If nothing else this build thread will provide entertainment for the seasoned builders as well as a consolidated source of basic questions that most would be embarrassed to ask.
A little history of the build. I had a 47 cj2a in high school that I blew the stock motor on the first day I bought it ( who knew they only went 45 mph?)
I some how managed to get a pinto engine in it with not much more than a wrench set and hammer. It got passed on to my brother and disappeared to god knows where after that. I always like the vintage look of them .
Last year I started looking for one to buy. Lots of possibilities out there but nothing fit the bill. I wanted a daily driver that gets reasonable mileage, auto transmission,newer motor, hard top for winter, and basically looks in great shape and rides like a modern vehicle.
After lurking for a while and watching build threads I PM'd Mieser to see if he would sign on as a consultant to help me avoid stupid mistakes and steer me in the right direction. He generously agreed and we assembled a grocery list of parts to start looking for.
I bought a welder a proceeded to practice welding by laying beads on every piece of scrap I could find. My weld sculpture is now too heavy to move out of the garage.
My goal is to learn as much as possible during the process, but also to choose my battles carefully. I do not intend to build another car ( but I guess who knows) so I don't feel that learning to rebuild an auto trans or swap axle gears is the best use of my time. Instead I will focus on skills and knowledge that could get me back on the trail if something less catastrophic breaks down...steering, hubs, brakes, fuel, etc. I expect to to have a very good working knowledge of most aspects of the jeep when I am done, as well as improved patience, and a new vocabulary of profanities.
That said here is what I have assembled for this project
Mieser frame with 2x6" belly rail spec'd for Yj springs front and rear
JCR racing weld it yourself front bumper
3x4" closed tube rear bumper with hitch receiver
Front axle is jeep YJ D30 with vacuum disconnect removed and solid TJ shafts installed, 4.88 gears with truetrac posi, discs
Rear axle is jeep TJ D44 4.88 truetrac posi, discs
Drivetrain is 2012 gm 4.3 v6 with 6,000 miles on it with the original 4L60E auto tranny that it came with, all harness, computers, gas pedal retained, but thinned by Jim's performance
Novak adapter to flipped D300 fully rebuilt and ground out to allow front wheel drive.
Northwest fab reverse cable shifters for transfer case
Wide ope design art Carr cable shifter for trans
Painless electric harness
Repro M38 tub
Cj2a windshield and willys stamped hood
Artic top and matching vertical windshield frame
Raceline 17x8.5" monster beadlock wheels
Goodyear MT/R Kevlar 33/11.5/17
I have made some progress and will add pics ASAP.
Cheers!
A little history of the build. I had a 47 cj2a in high school that I blew the stock motor on the first day I bought it ( who knew they only went 45 mph?)
I some how managed to get a pinto engine in it with not much more than a wrench set and hammer. It got passed on to my brother and disappeared to god knows where after that. I always like the vintage look of them .
Last year I started looking for one to buy. Lots of possibilities out there but nothing fit the bill. I wanted a daily driver that gets reasonable mileage, auto transmission,newer motor, hard top for winter, and basically looks in great shape and rides like a modern vehicle.
After lurking for a while and watching build threads I PM'd Mieser to see if he would sign on as a consultant to help me avoid stupid mistakes and steer me in the right direction. He generously agreed and we assembled a grocery list of parts to start looking for.
I bought a welder a proceeded to practice welding by laying beads on every piece of scrap I could find. My weld sculpture is now too heavy to move out of the garage.
My goal is to learn as much as possible during the process, but also to choose my battles carefully. I do not intend to build another car ( but I guess who knows) so I don't feel that learning to rebuild an auto trans or swap axle gears is the best use of my time. Instead I will focus on skills and knowledge that could get me back on the trail if something less catastrophic breaks down...steering, hubs, brakes, fuel, etc. I expect to to have a very good working knowledge of most aspects of the jeep when I am done, as well as improved patience, and a new vocabulary of profanities.
That said here is what I have assembled for this project
Mieser frame with 2x6" belly rail spec'd for Yj springs front and rear
JCR racing weld it yourself front bumper
3x4" closed tube rear bumper with hitch receiver
Front axle is jeep YJ D30 with vacuum disconnect removed and solid TJ shafts installed, 4.88 gears with truetrac posi, discs
Rear axle is jeep TJ D44 4.88 truetrac posi, discs
Drivetrain is 2012 gm 4.3 v6 with 6,000 miles on it with the original 4L60E auto tranny that it came with, all harness, computers, gas pedal retained, but thinned by Jim's performance
Novak adapter to flipped D300 fully rebuilt and ground out to allow front wheel drive.
Northwest fab reverse cable shifters for transfer case
Wide ope design art Carr cable shifter for trans
Painless electric harness
Repro M38 tub
Cj2a windshield and willys stamped hood
Artic top and matching vertical windshield frame
Raceline 17x8.5" monster beadlock wheels
Goodyear MT/R Kevlar 33/11.5/17
I have made some progress and will add pics ASAP.
Cheers!