Build Thread The $120 Jeep CJ7 build thread

[daddyusmaximus]

Axles and springs are off. She's finally down to the frame. Well, almost. The steering box and front sway bar are still on, but I'm going to see if their location can remain unchanged if possible. It will remain upside down for a while, as I still have some brackets to cut and grind off in the front before I get to the sandblasting.

 

[gert]

Sweet looking good


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[daddyusmaximus]

Took off the front spring front shackle mounts yesterday. Did some cutting and grinding to get the rear spring mounts for the front springs off the frame too., One easy, one a PITA. Got the I-6 motor mounts off.

Started to take off the steering box off and one of the bolts snapped off in the frame. This is gonna be a real PITA. These bolts go right into the boxed frame. Any ideas on how to deal with this?

The steering box will get replaced with a fresh unit, and I could just weld a short bead at that last bolt hole location (it's the rear hole) but I want to keep so it can be removed again if need be.

I hate wrenching on a bare frame. These rusty bolts are on so tight, and the frame has no weight, so it just wobbles around on the jack stands...

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Got some parts delivered this week. The Dave's Unlimited full size axle kit came in first. It's a well made kit, but will need slight modification. It is designed to hang a Ford or Chevy front axle under a CJ. I just happened to have a Dana 44 out of a Dodge truck, that is a bit wider. I'll need to put a 1/4 or 3/8 spacer plate between the new Dave's mount and the frame when I bolt it in for good. The rear mount will have to be cut and widened as it made to sandwich the frame. It also has gusset plates to be welded in after it gets bolted in place, so my welder guy will be doing that. I'll be prepping the frame and getting it to him this next week or so if I can.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

My 1.5" lift Rubicon Express spring over YJ springs also came in. Not sure who to be mad at (I got them through Summit Racing) but stupid Fed-Ex put big bar-code stickers right on the springs that won't come off. They're all scratched to hell too. They weren't even boxed. I'm supposed to be the one who gets to scratch up my new springs... on the trail... Sure, people love big stickers on the products they pay for... Lucky for them I'm doing a military tribute, and they will get painted anyway. If this was a normal custom build, or a resto-mod, I'd be making calls and chewing people out telling them they owe me to have them repainted.

 

[shum8]

My 1.5" lift Rubicon Express spring over YJ springs also came in. Not sure who to be mad at (I got them through Summit Racing) but stupid Fed-Ex put big bar-code stickers right on the springs that won't come off. They're all scratched to hell too. They weren't even boxed. I'm supposed to be the one who gets to scratch up my new springs... on the trail... Sure, people love big stickers on the products they pay for... Lucky for them I'm doing a military tribute, and they will get painted anyway. If this was a normal custom build, or a resto-mod, I'd be making calls and chewing people out telling them they owe me to have them repainted.

I hear ya - to most folks they would pay little attention to that. But the stickers and the scratches would have pushed me right over the edge. My neighbor cannot understand when I’ll pass on a good deal on a rifle cause it’s all scratched up - he says it’s just signs of use - I call it abuse. To each their own, but I agree - I wanna be the one to tear up new stuff....... don’t want it pre-worn.


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[gert]

My 1.5" lift Rubicon Express spring over YJ springs also came in. Not sure who to be mad at (I got them through Summit Racing) but stupid Fed-Ex put big bar-code stickers right on the springs that won't come off. They're all scratched to hell too. They weren't even boxed. I'm supposed to be the one who gets to scratch up my new springs... on the trail... Sure, people love big stickers on the products they pay for... Lucky for them I'm doing a military tribute, and they will get painted anyway. If this was a normal custom build, or a resto-mod, I'd be making calls and chewing people out telling them they owe me to have them repainted.

Try WD40 on the sticker, it loosens the sticker and paper up pretty good

I used to work for Fed Ex, UPS does not treat heavy items any better than them.


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[shum8]

I used to work for Fed Ex, UPS does not treat heavy items any better than them.


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In their defense, if an item is shipped naked I would imagine the thought is it must not need careful handling. This one falls in the shippers lap. IMHO, YMMV.

(I’ve always wanted to put those two together......)



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[Belizean]

I used to work for Fed Ex, UPS does not treat heavy items any better than them.


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I've been in the shipping business on & off for the last 40 years. If items aren't well protected, those two companies really could care less about your stuff. I've seen their people ( brown ) toss boxes 20 feet. USPS is not much better

 

[gert]

In their defense, if an item is shipped naked I would imagine the thought is it must not need careful handling. This one falls in the shippers lap. IMHO, YMMV.

(I’ve always wanted to put those two together......)



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Lol no they definitely don’t care


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[daddyusmaximus]

Try WD40 on the sticker, it loosens the sticker and paper up pretty good

I used to work for Fed Ex, UPS does not treat heavy items any better than them.


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I just happened to have some WD40 right there in the photo...

 

[shum8]

That stuff is so good, I eat it on toast.... LOL


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[gert]

I just happened to have some WD40 right there in the photo...

Lol I didn’t even catch that, did you try it?


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[Belizean]

Lol I didn’t even catch that, did you try it?


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On Toast ?

 

[shum8]

LMAO - I think he mighta meant the stickers..... just spitballin here....


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[mtnwhlr]

 

[gert]

Oh boy on the sticker I don’t think it will taste good[emoji23]


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[shum8]

Oh boy on the sticker I don’t think it will taste good[emoji23]


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Good point. The toast would be a better option.....


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[daddyusmaximus]

Did some grinding of the frame to get off the leftover parts where I cut the front main spring mount off. Drilled into the frame for the first time on the build. Nerve wracking for an amateur, but I got them relatively straight. Speaking of nerves... the nerve damage in my neck haunted me, with my weak grip. I lost control of the drill when the bit caught. It twisted right out of my hands and I snapped off the 1/2" bit... in the frame. Thank God the hole was almost done, and I was able to just bang the broken piece inside the frame. Still have to enlarge the holes on the outside of the frame to 3/4" to allow for the spacers, but I was too sore to try that tonight. I'm using YJ springs and am supposed to make the spring eyes 44" apart, but could only move the rear bracket enough to get 43 1/2". Close enough for me... It already has to be widened 3/8" to fit the Dodge Dana 44 , and I didn't want to have to get into the body mount too, so here it will sit.

 

[gert]

Looking good, cutting and drilling frames are nerve racking things to do so don’t worry about that, I have had quit a few 1/2 inch drill bits catch and pull the drill right out of my hand as well so don’t think you are weak for that


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