PROJECT NO-BUCK 78 cherokee

Ok so I bought this parts rig on craigslist yesterday and realized someone made a big mistake again. They sold me a running driving 4wd for very little money. So out came the sawzall and now it is a race to see how I can build this into a fun thrasher without spending a dime. I have some bald 35s, some 32s and some 31s. I am trying to fit the 35s but it is looking like it will be 32s on gm ralleys. I have some weird lift shackles from a toyota that will lift the front 3in. So those will go on next. I did some fender trimming but might have to do the max. I am being very careful since my back is out not to lift anything or be on my feet more than 30 mins. Here it is at less than one hour labor. Stay tuned for more, the rain and my back ran me off into the house. First shots are a baseline, no work yet. Next is of the fenders trimmed. fourth is with a 35in sx with weight on it. THe last is with the 31in tire on it. I havent put the front lift shackles on it yet either, so they will level it out quite a bit I am sure.

The larger tires, does it rub when you turn? Or are you thinking the sawsall needs more of a workout either way?

And how much was this runner?

the top will stay black and the bottom will get more olive drab green with a big white star on the door and hood. I am only concerne with the quadratrac t-case so it will likely be a short lived thrasher. Then it will be parted out. MMMMUUUWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH LET THE FUN BEGIN.

hwcurtice said:

The larger tires, does it rub when you turn? Or are you thinking the sawsall needs more of a workout either way?

And how much was this runner?

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I cant say but it was less than a dual case adapter from marlin for a yota!!!!!!!!!! Figure a good night of drinking is what $150-200 bucks. I couldnt go out twice drinking and spend the same as my total investment. So I could burn this in a week and got its money out of it, hahahahahaha, and still sell the axles for more than I paid for it YEAHHHH!

Sean--you rule!!!!!!


:awesomework:

Ok so I got in another half hour session between rain showers. I got the shackles on. I dont recommend these to anyone, remember a thrasher rig. They are strong but it looks bad. My sua springs, which are 2 leafs on a cherokee chief!!!!!!!!!!! are dearched now, haha. not much of a gain either. Keep in mind it is not on level ground. I will move it when I bolt up the 32 11.5 txr radials. I am seriously considering mounting the bald 35in tsl sxs on some 15x10in 6 lugs and seeing how they fit. They are really bald but I can cut some tread into them with a tire knife. look for updates on this one soon.

Spring over??? Thats cheap and can be done out of scrap parts..

landbruiser1 said:

Spring over??? Thats cheap and can be done out of scrap parts..

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that would require 1. alot more work. 2. shocks and driveline work. 3. way too much effort for a thrasher rig with a short life expectancy.

your cuts look crooked:fawkdancesmiley:




looks like it should be fun:awesomework:

At least it will blend in with the yard so it won't look like you have more vehicles:redneck:

Im way closer to you now. Pm me for my number so i can pull a monster truck move on that thing.

* waits for video....

Bunk said:

Im way closer to you now. Pm me for my number so i can pull a monster truck move on that thing.

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We will do that when it is time. :awesomework:

FINALLY!!!!:worship: Some one with another fullsize jeep!! I'm going a different direction with mine but wish i kinda would gone ur way. Its been 17 months and its still in the garage.

Just a thought tho u can easily do a SOA and shackle flip for pretty much under a $100. You dont have to worry about balancing driveline or super correct angles, just build it all super strong and ur golden. I would spend the $20 for some srping perches for the front and fab up your own shackle flip mounts(i have sheets of steel i can pass ur way) for the rear (7-8in up front and 8-9 out back of lift). For drivelines i would gather up to rear driveline from a fullsize and shorten the rear down and leave and then chop ur stock front shaft up and swap those pieces on the new rear shaft. A friend did this and it lasted 3 months before the t-case grenaded and we stuffed 40in groundhawgs under it to!

Heres and idea of where i'm going a complete mint, totaly sick, oldskool tow rig:stirpot:

I know you guys dont know my history so I will explain a little. I have built 2 very nice jeeps, and done several spoa conversions for a few people. I even went in with a friend and built jeeps for a living for a few months. I understand the soa ideas and it is a good one and can be done for free really. I have a left over 2.5in perch, and would fab up a pass side one and do a shacle flip. I have a pile of used drivelines and know that if I dont do a rev shackle I wouldnt need a long slip one. I have longer shocks laying around too. I can go on and on. The point is this is a parts truck that happens to run. I bought it cheap to make money on the parts in it. If I can have a little fun with MINIMAL work and effort then so be it, if not it will see the torch sooner than later. That is my point. THanks for the great input but this rig has a planned death in the near future. If I go too crazy I will break the parts I want to make money on, so I wont get too carried away. Honestly if this thing had a th400 and dana 20 I would do the soa and shackle flip, weld up the offset d44 rear and run it with the 35s even on the trail. THe fact is I am not young anymore :booo: nor will I keep it for long so the quadratrac is its time clock on life, when it breaks so does its lease on life.:hi:

We will be jumping it, mudding it, bouncing it off trees, and hopefully getting it all on tape or digital camera for our viewing pleasure.It will all be in my yard so I sont have to drag it back to a trailer off a trail. Keep checking back it will be fun. In fact I think this will be an excellent tool to teach my girlfrineds two daughters to drive aggressively too.

Angelfly that is a nice project with what looks to be a lot longer life expectancy than mine haha. :awesomework:

Yeah i missed the whole parts truck part:looser:. but if i got that kinda deal i would go the exact way u did. I got my for free 99 but mine had no chance of even starting or moving without a winch on it. Sat in a field for 15yrs the motor had a rats nest in the air cleaner valve covers rusted away etc. I can wait to see that thing hit the trails!!!!

U thinking about maybe making it to reiter once? i would love to see one of those in action since all i can do is dream about what mine will do

UPDATE!!! tires are on and it wheels ok. here are some pics with it flexed up in the ditch,and then stuck, then the hole it made, then damage report. I have a short hand held video too if I can download it to you tube.

carnage so far is only dents, exhaust is now broken and the drivers door keeps swinging open when I hit a bump.

Get some new wheeling pics. I've seen a minivan go through that "ditch"!:fawkdancesmiley:

PS My camera does vid clips as well...need a photographer?
Is your back feeling good enough for a driveway jump with the new rig? I think you could get 4' of air this time:awesomework:

Tankota said:

Get some new wheeling pics. I've seen a minivan go through that "ditch"!:fawkdancesmiley:

PS My camera does vid clips as well...need a photographer?
Is your back feeling good enough for a driveway jump with the new rig? I think you could get 4' of air this time:awesomework:

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I do need a camera man, and since you have been for 99%of my pics lets do it. We need to do it soon though its days are numbered. I wish it had a locker in at least the rear, but it is way too much effort to do that. I could just eld it up I suppose since it is an offset d44, not worth much. I think I might have to do that. My yard isnt extreme enough, we need to take it somewhere, maybe I will go to evans if I weld the rear. I bet it will do ok. I can weld the front too. Poor quadratrac.