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A TJ truck build named "Dumpster Dive"

994K views 6K replies 336 participants last post by  NashvilleTJ 
#1 · (Edited)
Another TJ build with not so much bling,except where needed. Very few bolt on mods, and a ton of custom mods.




I acquired a 1997 TJ project that had been abandoned by a few previous owners. I felt like the TJ needs another chance to make it out of the garage for good and not to go to the crusher.

Now on with the plan. I want to build this Jeep by the EJS 2013. I am not really set on a final date, But I figured a year would be good. I do not plan on updating the build daily nor do I plan on working on the Jeep everyday of the next year. So, I will add good updates every week or so when progress is good.

Here is the low down. The Jeep has a clean frame, no rust at all. The body is also rust free. The Jeep came to me as a frame and tub, with a 4.0 and AW4. The AW4 will be going in my other Jeep, and the 4.0 will probably get parted out. (I still do not know what I want as a power plant.) 5.3 and a 4L60 is what will probably end up in it.

Most of the parts used in this build will come from Junkyards, trash bins, dumpsters, wrecked TJs, and any other donated parts...

What I have collected so far.

I thought I would add a price list to the build as I go along..

Bought the Jeep for 200.00
Sold the door surrounds on ebay +145.00
Sold the sound bar on ebay +95.00

So far, + $40.00

(4) Old style MTRs 37" really just 35" tall 150.00

Total money out of pocket today 1-2-12 110.00

Bed components, Sides, Factory corners, Belt rails, 450.00

Tacoma Bed inner assembly Free
Front suspension links (JJs and Mid arm links)
Rear XJ leaf springs
Stock Hood Free
Stock grille shell Free
OEM radiator Free

JK D44 rear with 4:10 gears and track loc 300.00
Stock front fenders and rear flares Free

Body work:

Custom cut tub to make 2 seater cab
Custom Highline stock fenders
Hendrix Hood mod with vents
Custom wrap around bed assembly with drop down tail gate (53" bed)

Frame work:

Relocate the steering box bracket for front stretch
Custom frame built front bumper with grille hoop and winch protector
High clearance front lower link mounts
Custom Coilover hoops up front
Custom shock hoops in the rear
Custom rear leaf hangers
Custom back half rear frame for leafs and extended WB for bed / Reason "Simplicity, Red_Smoke says it works" :laugh:
Ruffstuff anti-wrap kit

Total out of pocket: 2-20-12 $960.00

Pictures to come soon.....:rtft:

I will reserve a few posts so please no comments till I get about 10 posts saved to keep the build clean in the future. :wave:

It may look dumb with 10-11 posts reserved, but you guys will thank me 2 years from now when trying to look at the build. :duhrock:

Photoshopped version of this build. Thanks to XJAbuzer.


The real thing.




 
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#3,627 ·
#3,637 ·
I like just Dumpster also. I am uploading the other angle now, it has better audio.
Worked, finally. I kept thinking, I want to see Dumpster going down the road, and then, there it was. :thumbsup:

The guy that drove by in the red Jeep isn't a real Jeeper, because if he was he would have turned around and followed you until you stopped.
 
#3,644 ·
#3,651 ·
Zjones1994 said:
I just finished catching up on this build after being at boot camp for 2 months and wow! Its come so far! When I come home on leave I'd love to see it!

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using JeepForum
Thanks, just let me know when you will be around.
 
#3,652 ·
Awesome build!!! I'm ready to go cut my YJ in half and make it a truck. O wait, it would take me way to long and I would be pissed off because I don't have the time or the resources that are needed to complete something like this.

On a side note, the third break light that is up in the hard top in the video it didn't seem like it worked.

Great job and I'm looking forward to seeing how the buggy well turn out.
 
#3,653 ·
RNEWMANJEEP said:
Awesome build!!! I'm ready to go cut my YJ in half and make it a truck. O wait, it would take me way to long and I would be pissed off because I don't have the time or the resources that are needed to complete something like this. On a side note, the third break light that is up in the hard top in the video it didn't seem like it worked. Great job and I'm looking forward to seeing how the buggy well turn out.
Thanks, the 3rd brake light is not wired in yet. The buggy is probably on HOLD for a little while. I am thinking about building a RC version of the buggy first though. :nuts:
 
#3,656 ·
G Beasley said:
Now that the distractions are gone huh ?
Never was a distraction, I enjoy doing projects like yours, it gets me away from the normal daily grind at work. When the owner takes pride in the finished project the way you do it makes it all worth it. As much as it cost to actually do and the little I cleared on the project you can clearly see I did not do it for the money. :teehee: I know you and your family will enjoy that trailer on your many road trips across the US for years to come. Thanks looking forward to making the LJ look better than the trailer...

Going out the swap alternators, fix the exhaust rattle and notch some tube today. Pictures later.....
 
#3,657 ·


The tub is in its temporary home . Theres no way I am mounting the tub on the frame without repainting it first . Thanks again for making the tub look so good , I cant wait to get it filled up and out camping with the family.
 
#3,659 ·
Did not get as much as I needed to get done today, I was a bit lazy.

I did get the alternator changed out, it works and there is not annoying squeal. :eek:

I also finished the overflow mounts. Then spent some time setting up my Harbor Freight notcher. I was finally tired of notching with a grinder. :shhh:



Here is the plate to correct the alignment on the HF notcher.



Notching station.



You can see the spacer behind the clamping plate. It may need to be a little thinner.

First test notch.


And the bumper you have all been waiting to see. Its a DV8 Offroad stubby. Probably the tightest fitting bumper on the market. A very nicely built Aluminium bumper with welded Fairlead mount. It is not 6061 but bent out of 5052. I do not want this to turn into a pissing match about alloys.:rtft: I will be doing a product test on the bumper in the near Future. As far as quality its very Nice.:tea:



The winch fits very tight between the plate and the grille. I will see if I can get it mounted later this week. :cheers2:

Click here for info.

Or here
 
#3,668 ·
You mean down to the Mall.

What rear inner fenders are you using?
The ones I had bent up at the metal shop.

nice man...good job on the cage work.
Thanks, now you see where that tube I got from you is going.

This and you are keeping/using the stock B pillar?
See above :thumbsup: And yeah the stock B pillar, I will make a
full custom cage later Plan is to sell the part I am using now to someone with a TJ or LJ that wants a custom back section. :shhh:

That looks like the stock B hoop to me ?
:thumbsup:

No work tonight, I had a class I had to attend for work. :thumbdown:
 
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