Jeep projects

[rocksnstumps]

Yes drilling holes in steel bigger than 1/2" is a bit challenging. What kind of mag drill do you have? Been eyeing up the Evolution one. Trying to keep cost down but still get something a bit better than the Vevor bottom barrel priced one.

Just finished up a bunch of 9/16", 5/8, and 3/4" holes in steel. The smaller pieces able to use the drill press and carbide tipped hole saws not too bad but on the long bulky sections had to go with just a regular hand drill. Carbides are just too brittle to stand up to much misalignment and trashed a couple bits and had to finish up with the old cheap set of silver and deming profile ones on the last few holes. On those best to step up with multiple drill sizes and countersink holes before jumping to bigger drill to help align and prevent grabbing when starting bigger drill. Takes forever to final diameter but hand drill not enough oomph to drill hole in one step

 

[b116757]

https://www.fastenal.ca/product/details/303012

This the one I have it’s an FMT I didn’t buy it new in fact some outside contractors where working on my territory and thru it away because the magnet quit working. I took it home opened it up reconnected the spade terminal that came loose on the magnet and reassembled it worked like a champ.that was 15 years ago. I will say that after owning one I will never go without one again they are simply too handy. My coworker was building a new wood workers bench and needed to drill many dog holes in the large bench top I said use the magdrill just clamp a a price of 1/4” steel plate to the wood and go crazy drilling straight holes all over the top. I used one of those cheap ass drill guide things when I built my woodworking bench and some of my holes wondered a little using that piece of crap.

 

[b116757]

Steering box mounts this is upside down in photo. The original mount is similar to mine but I used much more heavy duty threaded weld inserts versus their nuts welded inside the tube on a small plate and the 9/16 DOM tubing is quite a bit heavier than the factory tubing.
I did it this way so factory original hardware would still work with this frame.

 

[b116757]

 

[Catscratch]

At this point you can fab up mounts and cross members for any drive train you could want... any plans for Coyote engine, ls6, hemi, etc?

 

[b116757]

At this point you can fab up mounts and cross members for any drive train you could want... any plans for Coyote engine, ls6, hemi, etc?

I’m just going to use the factory drive train and engine at this point who knows down the road what I might do with it. I didn’t really want to build a rock crawler with this jeep just fix a junk frame. My kids can turn it into a rock crawler at some point if they want to fool with it.

 

[b116757]

Sway bar mount

Fuel tank cross member, body mount and rear shock mounts welded on. I have to order a couple new shock mount studs.

 

[b116757]

Spring attachment points welded on got to flip it and start on the engine mounts and front shock mounts.

 

[Catscratch]

Lookin good!

 

[b116757]

Front shock mounts and engine mount threaded inserts installed. I decided to bolt the engine mounts on instead of welding them making it a whole lot easier to do an engine swap in the future if one of my kids decides to fool with that. I could see someone turning this thing into a full blown rock crawler down the road not to many jeeps with frame like this out there.

 

[bigboreblr]

Looks good. Although they're boxed up, I would still drill some drain holes in each section.

Not too late to swap to a newer jeep coilspring front axle.

After replacing head gaskets on a 2008 3.6 and with 2 bad camshafts from bad lifters, I'd say the 4.0 straight 6 is one of the best motors. Helped a freind years ago rebuild one. Ported the heads and exahus manifold as well as helped him weld a custom exhaust. Snappy little sucker after that work. EFI is real simple too.

Bee eyeing old projects on facebook marketplace. 70's tans am's, scca race cars, fat fender coupes. Im all over the place. Almost think I should act my age and fi up something from the 90's, like a 2wd chevy tuck or mustang or transam from high school days. Whatever it might be will likely be my last one.

Scooped up a case 444 garden tractor, hydrostatic drive and light enough to go in the enclosed trailer.

 

[b116757]

Deals everywhere on marketplace this inflation is really starting to get to many people I’d say and the toys are getting sold. Likely a good time to find a new toy if your looking for one.

 

[b116757]

Well I got the engine mounts about done still have little welding to do on one of them. I think I’m going to pull the tub off my jeep and dry fit it so to speak onto my new frame so I know everything fits before I send it off for powder coating or painting. I really haven’t decided on powder coating yet if that’s really a good idea or not. I may just use Rust Bullet, POR15 or some similar product and call it good. I’m torn on the drain holes myself idk if I should or not I had my 16 year old weld quite a few of my frame caps and he isn’t a spectacular welder but it was a good place to learn so I had him weld them.

 

[b116757]

Welded on a 2” hitch and cut out the belly pan this evening had to order a few more 1/2” weld in thread adaptors for the belly pan.

 

[bigboreblr]

Looking good. Tempted to look at a ford maverick 2 door no motor no trans body is great. Its on my way to atlantic city. Doing some party boat fishing befoe thanksgiving.

Drill the holes. Body nice enough for powder coating? Acid etch primer, eastwood chasis paint or similar. Assuming she is going to be garaged in the winter from this point on?

 

[bigboreblr]

I’m just going to use the factory drive train and engine at this point who knows down the road what I might do with it. I didn’t really want to build a rock crawler with this jeep just fix a junk frame. My kids can turn it into a rock crawler at some point if they want to fool with it.

See a neglected v8 on a stand over there. Looks small block chevyish. If I get another project going to be a bruiser. Got a crower crank kit for a 455 pontiac with .060 street pistons. Makes is a 521 with low 10's:1 if using edelbrock heads. Had one with wenzler heads on a 67 gto. Also got a 2004R in great shape in the garage too.

 

[b116757]

Looking good. Tempted to look at a ford maverick 2 door no motor no trans body is great. Its on my way to atlantic city. Doing some party boat fishing befoe thanksgiving.

Drill the holes. Body nice enough for powder coating? Acid etch primer, eastwood chasis paint or similar. Assuming she is going to be garaged in the winter from this point on?

I’m not going to finish a weld in the rear of the frame and I’m going to drill in a few additional weep holes for drainage. I don't really know on the powder coating I’m kind of leaning toward Rust Bullet or POR15 just for a time thing I can do it in a day and start swapping everything over. This thing likely will get driven year round at least for a couple more years my 16year old drives it to school every day he much prefers the jeep over the spare minivan I’ve got and I don’t really care either way. I’m taking about 5 weeks vacation starting Thanksgiving week this year and hoping to get everything swapped over then. My oldest boy and I where looking at the frame last night and decided the weep holes need to be in it if a guy put a boat in or drove across a deeper water creek the frame could end up filling and have no where to drain out just normal driving it would likely never get any water in the frame but total submersion idk that’s a diffrent deal entirely.

 

[b116757]

 

[b116757]

Well I think I’m going to go pick up a new battery for my forklift been using the same one for about the last 20 years have to put the charger on it a couple hours before it will start but with as much as I’ll likely be using it this next month with the frame swap I may go ahead a spring for a new battery.

 

[b116757]

See a neglected v8 on a stand over there. Looks small block chevyish. If I get another project going to be a bruiser. Got a crower crank kit for a 455 pontiac with .060 street pistons. Makes is a 521 with low 10's:1 if using edelbrock heads. Had one with wenzler heads on a 67 gto. Also got a 2004R in great shape in the garage too.

I made my engine mounts for this frame bolt in instead of welded so if we ever decided to do a SBC swap it would be easier no cutting involved.