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Post by dean on Apr 26, 2008 21:34:56 GMT -5
how much i tear down the trail rig depends on how i am going to build it... and thinking about it while i was bored out of my skull at rausch creek after we broke the axle i came up with the following idea:
totally strip down the grand to nothing but sheet metal
take my spare 4.2L motor from the old CJ and rebuild it into a 4.6L stroker... then convert it to propane
bolt the motor to the 999 auto trans i have... then bolt up the spare 231 tcase i have
use a painless wiring harness to run the electricals i need... and be on my way
no complicated ECU and wiring for the 5.2 V8... no nutsty auto trans... and no crappy 247 viscus tcase.
keep the stock axles for the time being and wheel it on the 31's with a small life (3" maybe)... and then save up for a bigger lift (4.5" or maybe even 6") and go long-arms.
of course, it wouldn't be street legal... but if i were to keep it on the lite side, i could always flat tow it behind the maroon jeep.
again... these are just thoughts... but i figure i could sell the spare 5.2L i have... and then maybe sell the block and heads from the current motor once i break the engine down and clean up the internals a little.
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Post by lojim on Apr 27, 2008 6:32:26 GMT -5
If my Dakota could tow Zach's XJ on a dolly without any issues I'm sure your maroon jeep will pull your grand. But you are right - you will really need to tear it down and get the extra weight off of it.
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Post by dean on Apr 27, 2008 22:14:39 GMT -5
so... found out the 231 will bolt to a 999 trans
also found out that there is a manual valve body kit for the 999
also decided that if i am going to flat tow it, would be a good idea to have a full-float rear axle set up as well as lock-out hubs all the way around.
as for axles... dana 44's will most likely be fine... especially if they house alloy shafts. but untill then, i can run the jeep on the stock axles and 31's like i was before. maybe just throw in a cheap budget boost for clearance. when the times comes, i'll go 4.5" long arms and run 33's. i don't want to go too big so that i still have a challenge on mixed green/blue trails and can bang it over some blue/blacks. no real desire to go on full blacks or reds. never been my thing.
i keep going back and forth on doors... part of me wants them off completely... then i think about RAIN... lol... i guess i could fab up some soft doors. totally custom job, so that may be a ways off. or maybe i'll just pack a yellow rain suit!
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Post by lojim on Apr 28, 2008 8:31:50 GMT -5
I think you should cut the hinges on the front doors so that you can take them off and put them on with just a pin. that way you get the best of both worlds. Rear doors - leave them on. Rip off the guts. Maybe weld the door in place but pull the glass and make the window the "door" for tools. Hey - it's a trail rig  |
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Post by dean on Apr 28, 2008 8:38:57 GMT -5
i had thought about making removeable doors, but the doors are so freaking HEAVY with the power window regulator and glass.
i wonder if there were any grands with manual windows...
still not sure what to do with the rear doors... like you said, i could use the window for tool/cargo access... i dunno. we'll see.
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Post by lojim on Apr 28, 2008 13:23:45 GMT -5
When you take all the crap off the doors they won't be that heavy. Just use your right arm, i'm sure you will be able to lift it :-)
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Post by dean on Apr 28, 2008 15:12:21 GMT -5
well, i think for now the doors may stay on it. gut it... get it running... i can always remove the inside of the doors and run new switches in the dash to power the windows
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Post by jeepboy07 on Apr 29, 2008 7:24:55 GMT -5
so your going to fix this jeep so you can pregnant dog it up again lol i cant say anything tho i beat the hell out of my nuts to lol look at my quads and my beater jeep
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Post by jeepboy07 on Apr 29, 2008 8:15:01 GMT -5
ok so last night jesse and i were talking and i found out that they make a kit that ui could bolt the 5.0 out of the mustang right up to the jeep and right now i am thinking thats a dam good idea any thoughts i know that motor stock runs about 305 hp because its a 5.0 high output so um yeah the beater would be a BEAST
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Post by prjctghettochild on Apr 29, 2008 11:44:18 GMT -5
Doors add structural stability to the unibody. at 3 inches of bb boost your going to pop springs under articulation because with all those rubber pucks the spring doesnt have much of a seat left and at that point you should add atleast some new fixed arms to get rid of the flimsy stock arms.As for towing one grand with another, thats just a scary f**king idea no matter how much you gut the trail jeep, i towed my buddies conquest with my jeep and it was about alll the jeep could do to whoa herself down
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Post by dean on Apr 29, 2008 13:21:07 GMT -5
ok so last night jesse and i were talking and i found out that they make a kit that ui could bolt the 5.0 out of the mustang right up to the jeep and right now i am thinking thats a dam good idea any thoughts i know that motor stock runs about 305 hp because its a 5.0 high output so um yeah the beater would be a BEAST i don't need HP... i need TORQUE... a propane 4.2L I6 is going to make more TQ in the low end then a high-strung 'stang motor. this rig will never see speeds over 30mph... and i doubt the engine will ever rev over 2500 rpms... so a 300 HP motor that makes all it's power at 3500 rpms does me no good. that's why i am getting rid of my 5.2L v8 which makes more TQ than the stand 5.0... remember, torque is what moves a rig, not HP Doors add structural stability to the unibody. hense the internal cage to reinforce everything i never have, nor ever will run 3" of spacers... if anything i'll run a 1" spacer front and rear just to help clear my 31's till i save up the oney for an RE long arm kit or fab up my own 4.5" spring lift... i f*cking hate spacers i've towed with my jeep and haven't had any issues... if i tow dolloy the grand i won't have any issues what-so-ever with it. |
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