CWLONGSHOT

We need a good trailer for vacation travels and for my brother-in-laws stump grinder. He picked up a great axle, springs, tires, wheels and bearings. Nice heavy duty stuff!! its from a travel trailer as was one side of a tandem. For steel stock, we are using a mix of .125 walled stock in 2x2 & 2x3 sizes. I also decided to go with 2x3 for the tongue instead of 3x3 that's normal, so I upped the walls to .250. Here is everything cut, laid out, leveled and tack welding begun. BTW, We are building this upside down. I welded up all vertical edges and positioned the axle... We decided to put the axle on and then weld the hangers on... Then I went around and finished up all welds on this side.. The sides are left very long and are now notched and pushed together. They will not touch the tongue, but rather be welded into a piece of 1/4" steel. The a hole cut thru that plate for the tongue. The tongue will then extend back to just above the axle. More to come... Let me know what you think!! CW

Pat, That's a good looking bed on that MJ!! I spent most of the afternoon making a trailer with my brother-in-law. Its coming out great!! Its from scratch, using a axle from a travel trailer. We are using 2x3 x .125 for the body, 2x3 x.250 for the tongue and 2x2x.125 for the center cross pieces. On to the MJ... I found my gas leakage is from the plate where the hoses attach. Its the same piece that holds the fuel pump. I decided to try to fix it with some of that epoxy junk that you need together and plaster on. Didn't work so well..... Then, I started my rear bumper build. I am going to make the bumper come around the sides of the bed and reattach to the frame forward, just behind the rear tires. I was going to use the same 4" water pipe I used for the bumper itself. But decided against it and will be using 2x4x.125 stock and mount it at a bias. So far I just cut the bed sides.. I also made up better wires for my battery cut off. Cut the cable to length. Cut and push on some heat shrink tubing and finally the crimp on lug. I soldered the crimp on connection. After it cools, push the shrink tubing over the bare wires. Heat the shrink tubing for a water tite, sealed wire. CW OH.. be sure you tie your wires up and away from your alternator fan.. or you will be remaking that wire you just made... :headpop: :headpop: :fs1: :headpop: :fs1: :headpop: :headpop: :fs1: :headpop: :fs1: :headpop: Oh yes I did!!!

Only had a couple hours this AM so I got out there early.... ( The neighbors gotta love me!!) I finally welded the expanded metal on my swing out gate and shot it with the old stand by... Rustoleum Black!!: and then I wired in my Hella battery cut off switch. I have had one in my TJ for many years, I like the ability to shut off the juice!! CW PS... Today's test drive proved why some replacement tanks SUCK!! Apparently they lack the "Cradle" or "Chair" to properly support the pump. The result is FREAKING NOISE!!!! My pump is intermittently buzzing and pulsating. VERY annoying!!! I also still seem to have a little leak!!! Its either the grommets for the breathers. I reused the old ones as they seemed perfectly fine. OR its the metal hoses where they are soldered to the flange. OR its the short hoses them selves going from the steel lines to the tank. CW

Only had a couple hours this AM so I got out there early.... ( The neighbors gotta love me!!) I finally welded the expanded metal on my swing out gate: and also wired in my Hella battery cut off switch. CW

I have done this a couple times now!! FUN PROJECT!!! I will say that your looking for troubles trying to retro fit the XJ rear suspension on your MJ. Just cut off those XJ perches and weld on CORRECT width MJ perches. Then make up lower shock mounts. I used the "help" rack shock mounts. I suppose you could fabricate new rear shackles to allow the shorter XJ leafs. CW

Well, first off, the Aisin Warner AX5 is a manual shift transmission and the Aisin Warner AW4 is an automatic. Two completely different transmissions. So, aside from being madefrom the same company, nothing on them is really exchangeable. Are you confusing the AX5 with the AX4? CW

I'm glad I reload... and I have been busy!! This is all rim fire's!! I cannot tell you the last time I needed to buy factory new ammo!!! (Ceptin' rimfires, of coarse.) CW

That is a sharp bike. I admit I did google it and marked the link for future perusal. :yes: :shake: Check this X RATED, bad boy out!! http://phatcycles.com/XRated/xr3al.htm CW

I had a friend that's photo-shop savvy "paint " pics of my MJ when I was trying to decide on a color... Here is what I ended up deciding on. My reg read blue, so this made the most sense...

Remember its a Jeep, NOTHING is set in stone. But,... IIRC you should be 23 spl. (Heck its a 50-50 guess!!) CW

Un-thread the nuts so that they remain on the studs and push up on the tank/strap. This should be sufficient for removal. But, If they are that bad, just chop them. They are easily made with threaded rod and nuts. Chop up the rod and heat one end with a propane torch and bend to a "J" or tight "L". Mine where way rusted too, but cleaned up almost like new!!! My new straps I picked up last year from EBay where shorter than stock. I have to make one new "J" bolt too. CW

Don, by all means, STICK TO IT!!! As you likely remember, I am also on the mend and having to adjust my entire eating philosophy. BEST THING we did was go thru the cabinets and throw out or give away all bad stuff!! Of coarse, mine was a bit more life or death, but sounds like your a candidate too, so a good offensive is preferred to my defensive posture. My total cholesterol was just under 200 at the time of my heart attack. Last month they where 91. :yes: :yes: :eek: :D NO $#!&, 91. Even I couldn't believe that!!! Walking (4-5 miles) along with my three times a week, hour long rehab is my exercise. I eat all chicken, fish and salads. I only drink water and black decaf coffee. My total sodium intake is about 800 - 1000 Mg and my total fat intake is about 250Mg for the day. I don't watch the sugar, but do steer clear of anything really loaded with it. Cottage cheese with fruit is lunch. Oatmeal, Farina or Mayo is breakfast. Normal balanced dinner, smaller portions. Snacks are any fruit or veggie with water. I have lost almost 60# and on average 2-3 a week since this whole thing started. I feel great, my doctor is happy and the wife is ecstatic, she is even a bit "friskier" :brows: than before. Its WAY WORTH IT!!! Good luck, CW

Maybe its rusted in place?? Did you take the filler neck out? Here is the run down for tank removal: 1) Mark and loosen clamps on fuel and return line. (They are different sizes, but easily mistaken.) 2) Unplug fuel pump. 3) Unplug the main breather hose at the tee. 4) Remove gas cap and remove 4 nut-screws form filler neck. 5) Block up tank and loosen three "J" Bolts in the center of the body holding the tank in place. You shouldn't need to completely remove these. As it gets loose, push up on the tank and they will lift out of there holes. Make a note of which strap goes where, they are all different. 6) Unscrew the hose clamps on the filler hose and breather hose from behind the fender. 7) Lower the tank out feeding the filler hoses off the top side of the frame. 8) YOUR DONE!!! Have a beer!!! :yes: :brows: Good luck!! I almost forgot my addition to this thread!!! :shake: :shake: The MJ LIVES!!! She fired right up this evening!!!! I finished up the bed install. I had to drop the tank twice with little problems. Those DAMN FILLER HOSES ARE A BIOTCH!!! :fs1: :headpop: :D But I got it done!!!!! I washed her UP and tomorrow we clean the interior and maybe replace the head liner. Then, we have some cruising to do!!! CW

And parts of the female anatomy... CW

No sheite Sherlock. And that's AUSTRALIA, not AUSTRAULIA!!! (using your quotes). I've had lots of dealings with OME; my bro-in-law works for them and I get their stuff at cost! And since he's there, I have no worries mate about OME standing behind their products. :D But I'd most likely buy from BDS or some another US based company like TeraFlex (I like their products too) if this weren't the case for me. :cheers: :headpop: Damn google spell checker!!!! LOL sorry for that... I knew it was wrong, I just didn't know what was right!! :shake: :rotf: I have Tera-flex S4T lift in my TJ and like how it performs!! I'm not so fond of there poly bushings, but overall the products are sound!! Good show for you on the OME stuff. But lessin' your forwarding your bro-in-laws number to the PO, he may not have your affinity for warranty service!! CW

How long and how many miles have you run it? On a daily driver, the get noisy as the plastic/poly/nylon covering deteriorates on the ball. Making them VERY ANNOYING as they rattle, click and clunk to every movement of the suspension. Then you have the old single shear, safety argument. Its one thing to loose the connection with your left front wheel crawling over a rock at 2MPH. Try that at 60+MPH on the expressway when you hit a bump or debris. CW

You forgot one. Fruit in beer..... they DO NOT go together... :D :shake: CW

I have owned two Detroit lockers, both in street vehicles, one in a Mustang and one in a Ford Van, Both with 9" rears. They are excellent, durable and quite HARSH! Sure they will unlock in turns, but the ratcheting is more noticeable than the lunchbox lockers that copy it. Get a little heavy footed in a turn and you had better be hanging on and not need to turn tightly. Cause if you have good traction, the vehicle is not going to be turning so well. It wants to go straight, now the wide, sticky street tread tires I was running on both didn't want to give up and traction, so this made it more noticeable. This is of coarse the case for all lockers on the street. It just seemed to me that the Detroit epitomises this "automatic lane change" feature. CW

Have you had any dealings with OME? They are made and based in AUSTRAULIA!!! Yes, they make a quality spring no argument. But so does BDS. BDS is made in the heart of our nation, Michigan!! All things equal, my money goes to a USA based company!! BDS stands behind its products, warranty REPLACEMENTS, (when needed) are the norm. CW

BDS Followed by O.M.E. CW

:thumbsup: Yup, I have two of them.. You will notice I didn't vote for them, suggest them and of until now.. . even mention them... STAY AWAY!!! I had many, many problems with service. The company outright lies and will not support there product with out serious lag work on the buyers side. In the end, both work fine, but the problems I had to get here force me to "suggest" any and all people to look elsewhere. CW

Bring it down!! I just restocked the fridge with fresh some cold ones!! I don't drink many, any-longer, so there is more for my friends!! CW

Looks great!! Good work!! One thing I would do, is to cut/drill access hole for the rear most bed bolt. You may have no plans not to remove the bed. But its easy to make that hole now. Could be a pain if you need to do it with everything mounted to the truck. CW

I don't know anything about it, but wouldn't run Heims ever again on a street vehicle. I have two jeeps with the JCR 1Ton steering conversion and I love it!! CW

You thinking like this... Its a GOOD idea, but not a new one!! :D Complete build pics here: Complete write up in my build thread: viewtopic.php?t=1230 CW