Scale Jeep Wrangler TJ

 

This is a project I have been wanting to build for sometime. Just had not had the time or the recourses to do it.  Well I finally got around to getting both.  This is going to be a somewhat scale version of my full size 98 Jeep Wrangler TJ.  Hopefully it will turn out pretty good but only time will tell.  Well take a look and let me know what ya think.  Now on to the pics.

 

Here are a few pics of the plans for the chassis I am building.  Also is a pic of my Jeep that it is built after.

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 8-18-06  Well I got more of my parts for the Jeep so I got to cutting out the frame.  This was a slow process as I used 2 1/4" T6 aluminum plates sandwiched together as I cut them.  Took me a few hours to do it but they came out pretty good I think. A couple pics are of the mock up and the kit I'm using for the axels.  Here are the pics.

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8-20-06  I got some more work done on the Jeep yesterday.  I got the cross members for the frame cut and tapped for the 4-40 size screws.  Also got the shock mounts cut out and drilled.  I got the bottom links made and installed but I'm not sure if they are going to work like I think.  I had bolted the shocks to the mount but they were to wide for the axels.  I've tried moving them around to different locations and have replaced one cross member with a shock mount and it seems to work good there.  I'm still working out the final location so we will see what happens.  Now the pics.

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8-22-06  Worked on the Jeep a little tonight.  Didn't get much done today though,  I got one set of four shock perches done.  Took me about 2 hours to cut the first one.  The second one only took about 30 min or so to cut, so hopefully tomorrow if I get time to work on them I should get them all done.  Here are the pics.

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8-23-06 Well not much to report tonight.  All I got done was 5 of the shock perches.  I still have one more to turnout.  It takes about 45 min to turn one.  And to top it off when I started tonight a belt broke on my lathe as I had to make a trip to the auto parts store before they closed.  I only had about 20 min to get there.  But I got 2 big o-rings that did the trick.  I also picked up brake line for the cage and some brazing rod.  Hope to get started on the cage as soon as the chassis/suspension is done.  The 2nd pic is of the shavings from making the perches.  Well enough babble and on to the pics.

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8-23-06 Well I got the shock perches done.  I also set the rear suspension up again but it's not working out right.  Not sure what I'm doing wrong though.  Well on to the pics.

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8-28-06  Ok I'm back again.  I finally got the perches completely completed.  The last step was to figure out their mounting holes and drill them and I got that done tonight.  Also got my links figured out and no more binding!!!  That was driving me nuts.  But I may have to make the front links a little longer.  Not sure yet though.  The chassis however is sitting up on it's own.  I got the perches mounted and the springs in place.  I still have to work on the shock placement,  The fronts need to be mounted off the chassis and up a little higher, and I just don't like the rears where they are.  And I know the front end is higher than the rear, that's due to the shocks mounted wrong.  That's about it for now,  On to the pics.

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8-30-06  Work has continued on the Jeep.  I think I finally have the links all worked out.  Right now it has Maxx springs but it may get a set of Stampede front springs.  The Maxx springs may be to tall.  I may also change the shock mounts again too.  But as of this moment it is going to stay like this so I can get the rest of the frame work, body mount, tranny mount, and electronics plate done.  But that's about it for now.  On to the pics.

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9-5-06  Ok, I'm back after a few days off.  I have still been working on the Jeep.  I finally got all the suspension figured out.  Got my ground clearance set and everything else fell into place.  I ended up cutting my Maxx springs off about an inch and that is a perfect height.  Got the upper shock mounts made and mounted to the frame.  Also went ahead and cut the body out so I could see how everything looked and start on the rear body mount and bumper.

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9-6-06  Well I worked on the suspension a little more.  I had some binding in my springs and found that the sharp edges on the perches were catching the springs when they were compressed.  So I pulled the top ones back off and chucked them in the lathe and used a file to make a nice rounded edge for the spring to slide over.  I only did the top for now.  The bottoms didn't seem to be catching like the top ones were.  But I will probably do them also.  I also started on the rear bumper and body mount.  Got everything measured and test fitted.  Now I just have to drill the holes and mount everything.

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9-8-06  I worked on the Jeep yesterday but am just getting to the pics and update tonight.  I got the bumper and body mount cut, drilled, and mounted.  I mounted the body mount to the frame with some of the angle it was made from.  When I mounted the mount to the frame mounts I put a 1/4" piece of fuel line around the screw and between the body mount and frame mount.  This gives it a little cushion and will help with the metal to metal contact problems.  Why need the cushion for just the body, you ask???  Well it's not for the body.  The cage is also going to mount to this same piece.  That's what they are mainly for.  The rear frame rails had to be trimmed a little on the bottom so the bumper could be mounted.  Once this was done the bumper slipped right over the rails and fits perfect.  Then I drill the bumper and drill and tapped the frame rails and bolted the bumper on.  I also started on the front electronics deck.  This is where the battery will mount, as well as the steering servo.  I got the plate mounted and mounted the servo to it.  After doing this I noticed the front upper link mounts hit the servo when compressed.  So I'm going to move the front cross member forward some more and try to turn the servo around the other direction.  In order to do this I will also have to remake the plate longer.  But it's ok and I have plenty of lexan to make them from.  Well now onto the pics.

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9-11-06 The Jeep is really starting to take shape now.  I got the steering worked out (I think).  Also got the trans mounted and the drive shafts built.  Will post some pics of the shafts later.  I got the rear radio plate installed.  I took the one I had made for the front and was able to use it on the rear.  I also got the rear "CB" antenna made and installed.  I wanted to use a small spring to make it more flexible but could not find a spring so I used some fuel tubing.  I'm hoping to have it ready to be painted in the next week.  Thanks for looking and on to the pics.

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9-18-06 Well I'm back for another update.  I got the drive shafts built the middle of last week, but did not have my out drives to hook them up.  Got them and a bunch of other stuff at the end of the week.  So I got the tranny mounted and the shafts hooked up.  It took so long to get the parts cause I was waiting on Tower to get the Stampede trannys in so I could put a tranny back in my Stampede.  I used it's tranny for the Jeep so I put the updated tranny in the Stampede.  Also got my battery cups and receiver box and got them mounted.  Well on to the pics.  I may also be adding a video.

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9-21-06  The Jeep has a cage!  Not complete yet though.  I'm waiting on my Harris Safety Silv 56 to come in so I can braze the cage together.  But all of the main pieces are bent.  Also got the back of the body cut out to fit the cage.  Now all I have to do is get my paint matched and mixed up so I can paint the body.  I also cut a 1/4" of the front frame rails and made and mounted the front bumper.  Most all of the work is done on the Jeep now.  Well now on to the pics.  The last pic is of the Jeep and my Stampede.

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9-27-06  Well my Safety Silv finally came in.  So tonight I got the cage on the Jeep brazed.  I was pretty easy to braze.  I thought it was going to be difficult but it was not.  It was about like soldering.  The brazed joints look pretty good but my tube bending skills need a lot of work.  But it looks ok and is pretty strong.  Most of it will not even be seen once the body is painted but it should keep the body from getting messed up and just looks cool.  So on to the pics,

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10-04-06  Well I got the frame and cage painted on the Jeep.  The paint came out pretty good but I figure it will not last long, but we shall see.  I also started painting the body.  I got the fender flares and top painted, and got the windows and lights masked off.  I got the paint mixed to match the color of my 1:1 Jeep.  It looks pretty close so I hope it comes out good.  We shall see on that though too.  So on to the pics I have so far.

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10-09-06  The Jeep is about 98% finished now.  I got the body painted today.  The paint I mixed came out pretty good.  It's pretty close to the color of my 1:1 Jeep.  I was actually really surprised it came out so close.  I only have a few things left to do on it now.  I'm going to add lights and a winch.  I didn't get done in enough time to get some pics outside with my Jeep.  I will try and take a few more tomorrow night after I get home from work.  Well now on to the pics.  Let me know what ya think.

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10-10-06  Got some pics of my two Jeeps together today.  There are also a few pics of how the electronics are mounted for now.  Take a look and let me know what ya think.  Thanks

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