Happy new year!

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Since I'm in house limbo,I haven't gotten to touch the Jeep in months. Well, that's not true. I spent several hours mounting the tires to the bead locks. Then realized there was an 1/8" gap between the wheel and ring when properly torqued. So I ordered some method beadlock spacers. A few days later they showed up. But of course I don't have method beadlocks, so I ordered a set of kmc beadlock spacers, because I do have kmc wheels. A few weeks and about $100 in shipping later, I got to spend a few hours mounting tires to the wheels. Again
 
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I promised myself this was not going to happen. But with the engine, trans, and transfer-case freshly rebuilt and ready to go back into the willys, I convinced myself it will be so much easier to just pull the body. This does give me the chance to fix some broken things on the frame. For example the front frame horns are mangled and roughly cobbled together and the rear pintle support is completely broken. I can address these issues as well as a few upgrades like a dual master cylinder and a saginaw style steering box. I promise, I will get back to the TJ soon.

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"One project at a time!"

My wife yells that at me all the time.

Seriously, this is like project 101. Take on one big project at a time. I know this, so I'm now deep into two frame off Jeep projects. At least I talked myself out of 3/4 Linking the GPW. ..
For now.
Oh and a Kubota diesel swap.
For now.
 
Seriously, this is like project 101. Take on one big project at a time. I know this, so I'm now deep into two frame off Jeep projects. At least I talked myself out of 3/4 Linking the GPW. ..
For now.
Oh and a Kubota diesel swap.
For now.

I hear ya. I have the jeep and the motorhome. The only saving grace for me is that only ONE of those massive projects is in my home shop. The other is a few miles away in my Dad's big storage barn, or I would have a jeep in the middle of a drivetrain change and a motorhome with no interior!
 
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If you want to keep a mechanical clutch linkage AA make this chain drive linkage that I used on one of my older CJ's.

https://www.advanceadapters.com/4372

View attachment 402551

Nice, thanks!
For now, I'm keeping the factory linkage. I'm trying hard to keep everything more or less original, with just a few mods for safety and reliability. For example: Early jeeps come with a single bowl master cylinder... so if any brake line is broken or torn... you lose everything. I think it was in the 60's they started making dual cylinders so that if the front circuit is compromised the rear still works normally.

Early jeeps came with a ross style steering box, a drag link that runs perpendicular to the frame and a bell crank mounted to the axle. Pretty fun to look at, but not great for performance. And since this jeep has been previously (and poorly) modified with something else (the steering box from a Hudson hornet) I've got no problem upgrading to a Borgeson Saginaw style box, and crossover steering. Its a common upgrade and you can buy brand new 525 manual boxes from summit. Not rebuilt... brand new.
 
I'd done the steering box upgrade on my CJ and moved the master cylinder from under the floorboard to the firewall.
 
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I promised myself this was not going to happen. But with the engine, trans, and transfer-case freshly rebuilt and ready to go back into the willys, I convinced myself it will be so much easier to just pull the body. This does give me the chance to fix some broken things on the frame. For example the front frame horns are mangled and roughly cobbled together and the rear pintle support is completely broken. I can address these issues as well as a few upgrades like a dual master cylinder and a saginaw style steering box. I promise, I will get back to the TJ soon.

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Somebody can't do simple! ;)
 
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Somebody can't do simple! ;)

I've got a mind full of upgrades for this Jeep. 3 link, maybe radius arm front utilizing 2.0 air shocks, it's light enough. 4 link rear... Trailing arm with cantilever shocks. Overly complex just for fun. Kubota diesel, large turbo, pto over drive, terra low gears. All while maintaining a stock appearance. It's ridiculous.
Must
Keep
Stock...

Ish
 
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I've got a mind full of upgrades for this Jeep. 3 link, maybe radius arm front utilizing 2.0 air shocks, it's light enough. 4 link rear... Trailing arm with cantilever shocks. Overly complex just for fun. Kubota diesel, large turbo, pto over drive, terra low gears. All while maintaining a stock appearance. It's ridiculous.
Must
Keep
Stock...

Ish

I saw one local last year that someone did a TDI swap on. It was absolutely beautiful and looked stock, until you open the hood or started it. I also saw this one on youtube that looked nicely done.

 
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Yeah that's Seth from RedEye garage, never met in person but talked to him a few times in forums. Beautiful machine and I like that he does things just because he can. His latest creation is a wankel powered cj2a (Mazda rotary engine). The Jeep in the video you posted is inspiring.
 
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