Nashville TJ's Build - Continued

Wildman said:
Any reason you didn't got with a Ball Joint Delete?

https://americanironoffroad.com/collections/balljoint-delete-kits/products/ford-super-duty-dana-60
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Well, I had not really considered. But thanks for the link - this looks interesting, and intriguing. I've not looked closely at these, but I am now.

I've not installed the Dynatrac Ball Joints yet, and I may in fact pick up a set of the American Iron's to compare.

Anyone else had any experience with these things?
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
Well, I had not really considered. But thanks for the link - this looks interesting, and intriguing. I've not looked closely at these, but I am now.

I've not installed the Dynatrac Ball Joints yet, and I may in fact pick up a set of the American Iron's to compare.

Anyone else had any experience with these things?
Click to expand...

I've got the Bonefish BJE's on my axle right now but will be updating to the American Iron BJE once I get some seat time with them as Josh asked if I'd do a comparison between the two for him since they are totally different in they way they are setup. One of the big pluses I see is that once you've installed them you no longer are pressing the old BJ out and the new one in so you're not taring up knuckle. There are a lot of guys running them on Dana 60's and now Jeep axles too. I wish I could offer you more information but until I get the Jeep running....
 
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Wildman said:
I've got the Bonefish BJE's on my axle right now but will be updating to the American Iron BJE once I get some seat time with them as Josh asked if I'd do a comparison between the two for him since they are totally different in they way they are setup. One of the big pluses I see is that once you've installed them you no longer are pressing the old BJ out and the new one in so you're not taring up knuckle. There are a lot of guys running them on Dana 60's and now Jeep axles too. I wish I could offer you more information but until I get the Jeep running....
Click to expand...

OK - you've convinced me. I've ordered a set. It will be interesting to compare them to the Dynatrac joints.
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
Well, I had not really considered. But thanks for the link - this looks interesting, and intriguing. I've not looked closely at these, but I am now.

I've not installed the Dynatrac Ball Joints yet, and I may in fact pick up a set of the American Iron's to compare.

Anyone else had any experience with these things?
Click to expand...

I looked it up when I saw Rick’s question. I saw some pros and cons but not sure if they are biased or not.

I think BoomBoom was running some.
 
NashvilleTJ said:
OK - you've convinced me. I've ordered a set. It will be interesting to compare them to the Dynatrac joints.
Click to expand...

I'm curious to see what you think about them. I was helping Josh get the old school Dana 30/44 ball joints designed . Granted all I was doing was sending him pictures and measurements of my axle but he's a stand up guy and goes above and beyond with his customer service.
 
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Apparition said:
I looked it up when I saw Rick’s question. I saw some pros and cons but not sure if they are biased or not.

I think BoomBoom was running some.
Click to expand...

Dave from JeepWest had them installed on a TJ axle I think and he said he took them back off for some reason.
 
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I'm doing a little more pre-work for the console project. The triple shifter from JB Fab is designed to work with a cable with a much longer throw than the cables I use from Advance Adapters. In order to use the Advance cables, and therefore my current shifter setup on the front of the Atlas, I needed to make a modification (which I knew when I bought the shifter).

The standard machined aluminum tube which connects the cable to the shifter body (directly behind the shifter assembly in the picture) is too long to work with the shorter throw cable. I had planned to have them machined locally, and I also looked very hard at picking up a metal lathe (which is on my list).

But in the end, I talked to Jon at JB Fab and he said he would be happy to do it for me. He pulled three of the stock pieces which he had there, and milled them down to the length I needed. The stock piece is 5.250" in length, and I calculated that I needed it to be 2.625".

He cut them down on the lathe and milled the necessary collar. They came today and they look perfect for my needs.

IMG_9873.JPG


Although when I first opened up the package, I thought Jon had sent me three shotgun shells... :)

IMG_9874.JPG
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
I spent some time in the Jeep this morning thinking about a layout for the new console. My goals in order of importance:

1) Best location for the Sidewinder trans shifter.
2) Best location for the triple shifter for the Atlas.
3) Keep the cutting brake levers (somehow).
4) Keep the console storage (especially since the Welder is in the glove box) and the arm rest.
5) Keep the subwoofer in the console.
6) Best location for the locker switches, winch switch, garage door opener, engine fan controls, OD switch, others.
7) Location for the welder idle controller.
8) Drink holders - but it looks like this may not be possible.

After quite a bit of flopping around, this is the general approach I've landed on:

Triple shifter up front (will be mounted about 3" lower than shown - since it's sitting on the stock console here), bending the shifter arms to best clear the dash and HVAC controls. Trans shifter in the center, cheated to the left to allow space for the cutting brake levers (modified to raise them a bit and clear the trans shifter and the seat) - there is more room there than it appears in the picture.

I'm also toying with the idea of using an SPOD I've had lying around for the switches - but not the locker switches, since I prefer a physical switch for those.

The console will be angled up in the front to meet the dash just below the HVAC controls. The plan is to build a steel square tube frame, with removable aluminum panels attached with button heads. The triple shifter, the trans shifter, and the cutting brake levers will be attached directly to the floor for rigidity, with the console built around them.

Whatcha think? Any insight?


View attachment 506013
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How are you thinking to fabricate the console?

Not sure your ability with AutoCAD but with something like Fusion360, you could design it exactly the way you want and use a service like Send-Cut-Send to have the parts machined for you to then assemble. Would be a great way to get things exactly where you want them in the CAD and then get very detailed, machined parts.

On first read of this post, my thought was something like a square tube frame/base with aluminum panels screwed into nutserts (or threaded holes in the square tubes). That allows you to modify just a panel if you want to add or move a lever/switch/etc. Would hate for a big fab job to just find you wish a lever was 1" this way or that way...

Food for thought.

Plenty of folks over on YouTubeUniversity doing this type of CAD/Send-Cut-Send fabrication. I have some parts for my first try on a very beginner phone mount just waiting in the garage for my time. I recommend SuperfastMatt for a fun watch and very educational on the process, if you haven't done this type of fab before (especially his early-ish videos where he goes into details on this fab approach).
 
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FarFire70 said:
How are you thinking to fabricate the console?

Not sure your ability with AutoCAD but with something like Fusion360, you could design it exactly the way you want and use a service like Send-Cut-Send to have the parts machined for you to then assemble. Would be a great way to get things exactly where you want them in the CAD and then get very detailed, machined parts.

On first read of this post, my thought was something like a square tube frame/base with aluminum panels screwed into nutserts (or threaded holes in the square tubes). That allows you to modify just a panel if you want to add or move a lever/switch/etc. Would hate for a big fab job to just find you wish a lever was 1" this way or that way...

Food for thought.

Plenty of folks over on YouTubeUniversity doing this type of CAD/Send-Cut-Send fabrication. I have some parts for my first try on a very beginner phone mount just waiting in the garage for my time. I recommend SuperfastMatt for a fun watch and very educational on the process, if you haven't done this type of fab before (especially his early-ish videos where he goes into details on this fab approach).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the ideas, Far. But I have to ask: How long have you been following my build thread?

🙂

I ask because I design and fab my own stuff, quite often, and post up here a lot. I have no need to send anything out for cutting (well, unless it requires a metal lathe…🙄).

Just a few pages ago I posted some CAD drawings I did for a couple of projects not related to the jeep. I use Sketchup. It is cool to use for 3d views. I design fine furniture as well - another hobby. I actually have a preliminary Sketchup drawing on the console. I’ll post up when it is a bit more refined.

My current plan is as you have described - and as I posted. Square tube frame skinned in aluminum panels, secured with button head screws.

Should be fun - which is the main reason I do projects like this.
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
Thanks for the ideas, Far. But I have to ask: How long have you been following my build thread?

🙂

I ask because I design and fab my own stuff, quite often, and post up here a lot. I have no need to send anything out for cutting (well, unless it requires a metal lathe…🙄).

Just a few pages ago I posted some CAD drawings I did for a couple of projects not related to the jeep. I use Sketchup. It is cool to use for 3d views. I design fine furniture as well - another hobby. I actually have a preliminary Sketchup drawing on the console. I’ll post up when it is a bit more refined.

My current plan is as you have described - and as I posted. Square tube frame skinned in aluminum panels, secured with button head screws.

Should be fun - which is the main reason I do projects like this.
Click to expand...

Lol

Been watching your thread a while. Very impressed with your fab skills so I knew you'd be able to take on what I was talking about if you went with assembling outsourced machined parts.

You've got a garage I'd only dream of, but I suggested Send-Cut-Send bc their price point for laser flat metal vs home machining time is insanely cost effective.

Honestly can't keep the build threads straight at times on whose doing what and what skills. Meant no offense on CAD 😉

I used SketchUp before to plan my home office layout. A couple years later, I went back to use it again and was frustrated with it's interface. If you haven't checked out Fusion360, recommend giving it a check out as it's free to for personal use. But to each their own on tool/software preference too.

BTW - always impressed with your wood work project postings. You're insanely skilled there too!
 
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FarFire70 said:
Lol

Been watching your thread a while. Very impressed with your fab skills so I knew you'd be able to take on what I was talking about if you went with assembling outsourced machined parts.

You've got a garage I'd only dream of, but I suggested Send-Cut-Send bc their price point for laser flat metal vs home machining time is insanely cost effective.

Honestly can't keep the build threads straight at times on whose doing what and what skills. Meant no offense on CAD 😉

I used SketchUp before to plan my home office layout. A couple years later, I went back to use it again and was frustrated with it's interface. If you haven't checked out Fusion360, recommend giving it a check out as it's free to for personal use. But to each their own on tool/software preference too.

BTW - always impressed with your wood work project postings. You're insanely skilled there too!
Click to expand...

No offense taken at all - I hope my response did not come across that way. And thanks for the kind words.

I got into Sketchup because I know a few woodworkers who use it, and it works very well for that. There is a free on-line version available, but it is quite limited compared to the paid version I use. I’m always learning though, and that’s part of the fun.
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
No offense taken at all - I hope my response did not come across that way. And thanks for the kind words.

I got into Sketchup because I know a few woodworkers who use it, and it works very well for that. There is a free on-line version available, but it is quite limited compared to the paid version I use. I’m always learning though, and that’s part of the fun.
Click to expand...

FarFire70 said:
Lol

Been watching your thread a while. Very impressed with your fab skills so I knew you'd be able to take on what I was talking about if you went with assembling outsourced machined parts.

You've got a garage I'd only dream of, but I suggested Send-Cut-Send bc their price point for laser flat metal vs home machining time is insanely cost effective.

Honestly can't keep the build threads straight at times on whose doing what and what skills. Meant no offense on CAD 😉

I used SketchUp before to plan my home office layout. A couple years later, I went back to use it again and was frustrated with it's interface. If you haven't checked out Fusion360, recommend giving it a check out as it's free to for personal use. But to each their own on tool/software preference too.

BTW - always impressed with your wood work project postings. You're insanely skilled there too!
Click to expand...

From a guy who used to use 3d Modeling software for a living (and still do, occasionally), I can't STAND sketch up. It just made me frustrated. I've not gotten into Fusion360, but only because I have its big brother (Autodesk Inventor). 360 intrigues me because of the supposed CAM capabilities, but like I said, I've not played with it yet.

Jeff, I think you might enjoy the additional power of a "real" modeling engine...
 
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Mike_H said:
From a guy who used to use 3d Modeling software for a living (and still do, occasionally), I can't STAND sketch up. It just made me frustrated. I've not gotten into Fusion360, but only because I have its big brother (Autodesk Inventor). 360 intrigues me because of the supposed CAM capabilities, but like I said, I've not played with it yet.

Jeff, I think you might enjoy the additional power of a "real" modeling engine...
Click to expand...

I ran Pro E, Soldiworks and NX for many years. I tried sketchup once and wasn't impressed.

I'm now using Fusion360 for my 3D printer. It's pretty good for free but there's a lot I'd change about it. It would also be my recommendation though.
 
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Does Fusion360 do automated sheet metal bends (adding the bend allowance)? I've been doing that by hand in AutoCAD, but being able to put in a bend allowance table and have it automatically adjust for allowances would be cool!
 
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