- Location
- Southern Indiana
It wasn't going to clear my TB at full flex.
Project "Constructive Deconstruction"
- Thread starter VAhasnoWAVES
- Start date
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
havent payed much attention to the jeep... ive been stupid busy with Baja, my senior design (Baja related), graduating (18 credits 3 semesters in a row), and aligning myself with my new job. ive even been in the spotlight for a bunch of CMU promotional stuff and a commercial!
for baja, i designed the entire suspension system with some help running it through analysis and kinematics. did 95% of all weldments, both MIG and TIG. and did a very large portion of all CNC machining. best part is... i got to drive the 4 hour endurance events in both Auburn Alabama and Portland Oregon. :gee:
Auburn:
the school was not very happy that we did not make the car school colors... university communications, public relations, and the dean himself came down on us very hard. they made us repaint and wrap the entire car between races... after they admitted they had no jurisdiction to do so. i was a proprietor for rattle canning the damn think black... but my vote got outweighed for the weight adding vynil, that everyone (including our sponsors) ended up hating.
"put your stamp on the world"
ironic...
Oregon:
we had a really good year... even made a few spots in some neat videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gZJVyR-MlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2I3ThFiB8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytP0VkVZgEc
i did not get to race maryland, as i had to walk for graduation. :badpc:
i know it looks like weiny stuff... but its been a lot of fun. and ive met some pretty amazing people, and gotten to travel a lot. its also probably one of the biggest reasons i landed a position with General Motors. in the past year ive been to pittsburg kansas, peoria illinois, houghton michigan, auburn alabama, and portland oregon. if nothing else, it has fired me up to legitimately look into an offroad racing series.
for baja, i designed the entire suspension system with some help running it through analysis and kinematics. did 95% of all weldments, both MIG and TIG. and did a very large portion of all CNC machining. best part is... i got to drive the 4 hour endurance events in both Auburn Alabama and Portland Oregon. :gee:
Auburn:
the school was not very happy that we did not make the car school colors... university communications, public relations, and the dean himself came down on us very hard. they made us repaint and wrap the entire car between races... after they admitted they had no jurisdiction to do so. i was a proprietor for rattle canning the damn think black... but my vote got outweighed for the weight adding vynil, that everyone (including our sponsors) ended up hating.
"put your stamp on the world"
ironic...
Oregon:
we had a really good year... even made a few spots in some neat videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gZJVyR-MlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2I3ThFiB8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytP0VkVZgEc
i did not get to race maryland, as i had to walk for graduation. :badpc:
i know it looks like weiny stuff... but its been a lot of fun. and ive met some pretty amazing people, and gotten to travel a lot. its also probably one of the biggest reasons i landed a position with General Motors. in the past year ive been to pittsburg kansas, peoria illinois, houghton michigan, auburn alabama, and portland oregon. if nothing else, it has fired me up to legitimately look into an offroad racing series.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
oh wait... this is a jeep forum...
well my daily driver (malibu) blew a head gasket and ive been forced to rely on the jeep as everything happened so fast. i litterally flew back from oregon on a sunday night and started working that monday... if that gives you a glimps of how my timeline has been...
so im driving the jeep, and going threw making renovations to make it reliable again. first order of business was chasing down an internitten no start issue... im pretty sure it had something to do with my connection to my battery. with the help of pete, we did a mains cables upgrade:
even loomed it all up, looking factory!
thing cranks great now.
i also had a busted grill and fog lights. picked up some cheapy amazon lights, and am sourcing a grill tomorrow.
few other things on the list... but right now im getting pretty good gas mileage out of her. i just need to get the malibu back. i want the gas mileage, to stop putting wear and tear on my MTs, and the jeep needs to go under the knife soon.
well my daily driver (malibu) blew a head gasket and ive been forced to rely on the jeep as everything happened so fast. i litterally flew back from oregon on a sunday night and started working that monday... if that gives you a glimps of how my timeline has been...
so im driving the jeep, and going threw making renovations to make it reliable again. first order of business was chasing down an internitten no start issue... im pretty sure it had something to do with my connection to my battery. with the help of pete, we did a mains cables upgrade:
even loomed it all up, looking factory!
thing cranks great now.
i also had a busted grill and fog lights. picked up some cheapy amazon lights, and am sourcing a grill tomorrow.
few other things on the list... but right now im getting pretty good gas mileage out of her. i just need to get the malibu back. i want the gas mileage, to stop putting wear and tear on my MTs, and the jeep needs to go under the knife soon.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
So... i think the photos are dead now, but over a year ago i cut some pieces out to make rear bump stops...
i finally got around to getting that done:
also had an unfortunate reminder why you dont wear gloves with rotating tools. i had a wire wheel on an angle grinder grab my glove and wrap itself up. luckily... it was plugged into the wall and not an extension cord, so when i pulled back it unplugged. could have been a LOT worse.
im also proud to say that i have gone for a contract resource to a GM employee in under 3 months. with that comes even better benefits and a substantial pay raise.
as i slowly put the malibu back together i became more and more tired of looking at it, and want to drive a new vehicle. leasing prices were pretty good.
i finally got around to getting that done:
also had an unfortunate reminder why you dont wear gloves with rotating tools. i had a wire wheel on an angle grinder grab my glove and wrap itself up. luckily... it was plugged into the wall and not an extension cord, so when i pulled back it unplugged. could have been a LOT worse.
im also proud to say that i have gone for a contract resource to a GM employee in under 3 months. with that comes even better benefits and a substantial pay raise.
as i slowly put the malibu back together i became more and more tired of looking at it, and want to drive a new vehicle. leasing prices were pretty good.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
picked up a tow rig at the beginning of the month....
2015 silverado. its a well optioned 1LT with max towing. advertised at 11k lb. should handle a jeep and trailer no problem.
sold my malibu in a hurry and payed for this. i really want a crew cab... but with all of my incentives, the lease price made sense. i will reevaluate in two years and see where i stand. if the student loans are in check, i really have my heart set on a denali HD. but for now? i am beyond happy.
with that addition of the truck... i now have my sites set on the badlands, windrock, and harlan. but first, the jeep will need a makeover.
stay tuned.
2015 silverado. its a well optioned 1LT with max towing. advertised at 11k lb. should handle a jeep and trailer no problem.
sold my malibu in a hurry and payed for this. i really want a crew cab... but with all of my incentives, the lease price made sense. i will reevaluate in two years and see where i stand. if the student loans are in check, i really have my heart set on a denali HD. but for now? i am beyond happy.
with that addition of the truck... i now have my sites set on the badlands, windrock, and harlan. but first, the jeep will need a makeover.
stay tuned.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
added weather techs and a tonneau to the truck.
converted the front end of the jeep to hover jeep.
converted the front end of the jeep to hover jeep.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
about 30 minutes of work... this doesnt seem as bad as everyone says. still a lot to do though. ill hold my opinions until the end. haha.
- Location
- Michigan
Fronts aren't bad. Mids suck the most. Overhead grinding and welding is not my fav.
Nice truck. If my Tahoe can do the deed of TR, that Silverado should be fine.
Nice truck. If my Tahoe can do the deed of TR, that Silverado should be fine.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
time to weld on some beef.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
jeep is coming along... not as fast as i would like. but progress is forward, none the less.
anyway, with winter looming pete and i took the opportunity to enjoy the changing colors. it was also a good chance to try out the new truck.
got there friday night.
woke up to a gorgeous day saturday.
and of course... his junk just flat out works. though i got to push him sometimes.
anyway, with winter looming pete and i took the opportunity to enjoy the changing colors. it was also a good chance to try out the new truck.
got there friday night.
woke up to a gorgeous day saturday.
and of course... his junk just flat out works. though i got to push him sometimes.
kmanxj5050
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Reed City Michigan
Howd that truck tow? Decent on hills?
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
Rock solid. Plenty of power everywhere and trans temps never budged.
Fuel mileage wasn't spectacular but factor in another 10-15k for a diesel power plant in a crew cab... Idk how long it'd take to see your ROI. A lighter trailer, and lower trailer would make a difference.
I'm happy with it.
Fuel mileage wasn't spectacular but factor in another 10-15k for a diesel power plant in a crew cab... Idk how long it'd take to see your ROI. A lighter trailer, and lower trailer would make a difference.
I'm happy with it.
Last edited:
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
with winter coming, the days are getting shorter. it was time to install some lights. 5000 lumens should do.
back to business...
got the frame rails stripped. primed the rails. marked the rails for the stiffener, wire wheeled where the rails go.
wire wheeled where the rails go, and did one last fit up.... then started tacking. also did plug and perimeter stitch welds.
little bit of grinding later...ready to rock.
one piece done... 5 more to go. will have some more beef next weekend.
well, lunch is over, back to work.
back to business...
got the frame rails stripped. primed the rails. marked the rails for the stiffener, wire wheeled where the rails go.
wire wheeled where the rails go, and did one last fit up.... then started tacking. also did plug and perimeter stitch welds.
little bit of grinding later...ready to rock.
one piece done... 5 more to go. will have some more beef next weekend.
well, lunch is over, back to work.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
well... I ran out of gas and wire as I was wrapping up the driver side. so that came to a stand still last Saturday. to keep myself busy, I kept stripping the remainder of the frame. and also bolted on my new FSJ pitman arm to see if clearance is an issue. looks like ill be fine. so I can pull the box now for a little drill and tap action.
waggy arm because...
one mans trash is another mans treasure... and that's some very heavy, well built trash.
waggy arm because...
one mans trash is another mans treasure... and that's some very heavy, well built trash.
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
Hey, something seems familiar here...
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
$100 later...
they are in my garage. and i now own a hoist... the amount of harbor freight in this garage is disturbing. but my back is thankful.
they are in my garage. and i now own a hoist... the amount of harbor freight in this garage is disturbing. but my back is thankful.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
so... im sure youve guessed by now that i bought John Ds axle, as he is on to bigger and better things. one thing that came along with the axles was his radius arms. i know there is all the gripe against rustys (to my understanding, when he purchased these the only kits on the market was rustys and RE), but i had fully intended on bolting them im and being happy.
well, im not so happy. the tie in brackets dont exactly fit with the stiffeners, and i cant weld them on how id like, because i wouldnt be able to remove the crossmember. im hoping that they are worth more to someone in tack than they are to me in pieces. i still have my current crossmember around, which is pure beef. but i dont really want to modify that one either.
well, using measurements off the rustys crossmember, the axles i bought, and the jeep... ive really been toying with the idea of building a 3 link. ive learned a lot along the way. the calculator is for a rear, but i think ive come up with numbers that i can live with:
with that said... what to do about a crossmember? i knew i would have some free time at work, took some measurements in with me, and got started. ive been toying with the idea of buying the clayton crossmember and adding an upper link tower, but i also think i can build it myself. so this is what ive come up with.
the stock crossemember bolts are there to simply locate the crossmemeber. after everything is dialed int they will get welded to the stiffeners. the crossmember itself is adjustable up and down by .875". now to find steel, i have already found a really good price on DOM for the link and the trackbar i need to fab, and have a basket full of barnes parts. just need to source the rest of the steel.
stay tuned.
well, im not so happy. the tie in brackets dont exactly fit with the stiffeners, and i cant weld them on how id like, because i wouldnt be able to remove the crossmember. im hoping that they are worth more to someone in tack than they are to me in pieces. i still have my current crossmember around, which is pure beef. but i dont really want to modify that one either.
well, using measurements off the rustys crossmember, the axles i bought, and the jeep... ive really been toying with the idea of building a 3 link. ive learned a lot along the way. the calculator is for a rear, but i think ive come up with numbers that i can live with:
with that said... what to do about a crossmember? i knew i would have some free time at work, took some measurements in with me, and got started. ive been toying with the idea of buying the clayton crossmember and adding an upper link tower, but i also think i can build it myself. so this is what ive come up with.
the stock crossemember bolts are there to simply locate the crossmemeber. after everything is dialed int they will get welded to the stiffeners. the crossmember itself is adjustable up and down by .875". now to find steel, i have already found a really good price on DOM for the link and the trackbar i need to fab, and have a basket full of barnes parts. just need to source the rest of the steel.
stay tuned.
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
Wait, you got John D's stuff? Lucky...
- Location
- Warsaw, IN
I built the crossmember on my old zj and built it like the claytons crossmember. That's what I will be doing on mine with an upper link mount for the 3 link like what your planning. Will stay tuned to your build
- Location
- Southwest IN
Keep your crossmember and use Brian's 3 link kit?
