neohic

Welcome back, brochacho. Looking forward to the builds.

Never dropped a 4wd but I have played with rear ZJ coils. Once settled the truck sat a little better than 2” lower than the clapped out 2wd coils it had. I can’t imagine why you couldn’t lower the front with a 4wd axle. You might need to shorten the driveshaft? The control arms will be pushing everything forward as the suspension lowers though so... Looking forward to this build.

That was the final solution for a tankless water heater intake/exhaust in the crawl space. After about a year of use we were surprised with the carbon monoxide detector going off. The guy I trusted to install it properly did not. It’s kind of a long story. It ends with completely redoing everything he did and that was the best solution for having a minimum length for the exhaust. Today’s task it to finish setting it and to reload it. I finally quit my job last Wednesday after a drawn out stalemate with the owner. (That’s a whole story in itself. ) I’d like to make up some shelves in it today too. I left my beloved welding table behind at my rekative’s place for now that was being used as multi tier storage solution.

Pure coincidence! I just picked a color before leaving Minnesota and went with it. It was originally the last thing I built in my old shop, then it was the first thing to go in the moving truck, then it was built again where it sat for years. These were taken during the move. Funny thing about that last picture is that the mountain in the background is Pikes Peak and right where the mountain dips down is just about where my house is now. Who would’ve thought things would’ve worked out the way they did?! This little shed sure has had a few miles put on.

A couple years and a few months ago the wife and I picked up and moved 1000 miles from Minnesota to Colorado. Like anyone else with a fabrication shop of their own, I’ve got tools and welders. That all went into a 6x12 shed that I built at my relative’s place east of Colorado Springs. Since then I got a job, we bought a house, finished the house, started planning my new shop, I quit my job, and then things circled back to my little shed. I’ve got a permanent home again... and I need to store things! Time to move!! I’ve got a couple of amazing friends that set aside a weekend for me. The plan was to move it yesterday but the weather turned on us. We met up early this morning, finished loading, and up to the house we went! As for the rest, the pictures really speak for themselves. Things were only a LITTLE sketchy at times, but we had three winches tugging it around. It’s home! Still need to load it, but the day was long enough. Future plans are to build the shop, put a deck off the back, and then turn the shed into a greenhouse. A huge thanks to the couple guys that gave up their time this weekend! Been pretty rough over the past few months and it was a much needed pick me up to have friends like these.

Not much. Still plenty of chairs. Beer is still in the fridge.

I agree with this. For years as the Ram line keeps getting more and more options I’ve thought it a swell idea to see the line split to Ram and a true Jeep truck. Want a luxurious truck with all the bells and whistles? Great!... get a Ram. Want a stripped down workhorse with rubber floor, vinyl seats, clunky transfer case shifters, a choice of three colors, and zero options? Great!... get the Jeep truck we should’ve gotten. Then on the same platform the Jeep Wagoneer could be a true SUV on a full frame but still contend with other luxo lines like the Land Rovers.

Sup.

Really enjoying this build.

Hell, I’d try and get the whole truck! Looks shockingly similar to how my first wheeler looked before I started on it... even the ground it sits on!!

Ha! I’ve got a soft spot for those wheels on a Jeep! Going WAY back here:

Any thoughts on the longevity of a 4.0 in front of a T14 three speed? They rev a little better than a 4.2 but with the tire size I can’t imagine that’d be much of a point of argument. Not that I’d be worried about the 4.0, but more so if anyone thinks that long term a 4.0 would be a better choice.

Lets discuss this. I’m easily in the same boat that I don’t understand a downgrade like putting a carb on a modern engine that was engineered to function properly on fuel injection. Just like anything else, there’s loopholes that I can understand. What justifies this for me is the idea of a “modern engine”. The base engineering of the 4.0 goes back to the 258/232. I know... I know... there are several big differences between a 4.0 and a 4.2. What about the similarities though? I view the 4.0 as an engine that got upgrades to keep up with the times. Would a 4.0 pulled from a WJ run better on its fine tuned electronics? You bet! Would it run on a carb/throttle body injection? Why not? Of all the 4.0 intakes I think the later model horseshoe style would be the best choice for this. Just like putting together vehicles with parts we’ve got sitting around, I’d throw this topic under that umbrella. My Jeep has a dwindling engine. 4.0s donors are abundant. I like the simplicity of my throttle body injection/DUI distributor (and I already have them). Cost is also a part of the equation. I know I could pick up an entire donor vehicle and part it out. Might even come out ahead. I’d prefer to not have a parts vehicle sitting around right now. Salvage yard 4.0s can still be had with 150k miles or less too. So many of these don’t come with wiring though. Given the opportunity at a good price I would drop in a reman 4.2 and be done with it. Again... cost. I do come back to the thought of a downgrade. What gets me past it is the idea that whatever I put in my little CJ will be some kind of an upgrade.

Welcome back! Now... where were we on that whole “Euro Jeep” idea?

Stop and have a burger with Brent! Good company right there.

Nope. All natural! My long term plans are to turn my 6x12 storage shed into a greenhouse close to the house. Then my shop down the hill and another smaller shed for just storage. Getting this shed to where it needs to be will be a real trick.

Ol’ Pinkster helped out with pulling some trees today. Prepping a spot to move my shed to.

I'd like to keep all the charm! In its current state, it's definitely modern enough to be a comfortable (enough) daily driver if it had an engine I didn't stress over. Not sure I can completely answer your question though, Pete. I'd like a mostly stock Jeep in terms of simplicity... not necessarily that it needs to be correct for 1975. Can I have a mostly stock looking old Jeep to be comfortable driving across the country?

I'm leaning towards this boring non-hypothetical solution as well. With keeping the T14 three speed, my main gripe is the huge gap between gears and the lack of an overdrive. Granted, 3rd gear is a 1/1 ratio and with the 4.27 gears and 33" tire (measuring to 32") puts me just shy of 2700 RPMs at 60 MPH... which isn't terrible. Sometimes just driving around town feels like it just doesn't have the right gearing though. At 30 MPH, 3rd gear feels too low while 2nd feels too high. Around town driving sure felt better with the old 32" tires (measuring just over 30") but it always sounded like the engine was ready to set up an impromptu yard sale of ejected parts. Perhaps without completely hitting the reset button that hard and leaving the majority of the hard parts as and where they are might be well enough. Let's swing the conversation over to a non conventional 4.0 swap. Having a quick look around in the internet land, there are a ton of forums that start with the guy saying "my fuel injection isn't working right, can I put a carb on my 4.0?" that is quickly followed up with a pile of ridicule. I know a 4.0 will run on a carburetor and therefore will run off of my current Howell based throttle body fuel injection/DUI ignition. I also understand that the 4.0s rely on spark control and knock sensors (Renix, anyhow) to make the best of the higher compression than the 4.2s. The 4.0s are a higher reving engine than the 4.2s making me want to believe that it would live a happier life in front of a three speed transmission... but is probably a moot point. Say I do a 4.0 swap and run it off of the throttle body injection. Would it matter is I were to use a Renix or HO as a base? What about ruling out a 4.0 from a WJ?... I know... I know... the motor mounts are different. Pretty sure the '81+ carb intake manifold I have will work on either head with a little port matching and with the correct bridging washer will work with either of the exhaust manifolds. What about alternators/accessories? Would it make sense to just leave my V belts being everything works as it should?... they should directly bolt on depending on the intake manifold I'd use?... right? Or am I just over thinking everything?

Do you recall what model it was under? I thought the 231s only made it into the S-10s and Blazers with IFS. We did a 5.3 swap in a YJ a while back and we used bits from a 231c and the stock 231j to make it all work. Both were driver side.

Or a 241? They are both passenger drop? The Chevy 231 is a driver side drop yet. 241s are passenger drop, but they also hang down pretty far, and they’re also getting harder to find because that’s what everyone likes to use for LS swaps on the cheap. Pretty sure a 241 would physically bolt up, but the spline count would be different. Only reason I suggested the 2.5/AX5 combo was because I have that setup somewhat available. Not to have everyone feel like I’m just knocking down their suggestions, but I really am enjoying this! Everyone’s suggestions have gotten me thinking but I keep circling back to three options: 1. Replace the 258 with a 258 when the time comes. Live with the higher RPMs at cruising speed. Enjoy the simplicity. 2. Replace the 258 with a 4.0 when the time comes. Keep the T14. Keep the throttle body injection because it’s still practically brand new. Enjoy the simplicity but always know that I left a ton of potential on the table by not swapping in the multi port injection. Live with higher RPMs at cruising speed. Enjoy the simplicity. 3. Replace the 258 with a 4.0 when the time comes. Keep the T14. Add 300% more wiring to the Jeep than it already has and keep whatever fuel delivery the 4.0 donor has. Live with higher RPMs at cruising speed. Loose the simplicity. 4. Replace the 258 with a 2.5 when the time comes. Swap in a AX5... or 15. Figure out a transfer case. Add 300% more wiring to the Jeep than it already has and keep the multi port injection from the donor. Enjoy lower RPMs and keep up with tragic. Loose the simplicity. So, again... thoughts?

Trying to think of options while retaining the passenger side drop front axle. Advance Adapters says an AX15 will never fit.

I think so. Definitely need to stick with a manual trans as well. Simplicity is a plus too! Keep in mind that my little CJ has a 83.5” wheelbase. Even if it’ll fit, how much room does it leave for tube in a driveshaft?

For reference, let’s consider a starting point of a ‘75 CJ5 with a current drivetrain of a 258/T14 with 4.27 Dana 30/44s and 33” tall tires. So... I’m not convinced that my 258 has lost that long term reliability that they’re known for. I was having some issues earlier this year with a clack and low oil pressure. This was “fixed” with rolling in a set of bearings. I’d call my oil pressure adequit but I catch myself watching the gauge more than I should. This gets me thinking about other options. Sure there’s the near bolt in option of a 4.0, but I’m stuck with zero overdrive transmission options. What about a shorter engine to compensate? Why not a 2.5/AX5 combo? I know... I know... its got to be some kind of sacrilege to replace a six cylinder with a four. But why? The early ‘90s Jeeps with the 2.5 made more horsepower than the 258s, but obviously less torque. The AX5 could prove to be difficult paring with a passenger side drop Dana 30... I guess a Dana 300 could be put behind it, but who does that? By moving the drivetrain forward I could still have a nice driver with adequate power and overdrive to make it a real road tripper. If you google “Project Ground Up” from Four Wheeler from a while back, they used a ‘98 2.5 XJ as a donor to power a ‘56 CJ5. They ended up stretching the wheelbase a little but I think starting with a long hood (‘72-‘75 for those not in the early/intermediate CJ realm) might have some benefit. Open floor here! I’m looking for some hypothetical “what if’s?” and “why not?” type of thoughts here.

I love it. Just another form of art as far as I’m concerned. What is art than anything that can be shared and interpreted by others? I could totally get down with this.