feed back on fabrication please

[mike s]

           okay having a jeep is a sickness. we can't help but spend our time and money on them.

anyone with fabrication tools and experience - bender,welders ect - need a weekend apprentice?

does anybody have advice where to go for custom fabrication or know where to rent the tools?



     so i found this old '94 yj in my backyard (my ms. old winter beater) and decided one idle saturday after noon the tip back a couple of cold ones and see if i could get it going.  i'm a mechanic and can't let cars rot away in the weeds so what was i supposed to do.

done enough work to it i'm starting to enjoy driving it more, and am getting ready to lift it. want to build dash bar and custom bumpers and would appretiate advice on where to go and who to see

[hps4evr]

is this your 2.5L  YJ? if so then what do you want to do with it? drive around with the top down?? wheel it? or a little from column a and  little from column b?
let us know he details on the jeep and what it will be used for:) happy jeeping!

[mike s]

back to my long winded story. the jeep is undergoing modifications that I'm sure half the people here have gone through, less if you own a better designed jeep like a tj.

    my jeep started it's life as an eastern jeep. nough said but the rust isn't as bad as I've seen. so this week should be the big project to repair the rusty frame at the steering box and one rear spring rear shackle mount is bad.
 so I've got donnor frame pieces to weld in before i can put in the Rubicon Express 2.5" lift and some new 31's. bodies are meant to be banged up so i won't get too fussy with exterior.

so far I've done ALL new brakes including extended steel flex lines and all new steel lines. exhaust manifold back, drive line/axle u-joints-all, 1" body lift (wasn't going to lift body at all but had to change rotted mounts and hardware was toast so decided to put in a 1" lift that came with hardware - anyone need an energy susp body mount set, have spare)

i work at a little local garage and works a little slow so my boss - great guy, lets me use the shop to work on my own project and next week is booked really light so it's mostly jeep week. going to lift body off 10"-12" and weld braces to hold frame where i want it so i can remove springs and weld in new pieces - going to plate any body mounts that look soft and box in rear mounts

been gentle on poor thing till i get the frame fixed, don't want to pull the steering box off by accident. then i plan to try to hook up with some good people for some off roading. since I'm new to the Calgary area i need to learn where to go and explore

been reading over peoples build ups and i value the insights and tips posted, and what works and what is a waste of money.

once frame done looking to modify interior alittle. want to build a dash bar that is 1" bar welded to windscreen mount plates (both bottom corners of windshield) and follows comtour of dash pad edge mabey with a kick out on passenger side for a grab bar.  would give you something to pull yourself in by and 1" would allow somewhere to mount gauges, gps's etc via ram mount products (common motorcycle handle bar diameter)
and of course any other place that needs modding. a bender goes for a grand and up, any places/people who can help out. don't want to pay machine shop rates but want to get hands dirty  and willing to pay and always show up with cold ones. why make one, make 6 for members who like the ideas

[Fredduck]

Well Mike, I like ther idea of the dash bar, it might be better attached to a cage.
Good luck with the rehab

[mike s]

thinking about an upright bar for the cross bar to attach to. upright could be made bolt it behind upper roll bar plate, or collared/welder to top rollbar above doors. something to make it easier to enter/exit as we age with our vehicles. plus like the idea of bar mounted accesories like phones and ipods

[mike s]

Okay I picked up materials today to start the repairs to the frame and I'm going to box up the ends for decent pulling mounts. Anyone have any tips. I'll be using 1/8" plate for the frame and 3/16" for the rear excuse of a bumper. I'll post photos if I can figure out how

[WhiteOut]

If you are interested in the dash bar and integrated grab handles you should talk to Joel on here.  I forget the kit he has but its a really nice set up, easy to mount a GPS on it and the grab bars are really well placed and if you have to brace yourself on them for a little bit they are not too uncomfortable.

[mike s]

Thanks for the tip. Sent Joel a message and hopefully hear back from him

[Bnine]

I do a fair amount of fabbing Mike. You are welcome to stop by, check things out, and lend a helping hand if you are interested some time.

[mike s]

Trying to get back on topic. Where are the best places to spend my dollar$. For tires? Susp? Or just that cool must have? Should start a poll.... Plus does anyone have stereo solutions for their jeep?