Half my 8 lug swap finished

[Mike C]

Got the front brakes on my Jimmy. Took a couple of days to source all the parts as usual. I need to get one of my extra rear housings to jig off of for the new rear axles. Wheels are 16.5x10 Centerline Chrome Bullets with 4.5" bs and tires are 36 12.5 Goodyear Wrangler RT II Military bias as used on the Humvee. But here's a shot:



35's are going onto my '52 M38A1 and as you can tell (like most of my projects...), it's half done also..

[Critter]

Hey, any progress is good progress! At least we finally had a good weekend of weather to do some work. I like the new Centerlines on the Jimmy

[Yukon Jack]

Looks great! As you know, I really dig that '52!

[Kool K5]

Where did you pick up those tires?
And that Jeep looks awesome!!

Evan

[LUV2XCLR8]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[dilbert]

does the eight lug mean that it is one ton.

[JAKES 68GMC]

Couple of sweet rides there.

[Mike C]

Thanks for the compliments. The 8 lug is from an 86 3/4 ton suburban. I'll be swapping in the semi-floater 9.5 14 bolt as well. The sub was a steal at $300. Didn't have a dent in it and was LOADEd. Turbo 400, NP 261, 4.10 gears, tow package, limited slip (Exploding gov-lok, but hey beggar chooser thing.)

The tires came from Tyres International and were a special: $448 for 4 with free delivery. I got five, $112 for the 5th and free delivery. The wheels were closeouts from Centerline, originally $457 each on clearance for $145 each and once again, I got 5. $1300 for the whole package.

[Kool K5]

I just had a look on that site for those tires and didn't find them. Was It a one time special and then they stopped carrying them?

[Mike C]

It was a special purchase. I went there as well and it is no longer on the site.

[Yukon Jack]

Sure was a great tire purchase - they have a current special on some 37" tires for $800 for Dick Cepek radials - no where near the deal you got, but still a pretty good deal.

[Mike C]

Yea, only draw back is the ONLY size is 36 12.5 16.5. I told myself I'd not own bias plys again, but hey, I can't say no to a deal!

[Yukon Jack]

Even with the size and bias ply shortcomings, still can't beat the price!

[Mike C]

That was the conclusion I came to as well and is what separated this fool and his $.

Tried balancing them last weekend, but couldn't get a zero. Everytime I added weight, it just moved around the rim. Called Ranger yesterday. One of the parameters you have to input is whell diameter, and 16.5 is not a choice. WTF? Guy said just round up. I had already tried that.

Monthly you are supposed to calibrate the balancer and the manual says "Note: a standard 14" steel wheel is recommended for this procedure." so I pulled my spare off the car trailer, dismounted the tire, and calibrated the balancer. Explained this to the tech and he said my mistake was not using the wheel and tire ASSEMBLY to calibrate. I pointed out to him that if they wanted me to use the wheel AND the tire, why didn't they say that in the instructions? Will re-calibrate balancer and try again maybe Friday night.

[Mike C]

OK, got a housing jig built off an old 12 bolt I had and then used the shock mounts on the semi-float 14. It's in the truck, but I still need to do brakes and get a conversion u-joint. But, it did free up the back tires for my jeep! I hope to have the conversion finished this week.

[Kool K5]

That thing looks wicked

Evan

[vtblazer]

Nice swap.

36's are the right tire for your SF, good call.

[Yukon Jack]

The '52 looks awesome!

[Mike C]

Thanks. Still making progress. Here is the JImmy with all 4 on it. Couldn't get a 1310 to 1350 joint at the local store. Should be in tomorrow. Brakes work great. I've been motoring around in front wheel drive.

[vtblazer]

Looks sweet for sure.

Is it as close as the pics make things look?
Any plans for a little more lift?

[Mike C]

Close, but not as close as it looks. No plans for more lift. Mostly on-road use these days and the jeep is the offroader.

I am planning on taking a little more off the front of the rear wheel wells (took about 1" off at the bottom tapering to zero up about 6") like when I went to the BFG's from the Mickeys. I'm also going to trim the "hook" off the fron fenders and weld the box back in. Not only does that give a little more clearance, but it looks better IMO if the front and rear of the wheelwells are the same shape.

If my driveshaft is a little too long, I'll redrill the spring mounts and slide the whole thing back 3/4" or so. I have a Tom WOods CV rear shaft but think I'll have room.

[Yukon Jack]

I'm just continuing to drool over the rim/tire combo!

[Mike C]

Thanks Mark. I need to get 'em balanced and then I can focus on the jeep for awhile. I still need to re-do the cage and am going to be doing some panel replacement as well, but that can wait awhile!

[Mike C]

Well, after getting it all buttoned up, not enough driveshaft travel. I pulled the U-bolts again and re-drilled the hole in the perch forward 3/4". I know have the proper alignement on the slip part of the driveshaft AND it ventered the axle in the rear wheel well.

Gonn'a work on the jeep for awhile, but next for the JImmy will be a new passenger front fender and box the lower front of both. New cage after that.