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Woodstock

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Jan 10, 2023.

  1. May 26, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Well, I'm not sure Woody is on the dark side, it's still pretty primitive. Now, if I do an LS, it will have a computer on board, and I would say that's dark side, and probably not advisable after all these years of being able to fix it with a rock and a stick. As for the tilt column, I really don't like the look of them, and so far my belly clears with plenty to spare. And my son wants to take the tilt column out of the tux, mostly for looks.
     
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  2. May 26, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I know, and I'm bad, especially outside in a residential neighborhood. I had my wood splitter blow a filter off and had oil spraying everywhere the other day. I probably should apologize to everyone within earshot.
     
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  3. May 26, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    Interesting perspective. Spring over, wider axles, compound gearing and what 37s? The LS is bombproof but ugly. Next winters job? The tilt is kinda ugly but
    there are things to make it better. The lower section needs covered. What is your brother rocking these days?
     
  4. May 26, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I guess compared to the rigs I see out there on the trails, I feel pretty primitive. All relative I guess. The main reason for me to consider a 5.3 is cheap FI. But I don't want to get into that discussion this year. I don't even know if it fits without major surgery. My brother's commando is the same it's always been, SBC, th400, 60's, 40's. He rolled it pretty bad in Moab last spring, fixed it, and is also considering an LS. BTW, he has the stock Commando column, and I think, as with a CJ, it adds a cool stock-looking factor. I just noticed on his site while looking for photos of his rig, there's a photo of Woody like 10 years ago.
    https://stores.partsdude4x4.net/
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2023
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  5. May 30, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Next on the list is front shackles. Last summer's broken rear main leaf had me looking at everything, and the rear packs have been completely replaced, and longer shackles installed. It was possible that there was not enough shackle travel in the rear, and could cause binding and big forces on the main leaf. When the packs were new, and I set up the shackle location, there was plenty of room between the leaf and the frame. As time has gone by, there apparently has been some sagging. Hell, Woody is turning 70 this year, so I think some sagging should be allowed. Anyway, the front has the same problem, but I am keeping the packs, just going with longer shackles to allow more travel.
    [​IMG]
    3/8" plate, 5" center to center. 1" longer than what's there. Got them from WFO.
    [​IMG]
    New and old comparison.
    [​IMG]
    Installed, more clearance to the frame, and it actually leveled the jeep back out. I think this will provide a lot more un-binding travel, and can't wait to try it out. The 4" WFO shackles are available, if anyone wants them, let me know.
    [​IMG]
     
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  6. Jun 5, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Half off weekend at PNP, LM7's are cheap and plentiful. My buddy's shop in Minden, he might have an LS problem. This could be for the possible future Woodstock, but I'm still scheming.
    [​IMG]
    Back to reality, and you know there a lot of things I would rather do than change an inner axle seal. I should start a poll-what would you rather do? Anyway, the right side has been leaking, and I can't ignore it any more. I tore the outers on the 44 down after work for a 1-beer project.
    [​IMG]
    Popped the Ruff Stuff cover off so it can drain.
    [​IMG]
    Ordered and received from Rockauto, diff gasket, new inner axle seals (these also work for the rear floaters BTW), and might as well throw some brake pads on since it's apart.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Jun 6, 2023
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    I’d rather break down 5 miles from home and have to walk back.
     
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  8. Jun 7, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I'd rather prep my house for paint, then split 5 cords of wood. True story.
     
  9. Jun 7, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Pried the carrier out, then knocked out the old seals. I almost didn't buy 2 seals, because only 1 side was leaking. After getting the shafts out, I could see both sides were leaking, and I thought that's weird. Now I know why. Apparently, some 8 years ago, a mechanic named Tim put them in backwards. Glad we let him go, can't get good help.
    [​IMG]
    The electrician's solution, an 1-1/4" rigid coupling is just right as a driver.
    [​IMG]
    Now that they're facing the right way, maybe they will hold the oil back.
    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Jun 7, 2023
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    Now I know why. Apparently, some 8 years ago, a mechanic named Tim put them in backwards. Glad we let him go, can't get good help.
    QUOTE]

    FREE help…. You get what you pay for. Lol
     
  11. Jun 11, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Turning the corner, now it's reassembly, and a few maintenance items. I pushed the Detroit and gears back into the housing, torqued the bearing caps, installed a new gasket and the cover. Then I wanted to give the axle shafts some attention.
    [​IMG]
    I have run these rebuildable CTM joints since I built the axle in 2014, and they have been trouble-free. (And no, I did not pay the steep retail price for these things). But, they do require regular maintenance, and they need to get a regular dose of CTM's proprietary lithium grease. I bought a tube of it back then, and it will last a long time.
    [​IMG]
    Another note on CTM's, is that they only want you to run chromoly shafts, (instead of the stockers I run), because they are stronger than the stock shafts. I am in the ,"yeah whatever" camp. Another little pain with these things is the shafts won't pass through the knuckle without removing the tiny (7mm) zirc fitting first. I have thought about grinding 4 notches in the knuckle to allow passage, but have never done it. The main thing is having a 7mm nut driver. So, I lubed them, re-installed them. Good for another season.
    [​IMG]
    After that, it was just reassembly. Spindles, pack the wheel bearings, hubs, rotors, new pads, calipers. Then lock outs and a coat of paint. I had been dreading this, and put it off forever, but at least it forces me to do some pre-Rubicon maintenance. At least the front end is fresh.
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Jun 12, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I love how you professionally surfaced that rotor with a 90* burr gun and some roloc sanding disks....

    I also really love the paint on the axle shafts. Outboard of the seals, they do get rusty. I coated mine in wheel bearing grease.
     
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  13. Jun 12, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    You saw that, yeah, professional is me! Just a light cleaning. The axle shaft paint is getting a little grungy, but it will have to stay that way for now. I can think of other things to work on with less than a month to go.
     
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  14. Jun 14, 2023
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    I always paint mine too. The problem with grease coating them is that stuff collects all kinds of debris unless you have tube seals and there was no way I was going to get those in my D44 axle. The axle shafts don't leave any space for those.
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Jun 14, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I was not happy with the Dana 18 front yoke I got from AA. The whole thing was funky, from the weird dust shield, to holes that didn't quite line up. After visions of trail fixing it, I decided to change it after I took a hot ride up the summit, then dumped the oil, since i wanted to get all the new-gear debris out. So, I got the yoke that my brother sells, and it was better, but neither has the deep scallop needed to miss the u-joint at a steep angle. Here is the old original on the left, new on the right. Sitting flat, the u- joint has enough interference that I can't turn the driveshaft by hand-not good.
    [​IMG]
    I decided to just clean up the old yoke and run it. I chucked it up in the drill press and started with 180 grit, worked my way to 400 grit.
    [​IMG]
    It probably took 3 thou off, but took the groove out, and will be fine.
    [​IMG]
    Filled with oil, but not driven yet, not leaking yet...
     
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  16. Jun 18, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    When I did the best flex I could come up with last month, I was concerned about the new PTO location further back, and the proximity to the anti-wrap bar. I had been waiting to get it on either a rock or a ramp, but that plan went out the window. The ramp is hopelessly buried behind a bunch of non-running stuff at a friends storage yard. The trails are not open. I keep checking the Twin Peaks gate, still locked. Thanks Forest Circus, the snow is gone, like 2 weeks ago. I decided it really would be just faster to modify the bar. This is where it was with a tire 2 feet off the ground, a little close.
    [​IMG]
    The line is the back of the PTO, I want to miss this.
    [​IMG]
    So a torch cut, and a steeper angle will do it. This is 1/4" wall DOM, so a torch was faster.
    [​IMG]
    Then a new salami cut with a porta-band to get the new angle.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2023
  17. Jun 20, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Had to cut off and move the vertical brace, so I found a piece of 1-1/2" DOM and cut some notches.
    [​IMG]
    Set everything back in there and slid the bolts through the bracket and rod end. This will serve to tack weld, then remove and fully weld.
    [​IMG]
    Welded up, painted, installed. I will get a photo of clearance this weekend when I take it out to the test trail. Now it's opened, and @jzeber just missed it last weekend. (Next time, Jeff). I am actually planning to do testing on both jeeps with only 2 weeks to go until ECJ5 run.
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Jun 25, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Well, summer is finally here in Tahoe. And by that, I mean it's not raining, going to be 70*, and I have serious Rubicon fever. Twin Peaks opened last weekend, my favorite test track, so time for a test drive. Sam and I ran the 2 rock piles, no issues at all. The new gearing is unbelievable, and I really like 2nd gear now too. Up on top, I flexed the jeep to look at the PTO clearance, then totally forgot to check the new shackles.
    [​IMG]
    I know it's hard to tell, but at almost full-stuff, there is plenty of air between the now-modified anti-wrap bar and the PTO.
    [​IMG]
    Coming down the pile called "Twister", we noticed the great effect of 119 to 1 on a steep downhill rock course. I am really happy with this new setup.
    [​IMG]
    After we got home, I checked the winch by unspooling the first 100' of wire, then tried to pull the jeep against my truck. (The truck won). The winch is so low geared, I really don't think there will ever be a problem, but since it was all apart this winter, I wanted to check before the trips. Interesting, I couldn't hold the brakes on pavement. Re-spooled, ready for some possible winching in 2 weeks.
    [​IMG]
     
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  19. Jun 29, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Now that everything is running and ready, I have a little time for semi-optional cosmetic maintenance. This crack has been growing on the right fender for a while, so time for some anti-crack therapy. Hell, if I was 70 years old, I'd probably have cracks too.
    [​IMG]
    Tacked the piece back in there, mostly to preserve where the holes are.
    [​IMG]
    Then a strip of 16 ga. bent to fit.
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Jun 30, 2023
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Added a side piece to stiffen, and spread out the weld surface.
    [​IMG]
    Welded around the edge, and corner.
    [​IMG]
    Quick coat of not quite correct paint, but I foresee some other painting coming, so I will fix it then.
    [​IMG]
    Good enough for now. This is the last surviving original to Woodstock fender, so I want to preserve it as best as I can. Good for another summer.
    [​IMG]
     
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