Frankenjeep 2.5.3

[bnboffroad]

Whats coils are you going to use for the rear?

[Pearce]

I'm using 14" Fox 2.0 dual rate Coilovers with 14" Blue Coil springs. Right now, going on the advise from Sean at POS, I am going to use 150# coils as set up coils. The plan is to get the Jeep done and install a single 150# coil at each corner in the lower position of the dual rate shock. Then measure how much it compresses. The reason for this is to get a more accurate corner weight at each corner at the shock. You can measure the amount of compersson and multiply it by 150# per inch.
My original plan when using different calculators was to use something near 150 for the upper coil anyway. So I may keep these. It can become a function of what rates are available from Blue Coil. The lowers were going to be 300 in the front and like 250 or 275 in the rear but I wasn't decided on it yet. After talking with Sean I really like the idea of using set up springs to get a better idea of what's going on at each corner. And Blue Coil is really cool about swapping out different rate coils.

[Pearce]

Got a lot done this weekend. Feels good to make some progress. Though I did think it would be done by now. I rebuilt the back half of the frame to make room for the coilovers and gain some clearance. Also the frame has been notched so the coilovers clear on full droop. The new material is all 1/4 wall because that's what I had. Probably would have been fine with 3/16. I really like my rear crossmember. It is notched into the 2x4 frame rail and welded all the way around on both sides. Then I added a couple of D ring tow points on the ends of the tube. I've not had a chance to flex it with the tires on yet but I'm sure I will be doing some work on the tub to make the tires clear. It looks pretty sweet like it is though. There is only one spring on the shock right now so I can calculate the weight on each corner as I mentioned in a previous post. Now just to get the front sitting on the coilovers too.

[zj95maxx]

Looks good. Nice tire and wheel choice!

[ATL ZJ]

Looks good man. How much shock shaft do you have showing? And what is your estimated total uptravel in the rear?

Have you test fit your front shock hoops yet?

[bnboffroad]

looking goo your frame extensions look a hell lot better then mine what size box did you use? all my local welding shop had at the time was 3x2

[Pearce]

Looks good man. How much shock shaft do you have showing? And what is your estimated total uptravel in the rear?

Have you test fit your front shock hoops yet?

I have about 4.75" of shaft showing but thats on single 150# coils with the slider in its lowest position. I think I'll end up using a lighter top coil than the 150 in the rear. They compressed to about 11.25" from 14" long. I've not really sat down yet and run the numbers. But I think I want a little more compression out of my top spring at ride height than that.
I'd like to be able to get 6" up out of the rear and that's with going about an inch higher with the Jeep than I originally planned.

[Pearce]

looking goo your frame extensions look a hell lot better then mine what size box did you use? all my local welding shop had at the time was 3x2

I used 2x4x1/4. Then I had to use some 3/16 plate on one side to fill the gap a little and welded the snot out of it. The stock frame is 2.5x4x1/8.

Here is a pic of it, not fully welded.

[Pearce]

Just a quick update. The front coilovers are installed. Pretty simple design with a hoop on each side and a removable crossbar in the middle. As metioned before it's sitting on 150# coils to see what the weights are at each corner. I'm at 525lbs in the front and 356lbs in the rear. With the help of Sean at POS doing some calculations I am going to try out 100 over 200 in the front and 80 over 150 in the rear. I'm looking for a plush yet firm ride. Now, if I don't like it, the good thing about Blue Coil coils is the exchange program. Aside from shipping costs you can swap coils for free. So you might see me on the trails with plastic wrap on my coils the first couple times. LOL I'm looking to be around 6" up travel in the front and 7" in the rear. These are 14" coilovers. In the pictures it's sitting about 2" low from what it will when I'm done.
BTW, welding in 95 degree heat sucks. Should have been done with this in the spring.

[northgazj]

Looking great Pearce!

[zj95maxx]

Lookin good man!

[Pearce]

First, huge thanks to Cam for his help yesterday getting my rig rollin again. I could not have done it without you! Second, EVERYONE should have full hydro steering! Took it out for the first test drive last night and it drives freakin awesome. I forgot how fun this thing is to drive. Couple more things to check tonight and it just might make GSSE this weekend!

[ATL ZJ]

Ha you better make GSSE after yesterday!

The (mostly) uneventful test drive made it all worth it, and it's good to see the rig that much closer.

[zj95maxx]

sweetness, what all did you guys get done yesterday?

[Pearce]

We installed all the brakes, made and installed all hydralic lines for steering, mounted the steering cylinder and associated hardware, bled steering and brakes, made tie rods, installed all the coils on the shocks and adjust their height, rear driveshaft, ran rear brake lines, installed rear axle shafts, rear diff cover, checked and tightened all control arm bolts, had to figure out why it wasn't starting after 6 months, just beat on starter a little, hook up lights since it was a night test run, put gear oil in, and wasted some time running to 3 auto parts stores and Lowes. I think that's all. Why is it no matter how hard you try it's always after 11:00pm before you are done.
Getting closer to making it this weekend. Front driveshaft is in, rear bump stops in, front bump stops are in after I get two more bolts. Actually with all that stuff done it's enough to say I'll be at GSSE.

[ATL ZJ]

Did you get your stuff from summit yet? Possibly hood pins and whatever it was that you really needed that I can't remember?

I think you should do a cut like the line drawn on this hood.

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

Low and wide. That rig is bitchin'.

[Sporer65]

Low and wide. That rig is bitchin'.

I agree, that WJ is nice. The CJ ain't bad either.

[ATL ZJ]

The CJ ain't bad either.

If that's a CJ, then elliott is a neurosurgeon.

[Pearce]

Did you get your stuff from summit yet? Possibly hood pins and whatever it was that you really needed that I can't remember?

I think you should do a cut like the line drawn on this hood.

That is a nice cut, I like it. But untill I get the frame out of the way of the tie rods I dont think I'll have that much up travel. But I'll bring the cut off wheel to camp anyway. The other important thing is wheel spacers. All should be sitting at my front door right now.

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

I agree, that WJ is nice. The CJ ain't bad either.

Where's the WJ? I was talking about Pearce's rig.

[Pearce]

Thought I would put a couple recent pics up from wheeling in Clayton OK and give a few updates. Some of you guys got to see the first round of super soft coils at Harlan. Well, since those didnt work out as planned I stepped up the rates to 150 over 300 in the front and 125 over 250 in the rear. But since they shipped me the wrong stuff by mistake, and I wanted to wheel, I ended up with 100 over 250 in the rear. All are 14" coils. Turns out this combo worked really well! I'll give it a couple more runs to know for sure though. Since the last trip I've also reinstalled the front fenders. I tried to cut as little as possible and still keep them intact. The tires are tucking nicely in them. This also allowed me to protect the battery and computer again. Also I put the bolts back in holding the radiator. During the Harlan trip I had to put some zip ties in after we got on the trails and I noticed the bolts missing. (worked too many late nights in a row to get ready) I've also found that I really need to get an electric fan. I cut the ATF and coolant lines that come out the bottom of the radiator with the stock fan. After dropping off a ledge I hit the corner of the frame pretty hard and it must have twisted a little and allowed the hoses to push up into the fan. That was a mess. Other things on the list are to trim the rear wheel wells a little more and install the better steering pump I picked up from Cam. I still think the best part of this build is the full hydro, but I would like to be able to turn fast when I need to which is why i need the new pump. It's still really wild to get back in the Dodge after a weekend of wheeling and notice that the 40's are easier to turn than the 33's on the Dodge, LOL. It's also nice to finally be working on little projects here and there rather than the whole thing. I missed wheeling for 8 months and that sucked! But ultimately I am really happy with what I have now!

[ATL ZJ]

Of course I've already seen the pics, but looking good man...

It's interesting that your spring rates turned out the way they did. Looks like I'll have to run rates similar to yours in the rear- thinking about 95 over 250. I put the 175/250 combo on last night and it compressed less than an inch! out of curiosity, how much shock shaft do you have showing at ride on your rear shocks?

[Pearce]

Between the two it averages about 7". My rig is leaning a little.

[Pearce]

If you have been following Cam's cage update then you may have noticed I've been at it again also. It's been long overdue that I put in a good set of seats and harness. I've also wanted a much longer lasting cage than what I had and to tie it into the frame. It's been a long 4 weekends of work but this is it nearly done except for a few gussets and roof. After it's all finished up and put back in I will tie the mounting plates back to the frame with tube. So, it will be bolt in but bolted in to welded frame ties. I foresee it coming back out at least one more time for the next major phase.