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71 Wheeling Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. Apr 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Supposedly the Buick 350 weighs about 450 lbs vs the V6 at 390 lbs so about 60 lbs more. I currently don't have a winch, but I have nothing in the back at the moment besides the roll bar.

    The Pro Comps on my 69 sit pretty close to level with a v6, no winch, hard top, and tire rack with fuel cans. The back sits noticeably higher when the hardtop is off.

    At some level since they aren't making custom springs for a particular rig they have to target the most common use case. At least shackles are easy to swap out.
     
    Timber Cruiser likes this.
  2. Apr 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    What does that have to do with anything?
     
  3. Apr 9, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    i'm an idiot.
     
  4. Apr 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Hardly.
     
  5. Apr 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Drove the Jeep to town at lunch to get groceries. The BDS springs are so much better it's unbelievable. The old unknown brand ones would about throw you out of the Jeep over frost heaves in the road:
    [​IMG]

    Went for a quick family drive after dinner and revisited the ditch with some daylight. It will drive right through this without lifting a tire:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I'm really impressed. So far BDS springs and caster shims are the two greatest bolt on improvements I've done that completely transform a Jeep. I'm guessing the truck 4-spd and selectable lockers will be similarly transforming.
     
    Rubicloak, 47v6, blalp! and 8 others like this.
  6. Apr 9, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    The added traction from the articulation improved my jeeps off-road capability so much, that adding the rear locker became a true luxury item as opposed to necessity.
     
    Ol Fogie, blalp! and Fireball like this.
  7. Apr 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    It's really amazing. The Jeep would not have gotten through that ditch at all with the open diffs a week ago. Now it just drives through like it's no big deal.
     
    Ol Fogie, Norcal69, ITLKSEZ and 2 others like this.
  8. Apr 10, 2021
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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  9. Apr 10, 2021
    Renegade ll

    Renegade ll Member

    Thayne Wyoming
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    Very good flex. When you are done with this jeep Roy I want it.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  10. Apr 10, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Yes, that's the kit. I got it with the BDS shocks. The Fox shocks are much more expensive, but do have the advantage you can mount them upside down for more tie-rod clearance. The kit came with the proper sized U-bolts for a D27 front and flanged D44 rear. If you have a Dana 30 in front, a 72-75 kit should work.

    I got mine from Lift Kits 4 Less about $115.00 cheaper and with free shipping ($687.98 shipped) than from BDS direct: BDS Suspension 401H 2.5" Lift Kit

    No wheel spacers, but these wheels are offset to the outside about one inch.
     
  11. Apr 10, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    :rofl:
     
  12. Apr 10, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Yup, this 71 is starting to take shape...its going to be one heck of a wheeler....
     
    truckee4x4 and Fireball like this.
  13. Apr 10, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Do you get the 'no BS replacement' warranty?
     
  14. Apr 10, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    The warranty paperwork was in all the boxes, so I assume so.
     
    FinoCJ likes this.
  15. Apr 11, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Went for another drive. It's running and driving well.

    I've decided I need to raise the driver's seat back up about 3/4" There's a bar in the back of the S10 seat that hits the fenderwell and prevents if from reclining more. If I raise the seat, the bar ends up above the fender well. Someday I'll find better seats and do the fender notch but I've got other things to worry about first. Spacers are easy.

    After fiddling with seats, I spent a little time on the transfer case.

    First I had to trim the guard on my grinder to clear a Benchmark Abrasives stripper wheel:
    [​IMG]

    Then I cleaned up all the gasket surfaces and the oil pan. The stripper wheel worked great:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And that's it. Had too much other stuff going on today.
     
  16. Apr 11, 2021
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    I used a carbide scraper and Scotch-Brite. That carbide scraper is the bee's knees. Your way looks faster and less labor intensive. (y)
     
    Fireball likes this.
  17. Apr 11, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    I for one am very excited to see it evolve!
     
    Fireball likes this.
  18. Apr 11, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    wondering if the abrasive wheel you used is a better option than a standard wire wheel...maybe a bit more gentle...or maybe it doesn't matter. Starting work on the D18 today.
     
  19. Apr 11, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    It does seem to be a bit more gentle than a wire wheel. It's not very flexible, so it's not great for cleaning the exterior of complicated shapes like transfer case housings. Works fantastic on gasket surfaces though. Haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it will work great cleaning sheet metal.
     
  20. Apr 11, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I looked at my exhaust last night. It is outside the frame rails, but it's still within the width of the fenderwells. The rear tires hit the body before they hit the exhaust.
     
    Rubicloak, wheelie and homersdog like this.
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