Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)

[6DoF]

BUT!!! i also got some work on the 55 done too!

i got into the heat exchanger cage last night, and i'm pretty happy with how it's going. still need to make the frame mount tubes, and fully weld it, along with weld in the nuts to bolt on the top plate ... but it's coming together.

cutting off the weak little mounting tabs from the coolers was annoying, along with having to smooth a bunch of super globby welds ... AL dust makes so much more mess ... but we should be good.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

i found another distraction!! uuugghhh

this time in the form of what took me YEARS to find. Clean, 2dr, 2000-2001, 6cyl, patriot blue, Jeep Cherokee. has an auto, needs a manual, but i'll take care of that easy enough right now. got it from a buddy for a great deal cuz the head was cracked due to a freeze plug behind the flywheel rusting thru. since the trans has to come out to fix that, i'm picking up a 5spd donor jeep tonight.

So why did you NEED that? Dirt Riot series car or something cool like that?

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

BUT!!! i also got some work on the 55 done too!

i got into the heat exchanger cage last night, and i'm pretty happy with how it's going. still need to make the frame mount tubes, and fully weld it, along with weld in the nuts to bolt on the top plate ... but it's coming together.

cutting off the weak little mounting tabs from the coolers was annoying, along with having to smooth a bunch of super globby welds ... AL dust makes so much more mess ... but we should be good.

Awesome! And using your custom mount no less. This will forever be "your" truck no matter who owns it in the future.

[youngrodder]

Looks like you know what your doing. Looks great!!

Marc

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

So why did you NEED that? Dirt Riot series car or something cool like that?

Why did i NEED it? cuz i <3 XJ's, that's why!

will be a daily / winter ride after a she's dialed in a bit. get it running right, 5spd, find any other needed maintenance bits, 3" lift and 32" ATs for the mechanical. then seat heaters, wireless android auto head unit, and remote start, already has power windows n locks. without question i'd rather drive that than anything on the market today. even more so when you think about the $$

[Dieselwrencher]

That looks very clean, nice score. Those exchangers and mount look nice.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

Why did i NEED it? cuz i <3 XJ's, that's why!

will be a daily / winter ride after a she's dialed in a bit. get it running right, 5spd, find any other needed maintenance bits, 3" lift and 32" ATs for the mechanical. then seat heaters, wireless android auto head unit, and remote start, already has power windows n locks. without question i'd rather drive that than anything on the market today. even more so when you think about the $$

Race car would be way cooler, but I get your plan. It will make a solid driver.

[6DoF]

fun was had ... things happened ...

[6DoF]

got back to some parts manufacturing though too. made the 10 seat belt nut washers to hold the lab and shoulder belt brackets. i guess i didn't need to do that til the cab is back on the chassis, but i was enjoying welding. got a bunch of bracket tabs made for future proofing the chassis to run hoses n wires with. lined a few down each side of the frame in case i ever want to bolt anything on later. and the heat exchanger cage and mounts are almost ready to weld in. the cage is done, the mounting tubes have been capped with captured nuts, just need to cut the tubes to length and glue em in. after that's mounted i want some ziptie tabs and call it ready for paint.

[dsraven]

Ok, now you're just showing off.
Looks great, I'm jealous of your tool bin. When I need to make stuff like that it's a drill and a file, lol.

[6DoF]

a buddy with the CNC plasma tables makes a woooorrrrrllllddd of difference!

the SWAG press brake for the HF arbor press has been awesome though. did great with the floor, and stuff like these little tabs are a breeze.

[dsraven]

nice spring you have there. was that a fun trip trying to steer that one to a stop?

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

a buddy with the CNC plasma tables makes a woooorrrrrllllddd of difference!

the SWAG press brake for the HF arbor press has been awesome though. did great with the floor, and stuff like these little tabs are a breeze.

I am amazed at how often I use the press brake that I built for my shop press. If I only had a plasma table.........

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by dsraven

nice spring you have there. was that a fun trip trying to steer that one to a stop?

i didn't even notice it!! it could have been broken all day, could have broken in the trailer on the ride home, no clue. was washing it in the driveway spraying everything off ... "um ... sh!t ..."

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice parts making and that spring is nuts. It almost looks cut with a torch.

[lower50's]

Nice cage bracket! I assume you have double wrapped springs. WOW

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice cage bracket! I assume you have double wrapped springs. WOW

for offroad the only thing i'll run is full military wrap, having 2 main leaves means redundancy in an already simple and reliable solution. i think my new springs have finally shipped at least!. it's going to be a guessing game of mix n match with old and new secondary leaves, but first i have ot know how much taller new springs will be

[6DoF]

but first, more real updates on the 55! last night i finished the cage mounts and got the whole mess into the chassis. wish i had gotten a picture of trying to prop it up into place, had straps n blocks on stools, was a contraption for sure. and of course, being me, i had to get it within 1/32" of my 3D :facepalm:

so the heat exchangers are still loose-ish in the cage, i built it slightly over-size to allow for a small padded seat AL to Steel. this also allows for a little flex in the mount with the chassis, hopefully without damaging anything.

[6DoF]

then this morning i was woke up by a flappy noise in my ductwork ... been there for a few weeks now, but finally pissed me off. got up, got a ladder, pulled the vent and dug some tape out at an arms length in there. but it's gone.

still not time for work ... so i decided to sand the firewall filler and do a quick 3rd glaze on 2 spots cuz i kept leaving weirdness and over sanding.

still not time for work ... so i finished fully welding the post mounts for the heat exchanger cage.

still not time for work ... but this time i went anyways

[Father&son56project]

That is gorgeous fabrication work!

[youngrodder]

Nice us of your time....I cant wait to see this one come together....Hurry up, would ya!!

Marc

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Nice us of your time....I cant wait to see this one come together....Hurry up, would ya!!

Marc

cross your fingers for me, i really want to try painting very soon before the weather gets any colder!

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

cross your fingers for me, i really want to try painting very soon before the weather gets any colder!

LOL.... good stuff right there.

[6DoF]

BOOM! DONE!

i mean, as done as it's going to be until after assembly. the chassis is still missing f/r bumper mounts and rear hitch receiver. things that i need the bed on to get a complete look at to know where they go. to this point i've only confirmed that i'm pretty sure the bed will somehow fit if i cut some things up a bit, haha.

the big add last night was the Zip-Tie tabs, 39 in total. i had 31 welded to the chassis before i thought ... "i should check and make sure a ziptie fits in these". also kind of detailed out the other bits in prep for paint. one more fancy plate got holes drilled, and the LCA's got drain/rock escape holes on the back edge of the bag pockets. front edge will still push gravel if needed, but the back i wanted stuff to be able to get out.

[youngrodder]

Great idea on those tabs. You can never have enough zip tie attachment points. That chassis is unreal.

Keep it up

Marc