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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
got the carrier bearing mounted finally now that i knew the angle of the trans output. the sucky part is that i have to knock the bearing races out to fully weld it.
i do have some drive shafts i can start cutting up for temporary bits for the first test drive and sorting everything out. ![]() ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
one thing i really want this to be is reasonable to drive for long distances on the highway. that's going to require a new rear gear to really get there, but I'm starting with noise and heat. while researching mufflers and killing drone on big exhaust for the 12v, the ONLY thing that everyone agreed on was that these resonator/mufflers are the best thing going. even adding another standard muffler after it for a great note that is actually more quite then factory in the cab. but it looks super screwy
![]() my next issue is getting a 5" exhaust to go anywhere reasonable. i have always planned to run it down outside the frame on the passenger side with a side exit in front of the running board. the running board might now get scrapped for a 2nd muffler, but i'll save that for later. the real issue is going to be getting the exhaust around the frame, tire, shock, and body! if building this frame again, i'd move the 45deg section back by 3" to gain enough space to turn a 90 in plane with the ground and then turn a 90 straight up inside to the turbo. as it stands though, i have 5.5" between the floor and frame. i was thinking maybe i would just run a 4" down to the rocker, but now maybe i can crush a 5" down to a 4" tall oval locally there. we'll see, this will be a project. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
this next bit of fab is going to make a few of you twitch
![]() off road fab'd some drive shafts for test fitting and set-up this weekend. but will also most likely start driving on them too. section out or in whatever length you want, clamp with angle iron on 2 sides to keep the tube straight and weld it back up. jump around a lot and to the opposite side each time to keep from warping it, grind off the top of the weld to minimize extra weight working against the balance, but leave the weld proud for extra material at the joint for strength. i have actually had very good success doing this with perfect balance at 80mph, and living years under jeeps being beat off road. just not the prettiest, or well accepted solution. had to make a little clearance on the fwd shaft to the crossmember. held a sharpie on a pc of 1/4" plate and spun the shaft to get about 1/2" clearance. if the chassis twists enough to get that to contact, the solution isn't more clearance but adding a roll cage ![]() the rear shaft helped me set the rear pinion angle and check it thru travel. at full droop i set the pinion 2deg below the shaft to allow for a little motion up under torque loading. at full compression the pinion is only 1.2deg below the pinion, so ride will be somewhere in the middle. axle perches are officially tacked in place, making the axle DONE and ready for final weld/paint. this shaft is a junkyard 1350 cv, eventually i'll get a new 1410 cv unit and have to change the yoke on the axle at the same time. that's probably also a good time to get better gears and limited slip installed. i'm quickly running out of things to fab and procrastinate doing the floor ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by 6DoF; 03-15-2021 at 08:20 AM. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
"made some shocking progress this evening"
![]() Who makes that resonator? It looks very neat. Took me 3 try's to get the exhaust on my little diesel in my jeep the way I wanted, ended up making my own muffler, straight through baffled. Making driveshafts like that works surprisingly well.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648459 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=769441 1951 MG TD 1967 Jeep CJ5 1.9L TDI 33X13.5X15 Mud Grapplers. 1952 GMC 9700 p/u 7.3L diesel on air, dually |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
FTE Diesel
https://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/v...p?idCategory=7 it's the only muffler/resonator i've come across that didn't even have troll haters. some go with only that, some use a muffler with it, but the word on the street is that it's nothing but good things. i figured it's worth a shot! today i actually ordered a muffler to go behind it too. I got the "Resonator / Muffler 5" Aluminized", but figured i should take it further. on the passenger side i probably won't run any bed side step at all in favor of the muffler/side pipe setup. being a long bed, and moving the fenders back another 10-12" should give me lots of room to play with. then i can use a chunk from the pass side board to weld into the drivers side to extend it far enough to cover the whole span cab to fender. Last edited by 6DoF; 03-15-2021 at 10:07 PM. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
so here is the 2nd most recommended muffler to quite a diesel, a Donaldson muffler. now i went with a shorter version though since i don't quite have the room, so 20" body vs the 44" most ppl get for a ram. this is an M090595 with 5" in and out.
straight thru design, but then you can see the baffle right smack in the middle. i guess if it's too quite i can just start drilling holes in that. ![]() the rear fenders are about 13" wide, and this can is 9" dia plus at least 1" off the bed side, so i'll still be at least 3" inside the fender lip with this side pipe. don't forget that i'm making the whole bed wider to get around the duals vs just wider fenders. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
while i've been plotting exhaust and ordering parts, i've also started to figure the trans tunnel. i think i'm going to commit to the bent plate vs rolled look.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
The nice thing about a bent plate trans cover is that it is easy to mount stuff to it if you want, like cup holders.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648459 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=769441 1951 MG TD 1967 Jeep CJ5 1.9L TDI 33X13.5X15 Mud Grapplers. 1952 GMC 9700 p/u 7.3L diesel on air, dually |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Got a new toy in the mail today! I had the swag press brake, but just got the adapter for tight bends. I think this is going to be good.
The sheet is 16g CORTEN i had left over from building the house, so its nice n solid. I was thinking about where to put a bead roll or 2 and its just noooot needed. The floor structure bridge will be plated over and under to box it. ![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by 6DoF; 03-26-2021 at 09:43 PM. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Mississauga
Posts: 90
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I must have been asleep for sometime or something. This build got really serious real quick.
Nice work! |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Getting a little better at this sheet metal thing. I'll fill the floor flat across to the tunnel, and will be a huge flare going fwd around the bell. Lucky me, i was able to read my own sketch
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#13 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Smethport, PA
Posts: 1,213
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I love everything about this build. Hopefully I run into it one day. I'm pretty sure I've seen that YJ before. Bantam perhaps... maybe Rausch Creek.
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85 K30 crew cab dually - Project http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=694939 87 Wrangler Rock Crawler - Reason for the project http://www.wranglerforum.com/f330/da...ld-122601.html 04 1500 crew cab http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=786514 |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
thanks! with any luck you can see the truck towing the YJ at RC some time "soon"! the YJ has been to RC for sure, but i've only taken the 6.0L TJ to Bantam. last year was the first season for the 40 n beadlocks on the YJ too, the 12 years prior she was on 36" IROKs and some generic AL wheels.
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#15 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
ok, finally stopped procrastinating and got to work on the new doghouse for the #6 cylinder. lots of trial work with the markers before i finally settled on something i liked.
made the firewall cuts, measured twice, then bent myself a 6.5" sidewall to the doghouse. fit it, realized i had measured wrong, and had to cut in half since i didn't want to waste that much steel. got it welded back together and that little panel had a little warp in it. i hate sheet metal. and i really could have taken a tiny bit more out of it, but oh well. she fit pretty well. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
so before i swung that massive chunk of cast iron out of the frame, i had measured about where i wanted to cut the tunnel on the dog house back plate. nothing like trusting in your notes and making holes! the back plate has a 6.5deg bend (same angle as engine tip) in it as well, trying to pull the face fwd and give my boot a little more room. i need to test fit with all the pedals and seat in place, but i could actually do like a 1" chamfer up that whole corner if needed too. i'll finish the rest of the tunnel first.
should have enough room on the exhaust side for an aftermarket manifold and full blanket to keep the cab cooler. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#17 |
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
my biggest win was that the engine/trans were able to swing in together at the same time! that trans is STUPID heavy and i have zero interest in trying to put it in from the bottom. i'd probably pull the cab. my tunnel cut lined up nice, and i'm buring it all in solid now.
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#18 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Smethport, PA
Posts: 1,213
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
The firewall turned out good.
I just put 40s on my YJ this year as well. Hopefully I can get it on the trail this weekend finally.
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85 K30 crew cab dually - Project http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=694939 87 Wrangler Rock Crawler - Reason for the project http://www.wranglerforum.com/f330/da...ld-122601.html 04 1500 crew cab http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=786514 |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
NICE!!!
now there are 3 of us, time to schedule a trip. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I like the look of your fire wall and it's a bonus that you can get the motor and trans in all together. Definitely set the seat and peddles in before you finish up the trans hump.
40's are the new 37" guess I'm really getting to be the under dog with my 33". Back 26 years ago when I lifted my Jeep 35" was big.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648459 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=769441 1951 MG TD 1967 Jeep CJ5 1.9L TDI 33X13.5X15 Mud Grapplers. 1952 GMC 9700 p/u 7.3L diesel on air, dually |
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#21 | ||
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Quote:
Quote:
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#22 |
6>8 Plugless........
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Prairie City, Ia
Posts: 17,140
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
What an awesome build! I also love every part of it. I've always wanted to build one of these trucks I just already have too many projects. That carrier bearing is so bad ass. I have 2 other suggestions for mufflers. First, is the spinny muffler. A 2nd turbo about 75mm or so. That quiets them down and adds that boost stuff you wanted before earlier in this thread.
![]() ![]() Awesome fab work and that computer aided everything you have from modeling to cutting everything is so cool. When I build my crew cab 67-72 I want to do exactly this. Build a custom frame that suites the truck's needs. What plans do you have for the engine? What are you planning on doing to the IP and do you have a fuel plate or something else? I've installed a couple of AFC Live's and really like them.
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Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project Tired of spark plugs? Check this out. |
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#23 |
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Grey County Ontario
Posts: 207
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
That's a nice firewall fit around that engine!
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#24 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Quote:
![]() i also fully support the 2nd spinny muffler! my usual term is spiral muffler, but i now actually have one that better fits that description ... weird. my goal with this is to only build it once, and if i can fit 5" now i know i never have to re-do it. i can also get less restriction with quieter dual mufflers in 5" cuz i do hope to make more power than that 855 eventually while still being able to have a conversation while driving. same power, same air! i'm willing to share my CAD if anyone wants it. so the 12V plan ... this will be a long and twisted road ![]() as for the AFC live, i'll actually be building my own. they are a precision air pressure regulator with a bypass switch and orifice valve. the regulator lets you set the max boost PSI that the pump will see, letting you set max fueling. assumes that the AFC spring was swapped out to match your max boost. the orifice valve allows you to slow down how quickly the pump sees this max pressure, giving the turbo's time to spool and making a high HP engine less violent on the street. the bypass obviously just lets all the violent happen ![]() |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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