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Build Thread The '80 FrankenJeep frame off reassembly

Build Thread The '80 FrankenJeep frame off reassembly
Thanks - I have now entered the “looks be damned, just do it” mode........ At least the distance center to center of the heim joints is the same as the original pivots. Should fit. And the first knucklehead that crawls under the Jeep and tells my my clutch rod looks like :dung: is gonna get a swift kick in the jimmies


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Lol


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Linkage looks good...

what are you planning on doing with the bell crank (thinking bearings/bushings)?
 
Linkage looks good...



what are you planning on doing with the bell crank (thinking bearings/bushings)?



For right now - just the plastic replacements. I have a spare bell crank - so I’ll sit down at some point and see what I can come up with using that one as a donor.


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Got the clutch linkage installed, and of course I didn't take any pics..... I'll get a few tomorrow. I did however get a few as I got the manual choke hooked up. I figured this would be quick - run it thru the dash, tighten the nut, and attach to the carb. That was the plan - which is a good thing to have, as it gives me something to abandon later LOL. Anyway, I forgot that this dash is not the one that came with the Jeep - so no hole for the choke. Had to drill one...

433831bebd22921f5f34db9335e0ed1d.jpg


Ok - got the hole drilled so in goes the choke

26508f85427589d09f86f1d3e1a5cd5e.jpg


And all snuggered up on the dash panel

08a6768dd901eac5e40610133aeeb367.jpg


I have a small knob that resembles the other knobs on the dash - gonna try to swap it over later on down the road.

Found a hole near the center of the firewall that looked great for running a choke cable. Thought a rubber grommet would be a handy addition. Didn't have a grommet. Off to Lowe's I go for a grommet. Got the grommet in place, and started the choke thru the grommet and connected to the carb ( but took the pic before I tightened the clamp)

3e322e29cfd038eb8932bd6b3ccc5419.webp




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Would love to see the clutch linkage pics... planning on doing mine very soon.

Didn't realize how simple the manual choke cable is to run. Can one convert an electric choke to manual without a lot of carb. work?

Very nice hole btw...
 
Got the clutch linkage installed, and of course I didn't take any pics..... I'll get a few tomorrow. I did however get a few as I got the manual choke hooked up. I figured this would be quick - run it thru the dash, tighten the nut, and attach to the carb. That was the plan - which is a good thing to have, as it gives me something to abandon later LOL. Anyway, I forgot that this dash is not the one that came with the Jeep - so no hole for the choke. Had to drill one...

433831bebd22921f5f34db9335e0ed1d.jpg


Ok - got the hole drilled so in goes the choke

26508f85427589d09f86f1d3e1a5cd5e.jpg


And all snuggered up on the dash panel

08a6768dd901eac5e40610133aeeb367.jpg


I have a small knob that resembles the other knobs on the dash - gonna try to swap it over later on down the road.

Found a hole near the center of the firewall that looked great for running a choke cable. Thought a rubber grommet would be a handy addition. Didn't have a grommet. Off to Lowe's I go for a grommet. Got the grommet in place, and started the choke thru the grommet and connected to the carb ( but took the pic before I tightened the clamp)

3e322e29cfd038eb8932bd6b3ccc5419.webp




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I didn't go through the dash, I took the ash tray out a long time ago and mine came with a little bracket and screwed that to the bottom of the dash about 3 inches to the left of the lighter. Works well there.
 
I didn't go through the dash, I took the ash tray out a long time ago and mine came with a little bracket and screwed that to the bottom of the dash about 3 inches to the left of the lighter. Works well there.



I thought about that - I've also considered adding the clock and tach at some point down the road - if that happens the choke hole will go away and I'll mount it on the bottom of the dash then....


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Been off grid for a bit - between working, taking a couple online classes for recertification, and sneaking in some tinkering, I didn’t stop and document. But it was boring stuff. I did get all the wiring hooked up, ground busses in place, bought a new battery, and today was electrical test day.

6dff9d429ce1edaa85054a9458dc1612.jpg


Was most uneventful - just as I had hoped. Didnt check everything, but what I did check works. ...... with the exception of the hazard lights. Only the drivers side blinks - no response from the passenger side. Parking lights work, Tail lights work, but only half the hazards work. And I did bump the starter and it responded nicely.

Tomorrow all fluids go in, and some fuel, and we see if she fires up!!!


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Sounds like good news pretty much. Good luck with firing it up !
 
Sweeeeetttt


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I was excited that nothing went up in smoke. Most of my harness hacking was with the ignition circuit - and it appears to be ok. The lights have me stumped. Gonna grab a beer and dig into the schematics....


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Sounds like bad contacts in switch


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Yep - and it's down in the steering column......


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Had two minor fails today - just par for the course around here LOL. In preparation for a potential startup this week, after getting the wiring buttoned up I started adding all fluids yesterday - got the Transmission and Transfer Case juiced up, and everything was going well. Today after the daughter unit headed home, I went back out to the garage, and started adding fluid to the differentials....... rear went without a hitch. Moved to the front. Tie rod and drag link were in the way of the gear oil bottle. No sweat - I'll just make a funnel out of another jug....... cut this part out...



d259477a7c6e7fe312ff715f88724b01.jpg




Stick the handle in the fill hole.....



087a547ce0310d1765838eb29ee59a1b.jpg




Nice gaping hole - can't miss that.....



f0e08954a8f6eddaf4d9d72cd580653a.jpg




Apply copious amounts of squeeze, and immediately overfill the funnel, and run gear oil out all over the punkin, floor, my hand, etc. (If you've ever wondered just how slow 90wt will flow thru a "tube" that small, ya better pack a lunch when you try it....) Got that cleaned up, and improvised a new filler tube..... Ahhh, much better....



08eabbd89a4dcf2e616e6a0c48fc3a2c.jpg




Moved back under the middle of the Jeep.... oh, look - fluid dripping off the drain plug on the tranny...... Well, no kiddin, it's only finger tight. Snugged that up, looks fixed. Ate dinner, and - oh, look - more dripping from the drain plug. Made another nice funnel out of a 2 liter bottle, and got set up to drain fluid out of tranny into the jug..........



972a2a2d0b27accab4091c96fdebb7a7.jpg




loosen plug, hoist funnel / jug to just below plug, twist about 3/4 turn, and drop the d@mn plug down into the jug.......



e0fab89f88bada5f534c5883d4d29a2f.jpg




cover the hole with left thumb, grab jug with right hand, start to turn jug over to retrieve the plug, and inadvertently move left thumb, running gear oil into my armpit. Startled by a now well lubed pit, pour what little gear oil was in the jug about 6" left of the pan ( plug stayed in the jug)........ in reapplying left thump to drain hole, slam head into skid plate. At this point, I just said screw it and drained rest of the fluid on top of the drain plug......



4db81b6058949c14ef1d285a380bd3e9.jpg




After a hand cleaner sink bath, got that all sorted out.....



On a bright note - got my brake line stay 3D printed at work Friday - I believe it's gonna work well.......



e087611421020fea04518bfaa36e4b4d.jpg


a494b239db788dc1837bc5f8da14d84d.jpg


5b90d441f1417ff5f31efe3bf4d7f285.jpg


Still hoping to fire the beast up tomorrow.....
 
Last edited:
Had two minor fails today - just par for the course around here LOL. In preparation for a potential startup this week, after getting the wiring buttoned up I started adding all fluids yesterday - got the Transmission and Transfer Case juiced up, and everything was going well. Today after the daughter unit headed home, I went back out to the garage, and started adding fluid to the differentials....... rear went without a hitch. Moved to the front. Tie rod and drag link were in the way of the gear oil bottle. No sweat - I'll just make a funnel out of another jug....... cut this part out...



d259477a7c6e7fe312ff715f88724b01.jpg




Stick the handle in the fill hole.....



087a547ce0310d1765838eb29ee59a1b.jpg




Nice gaping hole - can't miss that.....



f0e08954a8f6eddaf4d9d72cd580653a.jpg




Apply copious amounts of squeeze, and immediately overfill the funnel, and run gear oil out all over the punkin, floor, my hand, etc. (If you've ever wondered just how slow 90wt will flow thru a "tube" that small, ya better pack a lunch when you try it....) Got that cleaned up, and improvised a new filler tube..... Ahhh, much better....



08eabbd89a4dcf2e616e6a0c48fc3a2c.jpg




Moved back under the middle of the Jeep.... oh, look - fluid dripping off the drain plug on the tranny...... Well, no kiddin, it's only finger tight. Snugged that up, looks fixed. Ate dinner, and - oh, look - more dripping from the drain plug. Made another nice funnel out of a 2 liter bottle, and got set up to drain fluid out of tranny into the jug..........



972a2a2d0b27accab4091c96fdebb7a7.jpg




loosen plug, hoist funnel / jug to just below plug, twist about 3/4 turn, and drop the d@mn plug down into the jug.......



e0fab89f88bada5f534c5883d4d29a2f.jpg




cover the hole with left thumb, grab jug with right hand, start to turn jug over to retrieve the plug, and inadvertently move left thumb, running gear oil into my armpit. Startled by a now well lubed pit, pour what little gear oil was in the jug about 6" left of the pan ( plug stayed in the jug)........ in reapplying left thump to drain hole, slam head into skid plate. At this point, I just said screw it and drained rest of the fluid on top of the drain plug......



4db81b6058949c14ef1d285a380bd3e9.jpg




After a hand cleaner sink bath, got that all sorted out.....



On a bright note - got my brake line stay 3D printed at work Friday - I believe it's gonna work well.......



e087611421020fea04518bfaa36e4b4d.jpg


a494b239db788dc1837bc5f8da14d84d.jpg


5b90d441f1417ff5f31efe3bf4d7f285.jpg


Still hoping to fire the beast up tomorrow.....
I can just see that happening, you had me laughing out loud. Well written!!! That sort of thing happens around here often.
 
Man it sounds like it would be a lot of fun to drink a beer and hang out in your garage while your working on the jeep


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Last edited:
Man it sounds like it would be a lot of fun to drink a beer and hang out in your garage while your working on the jeep


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That would be fun - too bad we’re only like 100 hours apart....... I think today I’ll start with a beer and see if it helps....

That reminds me...... I had a new door neighbor a few years back that whenever he saw me into something substantial, would drag a folding chair over and sit just out of Arms reach and drink a beer I’d look up and he’d just sorta appear outta nowhere, grinning with his barley pop. It’s good to have neighbors like that. They can dial 911 for ya......

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Last edited:
The parts store has a really cool gizmo I bought probably 25 years ago that screws right on the gear oil containers and oil containers that has a clear 1/2 in tube about 15 inches long. Rotate the tube 1/3 rotation and that either stops fluid flowing or let's it flow. That thing has saved me many times from a huge spill like you had. They are really cheap to buy.
 
The parts store has a really cool gizmo I bought probably 25 years ago that screws right on the gear oil containers and oil containers that has a clear 1/2 in tube about 15 inches long. Rotate the tube 1/3 rotation and that either stops fluid flowing or let's it flow. That thing has saved me many times from a huge spill like you had. They are really cheap to buy.



While that would take ALL the fun out of the process, I gotta get one of those.....


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