[Lousypirate]

could always project creep to the venerable vortec 4200

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

or 2GR-FE V6 lol

 

[xj4life]

I'll stick with Jeep stuff Parts are supposed to show up today...head to the machine shop next week.

 

[xj4life]

Dropped the motor and head off Monday, just got a call saying its all done and ready to be picked up 😁 While I've been waiting I got my D300 torn apart, glad I did. Torn seal on the front output and whoever built it didnt grind the case enough to get the idler gear out. So while I have it all torn apart I decided I'm going to upgrade the rear output to 32spline and possibly the front too.

 

[xj4life]

Still working to get the motor wrapped up. Had the short block almost done a few weeks ago but decided to take it back to the machine shop to get the quench right. So far its all been going together really smooth. In the mean time I got my AW4 cleaned up, resealed, and a few new o-rings here and there. Had my D300 almost back together then realized I have to now tear the (new) shift rails back out to clearance them for the 4:1 gear set. So juggling lots of projects at once. Garage looks like a bomb went off.

Hope to have the motor, trans, and D300 wrapped up in the next few weeks. Then its onto final welding the chassis and every bracket attached to it before the motor and trans go back in.

 

[Plato2k5]

Progress is progress! Always hard having to make those decisions that will increase the down time...but in the end its the rite thing to do. Are you running the stock D300 case or did you buy one of those billet jobs?

I hear you with the bomb going off in the garage. I need to do a deep clean and get everything back to where it belongs.

 

[xj4life]

Progress is progress! Always hard having to make those decisions that will increase the down time...but in the end its the rite thing to do. Are you running the stock D300 case or did you buy one of those billet jobs?

I hear you with the bomb going off in the garage. I need to do a deep clean and get everything back to where it belongs.

Yup...that's been the theme of this build. I remember the first real job I had as a kid, my boss saying to me "Anything worth doing is worth doing right."

Stock case. I bought the D300 used with the 4:1 kit in it. I believe its a Teraflex kit. Unknown mileage on it, things have wear but not to bad. So I pulled it all apart, new seals, new input shaft (had pitting on the bearing surface), upgraded to the 32spl rear output, and new stainless steel shift rails. I'll see how well it works like this and maybe down the road I'll look into an upgraded case...if anyone is still making them then.

 

[xj4life]

Since getting the motor broken properly is so important I've decided to do that now. I know the wiring is correct, so figured I better break in the motor before ripping the wiring out to do all the chassis welding. So I'm pretty close to having it back in and ready to fire up. Pretty excited to see if I built the motor right

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

vroom vroom

 

[Plato2k5]

The fresh build engine starts .... what fun times. Butterflies from excitement and nerves haha.

Once you hear it fire up I'm sure your motivation level will skyrocket! Always has for me.

Is your Dana 300 flipped? I ran one and outside of it always leaking, it worked well for me.

 

[xj4life]

The fresh build engine starts .... what fun times. Butterflies from excitement and nerves haha.

Once you hear it fire up I'm sure your motivation level will skyrocket! Always has for me.

Is your Dana 300 flipped? I ran one and outside of it always leaking, it worked well for me.

Well so far the engine start is no bueno can't get it to fire. Working through everything, doing my best to diagnosis. Fingers crossed I'm not wiping out the cam/lifters. I'll get it figured out eventually.

300 is flipped. While I had it apart I put in new stainless steel shift rails and the upgraded seals. Hopefully she's not a leaker.

Motivation isn't lacking...lately its just time to wrench. But still getting after the best I can.

 

[Mihlfeldl2005]

Well so far the engine start is no bueno can't get it to fire. Working through everything, doing my best to diagnosis. Fingers crossed I'm not wiping out the cam/lifters. I'll get it figured out eventually.

300 is flipped. While I had it apart I put in new stainless steel shift rails and the upgraded seals. Hopefully she's not a leaker.

Motivation isn't lacking...lately its just time to wrench. But still getting after the best I can.

What're you running for a wiring harness?

 

[xj4life]

Stock harness that I cut down. I had it running before the stroker build. I tried to not mess with anything but did replace all the ignition parts and switched to a newer returnless fuel system with an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator. I verified that I have spark and certain it's timed right. Plugs are wet so it's getting fuel. Going to swap back to my original fuel system and give that a try.

 

[xj4life]

Its alive! Turns out I had the timing chain 90deg out. Opps. This morning was my first shot at starting it after fixing the timing. Fired right up and did the break in run this morning for 25min. Couple concerns with it...surging slightly and little vibration...but it ran good. Now figure out what's the next on the to do list.

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

CVongrats!!! That is a great feeling to get it fired up for the first time.

 

[xj4life]

Long overdue update. Lots been going on. Nothing to crazy, just keep plugging away at small projects. Like I keep telling myself, big or small, its all gotta get done eventually. Still motivated, still putting in all the time and effort I can.

Once I got the motor running I spent a good amount of time getting temp sensors and my fan trigger right. Then cleaning up the engine bay wiring wiring from those changes. Cleaned up my coolant tubing, fixed some leaks, and put a drain on the lower radiator hose.

After finally getting around to installing the upgraded Dodge master cylinder I realized I had to redo/relocate my booster/mc/orbital mount. That lead to me also realizing that in my original design I hadn't factored in pedal ratios. So also designed and fabricated my own brake pedal (not 100% done yet). Once I got all that roughed in I started plumbing the brakes. Running a single line up front, two lines out back (one to each wheel). Shut off valve on each circuit in case of a leak. Hoping that I can use the ones for the rear as cutting brakes and/or temp parking brakes. We'll see how that plays out.

The most exciting news is that I got the coilovers on order, should be here in a few weeks. Went with 2.5" Fox's from Accutune. Can't wait for those to show up and start to work on mounting them and bump cans.

Still lots to go but feel like I'm nearing the end.

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

Looking good!! Gonna be awesome to see this get out in the sun.

 

[xj4life]

Looking good!! Gonna be awesome to see this get out in the sun.

Thanks 😁 Pretty sure I'll cry (tears of joy) the day it rolls out of the garage.

 

[xj4life]

Long overdue update. Spent most of my free time this summer fixing vehicles so progress on the buggy has been an hour or so at a time. Not sure what all I’ve gotten done since the last post but for sure its been: finished brake plumbing, coilovers and reservoirs mounted. Lots of other little things here and there. Project this week is going to be bracing the rear upper coilover mount. Once that’s done the next project will be mounting the bump cans.

Bracing the uppers with some angle and then going to plate it to the outer chassis tube. Also gives me a nice box shape in the chassis to build an open basket or weather-proof enclosed box.

 

[COYOTE]

I like the plywood inner tire sidewall simulator.