Project Potimus

[Smokeyyank]

Slight pivot this week. Since @neohic suckered me into the exact axles I'm wanting for the MJ, needed to change gears to mock up the atlas and axles. 

Started getting the atlas in place to mock up some stuff. I was struggling to get a jack to lift it high enough. After battling with blocks and ratchet straps said f it. I didn't want to lower the entire jeep to get it to reach and I still would have to have gotten a tranny jack attachment. So did some searching and found this motor cycle jack that feels like Jesus himself saw my struggles and wanted to help out. Thing is fn awesome and made it sooooo easy. Had to use a 2x4 to clock it but that was it.

Link Amazon.com: Jack Boss 350 Lbs Motorcycle Lift Jack Table, Hydraulic Foot-Operated Scissor Lift Jack for ATV Dirt Bike, Motorcycle Stand with 4 Wheels : Automotive
 

 

 

 

After getting it in, started with the rear since it was the easier. Really just got it underneath to see where the back brace needed to go with the pinion getting dialed in. I'll get the backbone truss in and then start on the upper truss after. The coil buckets will interfere and I'll have to trim the truss down, but going to get most of the rest burned in. 

Next was the hard part, front axle. Full disclosure, no clue WTH I'm doing, but want to learn so here I am. I know I needed to rotate Cs. So previously had gotten those off and had some new ones to go on. After I started measuring and doing the maths. I knew I wanted 6* of caster and that was about it. Watched some videos and tried to get as much info about setting driveline angles. My mickey mouse math gave me about 7.5* UP for the pinion angle, 6* + caster. So then I started whacking.
 

 

Mocked it all up again and seems good... I dunno.

Then quick meet up for new axles and burning in Cs. @neohic is just about as cool as his MJ! Which is pretty freakin cool. 

New Cs buned in
 

 

Be back to working on the rockers here soon.

[neohic]

Bookends. 

 

[neohic]

Fun little project today. 
 

 

Mazen dropped his axle housing off with me when we were rearranging parts at my shop. We turned around the front axle fairly quickly being he did an awesome job getting the inner C’s where they belong. The 9” was going to be a bit more of a project.

 

 

The housing was VERY clean which was nice to start with. This kit Mazen purchased is nicely cut and fits great! I did need to get the outer bearing races out which put up a little fight.

 

 

After yanking on them with a puller, they were being stubborn. I welded a bead inside each one to shrink them down and they popped right out. Then there was a drain plug supplied with the kit and I added a pipe fitting at the top of the housing for a low profile vent. 
 

 

In the past, I’ve used alignment bars to keep these axles straight when doing this much welding on them. My buddy has one however he didn’t have the right size pucks to go in place of the bearings.

 

After clamping it to my table with some preload in it, the back brace got some good tacks and I welded the center. Then I chickened out and it sat for a few days. 
 

The problem I wanted to avoid was the hub bearing cups. Anytime I’ve welded a truss on a 9” it turns into a 50/50 shot if the outer cups need to get cut off to realign with the center section. Back over to my buddy’s shop for some problem solving!

 

 

Yup… he 3D printed the pucks I needed! He’s done this before with good results even with getting them a little warm with welding.

 

 

Overall, I’m very happy with how Mazen’s axle turned out! It’s so nice to use a truss kit that just fits correctly with minimal fuss. Glad to be part of this rad build! 

[Pete M]

that's some serious beef!

[Smokeyyank]

 

Words.....yeah, can't make them. Those are some sexy @$$ welds. 

 

Appreciate the help and knowledge!