CJ7 Build Part 2 aka Stopping the Flopping

[xjkevin]

lookin great Chuck! i wish i would have recessed the upper links on the truss like you did...

[aw12345]

Chuck since you are in a chopping mood might as well cut the body mounts of , loose the body lift and then weld them back on the frame a bit higher so you don;t trash the ones under the side of the tub any more

[dirtman13]

lookin great Chuck! i wish i would have recessed the upper links on the truss like you did...

Thank Kevin. I will still have about 9" of seperation and I gained about 3" of up travel doing that.

Chuck since you are in a chopping mood might as well cut the body mounts of , loose the body lift and then weld them back on the frame a bit higher so you don;t trash the ones under the side of the tub any more

Good idea Art. If times allows I may just do that.

[dirtman13]

Got the rear completely mocked up.
6” of up travel at full bump. I’m planning on running 5” so this gives me 1 additional inch if needed.

I had to make a small hole in the floor.

Can you say tight fit?

Got 7” of bump with this.

Again very close. No need to replace the rear frame.

Tomorrow I start the front.

[RAT]

Sweet! Looking good from here. Always nice having an extra inch to throw in there when you need it

[HookandLadder]

Every inch counts, ask cathy. Looks good Chuck, keep me posted for your test day

[dirtman13]

I will. The first couple will be easy runs to break in the new gears. Maybe some mine exploring or something.

[Mitch]

Mine exploring? Hmmm......

Chuck the Jeep is shaping up nicely. I bet Cody can hardly wait till you give it to him. Awesome that you are doing it all yourself.Must be nice.

Mitch

[GP4Play]

Chuck,Your build looks like its coming out great.Wanted to thank you for all the extra parts when I got the new axles,it got me back on the trail in my CJ5 without dipping into my stash.Hope to have the lift soon for the CJ7 so I can get it on those axles.

[RAT]

Damn it Chuck! Pictures man, PICTURES!

[dirtman13]

Thanks guys.

Kurt, been to busy to take pictures. I'll try to get some tonight.

Update: The rear links are done and burned in. I was able to get one tire on and even with the 3.5" fender flare the tire sticks out just over half the tire. It looks sick though.

Last night I started the front. I ended up replacing the stock knuckles with Reid racings knuckles. I heard too many horror stories about the stock Ford knuckles when running high steer and hydro assist. I remembered the broken Dana 30 knuckle and don't want to go through that again.

The frame side panhard is going to be an issue. With it set at the same angle as the drag link the 2.625” joint will hit the pumpkin. I will either need to go 4 link in the front or I might be able to get a heim in there. With the heim I have just over 5” of up travel before it hits.

[aw12345]

Kurt and Chuck, it's a terribly tight affair under the front isn't it. For my situation I am still going for a change in the radiator seems to gain room for uptravel.
Some guys make a trackbar that curves around the pumkin to get clearance that might work for you Chuck

[dirtman13]

Some guys make a trackbar that curves around the pumkin to get clearance that might work for you Chuck

I wish it was that easy Art. The track bar has plenty of room it's the mount on the frame side that is the problem. One of the issues with staying full width. I'll post pictures tonight. It will make sense then.

[RAT]

I wish it was that easy Art. The track bar has plenty of room it's the mount on the frame side that is the problem. One of the issues with staying full width. I'll post pictures tonight. It will make sense then.

Oh no you don't. Don't go trying to make sense now, it's wayyy too late for that...

[dirtman13]

Well, I had the front all mocked up this weekend and what I thought would possibly be a problem became one. The yoke on the front axle just touches the frame at 4” of bump. I was a little concerned about this with the late model axle. The late models pumpkin is offset more to the driver side then the earlier models i.e. 78’-79’.

Looks like I will be shortening the axle tube 2” on the passenger side.