Jeep Build Up
Early in 2007 I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to 1 ton axles in my 1980 CJ7. My buddy Steve from TGTW Offroad had a great deal working with Tera Flex and could get a killer discount if we were able to put together a large enough order. Well it turns out that a pair of CRD-60Rs for the front and rear with some goodies here and there thrown in would get us over the number we needed. Sometime midyear I took delivery of two new axles. First a CRD-60R High Pinion front axle with 5.38 gears and an ARB and locking hubs. Second, a CRD-60R High Pinion rear axle with 5.38 gears and a Detriot Locker, full floating axles and locking hubs. Both axles have disc bakes. But being that my Company, Barnestormer Technologies Inc., graciously provides the budget that finances the Jeep, I needed to wait to fiscal 2008 to finish getting the remaining parts. When out on a wheeling run to Barnwell Mountain in Oct of 2007, I busted the passenger side steering knuckle on my Dana44 and decided the time had come to start the buildup. So I pulled the axles and sold them off, then did some prep work like cutting off spring hangers, etc and got ready for the new suspension components. In Jan of 2008 with the annual Moab trip just 3 months away it was GAME ON. What transpires in the following sections is the photo journal of the work that was done. The front got a stretched frame to push the axle forward 5 inches with a SOA flip and full hydraulic steering. The rear leafs where ripped out and I went back with the Gen-Right Four Link kit and a set of King coil-overs. In addition to the drive train changes, I removed and traded the one-piece fiberglass nose I used to have for a set of steel fenders, grill and hood. I picked up a set of Gen-Right tube fenders for the YJ-TJ model and retro-fit them to work on the CJ. So now I have something that will take a few kisses from rocks a little more graceful. A new rattle can of paint is cheap and I have plenty of hammers. The first test drive was completed exactly 14 days before departure with pretty much all work completed and first test 'run' completed about 10 days before. That final time was spent rechecking bolts, lines, wires, etc and giving EVERYTHING a complete once over. I kept a pretty fevered pace during the build up and at one point, CJ started referring to me as 'The man in shop' and I lost my title as Dad. However since he went with me on that first test drive, all was forgiven. He was doing the Moab Dance and you would have thought it was Christmas morning!!!! Like father, Like son
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 FrameStretch |
FrontGoesIn |
Misc |
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Motor |
RearGoesIn |
SteeringRam |
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TearDown |
Testing |