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I ton LJ "BUSTED BUDGET" build
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<blockquote data-quote="Diamond B" data-source="post: 379086" data-attributes="member: 4484"><p>It's been a long time coming but I finally have a real update .. It LIVES again:</p><p><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/threequarterview.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/threequarterview.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>But I'm getting ahead of myself. The last real update I provided left off with the rear pretty much done and teh front stretch kit installed but I really didn't provide much commentary so I'll catch up on the back story then progress on the rest of the build. Once we had the rear links figured out, progress was very slow and not very picture worthy. Normally clearance for the rear coilovers would have entailed backhalving the frame and putting a fuel cell in behind the seat – afterall I had plenty of room with the LJ body style…. BUT… I wanted to be able to drive this on the road regularly with my family and this forced some concessions that complicated the build considerably – Many thanks to Jamie Carr at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Son-of-a-Jeep/188902604467760" target="_blank">Son of a Jeep in Panama City</a> for the work. So along this line I wanted to keep the gas tank under the Jeep – no filling it inside the cabin my girls in the backside and the top on – which forced me to keep the frame. This concession lead to us having to notch the frame to clear the coilovers. After getting that part figured, next came the upper mounting. For this I again went a little different route and incorporated a rear harness bar and eventual headrest mount. The final positioning of the reservoirs ended up side by side instead of the over under option pictured above. </p><p></p><p>With the rear pretty much figured out we tackled the front. As mentioned above, I was able to slide the rear axle back some by moving the gas tank back. The LJ tank is mounted about 5 inches from the rear crossmember. To gain some room, we cut out the extra cross member and mounted the tank off the rear just like a TJ. After the D60 rear conversion, we were able to gain about 5" of stretch. For the front, I wanted to stretch it also. Research revealed two primary options: </p><p>1) Use an astrovan stearing box. It mounts directly to the frame but the gearing is reversed so that the pitman arm points forward instead of to the rear. This gives about 6" of forward stretch. </p><p>2) Go with the <a href="http://www.tntcustoms.com/jeep_wrangler/front_stretch_kit.aspx" target="_blank">TnT Front Stretch Kit for the TJ/LJ</a> which nets about 3.5" inches of stretch.</p><p>After looking it over, I never got comfortable with the idea of the pitman arm being under the front crossmember even though it and the draglink would be well behind the leading edge of the tire. SO I went with the TnT kit. Overall, it was a very straightforward install: cut out the original crossmember and weld in a new placed by new sideplates for both front frame horns. This allowed the steering box to be rotated up moving the draglink forward. </p><p></p><p>Then it was on to mocking up the front end. The obvious question is why didn't I go full hydro? Then I could have stretched it as much as I wanted – Well back to the dual-purpose intent. I wanted to keep the mechanical steering linkages in case I blew a hose on the highway (remember the whole family thing). To assist in steering I went with a <a href="http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/hydrosteering.html" target="_blank">Redneck Ram Hydro Assist from West Texas Offroad</a>. So we had to keep that in mind as mocked up the front end:</p><p><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/sidefrontlinkmockup.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_sidefrontlinkmockup.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/fronthooptacked.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_fronthooptacked.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/steering.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_steering.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p>A few final things and we were almost ready. Obviously we had to finish weld everything, mount extra coolers for the transmission and steering, put the seats back in and the get the fenders back on.</p><p><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/alittleweldlighting.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_alittleweldlighting.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/frontReservoirs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_frontReservoirs.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/sittingintheshop.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_sittingintheshop.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> </p><p></p><p></p><p>Then it was off to flex it and see if everything cleared. In the end .. it all did!</p><p><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/frontleftramp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_frontleftramp.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Frontramp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Frontramp.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Rightrearonramp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Rightrearonramp.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Rearundercarriage.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Rearundercarriage.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a> </p><p></p><p>And one last pic for good measure: (No that is not me, but she has done A LOT of grunt work to include grinding and cutting on this Jeep)</p><p><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/KenzandRamp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/KenzandRamp.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Diamond B, post: 379086, member: 4484"] It’s been a long time coming but I finally have a real update .. It LIVES again: [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/threequarterview.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/threequarterview.jpg[/IMG][/url] But I'm getting ahead of myself. The last real update I provided left off with the rear pretty much done and teh front stretch kit installed but I really didn't provide much commentary so I'll catch up on the back story then progress on the rest of the build. Once we had the rear links figured out, progress was very slow and not very picture worthy. Normally clearance for the rear coilovers would have entailed backhalving the frame and putting a fuel cell in behind the seat – afterall I had plenty of room with the LJ body style…. BUT… I wanted to be able to drive this on the road regularly with my family and this forced some concessions that complicated the build considerably – Many thanks to Jamie Carr at [url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Son-of-a-Jeep/188902604467760]Son of a Jeep in Panama City[/url] for the work. So along this line I wanted to keep the gas tank under the Jeep – no filling it inside the cabin my girls in the backside and the top on – which forced me to keep the frame. This concession lead to us having to notch the frame to clear the coilovers. After getting that part figured, next came the upper mounting. For this I again went a little different route and incorporated a rear harness bar and eventual headrest mount. The final positioning of the reservoirs ended up side by side instead of the over under option pictured above. With the rear pretty much figured out we tackled the front. As mentioned above, I was able to slide the rear axle back some by moving the gas tank back. The LJ tank is mounted about 5 inches from the rear crossmember. To gain some room, we cut out the extra cross member and mounted the tank off the rear just like a TJ. After the D60 rear conversion, we were able to gain about 5” of stretch. For the front, I wanted to stretch it also. Research revealed two primary options: 1) Use an astrovan stearing box. It mounts directly to the frame but the gearing is reversed so that the pitman arm points forward instead of to the rear. This gives about 6” of forward stretch. 2) Go with the [url=http://www.tntcustoms.com/jeep_wrangler/front_stretch_kit.aspx]TnT Front Stretch Kit for the TJ/LJ[/url] which nets about 3.5” inches of stretch. After looking it over, I never got comfortable with the idea of the pitman arm being under the front crossmember even though it and the draglink would be well behind the leading edge of the tire. SO I went with the TnT kit. Overall, it was a very straightforward install: cut out the original crossmember and weld in a new placed by new sideplates for both front frame horns. This allowed the steering box to be rotated up moving the draglink forward. Then it was on to mocking up the front end. The obvious question is why didn’t I go full hydro? Then I could have stretched it as much as I wanted – Well back to the dual-purpose intent. I wanted to keep the mechanical steering linkages in case I blew a hose on the highway (remember the whole family thing). To assist in steering I went with a [url=http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/hydrosteering.html]Redneck Ram Hydro Assist from West Texas Offroad[/url]. So we had to keep that in mind as mocked up the front end: [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/sidefrontlinkmockup.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_sidefrontlinkmockup.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/fronthooptacked.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_fronthooptacked.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/steering.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_steering.jpg[/IMG][/url] A few final things and we were almost ready. Obviously we had to finish weld everything, mount extra coolers for the transmission and steering, put the seats back in and the get the fenders back on. [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/alittleweldlighting.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_alittleweldlighting.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/frontReservoirs.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_frontReservoirs.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/sittingintheshop.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_sittingintheshop.jpg[/IMG][/url] Then it was off to flex it and see if everything cleared. In the end .. it all did! [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/frontleftramp.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_frontleftramp.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Frontramp.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Frontramp.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Rightrearonramp.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Rightrearonramp.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/Rearundercarriage.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/th_Rearundercarriage.jpg[/IMG][/url] And one last pic for good measure: (No that is not me, but she has done A LOT of grunt work to include grinding and cutting on this Jeep) [url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/diamond_b_ranch/media/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/KenzandRamp.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/diamond_b_ranch/Jeep/1%20Ton%20Build/KenzandRamp.jpg[/IMG][/url] [/QUOTE]
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