Fabrication from Mild to wild.

[HackSaw]

I think I am speaking for a lot of folks on here when it comes to parts for your off-road rig, you'd rather build it than buy it.

At least that is the mindset that I have. I don't personally like going out and spending countless hundreads of dollars on something that I can build for a fraction of the price and get more appreciation out of it because "I made it."

This isn't intended to start any sort of bickering arguments like the typical 'real jeeps are built not bought' that you often see many places. It's more or less a: What do you build and what do you build it with.

I personally have access to welders, torches, grinders, presses, sheet metal brakes and other metal-working tools. Whether it be in my own garage/shop or having access through local friends that have the equipment available for me to use.

My winter project plan is going to be: Part of a YJ frame, part of a CJ tub, 3/4 ton axles, Traignulated 4 link rear with air shocks or 1/4 eliptical with leaf springs up front.

Chassis:
The plans are to cut the frame about 6" behind where the rear of the drivers door ends and integrate the rollcage into the rear portion of the tube frame. Making sort of a truggy type setup.

The tub is already cut behind right at the rise in the floor (so the floor now ends where the incline began) where the stock roll bar was previously mouted. The back of the tub will be boxed in with sheet metal, making it a 2 seater only "cab." I am planning on making a soft top and still being able to utilze full doors to make it fully enclosable for thoose cold winter trips. The front end will utilize a CJ grill and hood with tube fenders.

For the rear and the cage, I have alot of it drawn up as of right now and I am going to start hacking up the stock frame over thanksgiving most likely (Being 200 miles away from your shop/garage is NOT fun) The wheelbase is going to be right around 105-108" with a 90 degree deparure angle in the rear, and hopefully around 80 in the front dependent on what tires in the 38-42" range that I come into.

Drivetrain:
The front and rear axles are going to be 5.13 geared, welded in the rear with a detroit in the front. I am steel debating on full hydraulic vs Hi-steer + Hydro-assist for the steering.

Most likely, a TBI small block is going to be used with a turbo 350 with a reverse manual valve body. I am undecided as of yet on the transfer case setup that I am going to use, but it's up to an NP203 range box mated to a D300 or a D300 with a 4:1 kit in it. The idea of having multiple "low ranges" is very apealing, and overall will be in a very close price range of each other.

That's all for now, hopefully I get a new digital camera so I can share my progress along the way. I dropped my camera on a rock in wellsville and it is no longer in operating condition.


So, what do you do?

[Haggar]

I'm definately about doing it myself..

My current project is a Toyota truck. I started with a first generation toyota(1983) longbed, and a second generation (1985) XTra cab


The 83 frame is the foundation for the truck. The front axle is 2" forward of stock using 3" longer than stock springs, homemade mounts & shackles. Rear axle is 4" forward from stock, on 15" longer than stock springs, again homemade mounts & shackles.

Body is the 85 XTra cab. None of the body mounts lined up so all were cut/modified and moved to fit. The bed will eventually be finished with sides/fenders, truck box, spare tire mount, hi lift mount, etc..

Drivetrain is a 22R running a Weber 38 carb, 5 speed manual, marlin crawler dual transfer cases, etc. Front driveshaft will be made from square tube.

Pretty much everything on this truck I built myself. Will be doing a front tube bumper/winch mount, etc..

[nosilla]

self built is better built.

[Haggar]

In terms of tools, I have a few things, nothing too fancy..

I do my work myself in my 22x28 garage, which is jammed full of junk and has my wifes car in there as well..

I have usual drills/angle grinder/sawzall/bench grinder/etc. I have a table top drill press which isn't very good but it was free. A 60 gal compressor, chop saw, harbor freight pipe bender, 120v Lincoln flux core welder, and a good number of hand tools. Oh, and a cherry picker...

Eh, I get the job done..

[nixxerRsixxer]

i bought my rock crawler at wal-mart .. its sweet.. so im gunna have to go with buy rather than build.. because well i bought my rock crawler and its ready to rock! ..

[victorymike]

I prefer to build my own stuff. I am a poor bastard and don't have all that much spare $ just sitting around. Plus I have time and tools at work to do stuff. Don't get me wrong...I have a pretty good toolbox that takes up half of the living room in my apartment but not much for power tools. My last job was as a maintenance mechanic for an automotive parts supplier (anybody remember Pilot Industries in Dexter, MI?) and I had to have my own tools. I have replaced the passenger side shackle mount and built custom front and rear bumpers out of a bent Wrangler frame that I got for $50. Leftovers amounted to about 3 feet of box frame. I've also done some small custom exhaust work. Oh...and I have CC's old built 2.5L engine in my Jeep.

[Monkeyevil]

I've built mine myself (with a lot of help from Brian and his shop before I worked here.)

I'm always a fan of being able to work on your rig yourself... that way when it breaks you are well ready to fix it. Now we have some people that we do work for; totally capable of doing the work themselves, but either don't have the time, or don't want to mess with it.

That said if you ever need advice, or work on your rig feel free to call Brian or I. We will tell you straight up if you would be better off doing the work yourself... and if you do come to us, I can guarentee it will exceed your expectations. We are wheelers, we've built and broke dang near everything... and as far as our own Jeeps and Toys go we've made lots of building mistakes along the way from stock to now.... I'm willing to give that info out for free :D

[Roadhouse]

I would luv to build my own stuff, but unfortunatly don't have the time, resources or skills to accomplish what I want. So I need to find the money and pay a few friends to get my Heep where it needs to be.

I like the idea of all you guys building you're own, it make every Jeep, Toy, etc look different. Different bumpers, lifts, cages, etc.

[Haggar]

Thats the fun of it. I hate having to be constrained to something.

So I can optimate each piece to do it my way. Face it, 4x4s are built primarily to drive on road. So they have to be accomodating for that use. My trucks are built for no compromises off road.


On the Toyota, everything possible has been relocated. Shock mounts are all on top of the axle tubes. Gas tank is above the frame rails. Steering linkages are above the springs, custom high clearance crossmembers, raised drivetrain, exhaust exits at 6ft off the ground, etc.

[Saharaboy]

I made a CB antenna mount for behind my tail light

[noodles]

I am all about home made stuff. But there comes a certian point when Ilook at cost over hassel. But yeah I make a lot of stuff because I can make it exactly how i want.

[Mclovin]

Originally Posted by noodles

I am all about home made stuff. But there comes a certian point when Ilook at cost over hassel. But yeah I make a lot of stuff because I can make it exactly how i want.

That's just cause you're cheap ! lol

Originally Posted by Saharaboy

I made a CB antenna mount for behind my tail light

< Watch out for this guy ! j/k sometime the small stuff can be the coolest unless your cb mount looks like my SL flag mount on the jeep !

I also try to make most of my stuff.. As my skills sharpen i tackel more and more fabrication ! also i can only do as much a i have the recources for ..

OH and here's a cow

[petmonkey]

I can't fab, and I can't fix.

Unless, of course, they have a book on how to do it!

However, because nobody makes a flat skid for my rig, I'm going to fab and fix it myself. Although, believe me - I'd rather buy one already made so I could just bolt it on!

Where you guys find the time to fab n' fix is beyond me! but while you're at it - I need some rear corners and some tube fenders :)

I also need my TJ gate turned into a CJ gate. I need my fuel tank raised up into my tub. I need a rear swing out that doesn't weigh a freaking ton.

and i want it all cheap!!!

:miff:

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Here's the start of my next Scrambler project. It'll be a dual-purpose vehicle (personal plow Jeep/trail rig), which is how I can justify building it up. My goal is to build it off-road capable, but inexpensive.

Here's the basis of my new Scrambler project...this rolling chassis that I'm picking up in Maryland next weekend.



Add a completely rust-free (but with slight rear corner damage) Scrambler tub that I just bought from out West (NOTE: The red in the underside pics is Moab mud, not rust. The underside is completely rust-free, too.)...







Add a little bit of this...


And some of this...



Given the rear corner damage on the Scrambler tub, I think that I may take a shot at bobbing the tub & frame. I'm working on a Scrambler FAQ for the cj-8.com site, and will be including a section on bobbing a Scrambler. There are a couple guys there who have done it that will be giving me detailed instructions/photos on how to do so.

It may also get a set of Grand Wagoneer axles, but I'll have to see how outboarding the front would affect mounting a plow.

When it's all done, it'll get a coat of some olive drab paint. Even though it'll be cheap, it'll get the same attention to detail that my Inca Gold Scrambler did.


Craig

[Haggar]

I agree with the posts above that people should post project buildups. Create a thread, when you work on it, then post. Keep updating.


I'll be bringing/updating my whole toyota buildup over, its chock full of fabrication.

[Big Daddy Rubicon]

Like they say, if you want it done right than do it yourself!

[noodles]

good luck, keep updated pics posted, i woudl like to see the progress. If ya need help let me know I am from south haven

[2007JK]

My CJ is mostly homemade. Not even much bolt on stuff. Once I bought a welder I was hooked.

I wish I could just buy the stuff. It'd make more time for my other hobbys and my family. But the truth is I am just a cheap bastard and I can never seem to find anything available after-market that couldn't be designed better.

[Bones]

is this where we get to whore out more pics? good.

started as


now sits as


The only things I bought were the motor mounts (AA), front hoop of the cage and the doubler kit (AA). The only Jeep left is the tub (part of it anyways), power steering box from a waggie, stock gas tank and the first 4' or so of the frame. Built is mostly myself, with help from 4bangler (He was my design mentor and a lot of dreivetrain help) and Wakebabe (a lot of welding and instals that required 2 people. Basically built it myself as opposed to buying kits because I'm too poor to buy a scrambler frame/cage, etc, and because you can't buy long leaf spring kits for CJs (44" long front, 52" long rear). I have about $4500 into it, including the tires and fuel injected motor. As far as time, I'm at 26 months....

[BIGBEN]

i am going to be a bit of an idiot with my tj. i only have a few things for sure the rest i will figure out as i go.

what i do have figured out

axles- waggy front d44 using ford outers for 5x5.5 and detroit
scout rear d44 with custom disc and arb
both filled with 4.10 gears
both using custom brackets for better ground clearance

engine- mild stroker using 4.2 crank and rods

lift- 1in body lift with 2in of suspension
all control arms custom length for wheelbase stretchof about 3in

other things like raised drivetrain with a flat belly skid and cutting of body to fit 35in tires.

i will start a thread and post picks when i get started on this. i hope to get it finished within the next three years but i am also planning to go back to school full time so we will see what happens.