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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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#2 · (Edited)
Plan for the build was to keep it low and stretch the wheelbase to better suit the steep hillclimbs in my area. Doing the typical LS powerplant to up the power, 4 linked f/r, beefy axles,coilovers, etc. My biggest thing was to keep the tub and try to save as much as it as possible.

It all started when I bought a set of 60 inners and gussetted them up.

[/url]IMG_20170816_171023585 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20170819_100637745 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20170817_163230545 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Then got a little bit of a deal on a 9" center through work. I know Im gonna catch some heat for this, but running 3 1/8" OD 3/8" wall tube. Trying to keep it light and figure a big truss will add a ton of strength. After all, its not a race rig.

[/url]IMG_20170922_121920217 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Left it wide and cut it to 63" WMS later on.

[/url]IMG_20171004_173527249_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171009_111716624 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#3 · (Edited)
Then I picked up a set of 38.5x14.50 sx's for dirt cheap so I kinda had something to build around. Plannig on 14" coilovers f/r with both 7 up and down.

Rolled tires under to get a feel for wheelbase. 100" or slightly over is my goal and trying not to comp cut. Also, I plan to cut about 4.5" out of the rocker for a slight boatside

[/url]IMG_20171106_202304283 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171106_202241913 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Next, I started to mess around on the computer to get a rough idea on what the chassis needed to be. Modeled with an Atlas in hoped to run one down the line, NP241 will be the tcase for now. Aluminum 5.3 and 4l60e will be in front of that. Took a little while to get a rendering when you rely on lunch and break time haha

[/url]IMG_20171002_172816445 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171121_122254664_HDR by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#4 · (Edited)
Some more parts showed up and the first few pieces on tube were cut and tacked to the table.

[/url]IMG_20171202_151406935 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171201_181931774 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171202_141115320 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20171214_181837330 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Acquired a 700R4 for some beer so threw that in there for a visual and pulled alot of tape to give myself a motor footprint and mock the front end.

[/url]IMG_20180104_185312560 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180104_185535667 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Then got antsy and built my rear for a change of scenery haha Hopefully not gonna kick myself for not building a full float butthis was cheap and have buddies that have had good luck with just the standard flanged axles. Again, I have no plans to race just a fun trail rig to be hard on and go fast in the snow lol

[/url]IMG_20171229_142745892 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#5 · (Edited)
At work we were done using our plastic block so was able to borrow it for a bit to get stuff a little more finalized. Also, picked up a 4l60e from a buddy and strated to get the powerplant location a little more locked down.

Some hi-steer arms showed up, bent up a few more pieces, and started to add in some bracing

[/url]IMG_20180109_185849990 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180121_175248259 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Off topic a bit but passing by the dumpster a work I saw a sway bar arm popping out of the dumpster. Making a mental note I went back to check at lunch in hopes to find a pair of arms, but found 4! Should have plenty of length to work with my application and was glad to see they were not already drilled. (These are out dated arms that we used to use on our older Chevelle bolt on chassis)

[/url]IMG_20180208_144146593 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

Once I had the front more or less set and just waiting to get some accesories to final weld, I shifted my attention to the rear end. Started placing links and plating everything in.

[/url]IMG_20180205_164534246 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]1517880756457 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]1517880719184 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]1517880814725 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180205_163821713 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
#6 · (Edited)
Surfing the web, I found a set of 12" Rancho's for dirt so picked those up and also started setting up the steering. Along with the suspension, I finally bit the bullet and forked out the cash for steering.

[/url]IMG_20180212_122742879 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180213_170555143 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_20180214_165956669 by Alex Velasquez, on Flickr[/IMG]

As I said previously, I plan to run 14s f/r but these 12s will atleast give me a footprint for coil clearance and what not. Setting them up as if they are 14" Fox 2.0s with roughly a 21.250" collapsed length at full bump.
 
#22 ·
To be honest there is no real reason as to why. The lowers are/will be a lot closer to the rear "rails" of the chassis than they look in the pics. Looking back I could've definitely inched them out a bit more, but where they are it should keep the rear end centered. This is my first linked suspension so doing my best to research a lot and play it sorta safe without trying not to think too out of the box. Any recommendations are welcome and greatly appreciated
 
#25 ·
Fabrication looks fantastic.

Running the rear links so narrow will exaggerate axle steer from bump and roll. Have to remember you're dealing with a lot more wheel travel than your day job is used to. There's also the added lever action on the joints from the freespan of housing out to the the wheels. Also, make sure you have at least 45* of convergence in the links. I may be wrong, but it doesn't look like there's a lot in your mockup.
 
#31 ·
I'm really curious to see how you'll be mounting the tub to it. I also think you should stretch that chassis out to CJ6 length and send me the plans. :D
 
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