Project: Squirrel '56 M38a1

[BEAR]

Sticking with my animal name builds.....here we go!

I have been building the ultimate (to me) YJ (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...ghlight=animal) for a while and really started to get tired of all fab and no play, so I searched craigslist and found this gem for $1200.

I named it squirrel mainly because its grey/small and cute.

It will stay street legal but trailworthy as well.

She has a newer Buick V-6
SM420
Dana 18 t-case
Dana 25 front
Dana 44 rear (2 piece).
31" BFG's
The worst steering and brakes you could imagine!

My plans are to swap waggy offset 44's with all the goodies (hydro assist hi-steer, ARB/Detroit, 5:13's, chromo shafts, aftermarket knuckles, CTM joints, etc.) Rubicon Express SOA springs and some 35/37's and wheel the piss outta her.

[BEAR]

Picked up a waggy 44 front housing a while ago and finally have a project to put it to use on.





Also picked up a pair of hard to find Rubicon Express SOA springs.



The after a quick stop to WFO concepts, I had most everything needed to "hook it up".



New TRE's
Ford shock towers
Front/Rear shock hangers with shackles
Hi-steer arms/arp studs
U-bolts/plates
Spring perches
A tie -rod
and a partrige in a pear tree......

Quickly sealed a deal on these Parts Mike (Reid racing) knuckles/outers from my buddy Sillyneck.



Got the 44 all cleaned up and a coat of paint for the night.....






Oh, i also ordered a full hydro assist kit with box,
pump, ram, cooler and other goodies from PSC.

[oldtimingman]

It'll be nice to watch an "old school" type build for a change.

[BEAR]

Thanks!
This build will go really fast because its so "old school", I have done builds like this many times over in my younger years so its just cookie cutter fab.

[BEAR]

Doid a little more this morning.
Hooked up knuckles and tie rod to measure for ram assist.

[zainyD]

Lookin' good! You've got a lot of projects going.

[BEAR]

Thanks!
You really have no clue....I also have 2 boat project going at the same time and a 42 GPW laying in the back yard waiting for this to be done...hahaha

[BEAR]

I just ordered 37" Toyo's on 15x10 steelies fro this thing and I hope that they are not too big....

Anyone else running 37's on SOA CJ5?

[BEAR]

My next issue is this.......

I am having a hard time finding an offset 44 for the rear and at the sametime I am worried that it will not hold up to the 37's.

So my options are:
Stick with the plan and find a 44 and build the piss out of it.
Have a 60 or 9" built offset and build the piss out of it.
Or
Ditch the model 18 and install my dana 300 and get a center 60 or 9".

What say you??

[RageM880]

I vote offset, both for wheeling & for 'classic' looks...
I'd guess 44 will hold up fine in a light rig with a v6, and might be easier than building offsets (finding/figuring stock shafts for your offset rear might be a hastle - if chromo then whatever...).

Guessing you don't want toys, but in case you might I saw this:
/forum/axles-tires-wheels-sale/982957-built-fj40-axles.html

[gtxracer]

Your work is always something I look forward to!

How about the D300 route and a 33 or 35 spline 44? If you get one with some decent tube thickness and build it up. You'll still have good clearance and the rig is light weight so it should be fine.

[ROXROES]

Conservative driver, 44; adrenaline junky 9 or 60. You have another toy to thrash on soon I see so depends on whether you'll get your fix from that...

[BEAR]

Did a little bit of work yesterday.

New 37x14.5x15 toyo mt's and 15x10 steel wheels.


Assembled the front 44 with the RE soa springs and hardware, ready to go in.



Ripped out the dana 25, springs and all.





Then mounted on the new stuff.

Outboarded the springs.


Used ruffstuff's outboard plates....made it very simple to mount.


Its a little wider and taller than I prefer but I will run it like this for a while and see if I like it.





With the rear wheels mocked up.

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by BEAR

My next issue is this.......

I am having a hard time finding an offset 44 for the rear and at the sametime I am worried that it will not hold up to the 37's.

So my options are:
Stick with the plan and find a 44 and build the piss out of it.
Have a 60 or 9" built offset and build the piss out of it.
Or
Ditch the model 18 and install my dana 300 and get a center 60 or 9".

What say you??

Nice build, as always!

An offset 9" with a Hi-9 center and the dropped D18 output will give you the shallowest rear driveshaft angle, and these jeeps are short. Major disadvantage is the cost of that third member, and (minor disadvantage IMO) not as deep gears in the 18 as you can get in the 300. A HP60 rear might be an option also, depends on what you can find.

I'm working along similar lines with a '55 at present, using a 44/9. LP 9 is a tough fit with centered/on-axis output, you'll either need to drop it some or go to very expensive rear driveshaft parts. Offset LP 9 or standard 60 with the D18 might be the cheapest option with mixing and matching of different axle shafts to get the offset and track width right.

[BEAR]

I FINALLY found a rear matching 44 so I will be going that route.
Its a rust bucket

Going to have it hot tanked I think.

[BEAR]

Well, after looking at the stance, although it would be an incredible rock rig, it sits a bit too high and wide for a street driver/moderate trail rig.

I think I am going to try a set of RE 4.5 SUA springs and 35's on 15x8 wheels.

[zainyD]

Have you considered keeping the front SUA to lower the stance?

[BEAR]

Just dropped the rear axle off to get 5:38's and Grizzley locker, the front gets the same treatment tomorrow.
Picked up a new brake booster/master cylinder as well as new clutch master/slave from Parts Mike yesterday, installing today.

I might be wheeling the Rubicon this weekend if all goes well.

[BEAR]

Originally Posted by zainyD

Have you considered keeping the front SUA to lower the stance?

Yes, but decided against it. I will use it SOA and see if I like it.

[elarsen]

I have ran my '59 CJ5 SOA on 37's for a while now. I run Fordyce, Barret, Con, etc. I run stock waggys in the rear & CJ7 rears up front. My wheelbase is 84" & WMS is 59". The only thing that I do not like about it is on steep stuff. With my off road trailer I am able to take my family of 4 camping for a week on the 'Con or Barret.

Drive line angle in the rear could be an issue for you if you go center dump. I built an HP60 to help out. Up front I run an HP44 I also built.

The downside is that running big axles SOA my stock frame is toast. This winter I am building a custom frame with coils & stretching it to match a CJ6

[stepfor]

Mine is a 72 CJ5 and not all that hardcore, I have been running 35" Krawlers for a couple years now with no lift other than adding some 1" lift shackles. Just tube fenders and a bit of hammer work on the tub. Stock axles still even.

My stock frame is also hammered from running the bigger tires and due to be retired.

Hope that helps, can't wait to see how this one turns out.

[konacaliboy]

Looks great Ryan! You crack me up man, glutton for punishment with all these projects, hobbies and work. Glad your having fun brother

[mallard15]

A little different than the other build you have going on haha. I like a lot though. Keep up the great work man.

[BEAR]

LOL, thanks everyone!
I know right but these things are more addicting than heroin....no really

[BEAR]

I guess these are widetrack waggy axles.

Front is 64.5"
Rear is 63"

A little wider than I had hoped for.....oh well.

Got a bit more done, post updates later.