Build Thread Stretched CJ7 on tons

[Incommando]

I started with a '77 frame/tub that has had the front end out-boarded, shackle reversed, and extended. It was originally a Levi (Edition) that came with a AMC 304 /GM Turbo 400 /QuadraTrac but there is little to nothing of that left.


Rear has been comp cut with the "crusher" type corners.


I bought it without a drive-train. A FSJ 360/T18a/Dana 20 drive-train has been swapped in using MORE motor mounts and a custom cross-member that tucks all of the goodies in nice & high. I am retaining the 2100 carb for now as I have really liked them off-road in the past but I swapped in a GM HEI-style distributor. The engine's PO had it rebuilt by a local engine shop but mostly to stock specs with an "rv" grind cam. I have a hotter crane cam/double roller timing set/Edelbrock 4v intake on the shelf that may get swapped in eventually. I put a 4.56 Dodge D60F with a Spartan locker and a Solid cover in the front with a 4.56 14 bolt with a Grizzly in the back. I think the 4.56's will be fine considering the 6.32:1 first gear in the tranny. I have the Barnes "13bolt" shave cover for the rear along with a disc brake kit with parking brake calipers...it is a stick shift, after all. GM 1-ton hydro-boost is going on...

I am running Ground Hawg II Radials in 38x15.5x16.5 flavor. They measure out at 37.3" on the rims and on the jeep.


The jeep sat too high as it was on 4" lift Chevy leafs. I swapped stock height Chevy leafs on and it sits 5" lower now than in that pic.

I found the frame to be in worse shape then first thought so I ended up pulling the tub to box the frame. Boxing the frame led to cutting off all of the suspension mounts and re-doing them with mounts from Barnes 4wd. Very nice pieces and good prices. The frame and bumper/suspension mounts are as solid as can be. The wheel base is at 104".

I cut the perches off the 14-bolt and re-welded them angled for a CV rear drive shaft. I left the front axle yoke parallel to the front Transfer Case output yoke and will have a long-stroke drive shaft made. I did not cut/rotate the front axle for a CV shaft as I have lock-outs so the front shaft won't be turning all of the time anyway. The u-joint angle should be fine with the axle having been moved forward. I built cross-over steering using an arm on the pass side and RuffStuff 1-ton tie rods and thick tubing for the drag link. Moved the gear box to the outside of the frame with a custom mount. Hi-steer may be in the future but the flat-ish springs on the front may make that difficult. The tie rod assembly on a Dodge D60 is pretty high so maybe I will be OK.

Now to patch & re-install the body, plumb the brakes & fuel, and wire the booger...

 

[Niedhogg]

Wow.. gonna be a monster!

 

[Incommando]

Here are the rims: pretty generic:

That isn't rust just dried grass
Motor mount:

Lousy pic of the custom crossmember:

drivetrain in frame:

Front mount for front springs and part of steering linkage:

New ride height:


None of the welds are "final" they were just tacked with a small Snap-on welder. They will be finished welded with a millermatic 250
More pics later...crappy cell memory was full.

 

[Incommando]

Here is the jeep from the front. The drag link angle may not be ideal but I think it will be workable:

Almost completed gear box relocation:

FSJ pitman arm connecting C20 gear box to RuffStuff cross-over steering"

 

[mtnwhlr]

Wow nice project you must plan on doing some serious 4wheeling. :drool:

 

[Incommando]

Wow nice project you must plan on doing some serious 4wheeling. :drool:

Thanks... It is actually more of a "I hope this idiot driver doesn't break me" jeep. I got a great deal on the front axle and I figured why not just go straight to tons rather than invest in axles and then maybe have to pay to upgrade later.

 

[Incommando]

For comparison here are the lift springs that were on it when I bought it with about 28" tires:



Scary tall

 

[mtnwhlr]

I can't wait to see it done as I bet you can't either. Have fun fun.

 

[Hopper]

Wow that is a serious rig. cant wait to see the pics keep it coming.

 

[Incommando]

Thanks! I have made some progress that I do not have pics for yet...about to start on the floor of the tub... But i do have some progress

New brakes for the D60 front Including NOS Lock-outs- build date June 4, 1980 and still in perfect condition::



Brake pads, rotors, calipers, all 3 hoses, hardware kits, bearings, seals, and 16 new lug studs for a D60 Front? About $400... Lock-outs not included in that price... Makes that rear disc kit with parking brake calipers I got off pirate look like a real bargain

I just picked up a factory bar with the Kentrol front kit added (pic 1) for cheap. I will use the factory bar already in the jeep to make a third hoop by the rear and tie it to the center bar with the factory support bars from the second roll bar. (pics 2 & 3)... Tying it to the frame will be cake at all 6 down points.(pic 4) For the rear two "downs" I am going to use the second factory mounting plate underneath the tub & bolted through the sheet metal to the top plate & weld the frame supports to that.






I will add a dash bar and some spreaders from the middle bar to the front bar by using some tubing I already have and call it good.

 

[Niedhogg]

Awesome! Keep it coming, buddy! Hoping to start another build thread myself soon, I've aquired a CJ5 now, along with a 350TBI/SM465/NP208, and I want to stretch and 4-link either the CJ5 , or my 7.. haven't decided yet, but I'm still on the hunt for the 14 bolt and the D60. I have some plans for a new style of tube fenders that have more of a CJ feel/look to them as soon as I get my tubing bender. It'll probably be my CJ7 , I'm a big boy and want to see how hard it is to get in and out of the 5 first, then we'll see. I get the CJ5 next month and it's really solid, can't wait!

I've been trying to look for some stretched CJ builds on springs, they're hard to come by. Pirate has a thread for stretched leaf spring rigs, but there is little info on the springs they are using in the thread. It would be cheaper to use leafs, but I really like the low stance of the linked rigs.. it's pretty cool to have 42" tires and a frame hiedth of around 24", I might still be ablr to get in it without a ladder that way, LOL!

Keep the pics coming!

 

[Incommando]

I hear ya on the lower height... I will see how this goes.

It seems to be easier to stretch the wheelbase on a '7. I wound up at 104" without much drama.

I may yet wind up with '73-'93 D150 52" rear springs on the back. My stock K10 springs have the center pin centered so there is 26" of spring on each side of the axle. The Dodge springs are split 24/28 to move the axle 2" back. XJ leaf springs are similar but are notoriously week and bendy.

Going aftermarket instead of junkyard would open the choices a bunch. XJ or '89-94 Toy app springs would work if the had enough strength.

If I had it to do over I would have just linked it...

 

[CJ]

~~~ ~~~

Very nice looking weld, what are you using?

 

[Incommando]

I am using a pic snagged from the internet...
I am no welder. I am part owner of a millermatic 260 but the guy who owns the other half is a welder and does all of my important welding.

 

[Txquailhunter]

How is this coming along? Do you have any updates?

 

[Incommando]

I just moved and it has put this on the back burner. I will probably start on the floor in a week or two. I will post update then.

I hate how life interferes with Jeeps.... Gawd I hate moving.

 

[Kilo19]

you never know how much s*** you have till you move. And for some reason you can never get rid on enought before you move, to make it easier.

 

[cj7eatit]

Hey you have any finished items on this?

 

[cj7eatit]

Here's where I'm at.....

 

[Peanut Butter]

Did you ever get rid of the QuadraTrac Transfer Case ?