Should I?

[Hedgehog]

While working on adding new gearing and lockers to both the front and rear of the CJ, Should I take the time and add gussets or would that be a truss to the axles? While the axles are out it seems easy enough. Cut some plate, add a strap to the outside for "I" beam type strength, not let it get too hot. Good ides or bad? Are their any pit falls that should be looked out for?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Ain't you got enough projects now
IMO-Gussets are not needed for 'our' type of wheel'n.
They are nice when your'er run'n 100+mph over the desert floor. But of little use to crawl'n in the rocks.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

In a way they are the same project.....

I've got other projects I don't even mentioned.

 

[PaRenegade]

I agree, a truss isn't a "must have" item for beefing up the AMC20 . But I would at least have the tubes welded to the center section. However you DO want it to get hot. You have to be careful welding steel to the cast (nodular) center section. You heat it up first with a torch, then do the welding, then let it slowly cool by using the torch to prolong the cool down. I had a professional do mine and just had him put about an inch or so long beads at 3 places around the intersection on each side.
You could gusset the front axle at the "C"s but again I think it's one of those "don't need" items and if you do, your probably gonna break something else in that axle first.

 

[Hedgehog]

Good, then I won't do it. Thanks!

 

[Torxhead]

Hedge, if you are in a position to do so, you could check the rear diff housing for any bending by bolting some large flat plates onto the brake backing plate bolt locations. then measure for it being parallel. The moderate, slow type of wheeling I do does not risk any housing bending either, but for some odd reason I seem to have bent both my housings making a good reason for the addition of my front Dana 44 and the rear I just deal with in its condition. So I would suggest some reinforcement in those areas as you never know how high off the ground you are gonna get until it happens.