Urban Commando Project

[rajincajingt]

i think its about time to start my build up thread.

this project came about for a couple reasons.

1. i want a jeep that will carry more than 2 people

2. i want a jeep that is a lot more street friendly than my CJ with a beat up 456 with no OD, spooled F&R and just plain not cop friendly. my CJ got out of hand pretty quick, it went from dd on 35s to traili whore on 42s. i got in that spot because i did not have a concert plan. i hope to stick to this plan a litte better.

3. i want something nicer than my beat up trail rig.

so here we go with the parts list:

5.0 HO roller short block from a 91 lincoln mark 7
GT40 P heads fresh from the machine shop
explorer intake, upper and lower
24lb injectors
Cam yet to be determined
ford racing headers

AOD

203/205 doubler GLO tripple shifters 1350 yokes

37" crawlers on h2 wheels

LP ford 44 front 4.10s lockright

sterling 10.25 4.10s locker yet to be determined

spring under leafs in the rear

4 link front

all this wrapped up in a 1970 jeepster commando body.

the body is pretty straight but the floors are totally fucked when it comes to rust. the rear corners are pretty bad too, but the rest of the body is in great shape.

im trying to keep the illusion of a full bodied rig with a couple hints from different build threads. i loved chris's (Action Fab) xj with a cage integrated into the body and the Ben Hank's TJ build as a uni body. i will also be using a subframe like the bent fabrication buggies. the body and cage will be one big piece adn solid as a rock. not the best choice for a street/trail rig but i think the street vibrations will be managable. ill be using suspension seats to mask a lot of that.

ill add some pictures after they load.

[CJ'Ed]

Lookin forward to the build. I'm suscribed.

[rajincajingt]

here is the day she came home.

[rajincajingt]

here are all the problem spots.


obviously is a fucking mess


i found a little present under the carpet, styrophome and wood and lots of rust


so much rust it ate through the out side sheet metal

[rajincajingt]

here she is all cleaned up:


here is another problem spot. there is a big rust hole in both back corners


and here is where i thought i was going to start the back half:

[rajincajingt]

here are the axles:

top is a 44 and the bottom is a sterling 10.25 for now they are 4.10s but i think i might step up to 4.56 or 4.88s. it all depends. for now im leaving it open and stock to get a feel for the power range.



i took off the grill and hood and fenders to give me some space to work with. i also chopped up the front frame sections. the plans were to "front half" it too.

[rajincajingt]

i got a bunch of stuff from blue torch:



and i started cutting up the floor!

[rajincajingt]

so in this picture, you can see that the commando has a pretty weird square body line in the rocker area right below the door:


it runs from front to back. i am going to keep this line but incorporate it into a slider or rocker. this rocker is going to be an integral part of the body and frame. im using 2" .25 wall square tube. it will tie into the cage as well as have the body fully welded to it:

[rajincajingt]

here is a good view of how the motor fits in:

[texasag02]

Cool, I like where this is going! What are you going to do with the CJ?

[B.A.R.K]

Looks like a fun project.

If you are going this far why not just make a whole new frame? I can't comment from experience, but numerous times on this board I have read that "they" wished they would have built a new frame instead of just leaving 3-4 feet of the original frame.

Edit: Question answered below. New frame.

[rajincajingt]

wheels and tires mounted up!! i got a smoking deal on these krawlers - $100 a piece.



here is a good shot of the floor. i ripped out all the original frame and replaced it with the 2" square. the diagonal peices are 1.5" 2.5 wall and the floor pieces are 1" .188 wall.
this is also a good shot of the 203/205 doubler. the AOD already is long and has a super long output adapter. add this transfer case combo and im looking at a +50" (possible 2 piece) front drive shaft and a 20" rear drive shaft!!!


passenger side:


now to start the cage:



these are solid slugs to make the butt transition to the B hoop. im not good enough with the bender to make that b hoop with all those bends in one shot.

[rajincajingt]

Originally Posted by texasag02

Cool, I like where this is going! What are you going to do with the CJ?

im keeping it.

i hate to say it but this will be built as a street queen with some trail riding qualities.

the CJ will definitely still be in the family. i need something to carry me up ingrids revenge!

[rajincajingt]

Originally Posted by B.A.R.K

Looks like a fun project.
If you are going this far why not just make a whole new frame? I can't comment from experience, but numerous times on this board I have read that "they" wished they would have built a new frame instead of just leaving 3-4 feet of the original frame.

you'll see, the frame is gone! i ripped all that out. i took those same people's advice.

[geberhard]

Nice Keep it coming love Mandos!

[chicken835]

Nice build thus far...Can not wait to see it on a trail.

[rajincajingt]

i got a little more done this weekend...

front 4 link i got the uppers done and the frame side mounts tacked in:




i also completed the b hoop: i tried to match the body line as best i could:

[faziom]

Your calling that small rocker square tube a frame?

[STUPIDFACE]

I want to see this thing on its wheels.... Where abouts in NOLA?

corey d

[rajincajingt]

Originally Posted by faziom

Your calling that small rocker square tube a frame?

nope, that is a rocker.

its really going to be a unibody type construction. no real frame to speak of.

[rajincajingt]

Originally Posted by STUPIDFACE

I want to see this thing on its wheels.... Where abouts in NOLA?

corey d

lakeview

you know my uncle bart.

[faziom]

Originally Posted by rajincajingt

nope, that is a rocker.

its really going to be a unibody type construction. no real frame to speak of.

So your links are connected to the rocker... And you think that will work and actually drive down the road as well as off road?

[rajincajingt]

I have a pretty good feeling that it won't implode the first time I roll it out of the garage


All kidding aside, it will have much more support, I just need to find a home for the a pillar first before I beef up those mounts. Also, people make buggies out of 2" .120 wall tube all day long. 2" .25 wall should be fine, but it's all in how you support it.

[muttman]

Originally Posted by rajincajingt

I have a pretty good feeling that it won't implode the first time I roll it out of the garage


All kidding aside, it will have much more support, I just need to find a home for the a pillar first before I beef up those mounts. Also, people make buggies out of 2" .120 wall tube all day long. 2" .25 wall should be fine, but it's all in how you support it.

I love the build; I have a soft spot for Commando's.
It's a little early to know for sure, but I think the chassis will be plenty strong. I've always wondered why guys build a full rect tube frame, then add an extensive "cage", when either one would be plenty strong by itself; it just seems like unneccessary weight. Another advantage is no body mounts/bushings to squeak and wear out, and more ground clearance.
This is similar to what I did with my rig, it was originally a unibody, but I cut out so much because of rust, the tube "chassis" is the real strength. /forum/jeep-hardcore-tech/805076-m-151-build-thread.html

[STUPIDFACE]

Originally Posted by rajincajingt

lakeview

you know my uncle bart.

Huh, imagine that.....i think i do. Small world, even on the interwebs.

corey d