I have a JD2 Model 3 Manual Bender with Degree Ring, with a manual push bar. I have pumped a lot of iron and am now ready to convert it to an automatic machine. For my reference I searched and found these links. I wanted to add them here so I can easily get back to them as I find the parts. I will be building the conversion parts and stand once I collect a ram and pump.
http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk5/bender/
http://reference.toolandfab.com/writeups/hydrobender_webpage/index.htm
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Jeep Wrangler TJ Lift and Tire questions
I just got this question from a fellow Jeeper and I thought I would post it and answer it here.
I have some questions and your help would be greatly appreciated. I want to run 35 inch tires on my Jeep Wrangler TJ. I know this is tough to do but that is my ultimate goal. Here is how i was thinking about doing it. I am going to buy Skyjacker 2.5in coils because i already have shocks that will work for a 3 inch lift. I will also buy some track bar brackets. On top of the front coil i was going to do a 1 inch coil spacer to level it. Then i will throw on a JKS 1.25 inch body lift. Then make a TC (Transfer case skid plate) drop with bolts and washers. I already have quick discos for the front sway bar. What what about my rear sway bar do i need to worry about that. Any help would be appreciated. I am doing this as money allows and eventually i will get a SYE and CV drive line and a D44 rear and 4.88 gears with a Detroit in back and maybe an Aussie for my front D30 what do you think about this?
thanks, Will
PS. as you can tell i am on a budget lol :)
I forgot to add that I do not off road much just some small stuff no rocks or anything crazy like that. With the lift that i mentioned i think i will get about 4.5 total inches maybe a little more how will that look and function? Like i said i don't do anything crazy.
Thanks again
Ok Will, go for it, from my experience you will need 4 inches of lift on a Wrangler TJ to clear 35 inch tires. Even more if you plan to really stuff the tires and Rock Crawl with the big boys. You mentioned your jeeping style is more mellow, so I think the lift you have planned may accommodate 35 inch tires. You shocks may still be too short, if you add 3.5 inches of suspension lift to the front end. The worry if your shocks are too short is they will limit your wheel travel versus the full extension of the suspension limiting it. I wouldn't worry about the shocks, you will probably be ok.
Another thing you will need to think about is the possibility of getting some adjustable control arms. These are needed to control the front caster if you experience any "Death Wobble" or front end wobble after the lift. You may be fine you may not, it's kind of lift and see what happens issues. The control arms can also reposition the rear pinion to point up to the transfer case. This eliminates the rear drive line vibration that you may get.
Track bars brackets are good and will solve the issues of axle alignment. The rear sway bar should be fine with only 2.5 inches of lift, you can look at it before an after the lift and notice the difference, the angles won't change that much.
The other thing you have planned sound good, if you don't get vibrations you can hold off on the SYE, a Dana 44 rear end is a very nice thing to have, When a Dana 35 clip breaks it can make for an adventure getting the Jeep home. I run 4.56 gears in my TJ with a 5.5 inch suspension lift and 33 inch tires. I may go to 35's but I currently own 33 and am afraid of breaking more axles if I upgrade to 35's.
With 35's you may also need to change out you speedometer gear. This is very easy to do, it is mounted in a window on the transfer case. A new speedometer gears about 10 bucks at your Jeep dealer.
I have some questions and your help would be greatly appreciated. I want to run 35 inch tires on my Jeep Wrangler TJ. I know this is tough to do but that is my ultimate goal. Here is how i was thinking about doing it. I am going to buy Skyjacker 2.5in coils because i already have shocks that will work for a 3 inch lift. I will also buy some track bar brackets. On top of the front coil i was going to do a 1 inch coil spacer to level it. Then i will throw on a JKS 1.25 inch body lift. Then make a TC (Transfer case skid plate) drop with bolts and washers. I already have quick discos for the front sway bar. What what about my rear sway bar do i need to worry about that. Any help would be appreciated. I am doing this as money allows and eventually i will get a SYE and CV drive line and a D44 rear and 4.88 gears with a Detroit in back and maybe an Aussie for my front D30 what do you think about this?
thanks, Will
PS. as you can tell i am on a budget lol :)
I forgot to add that I do not off road much just some small stuff no rocks or anything crazy like that. With the lift that i mentioned i think i will get about 4.5 total inches maybe a little more how will that look and function? Like i said i don't do anything crazy.
Thanks again
Ok Will, go for it, from my experience you will need 4 inches of lift on a Wrangler TJ to clear 35 inch tires. Even more if you plan to really stuff the tires and Rock Crawl with the big boys. You mentioned your jeeping style is more mellow, so I think the lift you have planned may accommodate 35 inch tires. You shocks may still be too short, if you add 3.5 inches of suspension lift to the front end. The worry if your shocks are too short is they will limit your wheel travel versus the full extension of the suspension limiting it. I wouldn't worry about the shocks, you will probably be ok.
Another thing you will need to think about is the possibility of getting some adjustable control arms. These are needed to control the front caster if you experience any "Death Wobble" or front end wobble after the lift. You may be fine you may not, it's kind of lift and see what happens issues. The control arms can also reposition the rear pinion to point up to the transfer case. This eliminates the rear drive line vibration that you may get.
Track bars brackets are good and will solve the issues of axle alignment. The rear sway bar should be fine with only 2.5 inches of lift, you can look at it before an after the lift and notice the difference, the angles won't change that much.
The other thing you have planned sound good, if you don't get vibrations you can hold off on the SYE, a Dana 44 rear end is a very nice thing to have, When a Dana 35 clip breaks it can make for an adventure getting the Jeep home. I run 4.56 gears in my TJ with a 5.5 inch suspension lift and 33 inch tires. I may go to 35's but I currently own 33 and am afraid of breaking more axles if I upgrade to 35's.
With 35's you may also need to change out you speedometer gear. This is very easy to do, it is mounted in a window on the transfer case. A new speedometer gears about 10 bucks at your Jeep dealer.
Jeep Parking only sign.
I was stumbling around on Amazon today, as if you couldn't tell. I found this sign and had to have and had to share.
https://amzn.to/4a89a4R
https://amzn.to/4a89a4R
Jeep Wrangler TJ Service Manual
Do you have a good service manual for your Jeep? I have a couple but really wish I had a factory service manual. I have a Haynes manual for a Jeep YJ, and Chiltons manual for a YJ as well.
I don't own a YJ anymore, so I started looking for a good Wrangle TJ manual.
Here a cool way to find all kinds of great stuff for your Jeep on Amazon.com. Everyone needs a new shop manual or a Jeep parts. I am amazed at all the stuff you can find for you jeep from Amazon, It is certainly not just a book store anymore. One other things I noticed is that prices can jump around on Amazon, so great deals are certainly available.
I don't own a YJ anymore, so I started looking for a good Wrangle TJ manual.
Here a cool way to find all kinds of great stuff for your Jeep on Amazon.com. Everyone needs a new shop manual or a Jeep parts. I am amazed at all the stuff you can find for you jeep from Amazon, It is certainly not just a book store anymore. One other things I noticed is that prices can jump around on Amazon, so great deals are certainly available.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
4x4 Trailer build two, that's right the second off road trailer for me.
I know I have some work to do on the trailer write up for the first trailer I built. But I like working in the shop more than writing about what I am working on. So any way I started a second off road trailer build and I also started writing it up. I'll fix the links and add them soon.
I wanted to point out this site I found from the Australian government about building trailers. It confirms the size and style on tongue I am using on my 4x4 trailers are fully strong enough. I have tested my trailer fully loaded and did not have any issues, it's just kinda nice to see a technical write up of the mechanical engineering perspective.
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear84.htm
My Red Jeep Club 4x4 Trailer Build
I wanted to point out this site I found from the Australian government about building trailers. It confirms the size and style on tongue I am using on my 4x4 trailers are fully strong enough. I have tested my trailer fully loaded and did not have any issues, it's just kinda nice to see a technical write up of the mechanical engineering perspective.
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear84.htm
My Red Jeep Club 4x4 Trailer Build
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The clock is ticking, Rubicon here we come.
I forgot to mention in the last post, I am headed to the "Rubicon Trail" in two weeks. I actually feel pretty good about my progress and schedule. I have two weeks and all this weekend to play in the garage. Before most trips I have the wheels off Jeep the axles out and all parts scattered all around the night before.
But for this trip, I am doing the upgrades in small steps. I could just put the new springs in and go. All I would need is to just change the front pinion angle with the existing arms. But I want more long arms here I come.
But for this trip, I am doing the upgrades in small steps. I could just put the new springs in and go. All I would need is to just change the front pinion angle with the existing arms. But I want more long arms here I come.
My new Jeep TJ suspension and Lift kit.
Yup, Once again I find myself in way over my head. I have a low, flat, squished Jeep with crappy squashed springs, and a mix of control arms that are loose and not adjustable. So I am going to fix it. Here are the steps I have taken so far to upgrade the lift.
Step 1) 650+ bucks at Tera-Flex for a belly up skid plate and the brackets for the Tera-Flex long arm kit. I shall be building my own arms outta some really expensive DOM tube and Johny Joints, and old RE control arms.
Step 2) A 6 mintue job, take off the 6 bolts holding the stock belly pan, and the 4 little nuts holding the transfer case. This simple job turns into at least 6-10 hours. The front two bolts, spin inside the frame. I spent hours cutting all nice with 6 sawzall blades, the next side wasn't so lucky the Plamsa cutter was call into action. So now the plate is off, I built 2 new nuts, welded to washers, plasma cut a big hole in the frame and welded these back in. Did I ever tell you how much I hate welding and cutting upside down under a jeep on my back. I told Brett I am sure of this.
Step 3) Put on new brackets, and skid plate. This was easy enough, then the next day I lined it all up and welded the long arm brackets in place.
Step 4) New springs. I collected a couple of sets of hand me down springs and attacked the front. I got the old springs out Tera 4 inch, and compared them to the RE 4.5 and the Other RE 4.5 I wanted to put in. Something didn't mix, I had two different 4.5 inch spring one set being at least 2 inches longer than the Tera 4 inch and 1.5 in longer than the other RE 4.5. I oped for the Taller spring and spent the last two night installing them. I should have bought new springs all around but, I am outta cash.
Step 5) Drive Jeep to work tis AM. WHOOO!!!, Death wobble, Serious passenger lean. The thing was leaning low on the passenger side, but these new front springs made it way worse. I will be putting on new rear springs this week and hopefully I will get the jeep to stop listing to the starboard side.
Step 6) Enjoy the death wobble. Yup got the front end pinion pointing way down and the front wheels did not want me to get on the freeway. Nope no way, keep her under 40.
Step 7) New rear springs. Gotta see how the set I have lines up vs. the old ones I will be taking out. This will consume the rest of this weeks nights.
Step 8) Build my new control Arms, cut of factory mounts and see what happens.
Step 9) Maybe replace the front track bar. With the extra lift I think the axle it not aligned correctly.
Step 10) Go on the Rubicon Trail. 16 Days and counting them down.
Step 1) 650+ bucks at Tera-Flex for a belly up skid plate and the brackets for the Tera-Flex long arm kit. I shall be building my own arms outta some really expensive DOM tube and Johny Joints, and old RE control arms.
Step 2) A 6 mintue job, take off the 6 bolts holding the stock belly pan, and the 4 little nuts holding the transfer case. This simple job turns into at least 6-10 hours. The front two bolts, spin inside the frame. I spent hours cutting all nice with 6 sawzall blades, the next side wasn't so lucky the Plamsa cutter was call into action. So now the plate is off, I built 2 new nuts, welded to washers, plasma cut a big hole in the frame and welded these back in. Did I ever tell you how much I hate welding and cutting upside down under a jeep on my back. I told Brett I am sure of this.
Step 3) Put on new brackets, and skid plate. This was easy enough, then the next day I lined it all up and welded the long arm brackets in place.
Step 4) New springs. I collected a couple of sets of hand me down springs and attacked the front. I got the old springs out Tera 4 inch, and compared them to the RE 4.5 and the Other RE 4.5 I wanted to put in. Something didn't mix, I had two different 4.5 inch spring one set being at least 2 inches longer than the Tera 4 inch and 1.5 in longer than the other RE 4.5. I oped for the Taller spring and spent the last two night installing them. I should have bought new springs all around but, I am outta cash.
Step 5) Drive Jeep to work tis AM. WHOOO!!!, Death wobble, Serious passenger lean. The thing was leaning low on the passenger side, but these new front springs made it way worse. I will be putting on new rear springs this week and hopefully I will get the jeep to stop listing to the starboard side.
Step 6) Enjoy the death wobble. Yup got the front end pinion pointing way down and the front wheels did not want me to get on the freeway. Nope no way, keep her under 40.
Step 7) New rear springs. Gotta see how the set I have lines up vs. the old ones I will be taking out. This will consume the rest of this weeks nights.
Step 8) Build my new control Arms, cut of factory mounts and see what happens.
Step 9) Maybe replace the front track bar. With the extra lift I think the axle it not aligned correctly.
Step 10) Go on the Rubicon Trail. 16 Days and counting them down.
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