Innovating the CJ

[andreww97]

Im a senior in high school at my school in the engineering program. For our final year we have to either invent a new product or innovate an existing invention. Me being a CJ guyI'd like to solve one of the cj problems. At first my idea was reengineering the jeep mirrors so they don't vibrate as much but argued that's an easy fix and people can just do that themselves. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks for the help in advanced

 

[IOPort51]

mirrors or wipers, they are both pretty sad.

 

[Torxhead]

You could build an onboard air system that would run various pneumatic tools powered by a converted air conditioning compressor. This is by far not a new development and systems have been on the market for some time. Like this one:::Kilby Enterprises::. Prior to coming on the market many guys built their own systems with various results. I have one in my CJ and have used it many times mostly for airing up tires but do carry a pneumatic drill motor which can also be used as a grinder for field repairs.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Been driving Jeeps for over 40 years and never drove one of any flavor or year where the mirrors stayed put. Fixing that might take away some of the Jeep mystique……

 

[CJAKE7]

How about fixing all the rust! Actually, it sounds like you have mirror stabilization figured out. I would really like to hear how you solve that problem. Another idea that I have been thinking about would be to create more storage space inside the vehicle(use every square inch possible for tools, equipment, first aid). Here are some examples, under the dash behind the gear shift, between the front seats and the wheel well where the roll bar comes down?

 

[Neuner]

Been driving Jeeps for over 40 years and never drove one of any flavor or year where the _________ stayed put. [Insert Part Name]

I fixed your statement for you.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I fixed your statement for you.

10-4

 

[Hedgehog]

My thoughts. This is just aa high school assignment and a very cool one at that, but you aren't going to be expected to invent a new engine or Transmission . It needs to be something relatively simple, but ultimately useful. The mirror idea is a great one, vibrating CJ mirrors are a plague to CJ owner. If you could solve this seemingly simple, but not so simple problem, but leave the final product looking stock, it could actually earn you a lot of money. I'd pay real money for decent mirrors. I think the solution could be a two fold thing. One being a stronger mirror arm and secondly, the meat of the solution would be in dampening the energy causing the vibration in the first place. I think a heavy bag of oil or lead shot or better yet a combination of the two inside the mirror body might have some promise.

 

[IOPort51]

My thoughts. This is just aa high school assignment and a very cool one at that, but you aren't going to be expected to invent a new engine or Transmission . It needs to be something relatively simple, but ultimately useful. The mirror idea is a great one, vibrating CJ mirrors are a plague to CJ owner. If you could solve this seemingly simple, but not so simple problem, but leave the final product looking stock, it could actually earn you a lot of money. I'd pay real money for decent mirrors. I think the solution could be a two fold thing. One being a stronger mirror arm and secondly, the meat of the solution would be in dampening the energy causing the vibration in the first place. I think a heavy bag of oil or lead shot or better yet a combination of the two inside the mirror body might have some promise.

I would not care if they did not look like the original as long as I did not have to drill any new holes of cut any sheet metal.

 

[Hedgehog]

But that takes away the challenge. Anybody can pile on the steel as a semi truck would, but where would the elegance be in that design. A Ford F-100 has a simple design that doesn't vibrate...... It can be done for a CJ and it can be stock looking cool too.

Speaking of ..... Saw an old "Wheeler Dealer" program today. The show where a couple guys in England buy junkers, fix'em up and sell'em. This show was the one where they did a CJ7 . Hey a CJ7 with no real rust, remarkable. anyways they put on new stock looking mirrors. The odd thing was that the mirrors were mounted upside down on the stocks. This made me think, have we actually been mounting our mirrors upside down?

 

[CJim7]

Where do these mirrors rattle at? from where the windshield frame mount meets the arm? or where the ball pivots on the arm.....

years ago I installed bicycle seat adjustors on mine (replacing the bolt where the arm meets the mount) and have never had an issue with rattling.
The purpose of the adjustors were to act as a quick-release to swing my mirrors in and out of the way in tight spots.

 

[ksouthw80]

mine vibrate so bad i can hardly use them. a quick thought... what about adding a 1/8 or so of some kind of rubber seal between the mount and w/s frame? hmmm maybe that would make it worse?

 

[IOPort51]

Where do these mirrors rattle at? from where the windshield frame mount meets the arm? or where the ball pivots on the arm.....

years ago I installed bicycle seat adjustors on mine (replacing the bolt where the arm meets the mount) and have never had an issue with rattling.
The purpose of the adjustors were to act as a quick-release to swing my mirrors in and out of the way in tight spots.

we may need a picture of this, if you please.

 

[CJim7]

we may need a picture of this, if you please.

I'll work on getting some pics. This is a very old modification I read about years ago.

 

[CJ007]

Im a senior in high school at my school in the engineering program. For our final year we have to either invent a new product or innovate an existing invention. Me being a CJ guyI'd like to solve one of the *-other Jeep problems- At first my idea was reengineering the jeep mirrors so they don't vibrate as much but argued that's an easy fix and people can just do that themselves. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks for the help in advanced

FIFY

I would say you could make YJ headlights round?