As many of you know, I am getting one of my CJ-10a Flightline Tugs ready for plowing this Winter (with the help of FORD FLARESIDE). I have a 2nd tug that I'm converting for road/offroad use. I'm excited about this project, as it doesn't require a complete ground-up build. Time is a commodity for me right now, and this tug ran/drove well (up to ~18 mph) prior to me pulling the rear axle and bobtail bed. My plans for this tug are relatively straightforward, and include the following:
- Keep it on the cheap by bartering for parts where I can.
- Retain stock Nissan SD-33 6-cyl. diesel motor and TF-727 auto transmission.
- '90 GW Dana 44 front axle: I'm in the process of cleaning this axle up for paint; see photo below. It'll need a 4.10 re-gear, and I'd like to convert it to manual lockouts and add a locker. I'll see how the budget goes. This axle is a bolt-in for the '10a (translation = easy swap).
- Isuzu Rodeo Dana 44 rear axle: Cooter scored me one of these, and I'm getting it in trade for some Scrambler parts. It has 4.10 gears, rear disc brakes, 6 x 5.5" lug pattern, and it's ~58" wide WMS-to-WMS. It'll be a great match for the NT FSJ front axle.
- Plain-Jane Toyota 4-Runner steel wheels: Free from Mr. Stabby (I owe you one, Joe). These have a 6 x 5.5" bolt pattern, and I love the ultra-basic style of this wheel (it retains basically the same look as the stock 8-lug military wheels that came on the '10a). I'll just blast 'em and paint 'em black.
- NP-208 T-case: I swapped an NP-229 case for this one (thanks 46flattie). It'll replace the AMC 198 case that's currently in the tug, and locked in low-range. The 208 is a bolt-in affair, and I'll just need to extend the shift linkage by ~4"...an easy fix.
- 32" x 9.5" Swampers: I also got these from Cooter on trade. The size will allow me to retain a stock height, and not have to buy a lift kit. NOTE: Even with a lift, the front tire size using the stock CJ-10 front fenders is limited due to the wrap-around in front.
- Reworked rear springs to extend wheelbase (see more info below).
- Flatbed rear w/a cage of some sort. I hope to talk with the JCR guys about this, maybe sometime next Spring.
- Pintle hitches front & rear.
I'm trying to assess how I'm going to address moving the rear axle back. The existing rear spring setup (check out those monster rear leafs) are all FSJ, outboarded w/56-57" spring packs (HD of course, for this application). The stock setup is SOA, with an off-center pin. Reversing the spring will move the axle back about 5 1/2" over stock, but that's not far enough for what I want. Instead, I think I'll use a 2nd set of
front FSJ springs, and relocate them under the frame rails. This would require an SUA setup to maintain the existing ride height. By going under the frame rail and using the front Waggy springs (2" pin offset), I'll be able to move the rear axle back roughly to where the tire is positioned in the photo below. I considered switching to 63" Chevy springs, but they'd be too long for this frame setup.
Anyway, I'll be working on this project over the Winter. The only attention the tub will require is the repair of a tiny (smaller than a dime) hole in the passenger floorpan. Other than that, it's all rust-free.
So there it is. This project will require substantially less work than a full frame-up build, but will still be a unique and rust-free Jeep that should probably get 28 mpg with the 6-cyl. Nissan diesel motor it has.
Craig
November 10th, 2006, 09:22 AM
I like it.
It should give me some good salvage $$$ to put toward other parts, though. That slab o' weight is 4" thick, and ~2000 lbs.
Linear Mode
