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Project FIGJAM

97K views 548 replies 93 participants last post by  SkysTheLimit 
#1 · (Edited)
To start things off lets do a little back story. Bought the jeep back when I was 16 when it was more or less stock other than a tired small block Chev. Over the past 7 1/2 years I slowly built it into a more capable PNW style trail jeep. The last year of jeepin it started to become a bit of a hassle with tons of little things breaking/wearing out and I started to worry almost everytime I was gonna be "that guy". Never in its life having a full tear down, it was starting to show its age and I did my best to keep it together by strapping the frame after it broke, tied cage into frame, redid the suspension, etc. Anyways, here's the old girl.

TBI 350
Dana 44's F/R
t18
4.27's w/lunchbox lockers
Dana 20
Spring under rear with yj's
Spring over front front with toyota rears
Chromoly shafts
Redhead steering box
36 tsl's

[/url]jeep fenders by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20170225_170455782_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]FB_IMG_1491176877168 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here was its final resting place after cracking bellhousing and fed up with working on old grimy parts.

[/url]IMG_20170830_164249355_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
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#141 · (Edited)
#147 ·
Been a minute since posting on here... Waiting on paychecks and parts is the norm recently. Ordered my alternator/PS pump relocation brackets from Goat Built and also some motor mounts. Current motor mounts I had in for mock were AME, but push the mounting tabs forward in order to use an off the shelf sbc style poly mount. Swapping these out will allow me to tied directly into the node where the shock hoop meets the frame rail. Tig'ed the outer joint to allow room for bolt head.

[/url]IMG_20180622_121234547 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180622_121412578 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180622_122559474 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180622_122620663 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#148 · (Edited)
Then I finally got off my ass and started mounting the radiator. Not gonna lie I was dreading this like no other just because I knew everything was gonna be so tight. Got a stupid deal on a Flexalite LS conversion CJ radiator through work so figured I'd try my best to package it. Biggest issue I ran into was the hood being able to close completely and it not coming with a cap really created issues. Right now I have about 3/8" of clearance so hopefully a cap will clear, but if not I'll cut the neck off and massage it so it sits more flat and then I'l know for sure I'll have enough room.

[/url]IMG_20180623_120223381 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_131548075 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_131555893 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_131543319 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_131754866_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_172101725 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_172122412 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_172353137 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_172559714 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180623_172434738 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#152 ·
Lets try this again. Started roughing in cage little by little. Drivers side needs to come down about a 1/4" to match the Pass and thinking lowering the entire cage a bit if I can manage. Need to get seats in to determine head room and what not.

[/url]IMG_20180628_182108 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180628_180207749 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180628_180251699 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180628_180403943 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#164 · (Edited)
Started adding more tube to the cage Tuesday after work and on the first bend heard a pop. Bending was obviously came to a halt :mad3: I could've mig'd it but figure I needed to go into work on the 4th anyways so just prepped and ran 3 passes with the trusty tig.

[/url]IMG_20180703_162923498_HDR (1) by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180704_144338696 (1) by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Once that was fixed was able to jump back on the cage taking out the rake, adding the harness bar/bracing, etc. Seat still needs to come back about 3" and drop a little aswell.

[/url]IMG_20180705_114738489 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180705_114422220_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180705_114456 (1) by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Next dilema is door bars. What are your guys thoughts on a removable type style with aluminum door attached to the tube itself? I really want the safety aspect of them, but don't want it to be impossible for my grandpa to get in and out of.
 
#167 · (Edited)
Unless you're competing with it there is no reason a set of well designed tube doors can't be used and provide good side protection. Have them mounted into the cage, not the sheet metal. Cage is looking good btw.

Here is another idea:
https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/40825082-post953.html
 
#169 ·
DutchVDub, I checked out your link and that was sorta my original plan! However, one of my biggest pet peeves is rattling when mobbing down washboard or just moving down the trail. The door bars/doors will stay on 90% of the time so planning on using the two interlocking tube clamps, one up front and one towards the rear. Ill weld a small flange to the tube and attach the top of the aluminum door skin with a few rivets. The door will sit inside the factory door opening and will be secured along the lower perimeter with a few dzus's. Probably gonna be a pain in the ass to get on and off but if its once or twice a year I really don't mind. The old man is still young enough where he'll just have to climb over :laughing:

[/url]IMG_20180707_140907328_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180707_140901652_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Pics are of 1-1/2" interlocking clamps, need to get some 1-3/4" before cutting the tube.

[/url]IMG_20180707_141113031 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180707_141053722 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180707_145047450_TOP by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Wanting to run the door skin a couple inches longer, but this was the biggest piece of cardboard I could find.
 
#172 ·
Climbing over a door bar getting in and out every time honestly doesn't bother me. Safety is my number one concern this time around with the build. If I were truly building the cage for myself the bars would stay one piece and probably already welded in. However, I want to be able to take my grandfather for a rip here and there and I know he would struggle to climb in and out. Jay said it best, "Should have built a buggy" :flipoff2: You pretty much won't see a single buggy out there without full height door bars and that pretty much what I'm building. Jeep skin shoe horned over a buggy chassis.
 
#175 ·
I think what you are doing will work. I also think if you really wanted, you could make a door stronger than that bar with a pin at the rear. (Think receiver pin) if you had a rubber pad that needed to be compressed alittle to get the pin in, there would be no rattle.

But it really depends on how often you use it. You are the only one who knows that.
 
#178 ·
Small update! I was out of town last weekend so not a whole lot got done and after grinding and welding at work all week during the day, its really hard to come home and continue.

However, rough cut the rear floor out and started getting some structure built back into it. Fender wells are raised and seats have been moved back. I'll be building a wedge shaped fuel that will be located right behind the seats (wood marks the back of cell). Fuel capacity comes out to just over 26 gallons and plan to have the cell divided into thirds with baffles. Center section will house a hydramat and trap doors will allow fuel to flow in from either side but not flow back out.

[/url]IMG_20180714_151605964 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180714_151629736 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Then started to mess with mounting rear coilovers. Just a bent tube with a plate style mount just to keep everything simple. Wanting just a clean look and not trying to over complicate things. Probably gonna add a piece of 1-1/2" that ties the top of the mount into the upper corner of the cage. Thoughts?

[/url]IMG_20180719_163820226_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180719_170140829 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180720_173721415 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#180 ·
Center section will house a hydramat
What are your thoughts on the Holley Hydramat? Is it as good as it claims to be? Do you use it much at your work (AM)?

I've got a cell that measures 34.5" x 17.875" in plan view and was just thinking of a 1 gal collector with trap doors in the center rear but, I can't shake the thought that the Hydramat might actually be the cats ass and the way to go.
 
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