. Mar 18, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    I wish. It's a 2007 vintage Miller Spectrum 375 X-Treme Plasma Cutter. Super portable, runs on 110/220 and can cut up to 3/8".

    I would love a TIG but I can't justify the money when the Miller 210 MIG does 98% of what I need. Some day I will buy a TIG .....
     
    47v6 likes this.
  2. Mar 18, 2021
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    ...and take 3 years to learn to use it real well like me :D
     
  3. Mar 18, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    At least. I've done TIG exactly 3 times in a welding class 15 years ago. I've got a lot to learn. There is some hope because I was decent at gas welding way back when. Of course I haven't gas welded anything since getting the MIG.
     
  4. Mar 19, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    Since everything is painted up pretty, I assembled the cooling pack.

    Cut out a chunk of expanded metal for a duct screen:
    [​IMG]

    Duct installed:
    [​IMG]

    Everything else installed:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    ....except the hood safety latch :cry::
    [​IMG]

    Back apart, back together, and set off to the side until it's time to install:
    [​IMG]

    Next it was time to deal with these embarrassing power steering lines. I've hated them since the moment I bought the Jeep. They are off some unknown car (maybe the Buick the engine came from?) and bent to sort of fit. The pressure line is weather checking badly at the too-tight bend:
    [​IMG]

    The general idea for replacement is AN6 adapters and Earl's fittings and braided line. To assemble, you screw the outer part of the fitting over the hose via reverse threads and then screw the inner part of the fitting into that. Pretty easy:
    [​IMG]

    To keep the braided portions of the hose from fraying when you cut it, you wrap it tight with electrical tape and use a cutoff wheel:
    [​IMG]

    Here you can see all the layers:
    • Rubber interior
    • Stainless braided layer for strength
    • Another layer of rubber to protect the stainless layer
    • Braided cloth exterior for abrasion resistance
    [​IMG]

    Cut to length, assembled, and installed. Much better!:
    [​IMG]

    The fitting on the back of the pump:
    [​IMG]

    I also painted the cowl braces:
    [​IMG]

    In the interest of this all working when it goes back together, I did a blood sacrifice. Starting small and hoping I don't need to do a bigger one:
    [​IMG]
     
    Stakebed, fhoehle, Bobcreag and 12 others like this.
  5. Mar 19, 2021
    Madeline3b

    Madeline3b Optimized for analog

    PNW
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    Feb 19, 2021
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    92
    I've found a little blood letting usually beats a black fingernail! I'm sure you're aware, AN fittings in that type of application are the same as JIC, the only reason I mention this is I've had customers walk into a hose place, and get overcharged for the same fittings asking for A/N. That type of fitting you showed is known as a re useable type. Gotta watch some of these hydraulic vendors!
     
    dozerjim and Fireball like this.
  6. Mar 19, 2021
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Oct 25, 2006
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    Was the AN line retrofit as easy as you made it look?. Trying to find PS lines is about impossible if you want them to fit right. What was your cost and what were the part numbers?
     
  7. Mar 19, 2021
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    Jun 5, 2007
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    (y):waiting:
     
  8. Mar 19, 2021
    Norcal69

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

    Northern California
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    The hardest part is getting the correct adapter fittings. Once you have adapted the pump side and box side, the rest is cake. Summit has a pretty good "sort by options" feature on their website. You can select fitting end 1 and fitting end 2 options. You just need to know the oddball thing you are adapting to JIC/AN. AN is very simple -3 is 3/16, -4 is 1/4", -5 is 5/16 ect.....
     
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  9. Mar 19, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    It was easy. The whole job took about an hour. The most difficult part was getting the 5/16" ID hose on the pump return line 3/8" hose barb. I ended up using a drill bit to open of the inside of the hose a little bit. Everything else was cake.

    As Norcal69 notes, the hardest job is getting the right fittings up front.

    First you need the -6 AN adapters. In my case I have a pre-1980 Saginaw 800 box and matching pump. My connections are:
    • 5/8" SAE inverted flare at the pump high pressure line
    • 11/16” SAE inverted flare at the gear high pressure line
    • 3/8" hose barb at the pump low pressure line
    • 5/8" SAE inverted flare at the gear low pressure line
    These are the fittings I used for that:
    Note: The adapters I got are aluminum and feel like they could cross-thread easily. In retrospect I would have gotten steel or brass ones.

    If you have a post 1980 box or pump, you need to get the O-ring style adapters. Something like these:
    Banjo fittings are a great option if you have tight clearance to your cross frame. You will likely need to machine the flats at the top of you steering box connections for them to seal properly:
    Note: For the banjo fittings, it doesn't matter if it's a new or old box. The threads are the same for both styles. Only the sealing mechanism (o-ring/flare) is different. Since the banjo bolts use copper crush washers it doesn't matter what the original seal was.

    After you have your fittings, it's just making -6 AN hoses. I picked Earl's power steering specific stuff (Power Steering - Holley). But as noted by Madeline3b, you could have any hydraulic shop make you some custom JIC hydraulic hoses to length.

    The fittings/hose I used:

    In summary:

    it cost me: $162.66 for the new hoses (with a couple feet of extra hose left over). Not super cheap but I like having quality custom lines. You could reduce costs with cheaper hose ends/hose or getting generic hydraulic hoses made.

    For less money, this low-profile post-1980 kit looks nice too. I would have gone that route, but it doesn't fit my steering box/pump: Gotta Show 131171 GM Power Steering Hose Kit - 1980-Up

    Here's how easy it is to build the hoses yourself:
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2021
  10. Mar 19, 2021
    jeep peep69

    jeep peep69 Member

    redding ca.
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    Dec 8, 2007
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    619
    You might split a piece of fuel hose and put on the end of the relief you cut in the shroud for the cross member if they start to rub it will be a source of a horrible squeak.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  11. Mar 19, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    That's a fantastic idea.
     
  12. Mar 19, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    would the box off of a '75 j10 work well for that setup?
     
  13. Mar 19, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    It's the same basic hose setup for all the Saginaw boxes. If it's pre-80 you need to use the inverted flair fittings, if it's post-80 you need to use the o-ring style fittings. That J-10 box is probably the heavier duty Saginaw 808. It still bolts in the same place and uses the same fittings, it's just got bigger pistons for the power assists and bigger parts. How To Identify Your Steering Gear Box - Lee Power Steering
     
  14. Mar 19, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I have not had good luck with the re useable fittings. After having a Rubicon trip cut short by one, I switched to hydraulic lines made at a commercial hydraulic shop in Carson City. Also had spares made. I don't think it was very expensive. Don't want to have to turn around and limp home again.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  15. Mar 19, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Oh yeah. Been there last week. Sliced my index finger with a grinder. I was going to post a photo of the glove sawn through, but decided against it. Took a week off from the jeep to heal.
     
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  16. Mar 19, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Thanks, good info. Now that I have my lengths and ends figured out, I think I'll have some custom hydraulic lines made up for spares.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2021
    47v6 likes this.
  17. Mar 19, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    i don't have it, just saw it on marketplace and thought it'd be good.
     
  18. Mar 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    First today was a couple brackets.

    Bracket #1 is to keep the heater hoses off the throttle linkage. Started by bending a saddle over a chunk of pipe:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Cut some notches in the saddle for a zip tie:
    [​IMG]

    And welded it to a base that bolts to the manifold:
    [​IMG]

    Bracket #2 is to bolt a Mr. Gasket fuel pressure regulator to the side of the carburetor. Here it is scribbled on a piece of 1x2 tubing:
    [​IMG]

    Rough cut with the plasma cutter:
    [​IMG]

    Fitted to the back of the regulator. Still need to drill the holes for the carburetor:
    [​IMG]

    A final fitting before painting:
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2021
    Rubicloak, 73 cj5, 47v6 and 3 others like this.
  19. Mar 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Next was swapping the heater core and putting the dumb thing back together.

    You scan see why the old heater core was disconnected:
    [​IMG]

    The new core was an aluminum replacement from O'Reilly. It took some work to get it to fit properly. The ends were bigger with tighter radii than the original. I had to reshape the retainers and use longer screws. The fittings were a little too close together and I had to use tin-snips to enlarge the openings in the heater housing. Also, both fittings are 5/8" so I needed and inline adapter in one of the hoses from the engine. That said, it's got way more tubes and fins so it should heat better:
    [​IMG]

    Here's my custom heater hose bracket in action. No worries about hoses rubbing on the throttle linkage.
    [​IMG]

    Heater hoses routed and fuel pressure regulator hooked up:
    [​IMG]

    The grill/radiator/shroud went back on (for hopefully a long time). I followed 'jeep peep69's suggestion and put a couple chunks of rubber hose where the lower shroud could rub on the cross frame:
    [​IMG]

    The lower radiator hose is cut down from a 70's Chevy Nova V8 hose. I needed 1.5" on the engine side and 1.75" on the radiator. The bend is ever so slightly flattened, but it doesn't look like it's causing a restriction:
    [​IMG]

    Here it is with the heater duct, cowl braces and upper radiator hose installed. The upper hose is a 1970 Buick GS item that's cut down and spliced in the middle to shorten it:
    [​IMG]

    And from the other side:
    [​IMG]

    I hope to have it running again tomorrow. Still need to hook up the grill electrical connections, install the new overflow bottle, and add coolant. At that point, I'll pull it out of the shop to warm it up and try to burp the air out of the system. I may need to bleed the power steering too.
     
  20. Mar 21, 2021
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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    Looks great! This has turned into an excellent V8 installation compared to how it was when you got it. Good job!
     
    ITLKSEZ and Fireball like this.
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