Thanks! Yes, I'm blessed with a great shop. Don't know how I'd do what I do out here without it.Nice garage and lift!
Was wondering how the heck you were getting all the stuff off underneath the Jeep so quickly.
Sab-a-dab-a-doo! The back-country LJ build has officially started
- Thread starter sab
- Start date
While I had a clear shot at it, I replaced the steering shaft bracket with the M.O.R.E. raised bracket:
Very easy swap, and a well-made, great-fitting piece!
Very easy swap, and a well-made, great-fitting piece!
Today started off pretty good. After installing the steering shaft bracket, I very quickly, and without any complications, got the old transfer case out:
And then, about 11am, I got an alert that FedEx had delivered some heavy-duty Bessey welding clamps I'd ordered. "Odd," I thought, "how did I miss the FedEx truck?" My shop is right on the private dirt road that borders my property, and it's a pretty rough road, so delivery trucks make a lot of noise. I usually hear every vehicle that drives by when I'm in the shop with the two 14'x13' doors open. I looked at my phone to see if the driver took a picture of the delivery because I'm anticipating a wild goose chase to find my package, and I found this picture:
Crap. They just left it next to a non-descript tree, one of hundreds on this property, and every one around it. I then spent the next hour looking for it, even driving up and down the dirt road looking for it. Finally, I sent a text to our "neighborhood" text thread. After about an hour, all checked in that it wasn't on their property. So, at this point, I've reported it not delivered to the correct address to both FedEx and Zoro, where I bought the clamps. What a pain in the neck! I'm sure I'll eventually get the clamps I ordered, but instead of overnight delivery, it'll be a week or more.
I then had a nice lunch Mrs. sab made for me and went back out to the shop to see what trouble awaited me regarding the Atlas 4-speed installation. I first tried to clock it as flat as possible, but there was a lot of interference with the tub floor on the driver side. I moved the studs one position, and now I have this:
Here's a close-up of the interference from the rear:
And again from the driver side:
I just got to this point a short time ago, and called it a day. I'll take another look tomorrow. I'm looking for advice or guidance from those who've installed a 4 speed Atlas with a tummy tuck. The aluminum skid plate blank Mr. Blaine sent me has a 1" center drop, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish (with the stock transmission isolator.) It looks like some tub caressing is in order. Any suggestions, y'all?
And then, about 11am, I got an alert that FedEx had delivered some heavy-duty Bessey welding clamps I'd ordered. "Odd," I thought, "how did I miss the FedEx truck?" My shop is right on the private dirt road that borders my property, and it's a pretty rough road, so delivery trucks make a lot of noise. I usually hear every vehicle that drives by when I'm in the shop with the two 14'x13' doors open. I looked at my phone to see if the driver took a picture of the delivery because I'm anticipating a wild goose chase to find my package, and I found this picture:
Crap. They just left it next to a non-descript tree, one of hundreds on this property, and every one around it. I then spent the next hour looking for it, even driving up and down the dirt road looking for it. Finally, I sent a text to our "neighborhood" text thread. After about an hour, all checked in that it wasn't on their property. So, at this point, I've reported it not delivered to the correct address to both FedEx and Zoro, where I bought the clamps. What a pain in the neck! I'm sure I'll eventually get the clamps I ordered, but instead of overnight delivery, it'll be a week or more.
I then had a nice lunch Mrs. sab made for me and went back out to the shop to see what trouble awaited me regarding the Atlas 4-speed installation. I first tried to clock it as flat as possible, but there was a lot of interference with the tub floor on the driver side. I moved the studs one position, and now I have this:
Here's a close-up of the interference from the rear:
And again from the driver side:
I just got to this point a short time ago, and called it a day. I'll take another look tomorrow. I'm looking for advice or guidance from those who've installed a 4 speed Atlas with a tummy tuck. The aluminum skid plate blank Mr. Blaine sent me has a 1" center drop, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish (with the stock transmission isolator.) It looks like some tub caressing is in order. Any suggestions, y'all?
Gotta Love the fed ex easter egg hunt.
There was a small welding clamp bessey made that fit in a 3/4” dog hole on a work table- lowes sold ‘em .....wish I’d bough 100 of them- great for wood work.
Keep it goin’ man. Nice job. Nice shop. The secluded Texas spot sounds like a dream.
There was a small welding clamp bessey made that fit in a 3/4” dog hole on a work table- lowes sold ‘em .....wish I’d bough 100 of them- great for wood work.
Keep it goin’ man. Nice job. Nice shop. The secluded Texas spot sounds like a dream.
You should check your offset for the centerline of the output. I realize this is with the auto and scootched a bit foward from yours, but the offset still looks a bit off.Today started off pretty good. After installing the steering shaft bracket, I very quickly, and without any complications, got the old transfer case out:
View attachment 559955
And then, about 11am, I got an alert that FedEx had delivered some heavy-duty Bessey welding clamps I'd ordered. "Odd," I thought, "how did I miss the FedEx truck?" My shop is right on the private dirt road that borders my property, and it's a pretty rough road, so delivery trucks make a lot of noise. I usually hear every vehicle that drives by when I'm in the shop with the two 14'x13' doors open. I looked at my phone to see if the driver took a picture of the delivery because I'm anticipating a wild goose chase to find my package, and I found this picture:
View attachment 559959
Crap. They just left it next to a non-descript tree, one of hundreds on this property, and every one around it. I then spent the next hour looking for it, even driving up and down the dirt road looking for it. Finally, I sent a text to our "neighborhood" text thread. After about an hour, all checked in that it wasn't on their property. So, at this point, I've reported it not delivered to the correct address to both FedEx and Zoro, where I bought the clamps. What a pain in the neck! I'm sure I'll eventually get the clamps I ordered, but instead of overnight delivery, it'll be a week or more.
I then had a nice lunch Mrs. sab made for me and went back out to the shop to see what trouble awaited me regarding the Atlas 4-speed installation. I first tried to clock it as flat as possible, but there was a lot of interference with the tub floor on the driver side. I moved the studs one position, and now I have this:
View attachment 559956
Here's a close-up of the interference from the rear:
View attachment 559957
And again from the driver side:
View attachment 559958
I just got to this point a short time ago, and called it a day. I'll take another look tomorrow. I'm looking for advice or guidance from those who've installed a 4 speed Atlas with a tummy tuck. The aluminum skid plate blank Mr. Blaine sent me has a 1" center drop, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish (with the stock transmission isolator.) It looks like some tub caressing is in order. Any suggestions, y'all?
That sucks! I know how ya feel. Had a fedex hunt with a box of 1k rounds of 9mm that was delivered to a door at my college apartment complex. Of course all I could see in the pic was the box on the concrete floor super close and super blurry so I spend the next hour walking to every single door step to find it. I even asked the fedex guy the next day as he did his loop. He was like sorry wasn’t me doing this route yesterday so he called the guy who did and he couldn’t remember. Never found it, filed a claim, they got me another box sent. Then after that box was finally delivered a month later and i shot some of it did the person who got my original box actually come to my apartment returning it to me. Taking a pic doesn’t help without an identifying feature but they never get that.
Thanks, Mr. Blaine. That was within 1/8" of where it should be. I believe I measured 19-7/8" from the driver side frame beam and 17-7/8" from the passenger side frame beam to the center of the rear output flange. I'll check again in the morning.
The missing package showed up 
:
Just before bedtime, a neighbor texted me that she was gone all day and just returned home to find my package at her place! It's nice having good neighbors!
:Just before bedtime, a neighbor texted me that she was gone all day and just returned home to find my package at her place! It's nice having good neighbors!
Yes.
The difference between the 2 speed and the 4 speed is the 4 speed has a planetary box bolted to the front of it with a 2.72-1 gear ratio. That is the same planetary they stick in the Rubicrawler when it replaces the tail housing on the 42RLE. That rig already had the Rubicrawler so all we did was order the correct 2.0-1 Atlas to convert to it be a 4 speed with no length penalty.
Today started off pretty good. After installing the steering shaft bracket, I very quickly, and without any complications, got the old transfer case out:
View attachment 559955
And then, about 11am, I got an alert that FedEx had delivered some heavy-duty Bessey welding clamps I'd ordered. "Odd," I thought, "how did I miss the FedEx truck?" My shop is right on the private dirt road that borders my property, and it's a pretty rough road, so delivery trucks make a lot of noise. I usually hear every vehicle that drives by when I'm in the shop with the two 14'x13' doors open. I looked at my phone to see if the driver took a picture of the delivery because I'm anticipating a wild goose chase to find my package, and I found this picture:
View attachment 559959
Crap. They just left it next to a non-descript tree, one of hundreds on this property, and every one around it. I then spent the next hour looking for it, even driving up and down the dirt road looking for it. Finally, I sent a text to our "neighborhood" text thread. After about an hour, all checked in that it wasn't on their property. So, at this point, I've reported it not delivered to the correct address to both FedEx and Zoro, where I bought the clamps. What a pain in the neck! I'm sure I'll eventually get the clamps I ordered, but instead of overnight delivery, it'll be a week or more.
I then had a nice lunch Mrs. sab made for me and went back out to the shop to see what trouble awaited me regarding the Atlas 4-speed installation. I first tried to clock it as flat as possible, but there was a lot of interference with the tub floor on the driver side. I moved the studs one position, and now I have this:
View attachment 559956
Here's a close-up of the interference from the rear:
View attachment 559957
And again from the driver side:
View attachment 559958
I just got to this point a short time ago, and called it a day. I'll take another look tomorrow. I'm looking for advice or guidance from those who've installed a 4 speed Atlas with a tummy tuck. The aluminum skid plate blank Mr. Blaine sent me has a 1" center drop, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish (with the stock transmission isolator.) It looks like some tub caressing is in order. Any suggestions, y'all?
My 4 speed is clocked flat Scott, in about the same location as yours in the pic. If you want to go that route, not only are you modifying the tub, but if it is like mine you will also may have to clearance the driver’s seat tilt bracket. Not a huge deal, but it was some work.
The irony for me was that I went to all that work to clock it flat and get it up above the frame rail - only to still have to run a dropped belly skid to clear the low tranny pan on my 545RFE…
An exercise in diminishing returns I've tried to explain to many folks over the years. I rarely win that discussion until it is too late.
My question was concerning the length of the setup. The 2 speed Atlas behind the Rubicrawler is a bunch shorter than the 4 speed behind the stock tranny. Your setup puts the Atlas further forward on the body, correct? I was wondering if that helped with the clearance.
Is that Sri’s rig?
It does not help with clearance since the bottom of the tub is roughly in the same plane from just behind the firewall to the cargo step with some minor bumpage and divots here and there. The big one is that double layer his is up against. But yes, we are about 8" or so forward of Scott's location on his Atlas.
We were able to just sneak the tub dimple up and only had to do some minor movement of the front edge of the seat riser base.
Yes
A point of clarity- that is why I build all my bent up 3/8" aluminum belly skids with a 1" drop that is 13" wide in the center. Even if you manage to get all of the work done to raise the drivetrain and Atlas, lots of folks still have to get an engine skid under the engine oil pan, clear the bottom of the trans oil pan and then attach it to the front of the belly skid. I'm not a fan of spacers at the frame or spacer between engine skid and belly skid to get under the trans pan, so I put a drop section in the skid.
That’s huge, and you and I have touched on it a few times. Adding 8” to the driveshaft on a TJ is a big deal. Very nice work. I know Sri is excited.
To be clear, we didn't add 8" to the TJ driveshaft, we just didn't take it away with the 4 speed. If this was a manual, it would get the 241 and call it a day.