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"Dirthead 509" TJ Project

178K views 1K replies 102 participants last post by  Mr. Beefy 
#1 · (Edited)
Build plan:
98TJ
3-link front, double triangulated 4 link rear
Hydro assist
79 Ford D60 front, 5.38's, undecided locker
14 B rear, 5.38's, undecided locker
Flipped D300, possibly 231-D300 doubler....if I can find the right parts:sonicjay:
4 cyl to 4.0L conversion since it was missing the 4 cyl :sonicjay:
Full cage
Highline tube fenders
Non comp cut cut
Fuel cell
I'm sure there's more.......


The story:
I picked this up on the coldest day last year....remember when it was 0 deg for a high with a -20 windchill in Jan 08, yea that day:teehee:

We bolted a front axle under it with wheel bearings and put tires on to roll it onto the trailer. Was a 4 cylinder.....minus the 4 cylinder, front axle, rear ring and pinion, airbags deployed.
Put the hood and stood the grill in place to access the damage once I got it home.

Picked up half doors and uppers this summer, color is fugly but they'll serve the purpose.
Bought a take out 4.0L and AX-15 with computer, wiring ect this summer. S.Hembree, Pwilson22000 and I set that in a couple weeks ago and started it. Tucking that up as far as I can. Folded the pinch seam up and out of the way on the firewall when I pulled the engine back out. Gained about an inch of clearance for wiring and such :thumb:


Then it came back out and S.Hembree and I cut the frame to straighten it back out. This heep was in a front collision, the frame was 1.5" taller on the drivers side, had to cut the frame to twist it back to about where it's supposed to be.

Frame gave right under the 4 cylinder motor mount. Had to cut 3 sides and 1/2 way up the fourth before it would move.

Frame tacked in place, onto front crossmember/bumper. I will be transfering my 8274 from my XJ to this one when done so I've been building the front so that it will accept that winch. Bumpmember mocked up:

Still need to put another 4" section of 1/4 across the front and brace it back. Will have to drill holes after that but I want to have the winch sitting in the bumper before putting holes in.
Relocated steering box up and hopefully out of harms way. 2/3rds done :teehee::


Still need to tap the steering box for hydro assist.
Went to LKQ last weekend and pulled a 99+ intake for $18, put that on saturday and replaced the powersteering fluid tank with one that didn't have the tab broke off the back.

Got my 14 bolt SOLID diff cover that I won at the Sundowners Rodeo this week. Also ordered disc brake brackets and D300 flip/clocking ring early this week but didn't get anything in time for this weekend. Pic of 79 D60 front and 14B rear:

Started on my flat belly kit this afternoon. Doing this one cheap for now. We'll see how it turns out. Ends cut off and sledge hammered flat :teehee:




Comments/criticism welcome, that's where the good idea's come from. Sorry for crappy pics, keep forgetting the camera.
 
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#1,037 ·
Damage report was pretty light considering how I drove all weekend. Ended up rolling into someone cutting their tire so that was a real bummer. I need to replace my fan as I lost high speed in the driveway after we were done wheeling. Great timing on that "break". I need to build another spare rear driveshaft to replace the one I broke and fix my $10 amazon lights(find the break in the wire for the ground.)

I'm probably going to buy new wheels/tires. That is more of a want than a need. My wheels got chewed up pretty bad. I'm pretty sure I ran them too low trying to gain traction and broke the wheel lip off. It's pretty obvious my tires are the weakest link on my rig right now.

I need to hook up an in cab winch control so I don't have to keep getting my remote out and putting it away all the time. A joke can be made about just driving the obstacles but I used it just as much to keep from throwing mud all over for no reason as I did for recovery.

I need to buy a driver's seat and add a harness. That's not really negotiable anymore since I flopped for the first time. Seat belt held me in fine but I would be more safe in a different seat and harness.

Overall it held together really well, no complaints.
 
#1,039 · (Edited)
Wasn't the fan that quit. My Taurus fan controller setup did not like all the trans fluid spilled on it when I flopped. Time to clean that rat's nest up. Relax, those are all relays for fans and lights and they're all fused. :sonicjay: Time to clean it all up and move it into the cab.


Bought tires from walmart.com, they shipped the wrong ones. Had them change the order and make a note for the right part number, they shipped the wrong tires again. Also ordered wheels from them, they cancelled the order. 0 luck through walmart.com right now. They do have 185 Milestar Pategonia regular 40x13.50R17LT's in stock though. They do not have the black label even though that's what their website displays when you order. I will say, the milestar's are as tall as a toyo 40x13.50r17 so that was good to see.
 
#1,041 ·
After more ordering mishaps, I ended up with one more set of beadlocks than what I needed. They're in the parts for sale section. I ordered solid state DC relays for my fan setup. I need to get to work on that stuff as soon as I get my ass back to it. About time to grind again.
 
#1,047 ·
They would if I paid to ship 4 19"x19"x10" packages weighing 49lbs a piece back across the country on my dime. It's not like I put in an amazon cancellation request 3 times in the couple days before they shipped them out or anything............my fault. I'm just done buying things. I'm not good at it.
 
#1,050 · (Edited)
Wheels sold, drew up my relay setup, forgot to take a picture. I have to find a place to bring one power and ground in, then distribute. If only something like this was readily available........ Also need to find a place behind the dash/tucked away to put the thing. Slowly progressing.

Also hoping to find a black friday sale on seats, time will tell.
 
#1,052 ·
I'm a little different, I don't want a set. I want a PRP comp pro +2 width for the drivers seat and I'm looking for a passengers seat that still reclines and will tumble out of the way for rear passengers(kids). Most of the sales are on sets of seats and I don't really want a set. 2 seats, but not matching.
 
#1,054 ·
That's what I'm concerned with. My comfortable driving seat spot is about 3-4" further back than my wheeling seat spot. I sat in a lineup of seats at KOH and the COMP pro +2w was by far the most comfortable for me. Wade has them and really likes them too but his are +2w, +4T. People look like little kids sitting in his seats :sonicjay:
 
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