Offroad CJ6

Just started a new project this week and its probably not the typical earlycj5 build but figured I would start a build thread on here since it could give ideas to others. The plan is to build the 69 CJ6 I got that was already started when I bought it. The plan is the following.

Engine Buick 225 v6 with propane. Had a 4.3 Vortec bought but think I am going to run the 225 with propane to stay away from the electronics.

Transmission SM420

Tcase Scout Dana 300 twin shifters, HD output, 4:1 gears

Front axle Waggy Dana 44. 5.38 gears, Aussie locker for now, High steer

Rear axle waggy dana 44 5.38 gears, full spool

Brakes, Astro Van hydroboost with corvette master cylinder. 4 wheel disc brakes

Suspension, rubicon express 1.5 spring over yj springs. Spring over. Outboarded springs. Think I am going to try to use spring sliders instead of shackles and see how that works. Outboarding the springs in order to fit on the waggy axles

Steering, saginaw steering with hydro assist cylinder.

Tires 37 inch IROKS

Body- Planning on doing a little bit different things here. Want to do boatsides. Plus a highline tube fenders with a chopped hood. Planning on buying some CJ8 corner protection corners that are blank and making them work with the cj6 body.

Paint. Thinking about getting the whole tube lined x

Well any comments or suggestions? Hopefully have some write ups in a couple of days.

 

Sounds like a great project!

Just a couple of things to point out. The CJ-6 uses the same corners as the CJ-5 so no need to reinvent the wheel there. The CJ-8 corners will require a bit of re-working as they have much more overhang behind the rear axle.

You can get a 4 bbl intake for the 4.3 Vortech. I think last time I checked it was Edelbrock that made one so if the 4.3 is in good shape and already installed I'd run it instead of converting. The 225 is cool but it's a bit of work to convert and less hp and torque.

Jeep Dana 300's are much easier to come by as are parts for them so I'd run one of those unless you already have the Scout 300. Plus if you ever decided to go doubler down the road you can easily adapt the Jeep 300. Not so with the Scout 300.

Every vehicle I've seen with the whole body line-x'd or whatever looked great, at first. Then dirt got in between the texture and was a nightmare to get out. Soon they didn't look so good.

I think you've got a great plan there and am just giving my opinion like was asked. It's your Jeep and however you decide to build it I'm sure will come out great!

 

I'm looking forward to this one. I like seeing other builds that are somewhat similar to what I'm trying to make work. Take lots of pics, that's one thing that I should have done more of.

Edit: I just read your signature, holy crap you have a lot of jeeps.

 

pics of said herd of jeeps?

 

I'm glad to see this. I've got a similar build I"m working on. I'll be watching........

 

Great points. I can't find any corners that go from the door opening all the way around the corner in 3/16 or thicker. Really I can't find any for a older CJ5 all. All the ones I see are the newer CJ5 and I am told they will not work on the older ones which I don't know if thats correct or not. The Cj8 ones I have do not even have the wheel openings cut out they are just blanks. So they should reach all the way to the door opening.

I did quite the debating on installing the vortec v6 in the Jeep but the 225 is already installed and I've always liked the 225. From my wheelin trips propane seems to run better than fuel injection offroad and there is no electronics. If I was to install the vortec I would run the fuel injection.

The Jeep Dana 300 is definintly better. I currently run a doubler Np231 and dana 300 in my YJ rockcrawler and love it. This was another thing I have debated for a while. I already have a scout dana 300, a 4:1 kit, hd output and twin sticks that i got for cheap several years back. The sm420 with dana 20 is already in the Jeep currently and I am trying to do a budget build of parts I already have so the Scout Dana 300 is a easier swap at the moment but would perfer the jeep dana 300 and np231 doubler which I have parts for just not the doubler kit and have to get a new adapter for the transmission. Would be ideal to sell the sm420 to dana 18/20 adapter and get one to a np231. the dana 18/20/300 with the texas bolt pattern just hangs really low. The gear ratios with the doubler would give you more options. You would have 2:72 to 1 and around 7:1 for transfer case gearing with the combo.

The line x just a thought. I really hate painting and specially on a offroad rig it always gets messed up. I know it will eventually take more work to keep it looking nice but it would also be more durable. That was one of the last things i was debating on and decided the extra work making it look decent was worth the extra durablility.

Thanks for the comments

 

I'll see if I can get some pictures of the shop when I take some pictures today and some of the ones outside. Sad thing is i've picked up a few more since that sig was posted lol

 

Picture of my south shop. Needs to be cleaned up. Kinda got in a mess after my jeep roll over accident in September. Sorry the pictures aren't very clear. I brought my digital camera out but the batts were dead in it so had to use the phone


Started the boatside tonight on the passenger side
Taped off before the cut. I measured up 5 inches from the bottom and cut it here. Plan on welding in 1/4 inch plate and tieing into the body mounts


After the cut


Started cutting the bottom supports out but ran out of cut off wheels



Started mounting up the hydroboost. Took the stock mounting plate off the astro van and beat it flat. Welded up the 4 holes that were on the plate and drilled 4 new holes to match the mounting holes for the later cj hanging pedals. I also made the holes slotted so I could adjust where the rod meet the pedal to keep it as level as possible. The rod stuck out a 1.5 inches out farther than the manual master cylinder rod did so I cut some 1.5 inch spacers out of some scrap tubing. Will probably weld the spacers together in one piece with some strap but it is fine at the moment.

 

Works better if you just copy and past the IMG code from your photobucket account like this:



That way we don't have to click to see 'em. Yeah - we're lazy.

Good luck with the build.

 

Did some work on the hood tonight. Cut off 3 1/2 inches off the hood. Will build custom tube fenders to go with the hood. Test fitted it on one of my other CJ6s.

 

Ha! Yes! Another one!
I'm starting my build of a '63 CJ-6 for rock crawling as well. Unfortunately, I have no engine right now. Actually, the whole body is stripped and I have only a few parts for it.

I will be watching your thread closely. Thanks for starting it!