Project: Rusty Nail

[Justpunchit]

Looks real good. Roll axis looks much better with the lowers triangulated more. It'll be a rolly polly pig on the street with the first one.

Also, did you use flex joints on all of your front arms? If you did the bottom link will roll around and make the upper flop side to side. I can roll so much it'll hit the d-shaft.

Thanks! I'm hoping it will stick pretty good with the second setup on the street. I don't DD it but I do drive it alot on the street still.

I never thought of this. The axle side lower front is a flex joint, upper is stock rubber, and mid is TNT's stock rubber (poly whatever). Think I'll still get the rolling? I didn't think it would be possible with this setup.

 

[Gaius]

Thanks! I'm hoping it will stick pretty good with the second setup on the street. I don't DD it but I do drive it alot on the street still.

I never thought of this. The axle side lower front is a flex joint, upper is stock rubber, and mid is TNT's stock rubber (poly whatever). Think I'll still get the rolling? I didn't think it would be possible with this setup.

I think it'll be fine with rubber bushings on the upper.

 

[Justpunchit]

Well I'm completely fed up with photobucket. They have so much added crap that makes simple uploading take forever. If anyone has another site they prefer let me know! for now I'm going to use image shack..

I started tearing into the jeep to get these long arms and other doodads taken care of for wheeling on sunday. First issue was the exhaust. I was in a rush and just threw it together and well... I have to do it again the belly pan will not fit with that muffler where it is. Besides it hung pretty low anyway.

First I got a new muffler, I looked at spintech and flowmasters but honestly I'm cheap and don't see the need. Plus I have a lifetime warranty on the cheapo one I have no so I get a new one whenever I see fit. Thankfully the new one was even smaller than before. It's about 6"wide 12" long and about 3" tall PERFECT!

Next I took an idea from KTM racer I plated the whole thing with 1/8 steel

And here's it almost done

And where I had to stop and go to work... Since I love paint I had to throw the black on

Also got one step closer to hydro assist! My lines came in from Napa

 

[Justpunchit]

Some exhaust updates...this is my stupid muffler. I ended up putting a .250 thick bracket on it that is bolted to the unibody with some heat resistant bushings to take care of the vibration.

It's a crappy pic but here it is done. the muffler body is about a 1/4" from the floor and sits about 1/8 about the "frame" rail

With that all done I moved on to my long arms and front axle

I first started by making a decent surface to mount my ram on

Then test fitting

And final product. ( I have 90 degree fittings for the hoses they just weren't on yet.) And speak your mind on this. I know its just a d30 and it wont last like this but oh well. I'm building a 44 front as we speak to replace this one. So if I get a whole summer before it blows to bits I'll be really happy.

It's a tight fit but it all clears no problem.
thats all i have for now.

 

[Justpunchit]

Finally got around to completing my hydro assist, long arms, 1.5" stretch and exhaust. no more talking really just pictures.

Some flexing

Grabbed some LeBaron vents off of ebay last week to cool things down as well.

 

[bails85]

nice build man! it will be a trailer queen in no time!

 

[Justpunchit]

Finishing bits before nac fest. Wheeling this sunday so we'll see how that goes as well.

Started my hood vents

Cut the holes to get a nice radius on the edges.

Definitely no turning back now

One side down

and both done

 

[CTeunuch]

You going on the registered users run?

 

[Justpunchit]

Yes!

 

[CTeunuch]

Nice, I'm planning on going, it'll be my first run with you guys. Do you know what trail we're running?

 

[Justpunchit]

Knock on wood this thing has been running really well, just really waiting till Nacfest.

Couple things I'd love to get done before nacfest is some tie downs for the back and probably get my rear tow points going finally :O

Spent the day today with the backhoe moving rocks to make things more interesting on my property.... I think i did a decent job

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxXr2RLw-aY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as4L03vlDg0

 

[Justpunchit]

Not a whole lot of progress. been kinda procrastinating, instead of working on the jeep I'm playing with my new toy

plus a few of these

Equals my neighbors really hating me

However in other news I've finally starting messing around with my new axles. I figured since the rear is cheapest and fastest I'll start there. The plan is to narrow the Sterling down so I can run equal length shafts on each side, not only ease of spare but it will keep it a little more tight trail friendly.

First thing was to strip it right down to the bare housing.

without the hubs it made me realize that 3.5" tubes are HUGE!

Next thing was to measure what I have for a width now, and what I'm going to end up with in the end. To make the shafts equal I'm going to have to shave off 3 inches on the drivers side tube. Now this was something I was going to tackle myself but I decided against it. I'll be bringing it to Mitchell Differentials.

Also while breaking it down I noticed that the spanner nut assembly on the end of the hub was damaged. Anyone know where I can get one besides the stealership?

 

[jeeps4fun]

Which hood vents did you use?

Edit- should read more before posting. Saw above where u said LeBaron vents

 

[CTeunuch]

What year is the sterling? I have a few you could strip parts from if you wanted.

 

[Justpunchit]

ohhhh reallly????? I need a pinion yoke from a 93 or newer!! mines an 89 IIRC and has a short yoke, which of course no one makes gears for, just long yokes. Let me know what you got and I'll have to make the journey. everyone seems to shun these axles, but with a ring gear the size of a Dana 70 and the spline count of a 14 bolt I'll take my sterling any day. Granted the aftermarket support sucks but it's getting better thanks to the diesel crowd keeping them in their powerstrokes.

 

[CTeunuch]

I'm pretty sure this one is the older pinion style unfortunately, with the short splines. I'm a fan of the axle, I've seen them take some abuse. I guess the only real downside over a 14bolt is the lack of a third pinion bearing. Let me know if you want the axle, it's pretty much just taking up space right now.

 

[Justpunchit]

I'll take it!



In other news no more one tire fires for me!

I know it isn't pretty but trust me it will hold

Also noticed this going on with my leaf spring..... this something i should be concerned about?

 

[CTeunuch]

Are you running an AAL in there as the second leaf? If so it looks like it's arched higher than the main, which could cause it to bend or break the main where the end of the AAL is. Maybe try shuffling some leaves around to see if it cures it. I'm around all this weekend if you want that Sterling, and I'm headed to NH with a friend or two the 11th if you want to wheel with us.

 

[Justpunchit]

if it was the 12th I could join ya!

 

[Justpunchit]

Well tree 1 Eric 0

I pounded it out for the most part. I know I know dents add character blah blah lol I don't like my junk all twisted up that's all


Also didn't like how the new hitch was so far down on the back of the Jeep so I did a simple flip and cut the bumper some.