[JJorgensen52]

Rear bed cross sill is in and bolted down, lets me get everything squared up and check for fit. I need to start working on the tailgate here relatively soon.


View from behind. I'm going to be hanging custom brackets for the rear bumper off this cross member as well.


Today I went parts shopping at the boneyard, to look for a way to connect my steering column to the box. I don't like rag joints, but I also wasn't all that impressed with the last Borgeson/Flaming river combo I used, so I decided to go hunting. I had read somewhere that Jeeps had longer DD type shafts with GM ends on them, so that's where I looked. I pulled three shafts in all, one from a '98 Express Van (a tad short and DD on the column end), one from a '90 Cherokee (DD on the column end) and one from a '98 Cherokee (fits '97-'01 classic style Cherokee):


I had to trim the little pilot nub off the steering box for clearance, and file one tooth off the steering column (the Jeep U-joint is keyed), but for 10 minutes of dremel work it bolted right up like it was meant to be there. (For reference: It's 3/4"-36 spline top and bottom, bottom fits standard GM saginaw box. It is almost too long for my application, I have about 3.5" of compression available. I can measure full extension if anybody is interested.)

This shaft has a vibration dampener built into the upper U-joint, you can see here. I have about 1" of clearance between it and the #7 exhaust runner (I can get my hand in there easily). Should be fine with the ceramic coating. The shift linkage is really in the way, though. That definitely needs to be reworked.

I've also found a Jeep fuel tank that should work, they weren't expensive so I ordered one, will be here Wednesday as long as FedEx doesn't lose it. We shall see.