5.2krawler Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 I guess this will be my introduction and build thread. My previous Jeep was a YJ, that I decided to sell for something more road friendly that could also tow a buggy. Two years later for many reasons the buggy wasn't finished. In the mean time all my friends sold their "hardcore" vehicles. I decided it was time to axe the buggy build and get me something enjoyable to drive daily (ie manual) and fun to take offroad. My first thought was a TJ since I had done the Yj previously but after discovering the prices I decided to look elsewhere. Then I saw H3Rescue's and a few other 97+ conversions and was hooked. I've always loved the look of a MJ and the creature comforts of the 97+ interior was just what I was looking for. After some craigslist scouring I found this jewel for $500 It's an 86 2.5l auto that came with a custom bumper welded to the frame :doh: , a bed full of trash and about 100lbs of mud underneath it. The previous owner used it to chase down horses on his farm. PS. So far not a bit of rust, but I haven't pulled up the rubber floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.2krawler Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 By now your looking at the pictures thinking hey thats a long bed, 86's don't come in shortbeds. Out came the power tools. I started with removing the bed which was a chore. Two holes drilled in the floor of the bed later I finally had it off. After some marking and measuring I started cutting. 6" was removed from the front of the bed then welded it back on. Next the frame. Don't worry it went back together nicely. One thing I didn't anticipate was the filler location is farther back on the long beds. I ordered my new 18gal tank since the factory one wouldnt fit and it looks like the opening on the bed is about 4.5" back from the nipples on the tank. Shouldn't be to hard to work around but it's just a FYI for anyone thinking about shortening a MJ. Well that's as far as I've got in 4 days of working on it. As you can see in the last picture it was getting late when I finished chopping the frame. I still have to finish welding up the frame and I will be adding a fish plate on the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.2krawler Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 well I've been slacking on the picture taking and a little on the work, but it's been in the high 90's here with that good ole southern humidity. Here's where she sits now. I took 8" out of the back of the bed to bring me to 14" shorter than a long bed, and within 3/4" of a real shortbed. the truck has a lot of damage on the rear corners and I just can't justify the time it would take to fix it since this truck will be offroaded. So I decided the easiest thing to do would be cover up the damage with some corner guards. I made a template then cut some 10ga steel with the plasma cutter. I left the metal long and used a ratchet strap to pull it around the corner as I used a torch to heat the metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.2krawler Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 I finished one side and left her sitting like this for the night. If the rear looks high, it is. It's sitting around 2" high. I am waiting on a buddy to stop by so I can lift the bed back up and do some trimming. After I finish the other corner guard and get the bed dropped down to it's location I will be mounting the tank. The holes on the frame and bottom of bed don't match the shortbed tank so I'll be mounting the tank via a full skid. On a side note, I had planned on doing round tubing rocker guards like the ones I built for my buddy (goldmember build). But I found some 2x4 .25 wall tubing at the local surplus steel yard so it looks like I'll be doing rectangle. I haven't decided how I want to build them but they will include round tube and dimple dies so that they'll match the front and rear bumpers I have planned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Hope that frame is strong enough,I always cut and weld frame rails at angles. Its a lot stronger then a straight cut,you might add some fish plates or something to strengthen it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.2krawler Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 I will be fishplating the frame as well as tieing it into the rocker guards and cage and building a skid/ramp that attaches to the leaf spring mount and goes forward. I also sleeved the inside of the frame. I've chopped a couple frames but this is the first unibody frame I've done. The fishplating will be done when I pull the bed back off to paint it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCARENA Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Looking good. I guess that really is going to be a Comanche Custom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleydog Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Looking good, when are you gonna tear into the drivetrain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 What are your plans for the 2.8? I also have an 86, so I will be watching to see what you do next. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpnjim Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Interesting build. :thumbsup: :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.2krawler Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 Haven't posted recently. I've been going cross-eyed doing body work on the bed. Hopefully I'll get my bed primed and painted so I can get the truck in the garage. Over memorial day weekend the local LKQ had a half price sale so I picked up two doors and fenders off a 99 cherokee. I had originally planned on swaping the engine, but decided not to deal with moving the radiator support and I also like to be a little different. The motor is a 2.5L so I picked up a OBD1 2.5L MPFI harness and will be converting it from TBI to MPFI and adding a turbo to help me up the hills. edit: picture so it's not a useless post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Normally I don't approve cutting the frame. However in this case it appears you know what your doing. Good job. Good work. ;) :bowdown: Where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettus253 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Any updates on this...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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