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CJ3B Beastie

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by browncoat, Apr 15, 2017.

  1. Feb 14, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    I am also thinking of doing something different with the headlights.
    The original buckets are totally shot so I am thinking of mounting the lights further back in the grille like the early Jeeps did.

    I have got a pair of open rear type light holders coming on ebay so once they get here I can look at it in more detail to see if it is practical.

    Another ebay purchase came that was a perfect fit.
    The throttle cable got installed on to a CJ5 throttle mechanism mounted beside the hanging pedals.
    Needed to heat and twist the standard cj5 throttle cable connection and filled the big hole with weld, then drilled to suit the new throttle cable end connection.
    Shorten it all to fit and away it went, so now I can go around the back paddock and really start to test out the beastie's systems.

    [​IMG]
     
    73 cj5, Walt Couch, ITLKSEZ and 3 others like this.
  2. Feb 14, 2018
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Really coming together!
     
  3. Feb 15, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Yep, feel like I'm on the home stretch now.
    Still a lot left to do but.

    Got the radiator shroud done.
    [​IMG]

    With the radiator in place.
    [​IMG]

    Front view. I am leaving the bottom open so no build up of debris happens.
    [​IMG]

    In place on the vehicle.
    [​IMG]

    And, with the electric fan mounted.
    [​IMG]
     
    47v6, Fly Navy and ITLKSEZ like this.
  4. Feb 15, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Outstanding! Almost room for two fans there (y)
     
  5. Feb 15, 2018
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Mar 29, 2007
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    Looking better and better. :beer: :)
     
  6. Feb 16, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Not quite room for 2 fans, I could probably fit a bigger diameter fan though if it needs it later.

    I mentioned the headlight buckets yesterday and today they arrived in the post.
    While the grille is being worked on it seemed like an appropriate time to install them.

    Had a look and the simplest mounting option seemed to be a spacer inside the grille so they would sit back inside the distance I want them to.

    Easiest way to do it appeared to be a few bolts welded to the grille panel and use a nut either side of the mounting holes.
    Other benefit is any major lighting alignment can be done by adjusting the nuts.
    [​IMG]

    Lights are about an inch behind the grille.
    [​IMG]

    Then made the cover plates to hide the gaps.
    Tacked and testing the fit.
    [​IMG]

    Welded and polished up to smooth out the welded joint.
    [​IMG]

    Viewed from front.
    [​IMG]

    I am pleased with the way they look.
    Give the front a little bit more of a serious look than the bug eyed original style.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2018
    47v6, 73 cj5, ojgrsoi and 2 others like this.
  7. Feb 16, 2018
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    I really like that look. Very well done.
     
  8. Feb 16, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Nice job! I like the way that looks! Less "scared pumpkin", more "serious army sergeant".
     
  9. Feb 16, 2018
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    :clap::clap::clap: That's a good look.
     
  10. Feb 16, 2018
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2014
    Messages:
    589
    If I had all that room between the radiator and water pump, I would fit up a mechanical fan. I’m sure an electrical fan is easier but I worry about reliability. I like this whole project and the look of the headlights is unique.
     
  11. Feb 17, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    I would have preferred a fan on the water pump hub myself, but the one I pinched off the old mitsubishi wreck was not going to fit the hole pattern on the isuzu engine, and I had the electric fan stored in the shed for years so have gone with that.

    Didn't achieve a lot today.
    Got sidetracked doing odds and ends for the bride.

    Did finish off the other light cover ring and she helped me to bleed the brake system.
    Also sat the air cleaner in it's ultimate location to make sure the intake will not interfere with the hood.

    [​IMG]

    Air intake is almost level to the top of the hood so I will be able to almost go full submarine if I wanted.:lol:
     
  12. Feb 24, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Got a chance to do a little bit today.

    The tunnel cover got made last week with final fitting happening today.
    [​IMG]

    Then made a start on the front guards.
    2.5mm thick aluminium.
    The edges will be finished off with a 25 x 25 x 3mm Square hollow section.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    47v6, 73 cj5, Muzikp and 1 other person like this.
  13. Feb 24, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
  14. Feb 24, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    I am enjoying watching the progress, I admire your skills.
     
  15. Feb 24, 2018
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Amazing!
     
  16. Feb 25, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Thanks for the encouragement guys.
    Finished off the guards today, but it took a lot of welding to fix the mistake I made.:banghead:

    When I measured everything to get a guard top width I didn't account for the fact that the guards start inside the maximum width of the grille face.
    [​IMG]

    So of course the guards ended up being about 3/4 inch to narrow, on both sides, which looked weird from the rear.
    Last time I made guards for the CJ5 I put the Square Hollow under the panels and a seal weld outside with some stitch welds inside.

    This time I had to do this.
    [​IMG]

    A lot more effort to set up because the SHS and the plate need to be as close to perfect alignment as possible.


    But after the welding and cleaning off the bead to get it flat it turned out good.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Feb 25, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    However, after looking at the stitch welds inside and the fact that the top side weld gets mostly ground off I decided to fully weld the inside.

    I would rather overkill on the weld side than have it flex and crack after paint goes on.
    [​IMG]



    Then I saw an opportunity for a storage spot.:bananatool::clap:

    Behind the left hand guard is an area beside the exhaust that could be utilized.
    So a bit of cut and bending got this cheeky little space.
    [​IMG]

    Just big enough for an oil container.
    [​IMG]
    Sits around 1 inch away from the exhaust flex so I will likely put a bit of insulation on the wall to help keep it cool but I don't think it would get hot enough to worry anything as long as nothing ridiculously flammable sits in there.
     
    73 cj5, Fly Navy and Bowbender like this.
  18. Feb 25, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    Right hand side guard will have the brake lines attached to that particular panel plus access is difficult due to the brake booster over the top.

    Here's the guards both mounted.
    [​IMG]

    More fiddling with the air filter now the guards are finished shows I need to extend a little bit to mount the bracket, so I am thinking another 1 inch wide piece of SHS on the side of the guard will do that and protect from scrape damage in scrub.

    [​IMG]

    I also don't think the original intake system I bought will be usable.
    The size of it interferes with the hood lifting up and the windscreen wouldn't be able to fold forward without hitting it either.
    So I will either get a front facing air ram style or fabricate something myself.
     
    73 cj5, 47v6, Fly Navy and 1 other person like this.
  19. Feb 25, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    Nov 14, 2014
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    561
    Nice save! You made it look like you did the fenders that way on purpose! Mark of a real world craftsman.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  20. Feb 25, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
    Messages:
    361
    Great progress!
     
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