After a lengthy buildup in 2004 and a year of competing and wheeling in 2005, I figured it was time to cut it all up and do it again. :flipoff2:

Plans are new tube work, flat belly, boat sides, fuel cell, flat dash, control arm mount rework, shock rework.

Swap NV4500 for a 727 or swap motor and tranny for SBC and th350.

Started with this...

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/TopshopCarnageEntrance1.jpg.JPG

Chopping down phase...

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/Tear%20downSM.jpg

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/dash.jpg

14bolt shaved, plated and tig welded

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/14%20b%20shave%20frontSM.jpg

Custom bent skid,boat side,cowl protection...

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/closeup%20skidSM.jpg


More to come.......

how thick is that skid? What does it weigh?

1/4" plate, weighs around 200lbs total.

wow. that's a big skid. :eek:

how was it cut? have a friend in the laser business? it looks clean.

are you keeping the stock tj column or going with something simpler?

It was cut on torch table. Very clean cuts after you knock the slag off.

Adding a removable Grant wheel and keeping the column for now.

Skid looks big but it will be a great platform for the tube work and control arms.

Wow, when you say chopping down phase... You're Not Kidding !!
Looked nice before, can't wait to see it done. Let us know how things go ?
Best of luck for your build !
David B.

Thanks...

I had a problem last year getting hung up on the big lip of the 14bolt and my front lower crossmember. The plan is to get the sides and bottom totally flat so I can bounce right over the rocks. :D

selling ur nv4500then are ya???

Yep, either selling just the 4500 and going with a 727, if it will fit, or selling both and going with a tbi 350/th350 or 5.0 and some auto.

Looks very cool, any pics of the crossmember in place? Are you going to make a removeable center panel so you can service the trans/tcase?

Just got it bent up last night. The center is removable. We'll be fitting it up this weekend. I have some frame cleanup to do first. Originally it was going to be one piece, but the bender said it was too big so we cut it in three pieces. There will be countersunk bolts for the center piece.

you just finshed that thing! good luck on the new build up :)

Spent all of 04 building it, all of 05 wheeling/competing, and now have to make some upgrades/modifications to be more competitive this year. :D

So I guess heading over to Rockport next weekend is out.:flipoff2:

i thought it was 90% driver 10% vehicle :)

looks good and your still farther along than i am

Got the skid into place last night. Working on some frame spacers and gussets tonight. After the skid in place, we can start working on the tube foundation/floors.

More spy pics...

Skid welded in place, started to weld in gussets. I'll be cutting some metal strips to put on top of them for floor supports. The gussets come up to the bottom of the floor.

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/Under%20skidSM.jpg

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/skid%20gussetsSM.jpg

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20shot%20of%20gussetsSM.jpg

http://www.midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/pass%20side%20gussetsSM.jpg

looking good Bush.

Are you going to stay with the fox air shocks? If so, aren't you're running the 2.0's, will you up to the 2.5's for weight reasons? Looking good :smokin:

The skid only weighs 230lbs and I took off the rest of the tub, and i'm taking off some thick box from the back of the frame, and a heavy crossmember is getting redone, so it should be a wash.

2.0s are staying for now.

So are you keeping the 4.0L and gonna run a 727 or are you ditching the entire package and going to a SB.

I think for now i'm going to run a 727 and when I get more time/money and space to work, find a donor and do the motor/tranny swap.

Have you figured everything out on getting it in there. I saw your other post a while back on the subject and wasn't sure if what is need was set in stone or not. I only ask cause 727s around here are easy to find and wouldn't mind putting one in my TJ so my fiance can drive the Jeep from time to time.

You need the hesco cps relocate kit, a flexplate from a 4.2 I believe, and the tcase adapter for the d300 should bolt to a 231/atlas thats 23 spline.

I'm having a hard time finding one so i havent gathered the parts yet.

i have a 727 with the adapter and the 4.2 flywheel tranny will need rebuilt pm me if interested

Sent...

Where is Godfrey I'm from Kirkland and live in Dekalb (whooo go NIU) and would love to come down and check out your Jeep. Looks baddass really interested in seeing the completed project.

Actually the jeep is at a shop in St.Louis/Sunset Hills, about an hour south of me.

Here's a link to get directions if you want to come down.

http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/asshogger/directions.asp

Here's the live webcam link too.

http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/asshogger/webcam.asp

Apparently, the webcam is not active until the webmaster validates membership to the site.

Oops. yeah, have to email tim or tony to get validated. You can see my rearend and the sniper right now on the cam. :flipoff2:

Awesome I might have to make some plans some weekend. Thats only like a 5 hour drive for me.

oops I was wrong this is from the website--->Total Est. Time: 4 hours, 59 minutes

yeah 5 hours for me too, northwest burbs...

You guys can come down to Rockport Offroad Park, in Rockport IL, the weekend of April 2nd and see it too. Thats our first comp.

www.rrock.us

Some new pics...

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/stinger.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20rear%20lower%20tube.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/side%20shot%20of%20door%20tube.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/driver%20side%20upright.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20door%20bar%20welded.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/out%20of%20plane%20bend.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20shot%20upper%20tubework.jpg

Coming along nicely! I especially like the stinger and front hoop. Its not too fricken big but looks to be big enough to do the job. Keep up the good work.

looking good, any close-ups of the down bar on the a-pillar tieing into the rockers?

You can kinda see it in the 4th and 5th pics on the pass side. The end of the tube is angle cut and going to be welded to the skid. Another tube will run from the bottom of the tube fenders angled back and weld to the backside of the A pillar bar. I might add some gussets in there too.

Bush, is Chris back to work yet?

Yeah, if you can call what he does, work...:flipoff2:

how tall are you to the top of the cage at ride height

I think its around 7ft right now, but its sitting higher than ride height with no weight in the rear. Last season my cage with pads was too low and I was always bumping my head with a helmet on. We made this one taller for plenty of room.

Hey Jim.. are you going to have the buggy done in time for safari?? I will be headed there the first weekend and then again on Wednesday.. thought we might catch dinner or something... p.s.. the build is looking good. I like the skid plate!

We arent going to make EJS this year. We were going to split a condo with another guy that was going to buy a built jeep, but ended up not getting it, and we didnt have any other people in our club to split it with that where built enough to wheel what we want to wheel. We might try to make it out there later this year.

I'd like to get out there to wheel 21 rd with you guys again.

Progress as promised...

Traingulation overhead and in the rear diagonals, just needs one passenger front spreader, some tabs, and a super trick roof panel to be finished up there
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(29).jpg

A close up of the front driver spreader and the double notch placed halfway through the bend...tricky? yes... impossible? hardly
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(28).jpg

A close up where the rear diagonal, intersect the left side main hoop, the 22' middle hoop, and a lower support, 5 tubes intersect as one. Finished with a quick TIG weld, all that is left here is a gusset to make it Bush-proof
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(23).jpg

The inside of the passengers boat side, ready for finish welding, and the addition of gussets where necessary. The tube fenders will begin at the intersection of the side hoop and middle hoop, notched then gusseted, they will proceed through the factory cowl to intersect the top of the tube fender, that is welded to the boatside flange.
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(25).jpg

The drivers outer boatside, finish welded and ready for fabrication of door bars and body panels
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(26).jpg

The door bar will intersect here, and the 0.065 aluminum flat dash will bolt to these two tubes
http://tmlsolutions.dynalias.com/images/upload/member_vehicles/Tony_vehicle(27).jpg

This weekend's agenda includes B-pillars, and an 8-way X that will be the center piece structually and visually in Bushy Bush Jimmy James's new chassis.

More pics...

The shock mounts will eventually be redone so the cell can go between them.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/eyebrow%20front.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/Rear%20cage.jpg.JPG


http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20rear%20cage.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/right%20rear.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20cage%20close.jpg

Wow, I really like that cage work, simple and strong, excellent welds too.

Coming together really nicely. I like your skid. Do you have any more shots of the front end with the grille hoop/stinger setup? what tubing are you using?

Coming together really nicely. I like your skid. Do you have any more shots of the front end with the grille hoop/stinger setup? what tubing are you using?

This is the only one I have right now. I'll have more when we do the tube fenders.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/stinger.jpg

I'm using 1 3/4" DOM and 1 1/5" DOM.

well whats the hold up ?

A combination of things. My work schedule doesnt allow me to get to the shop enough to get it done before the first comp. I'll be there to watch though. :(

Just saw my rig in the new Petersen's on page 97 in a suspension article. Pretty cool....

Finally got somre more progress pics...

Tranny/Tcase..Reverse manual valve body, torque converter and polished Atlas installed..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/tranny%20side.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/tranny%20rear.jpg


CPS relocation kit installed..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/cps%20relocate%20kit.jpg

Left side Shock mount/tube fender..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20shock%20mount.jpg

Left Side cowl/trimmed/welded. There is also a plate over the old windshield hinge location.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20cowl.jpg

Rear cage shot, not shown is the new center console bars and front seat mount bars that were installed yesterday and welded in with tabs. Also the lower dash bar is not shown. Rear shock mounts were cut off and will be relocated. Fuel cell will bolt to the rear aluminum floor.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/cage%20rear.jpg

Front lower control arm mounts were frenched into the front of the skid plate so there is nothing hanging down below the skid.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/driver%20side%20lower%20control%20arm%20mount.jpg

Aluminum sway bar arms and 45" long sway bar with custom mounts that hang under wheel well.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/sway%20bar%20arm.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/sway%20bar%20mount.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/sway%20bar%20mount%20installed%202.jpg

Once the fab work is done, the frame is getting a degreaser bath and a coat of POR and a top coat of black paint. The body panels are going to be .065 aluminum. Whats left of the body is probably going to be the new Jeep bright green color, and the tube work silver.

More pics from today...

Seat mounts/Center console and lower dash bar...

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/seat%20mount.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20seat%20mount.jpg.jpg

Swaybar link/shock mount..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/Left%20swaybar%20and%20shock.jpg.JPG

New shocks hoops/winch mount/sway bar..
The rear truss was cut off and will be rebuilt with round tube and plated.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20shot.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20rear%20shock%20hoop.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20rear.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/right%20rear%20shock.jpg.JPG

Some new pics...

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/side%20shot%20on%20lift.jpg.JPG

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/orbital%20mount1.jpg.JPG

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/TCI%20tranny%20pan.jpg.JPG

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/filler%20neck.jpg.JPG

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/stinger%20plate.jpg.JPG

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/left%20rear%20on%20lift.jpg.JPG

Center console..
http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/center%20console.jpg

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/right%20rear.jpg

Pass Side floor...

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/pass%20floor.jpg

Rear winch point...

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20winch%20point.jpg

Front roof shot..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/roof%20panel.jpg

Rear shot..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/rear%20shot.jpg

Rear panel, logo and brake lights.

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/Rear%20panel.jpg

Exhaust port..

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/caution.jpg

I feel sorry for your shins!
Also, why not just mount the shocks to you rear hoops instead of coming off with a plate. I am sure you have a reason, at least I hope you do, for the way they are mounted.

Those bars are higher up than the stock dash was, wont be a problem. I can put some pads on them too.

The mounts were built because of the weird angle the tabs would have been on the tubes.

If it werent for the Legends class rules, the rear frame would have been tubed and narrowed, so we had to work with it.

Gawd dammit!! That is sweet. Good work as usual by the ASSHOGGER fellows.

If it werent for the Legends class rules, the rear frame would have been tubed and narrowed, so we had to work with it.


WTF? If you are still making it for legends class, why the steering valve?

http://midwestjeepthing.com/jeep/member/images/Bushwhacker/orbital%20mount1.jpg.JPG

Im sorry if i missed it, but how thick this is the rear skin, in the tail gate area?

RRock Legends rules allow full hydro.

The tail gate is 1/8" steel. We were going to cut out a portion of it for a tailgate but decided against it, since there wasnt much room between the fuel cell and shock hoops. They are going to build me a removable rack for carrying junk on the trails.

Killer pics Bush. Can't wait to see your color on it.

Some more pics....

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/right%20rear%20with%20paint.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/side%20with%20paint.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/rear%20tail%20lights%20on.jpg

Top Shop Challenge Pics...

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Sideways%20on%20Tech%20Trail.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Muddy%20after%20timed.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Waiting%20for%20Rockrun.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Playing%20on%20Unclejohns.jpg

Really nice build.

Thanks..

Just weighed it today and its 4500lbs. Not bad considering some of the guys I compete against are 4900lb full bodied jeeps.

Turned out great, IMO much better than the last build.

BTW: Mine weighes 5000 lbs exactly.

Some more pics....

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/right%20rear%20with%20paint.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/side%20with%20paint.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/rear%20tail%20lights%20on.jpg

Top Shop Challenge Pics...

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Sideways%20on%20Tech%20Trail.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Muddy%20after%20timed.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Waiting%20for%20Rockrun.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/jeepsr4girls/Playing%20on%20Unclejohns.jpg

I'd really love to view this build... but almost all the links are dead. Any chance you can update?

Send me an email and i'll give you the link to my webshots albums. I can't get to it at work. I have some pics on facebook as well if you want to add me. Just put something in the request so I know its you.

Send me an email and i'll give you the link to my webshots albums. I can't get to it at work. I have some pics on facebook as well if you want to add me. Just put something in the request so I know its you.

FB sent