THe NAC Lots-O-BFG KO2 Thread

[asp]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

If I was going to try and make one really, really last, I'd be putting 2x4 or 3x6 box tubing under it instead of a uniframe and installing a full exocage. The front frame rails are just as worthless as the rears, but so much more of a pain in the ass to replace with something strong.

I won't be doing the box frame thing, but a full cage is something that will be happening. I think that the stock unibody is built plenty strong and stiff enough for DD'ing but not what we like to put it through.

Feel free. It wasn't too hard, just time consuming.

I feel honored that I'm not far into my build at all and someone wants to copy some of my stuff

Thanks. I just think that if I'm going to take the time to reinforce some of the unibody, I should probably do the rest of it too. The way you're doing it seems pretty logical. I just don't know about the whole front crossmember/bumper thing. Haven't decided where I want my winch. I should probably STFU and just build the crossmember.

 

[RCman]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

WTF you mean I actually have to measure stuff?

Just point and shoot with the welder and angle grinder.

Cherokees ARE disposable.

Eh, not after what some of us put into them.

They might be in my magic notebook of all things jeep/suspension/fab related. It's in my truck; I'll take a look in a few minutes when I go to lunch.

You have one of those too? :laugh:
I'm sure yours has much much more than my packed 3" 3 ring binder.

 

[JrTxJ]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

figured some of you guys might be interested in this:
http://newenglandjeepz.org/forum/for-sale/1978-cherokee-cheif-'s'/msg105010/?boardseen#new 78 Cherokee Chief for sale in Weymouth...buddy of mine. $400

 

[MoparManiac]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Thanks. I just think that if I'm going to take the time to reinforce some of the unibody, I should probably do the rest of it too. The way you're doing it seems pretty logical. I just don't know about the whole front crossmember/bumper thing. Haven't decided where I want my winch. I should probably STFU and just build the crossmember.

I'd do the STFU and build thing. I was going to use my AJs bumper, but after conversing wtih Bill about when he was going to do his I realized it's far better to just do the crossmember deal.

Just point and shoot with the welder and angle grinder.

Whoa whoa whoa...you're supposed to aim?

No wonder...

 

[asp]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

holy crap, that's a damn good deal.

 

[themangeraaad]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

i also get the occasional people who stop in asking for oil. thier nissan that has a a 3.5 quart capacity.

ends up taking 3 quarts for the oil to read on the dipstick.


then i get the people who complain of an engine noise, The oil filter is a glob of rust and theres a faded oil sticker on the windshield that reads it was changed 40k miles ago...

I think I have mentioned it before, but very similar to my brother. Father bought him his expedition for college so he had enough room to move all his camping gear... he got back home some winter break and my buddy/I were doing oil changes on my driveway and convinced him to go get oil (with my father's $$) and do a change. MAYBE 1 quart of what can only be described as chunky sludge came out of the engine... if that. The engine took 6 quarts. Idk how that engine was still running when he finally got rear ended and the thing got totaled.

 

[asp]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I'd do the STFU and build thing. I was going to use my AJs bumper, but after conversing wtih Bill about when he was going to do his I realized it's far better to just do the crossmember deal.

Yeah, that's a lot of the reason why I sold my bumper. I feel like it would also be pointless to build a sweet crossmember and not fully reinforce the inner rails and all that good stuff...

 

[vetteboy]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

You have one of those too? :laugh:
I'm sure yours has much much more than my packed 3" 3 ring binder.

It's one of those marble composition notebooks, but with unlined pages. They're all I ever used in school.

Among other things, this one has my 231 replace-a-case doubler notes, all my coilover calcs, sketched templates for most of the front coilover work, sketches for my axle trusses, and suspension baseline info and tuning data from about 7-8 different rigs I've worked on. :dunce:

 

[RCman]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I'd do the STFU and build thing. I was going to use my AJs bumper, but after conversing wtih Bill about when he was going to do his I realized it's far better to just do the crossmember deal.

I can't take any credit for the idea. It was all Chris you finally put me over the edge to not build a land yacht bumper.

As you know, I wouldn't have climbed that little step ledge on Upper if I had anything bigger.

It's one of those marble composition notebooks, but with unlined pages. They're all I ever used in school.

Among other things, this one has my 231 replace-a-case doubler notes, all my coilover calcs, sketched templates for most of the front coilover work, sketches for my axle trusses, and suspension baseline info and tuning data from about 7-8 different rigs I've worked on. :dunce:

Ahh. Mine just has most of my notes on what I researched (suspension, springs, parts etc) and some of the measurements for the important stuff.

I started one for receipts and invoices, but gave up when I shed tears every time I opened it.

Maybe I missed it or you're not coming but... RocktoberFest?

 

[MoparManiac]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Yeah, that's a lot of the reason why I sold my bumper. I feel like it would also be pointless to build a sweet crossmember and not fully reinforce the inner rails and all that good stuff...

I wouldn't say pointless.

Again, the only reason I did what I did is because:

a.) I drive like a retard

b.) Drivetrain was already out

 

[kastein]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I won't be doing the box frame thing, but a full cage is something that will be happening. I think that the stock unibody is built plenty strong and stiff enough for DD'ing but not what we like to put it through.

Yeah... it definitely needs some help - BEFORE wheeling it, so it's still holding together in the right spot and isn't full of cracks already when you strengthen it.

Eh, not after what some of us put into them.

Agreed, but you don't really have much unibody left that isn't strengthened by cage and heavy plating.

Once I have a place where I can leave a vehicle for a couple days in pieces, I will do serious plating and reinforcement. Right now though, I have to finish all projects by the end of the evening or weekend, or at least make the vehicle look like it's just parked there, with all doors closed and locked so nothing grows legs and walks off.

I always know when my unibody is flexing because the sunglasses compartment in my OHC opens itself.

figured some of you guys might be interested in this:
http://newenglandjeepz.org/forum/for-sale/1978-cherokee-cheif-'s'/msg105010/?boardseen#new 78 Cherokee Chief for sale in Weymouth...buddy of mine. $400

not clicking... not clicking... refusing to click... I want the 96 gone and I'm not buying another vehicle to replace it, 3 is more than enough and 4 is too many.

 

[asp]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I've been poorly documenting my progress. I think a notebook of measurements and calculations would be a smart thing for me to start, especially with how much of my stuff I plan on making from scratch.

I maintain that I'll be working on one thing at a time, though. I might be thinking about the crossmember and plating and stuff, but I am still finishing the doubler and flip before I touch the unibody.

Yeah... it definitely needs some help - BEFORE wheeling it, so it's still holding together in the right spot and isn't full of cracks already when you strengthen it.

Agreed, but you don't really have much unibody left that isn't strengthened by cage and heavy plating.

Bingo. That's why we are all plating our stuff.

 

[themangeraaad]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Yeah, I have the steel to start plating since it seems like a good idea. Now that the weather is getting cooler and I can work outside I think my plating will be started sooner than later.

 

[kastein]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Bingo. That's why we are all plating our stuff.

I know that's why, but I don't see it doing much without adding a full cage. No real math or evidence to back it up, but the way most frame rail stiffener kits only cover two sides of the frame rail doesn't give me too much confidence (due to the pinch weld, I don't like it being on a corner like that, if it peels apart a bit the whole thing can twist and flex with ease) and it doesn't "feel" like it will add much overall to me. I could be completely wrong, but I definitely called it right on the ramps I'm building being too flexy without trussing and a good number of people told me they'd be just fine without trussing.

 

[MoparManiac]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I need a folder or something.

I have stuff written down all over the place.

 

[MoparManiac]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I know that's why, but I don't see it doing much without adding a full cage. No real math or evidence to back it up, but the way most frame rail stiffener kits only cover two sides of the frame rail doesn't give me too much confidence (due to the pinch weld, I don't like it being on a corner like that, if it peels apart a bit the whole thing can twist and flex with ease) and it doesn't "feel" like it will add much overall to me. I could be completely wrong, but I definitely called it right on the ramps I'm building being too flexy without trussing and a good number of people told me they'd be just fine without trussing.

Plating helps reduce the chance for cracks in the area you're plating. Plating also helps the middle section of the rails to last from being constantly slammed down on rocks. It also gives you a solid foundation to weld link mounts, etc.

Not saying only plating will help something last, but it's not worthless either. It will do a lot even without a cage.

 

[kastein]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

True - especially the armor/link mount aspect... I dented the shit out of my frame rails at fall crawl :roflmao:

I suppose what I'm really saying is that it won't stiffen things completely - especially the way that pinch seam doesn't get covered. I just hate pinch seams and spot welds in general, I can't stand the way the actual weld is offset from where the two pieces meet (at the center of the flange on the top edge of the frame rail, for instance, instead of right at the spot where the edge of the frame rail meets the floor.)

 

[vetteboy]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

They might be in my magic notebook of all things jeep/suspension/fab related. It's in my truck; I'll take a look in a few minutes when I go to lunch.

Nope, you're SOL for now. They're on my magic clipboard of loose sheets of paper, which may or may not still exist. I'll take a look tonight and probably fnid it just after you've finished doing all the work for yourself.

 

[MoparManiac]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

:laugh: Yeah that's how it usually works.

No big deal, thanks for looking though.

 

[foxwar71]

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I'm gonna make block side motor mount templates tonight.

make me some and ill trade you materails you want the newer NVH blocks in my 99 are supposed to have better brackets and increased materail around the block bosses but more bolts is always cooler

Colin, have you been saving the templates you're making?

I have an entire subframe made of poster board :gee:

Just point and shoot with the welder and angle grinder.

dont forget to close you eyes and wing it too!!! all you need to do is hear bacon :greensmok

I need a folder or something.

I have stuff written down all over the place.

My notes and mearsurements are written on the walls of my shop and on the coardboard i lay on :doh: Im slowly building a folder of stuff and a pile of wood jigs.