Chain Projects

[Hedgehog]

Have you ever had a jeep project you simply couldn't move forward on due to how many other projects it would kick off? Most of you are heading into your off season, sure there will be a short but intense flurry of jeep activity focused around hunting season, maybe some snow plowing after that, but for most of you there is a down season. Unfortunately or fortunately here in he desert SW using the jeep is a 12 month proposition. Essentially there is no long period of time where the jeep will be out of service. Therefore my problem. Several jeep projects are in the kick off stage but to do one would require doing the others as well. Most of these chain projects are focused on removing, repairing and rebuilding PO attempts to improve his jeep. Then to rebuild things to meet my needs. At this point most everything is "fixed" except for the back of the jeep. Project examples"

PROJECT - Remove and replace the 15 gallon gas tank with the 21 gallon tank I have in the garage along with the necessary hoses and filters. Have you bought hoses lately? OMG get out the check book. ...... An easy enough job if the jeep were un touched. Unfortunately the PO replaced the rear bumper/frame cross member with a bumper about 1/2 what it should be. Besides that he built it evidently without a drill or metal saw. Everything I welded in place and cut poorly with a cutting torch leaving flanges over hanging the tank bolt tabs. To get to those tabs it will be necessary to cut the flanges, to cut the flanges means I need to remove the bumper. Since the bumper is welded in place the thing will need to be cut apart and removed. Since the rear bumper replaced the rear frame cross member which does several things, it holds the gas tank tabs, the body mount tabs, at the very least the cross member has to be installed. The cross member is sitting there waiting in the garage right now.

PROJECT - It has always been in the plans to remove the bumper and build a new one. So, parts have been collected for the job, but not all the parts. The raw steel hasn't been purchased yet. And various plans have been circling in my mind for almost a year now. This bumper will be far more that a simple metal piece. Oh no it will have, a receiver hitch, two recovery points, tail lights, and one of those great strong tapered bearing hinges for the tire rack. Then there is the possibility of adding a rear end winch.

PROJECT - If the bumper is removed a major rebuild of the tire carrier will be necessary. I'll use the tire carrier part with the original hinge removed and welded to the bearing hinge installed in the bumper. Oh yeah the tire carrier will have place for a gas and water cans.

PROJECT - Once the fuel tank is removed, for some unknown reason the PO welded two 1"x10"x the inner width of the frame, pieces of steel to the frame just in front of the fuel tank. Since the potential bomb the fuel tank is removed this is the perfect time get rid of those darned steel plates. They must weigh 100 pounds or more and they are in the location I want to place my OBAir pressure tank. To get to the plates it would be much easier to remove the rear axle.

PROJECT - Since the rear axle is removed this is the perfect time to put those 3.31 gears in. That's a whole new and interesting thing in itself. If the rear axles have the 3.31 gears this is the time to install the front axle I've already installed the gears in. But the front axle is a disk set-up I'll need to install a new master cylinder and a proportioning valve.

PROJECT - while at it the seal for the front drive shaft has been leaking lately. I've got the seal, I might as well replace that.

Yeah see what I mean by Chain Projects? One apple picked from the bottom of the pile and the whole thing comes down at once.

Do you have a similar list? Think about it, I bet most of you do.

 

[Torxhead]

I have had my '86 for about 25 years now, so most of my work is behind me. When I bought it in Jan. '89 it was bone stock and no p.o. work and sometimes I wish I would have left it alone at least for some of the projects, other times I think about all the great trails I have been on and the people that I have met and gone jeeping with. Wifey has a Grand Cherokee for the easier trails which is nice for when I have mine in pieces and don't really feel like working on it.

 

[Hedgehog]

In a way I suppose my post might seem like complaining, but it's a short list compared to what it once was. It's really saying that sometimes, to be efficient, one thing leads to another.

I do try to bring PO alterations back as close to stock as possible before adding on with my changes or additions.

 

[Old Dog]

To me wanting to add bigger tires creates the longest chain of all.
You all know how it goes, bigger tires leads to a lift, new gears, better axles, bigger brakes
better steering, bigger engine, lower gears in the Transfer Case than when you take it off road
you need body armor and better belly skids, winch the list goes on and on.
But in the end (if there ever is one) it's all worth it, to be able to enjoy the great out doors in your jeep.

 

[TroyaCantrell]

Unless you are talking body off restoration /rebuild most of face this to a degree. I had to pick a spot and get to a happy place with it. Yes, I will have to redo some things I have already done or remove parts I just put on but you get to enjoy it more. Since I only have the one it means getting off road or not when mine is down. Not like I do crazy stuff or anything but even taking my HHR on dirt road up in the Sierras can be touch an go.

So it's not complaining, I am with you, just pick manageable pieces and do them. Besides taking off new parts again or recently removed us much easier, plus I learn a bunch the first time around.


Troy--
CJ Build thread- http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f98/1966-cj-6-build-15075/

 

[danray48]

I hear ya about chain projects. Mine started with checking my brake shoes on the rear, which ended up with pulling the AMC20 to paint, which meant going to 1 piece axels which turned into I don't like the rust pin holes on the frame, which turned into buying that matkins level 1 frame to now doing a complete build from the ground up which has me looking for a good 360 V8 and and putting that T-176 with Dana 300 that I bought last year. And that is going to be one expensive brake job.............

 

[Hedgehog]

Fortunately my "Chair Projects" haven't dragged me down the rabbit hole as deeply as yours has. What is holding me back is the reality that it's a "do'em all or don't do anything" situation. don't get me wrong, I'm itching to jump in and start, unfortunately the bank account is saying "NO!".

One suggestion though, I went with a 360 because my AMC 304 was tired. The 360 was newly rebuilt before the vehicle went to the junk yard so it runs well. I really like the 360, power to spare, unfortunately it is also a gas hog. If you are at all concerned with gas mileage you would be better served with upgrading your AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l or going with one of the new V6's out there.

 

[danray48]

I know me, and if I'm going that far and don't go with a V8 I'll always wish I did. I never thought of building for gas mileage. Just a nice weather putter. My next one though, I want it to get rough with. I'm building this one for show. Hindsight I would of bought one without such a good paint job. Around here there isn't great places to wheel around. Lots and lots of farm land, but nobody wants four wheeling.

 

[Hedgehog]

I understand, I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, so bare with me a minute.

It is my understanding that the new V6's produce more HP than the old V8's witht he addition of being able to get decent mileage. I know I'm getting a reputation of wanting the impossible, better gas mimleage, from my jeep. 15-16 mpg would satisfy me. But where I really notice it is going to work. I can't go a week withour filling up, gulp another +$50.00 down the drain, with the Fusion I can go 2 weeks on the same tank full. Unfortunately I love the jeep and drive it every chance I can get. Money, money, money .....