Someguys 04

welding is done.......the frame is restored to full length. 3x2x3/16 cross member is up .really hope i didn't set it back to far.
still need a back plate on the frame end and have to get those 2 body mounts welded up inside, then i can spot the axle and start building suspension.

i have the underside body mounts worked out, the brackets just need welded in.
it's time to consider how i'm going to support the rear since i'll be cutting out the corners where they were located.

@mrblaine i remember mention of some details about the rear torque box. is it safe to just cut it back re-cap it on the ends? looks like it'd be fine to me.
what about, best place to get those body mounts relocated? just scoot them in and go with a nutsert? or i slip in some new square nuts while the box is open.
is there need to reinforce the torque box at the new locations? the material appears pretty thin.

as always thanks for any input.

tonight's task was getting the axle under and actually seeing what the hell i'm attempting. so i got the axle onto stands at the 35" wheels rolling radius.
i knocked on my frame bracket bases and just propped up the links to start getting this in motion.

so i've come to the conclusion that to get to 110-111" from where the front axle is now is a reach, so we're gonna get it to about 109" ish and take the rest when i scoot the front axle forward 2" or so.

guess i'm gonna wing it with those rear body mounts, unless i hear something by tomrw.
i'll add what i need at the bottom of the gate panel to distribute the load of the body mounts moving inward.
i'm hoping when i open that torque box i can get some large tabbed nuts in there to hold those body mounts. rather not trust a nutsert through sheet metal for that.

top link is not up where it will be just yet, bottom is real close.
so i'm gonna fit the axle about as far back into the frame drop at the back there, as i tight can, and get the rest when i mess with the TB up front.

well i trimmed the rear body straight back from the top of the OE wheel arc, and may have gotten a bit overzealous with the rear corner, i could have softened/rounded the transition ....but that's what blank corners are for, yes? and the torque box needs at least a trim, but i'm taking baby steps with the cuts from here on to not take more than i have to.

IDK what i was thinking above with my math but, 110-111" is a little much, i settled at 107". when the front is reworked i can finish around 109"
the uppers have a nice 22.5*angle to the diff/truss. and by bringing the lowers all the way inside the rail i have a nice angle on those as well.
i'm gonna hold a 6" link spread at the frame end, and 10.5" on the axle. this should allow me a 12" travel split 6/6.

i mocked up a stick (blue in pic) for mid stroke of a 12" ORI, and it'll looks like it'll just barely allow the hoop to stay in the well, with no penetration into the body. it may make tying the roll bar to the frame tricky but we'll work that later.

kinda dark pic, but this is the new underside body mount.

and the rear brackets are all tacked up and ready for welding, then it's just get them on the frame.

the builds gonna stall for about a wk. we are gonna board the dogs and visit my sister down in South Carolina. my woman wants to go to the beach, even tough it's not prime beach weather, we'll do a couple days there b4 heading inland to visit.

when i get back, i need to get crackin b4 the weather really turns. and i need a new garage roof b4 winter or i don't think it'll hold the snow this yr.

so the beach was nice, had weather in the uppers 70's, warm enough to get into the salt water. long drive to and from but the Ram did awesome through the mountains, and not bad on fuel. got from ohio to south carolina border b4 needing to stop for gas.
here's the view from the balcony in the room.
we got to watch a big party on the top floor next door go up in flames. someone hit a candle on the balcony with something flammable and it went up quick. they evacuated the building and the fire dept proceeded to drown it and every unit around it. no telling how many peoples vacation got trashed, because of some fools.

well things went south when i got home from work today............. i been with a woman (15yrs) who over the last 8 yrs or so has become a severe alcoholic, she drinks from the time she wakes up to the time she passes out, and turns into a real nasty bitch once she has a good buzz. today like every other Fri. i come home to get jumped as soon as i get through the door. i don't do nothin for her, get the fuck out of her house (funny i pay all the bills and buy all the groceries and pay her house taxes and buy her cigs. all she pays is her phone and car insurance and her beer. and expects me to sit at her side 24/7 and IDK watch her get F'd up. i don't have friends i hang with, i don't go out, i don't go drinking, all i do is spent time at home with her but if she doesn't have my full attention, or i try to work on the jeep, well that's not acceptable to her once she's got that buzz going. she can spend hrs on FB, but if i go on the forums to talk to y'all that's an issue.
this bitch drove away any friends i did have, and even made it so my kids won't come around here anymore.

i quite drinking over 7yrs ago, when this came to be a regular occurrence, and its not getting any better. today just iced the cake. screaming in the back yard in front of the neighbors, then came and ripped my computer apart, and started tossin my stuff around

so i may be MIA for the next few wks or so, i'm gonna have to pack up all my shit and get away from her.
the jeeps not even close to being able to move but i'm gonna have to piece it together and get it drug up onto a trailer to get it out. this means i won't have time to rebuild the trailer i picked up and will just have to buy something usable.

i guess this is as good a time as any to just split town, my co. is going down hill fast due to incompetent leadership so i may cash in my 401 and just leave it as well. i got no leads on where to go, but i'm tired of winter so may head to SC till i get things sorted. i think my sister would help me out for a few days till i can get a place of my own.

really not sure, but i get it squared. i guess it is my fault for not leaving a long time ago.

ya it sucks, but is what it is.....

i got my brackets set for the rear links and placed my rear cross member to support those 2 back body mounts. tomrw morn i'm gonna bust out the welder and get everything welded up. so i can get it movable. gotta get the shafts back into the axle , the re-gear will have to wait. gonna be a hasty guestimate of placement for the shock hoops but i'll get it figured best i can.
and then i got those bars i made to hold the strut placement, they are heavy tubing and will support the rig so i will have solid suspension but be movable. glad that winch is operational i may need it to help tow it onto the trailer.

she's a sweet woman until that poison hits her. then the Jekyll and Hyde switch flips.

this rig would/should have been done months ago, it's not me draggin my feet it's her screaming at me that i been workin on it all day (but really i been at it less than an hr).
i could have had this all done in a wk if i could get time to do it without a psycho drunk screamin every day. a few wks ago i got her when she was lucid and explained, lemme get this done and it's done. she was all good with that when sober. so started into this rear end................. but she's not ever sober for long.

i been wishin her liver would give her a good fit, so she'd at least slow down. it's horrible for me to say, but it's true. she puts down at least a 12pk a day, and is a tiny 90# woman. she does work FT and does not drink b4 or at work but when she's home that all she does. her argument is she doesn't have a problem, and her daddy was an alcoholic, so it's inherited.

after another rant and calling the police (drunk). she was told she has to have me evicted, she can't just throw me out.
so i got some time to get things together and get packed up. i just gotta ignore the insanity.

i got my frame end link brackets all in, the remaining body mounts are in also. i added a cross member at the rear end to pick up the body mounts at the back end. i sliced into the body seam under the ass end and bent it back around the mount underneath so it could tuck in nice and flush.

i got the axle slapped back together, and i tacked all those dam flange studs so they can't spin. the wheels mounted, links attached.
incidentally for those always looking for a reference for JK axles on a TJ, the JK brake backing plates are even with our TJ body.




axle up level, i stopped at 7.5" off the ground and could push 8" with no issues.


guess those cuts were not that far of an overestimate, that axle goes up cocked and it may still need more room. we'll see.

i set my wheels onto a couple strips of UHMW so they slip back n forth easily and don't risk moving the rig. i can get each side up independently over 9.5" from a static/rested axle position. pic of 9.5" off the ground






the holes i put into the frame will give me a good anchor for 1 of the hoop feet on each side, fits nice and tight into that hole. even though i have ample room to try and maximize travel i'm gonna stay with 12", that's all that's able to stay down in the well. anymore and i'd have to punch through into the bed, and placement would hinder the cage foot. and weaken the rear reinforcements up in that corner.