Found - My first jeep! "The Heap" (now running!)

[Belac]

thidisbogus,

Thanks for pointing that out. Thank goodness for all you folks that can keep me in line! I learn a little bit every day. I had no idea that 2 of the bell-housing bolts were supposed to be different than the others. I did some looking around again to educate myself.

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=148862
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=101098&start=0
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=159966

It looks like I will be ok with a 3/8 cap screw with a good shoulder, which will be good, as the dowel bolts may be harder to come by.
I dont' remember what exactly I put in there, so I'll take them out and make sure what I have will work.

[Dave K.]

I'd keep the big skins and enjoy the improved ride and stability. I'm going back and forth right now on which tires I'm going to put on my Slat but thinking of leaving the solid rims off and going with something with a 15" rim for daily driving and the others for show....

[myersron]

Hello, I'd like to make contact with you about the brake mod you did on your jeep. Hope your still on the G.

Ron
Packwood WA

[Belac]

Ron,
email sent.

[Belac]

I have made a little progress, but have run across a problem. I'm having a little trouble with my Speedometer driven gear in the Transfer Case. I asked some questions about it in the Tech section:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=210167

Other than that, just small things done on the Heap to get it ready to run. New rear axle seals and oil, Trans and TC oil, Brake system filled and checked, critical wiring done, battery tray and battery installed, new fuel pump etc. I broke the original fitting on the oil pressure guage line, and am waiting for the new one to arrive before I can try and start the engine.

[Belac]

I finally drove the Heap!!!

A few things gave me trouble. The alternator wouldn't charge (I had just missed 1 connection on the regulator). And I had trouble getting oil pressure. I took the oil pump off and primed it, and all the hoses. That gave me pressure, but then the timing was off. I tried multiple times, then just rotated all the wires on the distributor cap 1 position clockwise. #1 is now at the 9 0'clock position. The Clymer manual I have says it should be at 6. I also had to put some stopleak in the radiator, but now that works well too. It runs!

There are still a few bugs to work out but the Heap is driveable! Here are some pictures I took on a 7 mile drive yesterday.







I have nothing left in the jeep budget, and the Heap runs and drives, so for the time being I can't do much more to it. I will try to get a real fuel tank for safety reasons, and still have to install the oil bath aircleaner. Other than that though, there is still more that it needs, but nothing critical.

I have been asked numerous times by people who have seen it, one funny question: "What are you going to do with it?" I always think: "um...what else would I do with it? I'm going to drive it!

I have already been asked if I want to sell it. NOPE!

By the way, the disc brakes are amazing. Very responsive. The first time around the block I stomped on the brakes, and slid to a stop in the gravel. The gas can in the back tipped over, and gas went EVERYWHERE! Needless to say I shut it off immediately and cleaned up the mess. Now my temporary gas tank is secured by bungee cords!

[Raymond S. Meldrum]

"By the way, the disc brakes are amazing. Very responsive. The first time around the block I stomped on the brakes, and slid to a stop in the gravel"

I dig your disc brake conversion and am wondering if your mod will accommodate standard combat wheels and tires? Does it shift the wheels outward in profile? Any other thoughts that might help a daily driver that likes updated systems but wants to keep the stock look?

peace

[Outlier]

Way to Go Belac!! This is a significant milestone for the Jeep game... the Heap looks awesome, you've done a great job. Its sure come a long way from the pile of parts in the barn. The driving part is where the real fun begins!

[Belac]

Raymond,

I originally had some combat wheels, and did the mod with the intent of using them. Putting them directly on resulted in a minor clearance issue: A half inch spacer solved the problem. I used pretty long studs, so it worked great. So to answer your question, it would move each wheel out a half an inch from center. Probably not noticable. You might be able to see some of the caliper and rotor from the front and rear of the jeep with combats, I'm not sure since my wheels are deeper, and they are hid pretty well. The neighbor looking under it was impressed "whoa, you've got disc brakes front AND rear!!!

I didn't have money to complete my combat wheel set, or to buy a full set of NDT's so I went with the wheels we had. They are from a ford bronco, and don't need spacers, just needed the center hole enlarged.

On Outlier's jeep (feel free to chime in) he used 15" cj wheels and skinny tires. These were a bit of a problem because of the smaller diameter. He ground out some of the wheel spoke material in the offending places in order to get them to work with a spacer from autozone.

Outlier and his jeep are actually in your area now, maybe you could test fit your wheels on his jeep to see if you like the look and the setup? Maybe he'll even let you try the brakes!

I know its hard to make modifications, but this one could be pretty easily reversed if needed.

[thidisbogus]

Belac,

Your jeep looks very nice, and the mod will make for a safer daily driver. Congratulations on getting her back on the road.

[1947cj2]

Refreshing, have fun.

[DavidA]

Very impressive work. Don't give up on detail. Keep working on that tub and make it like new.

I am totally impressed with your workmanship on those data plates. That was just too darn cool. Perseverance ...an amazing tool eh?