OP
Nashville TJ's Build - Continued
- Thread starter NashvilleTJ
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OP
That’s the plan. I’ve now missed it for 2 years in a row, so I’m hoping it works out next year.
The forum is planning a trip to Moab next spring.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/tj-fest-2021-moab-april-24-–-may-1-2021.34132/
OP
And now on to current projects.
I saw Nate on Dirt Lifestyle put these Swag Off Road body mounts on his Diesel TJ, and it looked like a cool little fab project. My mounts are a bit beat up, and since I run a body lift I can mount these up a bit higher on the frame for a little extra clearance - so two birds with one stone. Here's the pile of steel...
The raw body mounts I got from Swag are great pieces. The laser cutting and the bends are so precise that each piece was exactly like the other, and matched up perfectly. Man, I need me a laser cutter....
I saw Nate on Dirt Lifestyle put these Swag Off Road body mounts on his Diesel TJ, and it looked like a cool little fab project. My mounts are a bit beat up, and since I run a body lift I can mount these up a bit higher on the frame for a little extra clearance - so two birds with one stone. Here's the pile of steel...
The raw body mounts I got from Swag are great pieces. The laser cutting and the bends are so precise that each piece was exactly like the other, and matched up perfectly. Man, I need me a laser cutter....
OP
To assemble the mounts, the first step was to line 'em up and put a tack on each corner.
No fuss / no muss - and it was great to have the welder in my hand again.
No fuss / no muss - and it was great to have the welder in my hand again.
OP
And after about 30 minutes under the helmet, all the mounts are assembled and ready to go.
Then I took a few minutes and cleaned them up with a scotch bright disk to get them ready for paint.
Then I took a few minutes and cleaned them up with a scotch bright disk to get them ready for paint.
OP
Man, ya gotta' love open corner welding.
Sometime over the next several weeks I'll get around to the messy part of cutting off the old mounts and getting these in place. For now, I've enjoyed the easy part...
Sometime over the next several weeks I'll get around to the messy part of cutting off the old mounts and getting these in place. For now, I've enjoyed the easy part...
OP
Thanks for that, Rick. I'm in the middle of reading through it. I'm planning on EJS next year, but I'm seriously giving this some thought as well.
Such a nice build. What I like most about it is the fact that you've owned it from day one. Only a handful of folks here can claim that. Work is tastefully and artfully executed, with each modification solving a particular problem. Nicely done! 
OP
OP
I appreciate the kind words. It has been a nice journey.Such a nice build. What I like most about it is the fact that you've owned it from day one. Only a handful of folks here can claim that. Work is tastefully and artfully executed, with each modification solving a particular problem. Nicely done!
OP
I started in on the nasty part of the body mount project. Since I was planning to use the plasma cutter, I needed to do a quick bit of maintenance first. A while ago I installed a Magswitch magnetic ground clamp on the welder and really liked it, so I wanted to replace the old clamp style ground on the plasma. Here it is:
To do so, I needed to throw a cable eye lug on the ground cable. I keep a set of cable lugs on hand, so it was just a matter of pulling out a 2 gauge.
Then the hydraulic crimper made short work of the lug.
To do so, I needed to throw a cable eye lug on the ground cable. I keep a set of cable lugs on hand, so it was just a matter of pulling out a 2 gauge.
Then the hydraulic crimper made short work of the lug.
OP
And after a bit of heavy shrink wrap, here is the finished product:
These things work so much better than clamps in almost all circumstances, especially in places where a clamp will not work at all.
Now I'm all set.
These things work so much better than clamps in almost all circumstances, especially in places where a clamp will not work at all.
Now I'm all set.
OP
My plan was to replace the mounts one at a time, so I started with the middle passenger side. Always a good day in the shop when the plasma cutter comes out.
In way less than a minute, the first mount was gone.
Then is was just a quick pass with a 24 grit flap disk - and it's like it was never there...
In way less than a minute, the first mount was gone.
Then is was just a quick pass with a 24 grit flap disk - and it's like it was never there...
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OP
Next, I bolted the mount in place, and tacked it in after checking my measurements. Since I was eliminating a 1" body lift puck from each mount, I raised the top of each mount 1" from it's original location. Then I finish welded the mount on the sides and the bottom. I was also able to run a bead on the inside of the mount at the top of the frame.
And then I repeated the process for the forward and rear mount, and after a few hours of work the passenger side is done.
Tomorrow I'll tackle the driver‘s side. That will be a little more involved as I have fuel, brake and air lines with which to contend.
And then I repeated the process for the forward and rear mount, and after a few hours of work the passenger side is done.
Tomorrow I'll tackle the driver‘s side. That will be a little more involved as I have fuel, brake and air lines with which to contend.
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Raising the side mounts has been a popular topic this year!
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