1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Cayenne's Calamity Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by cayenne, Jul 13, 2020.

  1. Jul 13, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Well I’ve been using this site for a long time, so guess I should do a build thread to help others not make the same mistakes I have and get help solving problems from yall along the way.

    Here is my Jeep when I bought it.

    [​IMG]

    Here it is now. This thing can do more than I need it to off-road, so now I am concentrating on comfort and road trip reliability so I can explore some remote areas of the state but not end up on the "I shouldn't be alive" documentary.

    [​IMG]

    Currently I am fine tuning and adjusting my big project from last year…power steering, front disk brakes and a rocky road yj conversion. I have a habit of getting it close enough, then driving it hard and putting it up wet, so I need to get back to buttoning that project up.

    This weekend I put a notch in the rocky road ubolt skid plate to stop the closed knuckles from beating up my shocks. The front two shocks were completely ruined (bent shafts large dents).

    I also added some bump stops since the ones I had were so long and I needed alittle bit longer in the back so the tires wouldn’t hit the inner fenders so bad. I need to flex it out again to fine tune the bump stops, but I think the back is close.

    Finally I took off the shims that came with the OME springs which were about 1 degree and came with the thick part toward the back (backwards) and replaced them with 6 degree shims.

    [​IMG]

    Although the shims resulted in better drag link angle, it caused my front driveshaft to hit my crossover exhaust pipe way before full droop.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Next thing is to confirm the caster angle, then deal with the how to cross over the exhaust so I can keep my quiet out the back exhaust I like.

    Where are yall crossing over with the v6? With the sm465 pig, I don't have much room to sneak over or by?

    Anyway, I tend to work on the jeep in bursts so it stays available for fun, so it might be awhile between posts.
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  2. Jul 14, 2020
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,427
    Mine crosses over behind the transfer case.
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  3. Jul 14, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Do you go over or under the crossmember for the transfercase? Also, do you go over or under the rear driveshaft?
    Thanks!
     
  4. Jul 14, 2020
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    I had the same problem.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Jul 14, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    great help, thanks! I thought getting a small 4x4 as a hobby would be easier than a fullsized, but getting all the same stuff to fit in a very small package is anything but!
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  6. Jul 14, 2020
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    3,869
    No cross over and a v8 but here are mine before the mufflers. [​IMG]
     
  7. Jul 14, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    I'm pretty sure mine crosses over in the stock location. It's above the skid plate just in front of the cross frame. It passes directly under the U-joint, so driveshaft angle doesn't really effect cleareance:

    [​IMG]
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  8. Jul 14, 2020
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,427
    my crossmember is not stock, and the exhaust went over it. It goes up and over the rear driveshaft. I will get you some pictures later, I am not at home right now.
     
  9. Jul 16, 2020
    Norcal69

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

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    3,547
    Lots of crossmember flavors. I didn't care for the hang down of a stock unit. I built my own out of 1"x2" box tube and integrated the transfer case skid plate into it. The angle on the front is two pieces of 1" flat stock welded into a v and then welded to the cross member.

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
    Fresbone likes this.
  10. Jul 16, 2020
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    Messages:
    2,327
    I see or it seems that you keep the soft top hooked on the windshield when you put it down. So when you put the windshield up, your top is ready to be put in position.
    You always keep it on the Jeep ?
     
  11. Jul 16, 2020
    Lilbuff63

    Lilbuff63 Member 2022 Sponsor

    Sonoma County Ca
    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Messages:
    285
    Mine goes to the front under the front of the oil pan, meets up with the driver side and out the back above the stock crossmember in modified location. Chevy 4.3 V6, sm420, D18 6ACC88E9-BFFB-4F4A-A2E0-7F9175A9A7BA.jpeg 3473001E-D197-458A-813E-11A4415906F6.jpeg 90046DA3-6699-4822-8EFD-9C311655228A.jpeg
     
    Stakebed likes this.
  12. Jul 17, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Yes, it works pretty well that way because it keeps the frame from rubbing on the hood and I can put it up really quick in the rain. If I want windshield up, but no shade I roll up the top and secure it with some clamps to the top of the frame (you can see them in my winch or RR swap thread)...it is ghetto but works. I actually have a windshield frame without glass I switch out in the summer so I can have wind and shade.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  13. Jul 17, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Thanks for the continued routing ideas.
     
  14. Jul 17, 2020
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    Messages:
    2,327
    Yes, why not
    Because I put it away, then back, and it is an idea. I just cleaned it. You just have to roll it in fact.

    The name Cayenne comes from the island on French Guyanne ? There was a jailhouse there... That was horrible. The last inmates were out in 1953.
     
  15. Jul 17, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    No, Cayenne was my dogs name (after the pepper)
     
  16. Jul 22, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    Is your Tcase clocked? I would build a cross member like that but my Tcase would just hang down below it. Maybe that's a difference between the 20 and 18.
     
  17. Jul 22, 2020
    Norcal69

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

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    3,547
    Not that I know of. I have a factory t18 Texas pattern adapter and D20
     
  18. Jul 27, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    One step forward two steps back.

    The Jeep has been home so I can tackle a laundry list of little issues and maintenance. I had success fixing the grabby clutch thanks to some threads on here, and fixed some binding linkages and cables on my parking brake so it finally works as I expected it to.

    My brakes lights stopped working some time back so I replaced the hydraulic switch but still nothing. Taillights work and I get power to the switch, but still nothing even when I bypass the switch. I guess there is a short in the 3’ between the bulb and the switch?

    But the real kick in the pants was when I was adjusting the clutch, I realized my whole tcase/crossmember mount was loose. Upon further inspection, I found that both mounting bolts to the adapter plate has sheared off flush with adapter plate. I guess there was too much flex in my vibration isolators. Time to build a custom crossmember and put the isolators where the crossmember meets the frame.

    I just really don’t even know how to tackle the sheared bolts…I’m pretty sure I put red lock right on them, but can remember if I used grade 8. I sure hope not. Not looking forward to the hours under the Jeep this repair will require.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Jul 27, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Also, I decided to wait on the exhaust rerouting. With 5.38s, an overdrive has been on my wishlist and I want to get that installed so I don’t have to redo the exhaust again at that time. And no point in rerouting exhaust until I get the crossmember sorted out. Space is just at such a premium between the rear tank/axle and tcase.
     
  20. Jul 28, 2020
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Well I'm gathering tools for the extraction project, and praying.

    In the mean time, I think I am going to build a crossmember like this and try to put the isolation bushings where the crossmember meets the frame instead of at the transmission mount. They are obviously designed for a boxed frame, so I will have to mount the tabs on the bottom leg of the frame C channel which would hang down, but I guess no more so than the current set up.

    Universal Transmission Crossmember Kit
    [​IMG]

    I'll try and figure out a skid plate next, but with just one tube across, it seems the leverage will be too great so I am trying to figure out another attachment point either by the oil pan or to the rear. I don't really want to hang two of these tube crossmembers across.
     

    Attached Files:

New Posts