Project Downward Spiral

I've got a radiator for an open cooling system sitting in a friend's garage. It's probably going to have to go into his MJ soon but with winter temps it's running fine, if you need it now I can probably swipe it and you can get a decent junkyard radiator to me anytime between now and when the last snow melts.
I appreciate the offer Ken, but something about used radiators just seems like using junkyard spark plugs to me.

Thanks though. :)
 
Yeah, I know the feeling, picked it up because it cost ten bucks (from a part-out) and seemed like it was in fairly good shape, and my friend with the MJ is wayyyyyy too cheap to actually do real vehicle maintenance :roflmao:

Personally, I stay away from anything considered a "wear item".

You get the steel plate? Hope it fits your needs!
 
sometimes you slack so much its ridiculous:laugh3:
 
Since you decided not to show up and watch me drink beer and get plowed for my bday, you must have worked on the jeep instead.


That being said, I want an update and at least 7 pictures as a form of payment for a bday present.




:D
 
Since you decided not to show up and watch me drink beer and get plowed for my bday, you must have worked on the jeep instead.

That being said, I want an update and at least 7 pictures as a form of payment for a bday present.

:D
Colin was supposed to buy you a beer from me. :)

Anyway, how's this to hold you over till later when I will post more?
PSCBoxes.jpg
 
Colin was supposed to buy you a beer from me. :)

Anyway, how's this to hold you over till later when I will post more?


He probably did, I dont remember:D

I guess thatll do for now, I still want at least another 6 pictures.
 
Ok, here's the rest of the progress:
First the pretty parts that were in those boxes. Full PSC Hydro Double ended kit with CB style pump. I opted for their larger SC16 clevis ends allowing me to run some RES 7/8"-3/4"bore rod ends to match the knuckle side. The cooler has -6AN fittings so I won't have any hose clamps at all in the system.

PSCSteeringParts.jpg


This should give those who haven’t seen them a good idea of how large the clevis ends are, I shouldn’t have any issues with these!

ClevisEnds1.jpg


A week or so ago Colin (MoparManiac) stopped by and helped me finish stripping the front end. We removed all the EVAP, AC, and cooling system. The original plan was to keep the stock radiator. Well that was short lived when I went to measure the distance between the radiator and the front cross member and pushed the folding rule and my pinky right through the radiator. It’s falling apart and junk. Looks like I’ll be ordering a CSF 3-core sooner than I thought.

FrontStripped.jpg


I got the front axle back mocked up underneath and I just had to throw a flange in there to check out the look. :D I think it looks pretty slick.

H1_Stiffened_MountedFront.jpg


Some people complain about the hubs sticking out a bunch with the stock H1s, but with the wide PitBulls, they don’t seem to bad. Sure they stick out a little, but not a whole heck of a lot. Here’s a shot looking straight down. You can just catch a glimpse of the edge of the flange.

DriveFlangeStickOut.jpg


Then with the axle underneath I began fussing with what I was going to do with axle placement. I originally only allotted for about a 3/4” stretch up front but that just wasn’t going to cut it as the tire was making contact with the foot well area during a flexed out turn. I ended up moving the front forward a whole 1 1/4" more to alleviate this issue. Because of this I also moved the coil buckets back on the axle, this centered the springs on the tube which will be better in the long run anyway. I also spaced them out an additional 3/8” per side to help line things up better.

I gathered my new PSC parts and spend the better part of a day trying to figure out how I was going to mount it in such a way that I was going to be able to protect it and be out of the way at the same time. Then came the tricky part of making a set of panhard mounts that would work. The biggest problem is that upon full stuff I’ve got a 2 1/4" between the top of the ram mount and the oil pan (sorry forgot picture here, I’ll shot one next time I get it up there). Being that I’m using 1 1/2" DOM for the bar itself it doesn’t leave much room for error. The next issue was with the 3rd link mount, coil spring, and ram all jammed in the corner it didn’t leave much room for the mount itself. I ended up making the bracket out of 3/8” to ensure that it will be strong enough. I’ll box the mount in and add some gussets once I double check it clears the oil pan all right. The rod ends are RES 7/8” with SS HMS’s so I can use a 3/4” bolt.

Shot from above of the brackets tacked in place.

PanhardMountMocked1.jpg


Looking toward the driver’s side:

PanhardMountMocked2.jpg


As you see, not much room, but everything clears.

Tomorrow night I’ll get the axle back in place, check clearances one last time, and start on the frame side mount.
 
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your missing some lug nuts, other then that it looks great
 
Looks good! But when will it go?
 
Eh, when there isn't any weight sitting on it there is no need for more than two. :D
Thanks Rob. :)

i only had 2 each when i had the 10.25 mocked up under my rig even with wieght on it, i figure it aint goin anywhere so theres no need for more, plus 8 lugs per a wheel is alot to remove and install all the time
 
Good work Mr. Bill.
 
Eh, when there isn't any weight sitting on it there is no need for more than two. :D
so it sounds to me that you're saying as long as your rig is being jumped, you only need 2 lug nuts. right? :wierd:
 
only if you can get your passenger to put em on before you hit the ground again :dunno:
 
Ok, a quick set of updates.

Got some poly Brown Dog mounts in the other day to replace the factory rubber ones while I had everything easily accessible. I opted for just the poly motor mounts and not the block mounts for now. Colin stopped by again and we threw those in. They fit well.

While Colin was around we checked what was going to happen with the lower shock mounts. I've known for awhile now that the T&T mounts weren't the strongest, nor would I trust running them (basically an unrated bolt that they welded on to the coil spring perch). If I could go back, I'd have built the truss myself and saved the trouble. Anyway, the best option really came down to redoing the LCA mounts so that I could plate the top of them and add some tabs for the lower shock and limit straps mounts. So a very rough template was made, I spent almost and hour cutting off the mounts I added. I sure didn't think I'd be cutting them off.
Got the new ones made and mounted minus the shock tabs. I still need a little fitment on the pass side though, should be able to take care of that tonight after clearing the snow from the drive.

The panhard mount on the axle side fits like a glove, so I cut some gussets and boxed the entire thing in, 3/8" bracket with 1/4 to box it in definitely not going anywhere. I then measured, templated, and cut of the frame side mount. Even though I'm going to weld it to the stiffeners and the underside I drilled some holes to incorporate the factory bolts to hold the sheet metal in place. Unfortunately I've seen what happens in a Wally World parking lot if you don't. (Travis) :D

Due to the panhard mount being boxed in I really didn't have much room between it and the coil. This forced me to move the buckets out again (thankfully I had only tacked them). Now the centers of the coils are about 11/16" further out per side than stock.

The ram mount has also been fully welded and gusseted. I'm still trying to come up with the best way to protect the ram, but after talking it over with a couple folks I think I'm going to bend a 180 degree hoop and protect the ram body itself and leave everything else alone. Otherwise I'd be forced to make a guard the ran almost from inner C to inner C, not sure I want to do that.
 
psh whatever dude.



:D
 
when? I wanna go next time and fawk up his panhard mount :D
 
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