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My CJ6 Frankenstein Build, Little Of Everything!

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by y2k-fxst, Jul 13, 2015.

  1. Sep 18, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    More pieces and parts for my puzzle. Spring shackles and front spring hangers for my Jeep arrived from Crabtree Tool and Die in Perry, MO. Definitely better built than the imported ones other places sell.
    IMGA1060.JPG IMGA1061.JPG
     
  2. Sep 21, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Got 1 more piece of the puzzle attached instead of floating around the shop. I now have a tool box again.

    IMGA1063.JPG

    Finally got the frame unbolted from the shipping skid and leveled on jack stands. Also got the extra body mounts cut off the frame to start the transformation from a CJ8 frame to a CJ6 frame. Just the first of many planned modifications!
    IMGA1062.JPG
     
  3. Sep 24, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Couple friends came over yesterday morning and helped me set the tub on the frame.

    Wasn't planning on really doing much tonight other than cleaning and rearranging the shop. Couldn't resist bolting the front clip on. First time it's actually looked like a Jeep in quite a while, actually gives me some ambition again. Get it mounted to the frame and axles under it, and I'll basically be back to where I started!

    IMGA1064.JPG IMGA1065.JPG
     
    givemethewillys and Muzikp like this.
  4. Sep 24, 2017
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
    Messages:
    4,538
    Saweet!
     
    tarry99 likes this.
  5. Sep 25, 2017
    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude

    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude 1968 Jeepster Commando, 1951 M38a1C

    The Netherlands
    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2016
    Messages:
    80
  6. Sep 30, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Welded up the "hat channels" today. Did figure out that 1" lift body CJ7 mounts used to mount an early CJ6 body to a CJ8 frame actually gives you a 2" body lift! Now I need to come up with a hockey puck to put under the CJ5 grill housing to raise it up to match. But, it will give me more clearance for the NV4500 and the NP205.
     
  7. Oct 9, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    So this morning I was checking FaceBook, found a post in a local off-roading group from the guy that originally did the build on my CJ6 15 years ago. Here is his picture of it in it's glory with a 302 in it. 22279467_10210129499819263_8659066684818019609_n.jpg
     
    Posimoto likes this.
  8. Oct 17, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Since I have time off and the tent is dry. Decided to pull the body off the frame and start modifying the CJ8 frame to fit under the CJ6 body.

    IMGA1089.JPG

    Extra 14" of the frame cut off. No turning back now!

    IMGA1090.JPG

    Frame cleaned up, 3/4 of the extra C-channel removed. Left the bottom of it the help stiffen the rear cross member and to allow some time in the future if I, or the next owner, decide 10 gallons of fuel isn't enough. A tank from a CJ7 or CJ8 will bolt in. TDK welds bolts in pointing down. I didn't want them catching on stuff so I took them out. I'll weld on flange nuts on the top side before finishing for possible future use.

    IMGA1091.JPG
     
  9. Oct 18, 2017
    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude

    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude 1968 Jeepster Commando, 1951 M38a1C

    The Netherlands
    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2016
    Messages:
    80
    Wow, you're making great progress!!
     
  10. Oct 18, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Went shopping at a WalMart parking lot again, it's for a TJ but I'll make it fit!. Glad I didn't pay full price for it. It's a Smitybuilt and I know they don't have the reputation for being the top of the line. But, I've already figured out some modifications I'll make to get it up to my standards. Beside the modifications I need to make to fit it on the CJ. Have to figure out the mounts and change the tire mount bolt pattern to fit the 5x5.5" wheels on a CJ. See more cutting, grinding, and welding in my future!

    bodywork 93.JPG
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  11. Oct 18, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    When you say "shopping"...
    and "not paying full price"...
    The PO was aware of this "purchase"?
    :D
     
    Muzikp likes this.
  12. Oct 18, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Yeah, it's just easier to meet a seller at a large store parking lot than trying to find an address in a larger town. Did the same thing when I bought my wheels.

    When I looked it over I couldn't believe how chintzy they make the hitch area. They didn't even grind the weld seam out of the inside of the tube. I'm planning on building an over-lander trailer to pull behind it. Not sure how soon the receiver hitch would fail but, I'm sure it would. The back side is open except for a small strap at the hitch and where it mounts to the frame. Could see twisting if bottomed out hard. And even the opening of the receiver hitch is not reinforced like most normal receiver hitches are.
     
  13. Oct 18, 2017
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    137
    I put the exact same one on mine but mine didn't come with the tire carrier. I ended up cutting off the pieces for the tire carrier as I didn't want them. I had to space mine off the rear cross member where the bumper attaches as it was hitting my tail lights. I used a length of 2x4 square tubing which I bolted to the rear cross member and then marked and drilled the holes for the bumper to attach to the square tubing. It is fairly strong. I am not planning on using the receiver hitch so I actually didn't even look that closely at it.
    I can try to post a pic if you would like to see what it looks like. Just need to figure out how now.
     
  14. Oct 18, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
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    Since I was going to do other modifications to the bumper, just figured I get a U shaped channel made and weld it directly to the bumper. Then bolt it to the cross member. How far out did you mount it away from the rear channel? I was thinking about an 1.5" from the cross member, that way I can still get in there to get nuts on the bolts.
     
  15. Oct 18, 2017
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
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    137
    I hope you can make it out. I had to crop it to reduce the file size. Let me know if you like I can email you the original if you send me your email.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Oct 18, 2017
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
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    137
    Yes that is exactly what I did. I wanted to be able to remove it so that is why I did not weld it. My 2x4 actually measures 1.5" and there was enough room for me to get in to start the bolts as the bumper has the nuts welded on the inside.
     
  17. Oct 19, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
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    293
    Your's has got a sturdier looking receiver than mine does, and a plate for the safety chains. Must be an older one before Smitybuilt went cheap.
     
  18. Oct 19, 2017
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    137
    Yes that it does have. It seems fairly sturdy to me but I will never be pulling anything behind mine. As you see in the pic all I have there is a clevis receiver in case I need to connect to it but I also have the ones on the bumper.
     
  19. Oct 20, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Rear cross member cleaned up ready for welding.

    IMGA1096.JPG

    First frame modification done, other than welding in 5 5/16" flange nuts to replace the bolts I removed. Next project, switching out the CJ 1" shackle sleeves for 1.25" YJ shackle sleeves.

    IMGA1098.JPG
     
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  20. Oct 22, 2017
    y2k-fxst

    y2k-fxst Member

    North English,IA
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    293
    Got the last of the planned modifications done the the frame. It's shortened, new sleeves for the shackle bushings, and parking brake attachments removed. I removed the mounts for the parking brake and filled in the slots that was in the frame since I'm going with a center mounted hand brake instead of foot operated.

    IMGA1101.JPG

    IMGA1102.JPG


    Sat the body on the frame to see where I was. Wasn't sure how it would fit since I left the fuel tank mounts in place for later if needed. The rear cross member is about 1/2" proud of the body, and the body mount holes need tho be moved forward at least 1". I'll get some 1/4" material and get that done,

    IMGA1103.JPG
     
    ojgrsoi and ITLKSEZ like this.
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