Jeff Daniel’s Jeeps | Message Board

FunHog · 2006-04-04 21:04:04

Did a custom U bolt flip on my 83 CJ-7. Worked out rather well and was pretty inexpensive too. Best part is you get more ground clearance and you can do it in a weekend. I will put up a few pictures here to show the final project. It's not completely done yet, but almost.
Started by installing a Dana 44 from the rear of a Scout II (1980) I had to cut and reweld the perches for the CJ width (36" on center) and then I got U-bolt plates from a mid 80's Dodge truck that had a spring over set up and trimmed off the shock mount as it would have been way too high. Bought square U-bolts (most expensive part) and also bought custom u-bolt retainers for the bottom. All I have left to do is determine the best attachment point for the shock and weld a tab onto the axle and it's done. Looking to try it out at Paragon on the JD ride. Hope to see you there.

FunHog · 2006-05-03 19:44:23

Continuing on my quest for bigger and better, I have begun work on my front Dana 44 from the same Scout II. Today I ground the heck out of the welds that hold the inner C's to the axle tubes and I am attempting to add 6* Castor to the front end. Stock Scout II's had 0* Castor. I will post pictures as i get them off the camera. I will be taking it to weld back together later this week with some nice 7018 sticks....those puppies ain't goin' no where!!

I figure I am just going to add everything that I do to my jeep here. It is kind of fun to post your progress for others to read. Anyone else with a CJ doing anything similar??

Next week: Fabricate custom out boarded spring hangers to accept YJ springs, Move the axle forward one inch and incorporate a shackle reversal with an adjustable rear mount. Oh Joy

-CB

FunHog · 2006-05-19 16:10:32

This picture is after the SRS build!!!

-CB

Last edited by FunHog (2006-05-19 16:11:14)

redjeep · 2006-07-28 09:51:11

I was wondering if you could tell me what year and model those dodge truck u-bolt plates came from? Are they on the front or back? thanks for any info.!

-redjeep

Last edited by redjeep (2006-07-28 09:52:31)

FunHog · 2006-08-02 18:24:50

Red,

I went to harry's off Geryville Pike and looked around. I don't know the exact year. I just looked for a Dodge truck with a Spring over rear Dana 44 and what you see in the pictures is what they will look like but you will find them with the shock mount attached...you just need to cut that off. You can order the square U-bolts from Jeff Daniels...I was told they w*ould sell them to me at the same price I could get them from someone else which was around $6 each, i think even a little cheaper like $5.39 or something, dont quote me though. That is pretty much it. If you dont have shock mounts welded to your axle you will need to buy new ones and weld them on, they're about $20 give or take, for the set.
Up front I onle did one because with my Dana 44 it hits the pumpkin so my front passenger side is set up normally until i figure something out, but I did the front driver's side the same way I did the rear. Hope this helps.

BTW: I think harry's charged me like $12.75 for the three plates then I sand blasted and galvanized and painted them.

--B

FunHog · 2006-08-02 18:26:42

Oh yeah, an update, front end is opn the ground, just working on getting steering links made and going with Heim joints instead of ball joints. My Jeep is a mess, if anyone has a set of Dana 44 Flat top knuckles i might be interested in them. Thanks and hopefully I will make the ride this month, if not....well maybe I should sell this thing and start over LOL

It used to be a Jeep thing, but all that stuff was removed

--B

FunHog · 2006-12-05 21:54:12

To anyone following my build...
I got the flat top knuckles installed except for a small bearing Chevy Spindle and the brakes. Found out with a SRS I need a longer slip Driveshaft too! Got some DOM steering links on the way, went with 1-ton TRE's. I will be refabricating the SRS set up because it is too close to the frame. I will post some pictures when I get my new mig set up!! OH YEAH!!

Cheers

-CB

FunHog · 2007-02-25 18:11:20

UPDATE!!!

Anyone following along yet? HA Yeah it's been awhile since I made any progress. Here are the details. I have the Shackle reversal done. Included in the shackle reversal is about a 3/4 - 1 inch axle move, outboarded spring hangers to accept a Scout II Dana 44 front axle. I moved my steering box forward an inch and a quarter. For this I used the MORE steering box brace. If I hit something this brace will not move, something else will break first! I had my tie rod and drag link custom made and I have converted to an inverted "T" set up instead of the cross over. I think I will be going back to a cross over/high steer mix. Keeping the tie rod at normal height and just high steer the drag link. The rods are made from 1 1/2 inch DOM tubing and incorporate Chevy 1 ton TRE's. To make the 1 ton TRE's work I used a pitman arm off a Wagoneer and had to ream it a little bit for fitment. The front knuckles are from a chevy pick up and they are the sought after flat tops. I also converted the front brake set up to remain 5 on 5.5 as opposed to keeping the chevy 6 on 5.5 Custom, meaning I made it, shortened rear drive shaft originally from the front of an XJ with a double cardan joint. Needed to get a front output yoke from the same vehicle. these are all over at Harry's U-Pull it!! Front driveshaft needs to be built yet. Stainless steel braided brake lines were installed up front. Also for the braking system I added a power brake booster from a YJ. I can lock up all 4 tires with 33's!
So what's left? A full cage which might go in this summer to replace my YJ Family cage that is in there currently. A front driveshaft which I have to go to Harry's and get. I am going to cut and shorten my stock one. I need a sway bar or a track bar. This thing goes where it will on the road. What ever I use it will be custom built by me. Switch my steering to a high/cross over set up. Abuse it! I need to run this thing on the trail to test it out. Then its on to doing the motor and tranny swap. Not sure what tranny to use yet but the motor is from a 99 grand cherokee. My options are the NV4500 which would be bad ass or just use a stock NV3550 which will bolt in a lot easier. But nothing has been easy so far so why start now. There is a finished picture above. i replaced one of the old ones. I will post another picture in the Jeep show case section.
Cheers

-Funhog

FunHog · 2007-04-16 13:43:34

UGH more problems. YJ Brake booster set up is giving me problems so I am back to manual CJ brakes! Ya know, the kind you need to undo the seatbelt and launch yourself from the seat onto the pedal to make it go from 45 - 0 in 5 miles! I am now looking into a hydro-boost set up.
Front driveshaft was bought through Tom woods. I needed a 10" slip which I wasn't willing to make since it cost just as much to buy it. I added a sway bar with custom mounts, got rid of that stupid set up I had on the passenger side holding the spring to the axle, patched a few holes, added some gay looking clearance lights to the rear since it wouldn't pass without them but I plan to take them right back off. I also had a sweet custom tail pipe made from Monro in Souderton! It looks nice plus it has a 3 bolt plange connector at the end of the muffler for when we do some hard wheeling I can take it off to prevent it getting bent and F'd-up like my last one.
The old bird is getting inspected this week so hopefully I will actually be able to drive it this summer.
Next is the lockers and gear install. I already have the gears 4.56's, just need the lockers - Detroits F&R
I'll be back when I do more........
-Funhog

jeep jerk · 2008-06-02 12:26:17

FunHog wrote:
This picture is after the SRS build!!!
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7n9jn/site … re0021.jpg

-CB

the clearance you are talking about is it because the hardware is pointed up now?the jeep looks like its sitting level to me.i ask because i was up at jd jeeps they have my jeep now and this is something we discussed

FunHog · 2008-06-02 18:26:12

JJ

This picture is actually before I flipped both sides. If you look at the passenger side (Left side of the picture) You will see the U-bolt threads and nut hanging down which is easy for stuff to get caught up on. On the opposite side (Driver side/right side of the picture) you can see that the U-bolts face up and the threads and all "tipped" areas are out of harms way. When bouncing off rocks these "flipped" U-bolts will actually slide (to a point) the jeep over to get around where a threaded end will just jam into the rock. Hope some of this helps. Let me know if you think of anything else.

-CB

jeep jerk · 2008-06-02 19:26:12

ok thanks i get it.i know exactly what your talking about because if you look under my front end all the threads are either broken off or bent and about to break.

Jeff Daniel’s Jeeps | Message Board

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#1 2006-04-04 21:04:04

Custom U-bolt flip

#2 2006-05-03 19:44:23

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#3 2006-05-19 16:10:32

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#4 2006-07-28 09:51:11

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#5 2006-08-02 18:24:50

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#6 2006-08-02 18:26:42

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#7 2006-12-05 21:54:12

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#8 2007-02-25 18:11:20

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#9 2007-04-16 13:43:34

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#10 2008-06-02 12:26:17

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

FunHog wrote:

#11 2008-06-02 18:26:12

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

#12 2008-06-02 19:26:12

Re: Custom U-bolt flip

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