CJ Buggy

[ollllllo]

My CJBuggy Build thread.
I guess it’s a bit over due. But hey, better late than never.

This is technically my 3rd CJ7. It started life as a daily driver from the southern tier. I bought it from a friend of a friend for $400.00 in 2004. He said it had a broken transmission. My buddy crawled under it while I put it in gear, saw that the rear drive shaft was turning. So I put it in 4 wheel drive and drove it on the trailer. Needless to say the owner was dumfounded. It was the typical AMC20 2-pc rear axle that had stripped its splines.
 
During the early stages of a frame off restoration I found a much better CJ7 tub and frame from Pennsylvania. So this Jeep got shoved out in the weeds.

After  I began wheeling my pretty, fully restored CJ7, my non 4x4 having friends wanted to accompany me offroad. That was when I decided to put this CJ7 back together. Utilizing whatever leftover parts I had lying around, the CJBuggy was born.

I had initially figured it would only see occasional use. But it had become so much fun that I found myself driving it more often and pawning off the “Street CJ” to my friends. Then the inevitable happened. During a trip to Rausch Creek, I discovered their plans to start the RCROCS Rock Crawling Series. It was geared towards amateur competitors looking to try out the sport. I couldn’t resist.

4:88 gears, Chromoly shafts, HD Warn hubs, welded spider gears, and 1pc rear shafts were ordered. A 6-point, WEROC spec cage was built. (not a very pretty one)  Some 5-point harness’ and we were in business.

Here is how it rolled off the trailer for my first event.
•   4” 4WD Hardware HD leaf springs SUA
•   35” Mickey Thompson Baja Claws (2ply side walls)
•   Stock I-6 (140k) Weber carb., T-5 Transmission,      stock clutch,  stock Dana 300 (w twin sticks)
•   Stock drive shafts
•   8 gal. Summit fuel cell
•   Fiberglass tub
•   Dana 30 front axle (Alloy USA chromoly shafts) 4:88’s welded, Warn HD hubs, stock disc brakes, tubes bolted to housing
•   AMC20 rear axle (Superior 1pc. Shafts) 4:88’s welded, drum brakes, tubes bolted to housing

[ollllllo]

Ready for RCROCS

[ollllllo]

As you can see...the Jeep didn\'t like to flex. It was too light. So sometime in the summer of 2009, with the inspiration I received from Smike\'s CJ5, I got the idea to build a custom 4-link suspension.

Up until this point I had always been more of a restore it / buy it type of guy.I had always spent more time researching a part to bolt on than it would have taken me to build it from scratch. But things were about to change.

My photos of the re-build are limited but here is the list.

•   Dana 60 front, 35 spline chromoly outer shafts, Yukon drive flanges, 5:13’s welded, stage 8 fasteners, Double high steer arms
•   GM 14 HBolt rear, 5:13’s welded,
•   Corvette master cylinder w/ 4 wheel disc brakes
•   H1 double bead locks with cut Magnesium run flats.
•   39.5“x 18” Boggers
•   Custom four link front, 2”x 2.50” wall DOM links, Johnny Joints both ends
•   2”x16” Sway Away Air shocks
•   Full Hydraulic steering
•   Propane conversion (complete with AUX input)
•   Flex a lite electric fans
•   1/4” steel flat belly skid
•   Clocked Dana 300
•   4” SUA rear springs w/ Custom U-bolt flip
•   110” wheelbase

Thanks to a ton of hard work from my fellow club members...I made it to BIGDOGS Virgina for the Main Jambo with the now Bigger and Better CJBuggy!


 

[ollllllo]

After breaking my T-5 Transmission on the Jeeps\'s maiden voyage, I decided to replace it with an automatic. I just so happened to have another CJ7 parts Jeep with an auto. Here is how we removed it!

[ollllllo]

Now after a full year of wheeling the New and Improved CJBuggy, it was time for some long over due changes.

First order of business... New Cage!

 :gun:

[ollllllo]

NEW Rockrings while I contemplate cage design!

Hard work on beat up old wheels.

Thanks for all the help Smike! :rockstar:

[ollllllo]

New Seats!

[smichaelR22]

i like the cage lines in front

[Wingman]

You must have a stockpile of that green paint!

It\'s looking great!

[Camo1Ton]

I like the return to the rear hoop on the horizontal roof bars. Really sweet job guys.

[MrMindless]

cage is looking fantastic Erik.

[ollllllo]

More cutting, notching and grinding tube this weekend.

ordered seat tabs, new harness\'  from summit.

[color=009900]http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/bob-30298-16-23_w.jpg

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/CEE-3425.jpg[/color]

steering pump, res, and catch bottle from PSC

\"1400 series pumps are identical to the 1300 series pumps in appearance, but the looks are deceiving. These pumps are manufactured with completely different internal components than the 1300\'s. The heart of the 1400 pump is a larger ring and rotor which displaces more fluid per revolution. This makes this pump the pump of choice for Rock Crawlers that operate at low engine RPMs and have extensive steering modifications.\"

[color=009900]http://www.pscmotorsports.com/images/P/p-304.jpg

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/images/P/SP-1302-sm_LRG-01.jpg

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/images/P/p-507.jpg

[/color]

And Im switching to Synthetic Power-steering fluid

[ollllllo]

New propane tank mount.
Previous version had support bars extending out to rear down bars and it prevented me from putting much of anything behind the seats for trail riding. (cooler, grill, etc.)

[ollllllo]

More cage work!

[ollllllo]

Progress!

Additional support & start of seat sub frame.
Now that i have some tabs to work with im thinking i will need to re-make the front cross tube in order to raise the seat front. Its too low right now.