-- This does turn out to be my build thread. Dana 44/14 bolt swap starts on page 7..
Haven't had a Jeep for a few years and really been missing it. Found a '77 CJ7 on craigslist somewhat near by and picked it up Saturday night. I am so freakin excited. It's kinda rough, but that's exactly what I want. It has a good running 304 and a Powertrax locker in the front. More pics to come, this is one from last night..
I've got tons of plans for it but I'm still in research mode. Think I want to do an SOA with YJ springs to start with, but I'm not sure how or where to gather all the parts for that. I don't like the 3 speed manual in it now, (too tall of first gear) so I'm debating swapping and converting an extra SM465 I have. It needs a new top, probably just get a Bestop Tiger top. It came with the full doors but they don't fit with the cage the previous owner had built. Not sure what to do there, may start over with the cage.
Comments or advice is welcome. Once I start making progress I'll start a build thread with plenty of pics.
They do let us use the shop on our own stuff, which means I spend a LOT of time there. I own a good collection of tools, Snap-On should love me=DMOFFATT
Before I got into motorcycle work seriously, I used to drink w/the Harley techs after work. I couldn't believe that the "Starter" tool set was 10-12k. For a specific brand V-twin. I mean this is the simplest motorized vehicle on the road...except a golf cart. When I sold cars after college I never realized how much those guys were giving the Snap-On truck every week. I always had a decent assortment of "Tiawan Ted", harbor freight tools, but...wow!
Luckily the Snap-On guy lives around the corner from me, and I've been blowing his long, steep, d-way since I got my Simplicity 4x4 tractor a few years ago. He didn't even know it was me until the 2nd year and people were thanking me @ our "redneck block party". I do everybodies d-way. I try to be considerate, but I'm still running a small bike shop in a sprawling neighborhood, so this is my pennance. For them putting up w/me. And it's either him or me that fixes everbodies mowers, weedeaters etc. You know "that guy" in every hood. He's been great to me as far as getting tools at night, sunday etc. Tool prices are a HUGE cost of doing biz. Too bad the techs don't get even close to the $90/hour shop charges, no?
Speaking of being lucky... We started work replacing my second hoist, a 20+ year old 9,000 pounder, with a brand new 18,000 pound Bendpak. I'm not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited.
Also tonight I started work on a rear bumper of sorts. I did just weld to the rear frame, which I know isn't the right way, but with this rusty old CJ, I don't really care. I haven't got the tire carrier done yet or mounted because after I came back from taking a break I found my gas tank leaking. Figured I better quit welding while I was ahead.
Thanks. I'm spoiled, most techs don't have 2 hoists and a dead stall all to themselves. Its a pretty good setup and absolutely huge. The building started out as a John Deere dealership. We have 2 dead stalls, one stall with 2 four wheeler hoists (we sell Polaris too), 3 two posts and 2 four posts.
Made some more progress today after going for a drive and getting the fuel level down. I guess I live on the edge. I've still got the plate to build to bolt the tire up and a little grinding to do.
I don't have a shop@ home. But I can use my dad's shop anytime I want to, its a 32x48x10' high ceilings, pole constructed. My grandpa built it in 1977, we always wished it were bigger, but it's heated and decently equipped with all the necessaries.(except a hoist)
I also am the shop boss @ work and head mechanic/equipment manager.....so there is always room for "personal projects" . Hell my boss even finds those "after hours" cash projects for me. He told me the garage is always open for me to use, as long as the company stuff is up and going first of course. Although I have cut way back on doing those "after hours" projects. Like I said when you work 10- 12 hrs alot of time 6 days/week. I need to get the hell out of that garage.
I like the simple tire carrier. I am going to do something similar. But I am considering making it drop down also. Mainly because I can't hardly lift a 35" tire anymore............lol. I guess if there is help there I'll be fine, but I can't lift one by myself, those days are over.......lol.
Thanks again guys.. pretty much finished up the carrier tonight. Just needs paint. The bushing for the pivot point has a little more give than I like, but I think it will work just fine.
Busy day today. Installed new battery tray and got my optima in. Next a Superwinch LP8500 and mounting plate. Welded in d-ring shackle mounts and capped the end of the front bumper to clean it up. Painted the front bumper and took apart the tire carrier to paint it. Final coat is duplicolor truck bed coating which matches the powder coated fenders well enough. New fuel tank will wait for another day. Dropped the top and going cruising.
Found the input seal on my steering box leaking profusely this morning. Should I just replace the seal.... or go with an upgrade?? Who sells a hydro-assist setup with a steering box??
Found the input seal on my steering box leaking profusely this morning. Should I just replace the seal.... or go with an upgrade?? Who sells a hydro-assist setup with a steering box??
I have read more than once that rebuilding a steering box is not an easy task, although I don't know if it's possible to only replace a seal without breaking open the whole thing.
If a seal replacement isn't viable on its own, and you plan to just replace the box, before going the hydro-assist route, I would look into the main brands of aftermarket steering boxes. And course the usual aftermarket steering box brace/bracket.
You can probably find some threads that discuss the major power steering box makers and who bought who, and who outsourced and cheapened the quality of their parts, and who didn't.
Did some pretty heaithy wheeling today. Proved to some buddies that I can go where their 4 wheelers can... just slower. I definitely now have clutch issues though. Transmission swap is coming ASAP as well as a new clutch. Also need to do some trimming on the inner fenders. Wish I had got some pics.. maybe next time.
My buddy swears by his pricey AGR super box 2. $300-400+ a brace gets him down the road prety quickly and claims 35"ers in boulders are no problem.
Can you get parts deals too?
Me, I went w/a HD ReMan.
My buddy swears by his pricey AGR super box 2. $300-400+ a brace gets him down the road prety quickly and claims 35"ers in boulders are no problem.
Can you get parts deals too?
Me, I went w/a HD ReMan.
This has been my latest thought. I don't plan on going over 37's so I think hydro assist may be excessive. I think I can fab up a brace on my own.
Ken4444 said:
I have read more than once that rebuilding a steering box is not an easy task, although I don't know if it's possible to only replace a seal without breaking open the whole thing.
If a seal replacement isn't viable on its own, and you plan to just replace the box, before going the hydro-assist route, I would look into the main brands of aftermarket steering boxes. And course the usual aftermarket steering box brace/bracket.
You can probably find some threads that discuss the major power steering box makers and who bought who, and who outsourced and cheapened the quality of their parts, and who didn't.
I've been into a couple steering boxes, I don't think I'd have to go too deep to fix this seal, but probably better off going new. Decisions, decisions.. maybe I should just look into an hd reman too..
I got time. It can leak for a while.
Thanks for bringing that thread to my attention. Sometimes I'm to lazy to search on my own.
Not much to report. I did call Novak today and order conversion parts for my SM465. I might tear the three speed out this weekend so the bell housing is ready to go back next week. I should really out the new gas tank in and rear extended brake like.. guess we'll see. I've also got an AirDog fuel pump and a couple other parts for my Duramax to put on too.
Pulled the transmission and t-case this evening.. What a pain getting the 2 separated. Wow.. that's all I can say. Good thing the transmission isn't getting re-used. I was too frustrated to take pics, sorry. Hopefully I get the conversion parts from Novak this week, and I'll get my bell housing shipped off to them. I cant wait to get it done, it's gonna make a world of difference.
Well, finally some progress. I got conversion parts from Novak on Friday. Got my sm465 all cleaned up and ready to go to a tranny shop. (I hate transmissions) this weekend I built a holder for my handy man jack, put in mu new fuel tank and got my CB mounted and cable run. Its not much, but is progress. Can't wait to get it going again.
Just throwing this out there for anyone else doing an SM465 swap.. The 76-79 304/3spd has a 1 1/16th input shaft for the transmission... The SM465 is 1 1/8th... 75-older and 80-up CJ's have also use a 1 1/8th input. Glad I figured it out before I was ready to go together with it.
Finally got my machined bell housing yesterday.. turned out the one I had wouldn't work..had to get a different one off ebay.. anyway, I went to check on my tranny to see if it was close. It still hasn't moved in 4 weeks. They claim they'll have it for me by the weekend. I hope so.
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