'wittle 'wesistor (Mini Jeep)

[Denny]

Good idea about the flange!

 

[Functional Artist]

Weatherman said rain is coming (again)
...so, must dis-assemble 'er (again)
...'cause we gots lots of bare metal

* Done while waitin' for the paint on Pru's kart, to fully cure

Thatsa lotsa of nuts & bolts

Worked on "flattin' them rear curves (where they overlap)

Maybe something like this

Inside view (just "roughed in" (for now) we'll get back to them

More clean up

...& then, gave 'em a good coatin' of primer

I also, re-primed some parts, as they have gotten "scuffed up" a bit
...& now, have more holes drilled in 'em too

 

[Functional Artist]

The shape your jeep is taking on looks like a 50s cj3b in my opinion.

Had ta look 'em up
...& yup, I'd have to agree

Here is a CJ3B (Ima not too sure how I feel about that "hood")

...& another one (different view)

This one even has the Nerf Bars (like mine)

...& rubber wheel well flares (like Ima gonna have ta do)

This one has dual rear wheels

...& some Heavy Duty rear wheel well flares

 

[Denny]

Weatherman said rain is coming (again)
...so, must dis-assemble 'er (again)
...'cause we gots lots of bare metal
View attachment 139573
* Done while waitin' for the paint on Pru's kart, to fully cure
View attachment 139574
Thatsa lotsa of nuts & bolts
View attachment 139575
Worked on "flattin' them rear curves (where they overlap)
View attachment 139576
Maybe something like this
View attachment 139577
Inside view (just "roughed in" (for now) we'll get back to them
View attachment 139578
More clean up
View attachment 139579
...& then, gave 'em a good coatin' of primer
View attachment 139580
I also, re-primed some parts, as they have gotten "scuffed up" a bit
...& now, have more holes drilled in 'em too
View attachment 139581 “Straitnin the curves, flatnin the hills some day the mountain might get ‘em but the law never will!”

 

[Functional Artist]

After letting the primer dry for a couple of days, I re-scuffed everything
...re-degreased everything
...re-hung everything
...& then, painted everything black

Floorboards too

* Not my "best work"
...but, good enough for a "seal 'em up, base coat"

 

[Functional Artist]

I've been busy re-building the little kart for Pru

...& removing the diesel engine & transmission out of an Isuzu NPR
Truck

Engine

Notice the grey molding around the doorway?

It fits right over (& grips onto) the welding flange

So, I harvested them from both sides

Ima thinkin' that we may be able to use them, to nicely " cover" the sharp edge, of the "doorway cut-outs", on the mini-Jeep

 

[Denny]

That truck will never be the same!

 

[Bansil]

So what is engine/tranny for?

 

[BaconBitRacing]

So what is engine/tranny for?

My guess is his tow truck busted its engine and this is the replacement.

 

[Functional Artist]

So what is engine/tranny for?

Spare part, sold for extra (supplemental) income

The towing industry SUCKS! right now

The economy was going sooooo good (for a few years 2016-2020) that everyone got confident & went & bought new cars
&
To make things worse, COVID came along & F'ed everything up (worser)
...& many folks got the bright idea to "start their own business"
...so, now there are literally dozens of "new" towing companies here in Toledo (flooding the market)
But,
Most don't know what they are doing
...& probably won't last very long

My guess is his tow truck busted its engine and this is the replacement.

Um...nope

I hauled that truck with my truck
...& loaded the engine into the new owners pick up with it (& "boy O boy" did it squat)

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Well, I'm glad your truck is runnin' strong

 

[Functional Artist]

Well, I'm glad your truck is runnin' strong

Meeeee toooooo
...that's me "Bread & Butter"
...plus, my "toy hauler"

 

[Functional Artist]

While the paint, on the body parts, wasa still curin', I figured we could work on/adjust the Castor

* If ya remember I designed & built the front axle back in Dec. 2022
...but, the Castor angle was just an "educated guess" at the time
(until we established where the rear axle would be, with suspension & then, ride height)

Well, I wasa "way off" (technical term)

After makin' sure the chassis was level (as it sits on all 4 wheels)
...I first checked the Castor Angle with a "square" (yup, that don't look right)

Then, double checked & confirmed with an Angle gauge

Um...that red line is usually supposed to be on the other side of that 90* mark

Probably a bit more like this

I'ma thinkin' I'll set 'er at ~5* negative (which should help the steering "self-center")
...but, not too aggressive (like the usual ~8*- ~10*)
...which should help make the steering not feel too "heavy"

So, I did some markin'
* I'ma thinkin' that the middle line on the spindle bracket, should be lined up with the rear line, on the axle)

...& then, removed the axle for modifications

 

[Functional Artist]

Front axle, all "jigged" up for weldin'

Just a couple of "tac's" for now

Then, used a straight board ta "square up" the other side (so's they kinda match)

All lined up & prepped for weldin'

Re-installed (dry fit) the axle, on the chassis (to double check the Camber angle)

Yup, that's closer to what I had in mind

Welded 'er up good
...& then, cleaned 'er up & prepped 'er for paintin'

Added a splash of Yellow (ta match the sprockets up in the rear)

 

[Functional Artist]

My buddy Sid (I miss him) warned me (a few times) about using pointy screws
...'cause they can & will "shread ya up", if ya ain't payin' attention

So, I came up with a trick ta get rid of them pointy points

Just grind/file 'em off right!

Ya but, how do ya hold them?
...they are little/dinky
...& get hot when ya grind on them

Well, I just clamp 'em in a pair of vice grips

Then, just use a grinder, sanding disc or even a file ta "flatten" 'em down

This way everyone of 'em gets trimmed down about the same

Then, pop 'em thru a piece of cardboard
...& add a quick coat of paint, ta seal up them bare ends

Before & after

Then, used these (non-pointy) screws, to attach the back of the dash, on to the Cowl

 

[Functional Artist]

The paint on the front axle has cured & is ready for re-installation

I went ahead & cleaned up & painted the tie rods & spindles (while I was at it) too

After installation, I double checked the Camber angle (still looks good)

...& then, re-double checked with a square

I got the tie rods & spindles re-installed

* Notice I "padded" the socket (with maskin' tape) as to try & not scuff the fresh paint

Looks kinda like this (the "splash" of yellow gives 'er a nice contrast)

Kinda lookin' like a real Jeep (ta me)

 

[Functional Artist]

I wasa at the junk yard a couple of days ago
...& harvested the foam rubber & upholstery from the rear sears of a Dodge Caravan

They are a grey kinda Velour material
...with a simple groove pattern to 'em

One of the mini-Jeep seat "platform(s)" is on the right
Calculating...calculating

 

[Master Hack]

Looking purdy sharp!

 

[G.W]

I wasa at the junk yard a couple of days ago
...& harvested the foam rubber & upholstery from the rear sears of a Dodge Caravan

They are a grey kinda Velour material
...with a simple groove pattern to 'em

One of the mini-Jeep seat "platform(s)" is on the right
Calculating...calculating
View attachment 139995

That's the only good part of a mini van, the comfy AF seats.

 

[Functional Artist]

The bottom seat pieces seem ta be a pretty good match to the seat platforms
...but, the top sections are wide at the top & narrow at the bottom
...& the seat backs for the mini-Jeep are wider at the bottom & narrower at the top

Ima thinkin' that maybe we can just "flip" them top sections around

Seems like a closer "fit"

I marked & trimmed the foam, to match the seat base/platforms

*An electric knife (like for carvin' the meat from a Turkey) cuts thru foam rubber like butter

Here are the (2) seat "bottoms", just trimmed & roughly wrapped (dry fit)

Here is a seat (top & bottom sections) trimmed & roughly wrapped (dry fit)