My name is Chris, I have been on throttle happy for about a year now just watching and slowly building my own little rig. I know a few people on here and have been inspired by many of you. Jamie stopped by to show me his rig which was awesome and I have been addicted ever since!

I have been off-roading for about 7 years now starting out with a 91YJ. I switched to a 2005 TJ Unlimited 4 years ago and recently a 99 Cherokee which is the wife’s. Best way to get your wife’s support is to get her her own lol…

Last January I decided to buy my project rig (1988 YJ) that would strictly be off-road only as I wanted to maybe someday compete.

So now you have a history of who I am now here is my build up.


Starting Specs:

1988 YJ – Excellent frame condition when I purchased it. It had an SOA with 4” lifted leafs
4.2L Engine – Not running
29” tires


Current Specs:

Engine
AMC 360 – Just rebuilt.
Added Edelbrock cam, lifters, intake and timing.
Holley Truck Avenger carb
Shaved heads
Bored .30 over
I am trying to remain as close to a jeep as I can so I want to stay AMC and for me to switch to FI or Throttle body Injection was way too expensive… in time!

Transmission:
TF727 Torque flight transmission

Transfer Case:
Not purchased yet – possible doubler

Axles:
Dana 60 front, and 14bolt rear running 4:10’s

These images were my starting points of the jeep

In April i purchased the engine for my jeep from an awesome guy. It was a rebuilt AMC 360. Buying anything used i wanted to make sure it was rebuilt so i totally stripped this engine down to the block.

I spent the early spring tearing this sucker down. My Friends Adam, Kelly and Mike really helped me getting this down to the frame. I can not thank these awesome friends enough.

Engine teardown....

Okay, so i had got all the parts back from the machine shop and all my new parts for the engine arrived. 2 of my friends worked as engine rebuilders so it made this re assembly sooo much easier. I have done engine rebuilds in the past so i knew enough to label every bolt!!! lol

I think Adam was more excited than i was..... when he put the cam in...

The carb on the engine is not the right one in these pics...

Purchased my transmission mid spring. I wanted one that was tough as $h1t and still from a jeep. So i picked up this TF727. It bolts directly to my AMC 360 no adapters.

Here is a video of the AMC360 running. It was installed in the frame while we ran it for the first time. Once we did the burn in the engine was removed and now remains on the engine stand waiting to be re installed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajSIqBSdUi4

HEY I KNOW THAT JEEP!!! and those other ones too.. seen your place on taunton.... was wondering if you were on any of the Jeep sites...
nice work man...

omg, i spent sooo much time on this frame... Really it was not in that bad of shape for an 88. For the most part it was surface rust and most of the frame was still the factory coating.

Mid summer i purchased my tires - 39.5" IROKS with beadlocked rims. The tires had never been used. I love these tires... i so can not wait to try them out!!!!

lol... yep i am on Taunton... I think everyone knows where i live hehe... stop by anytime!

Just one to show i can get down with the rednecks lol...

Purchased my axles on this 1 ton Chevy extended cab single.... omg this was huge!!!

Okay so i am close to now. I met Josh who has helped me out big time on preping me to cutting and building the cage. I spoke with a few people and Josh ended up being really close to me and his work came highly recommended. Tim from TMR was also a big help just giving me info over the email.

I spent time preping and mounting the tub back onto the frame. When i cut the tub it was based on the rot that was in the rear portion by the orginal seatbelt mounts. It was hard to see actually how bad the area was until i started cutting.

Now onto the cage... I took the jeep over to josh's and left it with him. He kept me very involved in the process all the way along. These pics were from my second and third visit to his shop.

Okay so we are on to today..... wahoo...
Picked the Jeep up from josh's... I absolutly love the cage, My specs were, i want it to look like a jeep still... and to be cool looking lol.... and hit hit both....

It still has some things that needs to be done but i want to get my engine in place and seats purchased before we finish the final process of the cage. I can not say how happy i am of Josh's work. You can probably tell since i am telling you lol.

The engine i want in prior to finishing because it will be a pain in the @ss to get up and over what i have planned for the front.

Hey Chris thanks for the props. Im talking to the TMR guys and ill have some thing new to weld onto the "BEE"

Np Josh... anytime!!!

I am still looking for a transfer case if anyone knows where i can get one for a decent cost. Does anyone know if there is an adapter from a TF727 to an atlas? Currently i am looking for a Dana300

Money is getting super tight thank god i have so much non costing work to do for a bit... lol

Oh by the way my kids named the jeep!!! lol

The cage work looks great!

This is a good build up thread, so keep us posted with your progress.

about time i got to see some pics i hear about the damn thing all the time ... looks great Chris
Ron

lol thanks ron, You helped get me adicted to the crawling.... hopefully i will be far enough along by summer to take it out....

Looking great Chris, I would add an extra support bar in the dash where the center window bar comes down. In a roll the force can push the dash bars together and damage any guages or such you may have in the dash. (speaking from experience as mine was set up the very same)

Thanks Jamie.... I will put one in...
Super excited now that i can start working on it again...!!!

Last night I put the tires on the rear axle to start planning the rear end. Looks like my wheel base will be about 106" to 108" range. I had originally looked at about 103ish. I would love feedback on other people's wheel base lengths and what they like and dislike! I have some cleaning, brakes and bearings to change in the rear axle then it will be ready to start linking it in.

The width is 86" from outer tire to outer tire. Belly will be about 26" to 30"s high...

If you look really hard you can see the little tubed sami in behind mine lol... Thats my friend kelly's We are working on these rigs together most saturdays. okay i posted a pic of the sami to be fair hehe.

Its looking good Chris.
I have clearance from the wife to get some of Saturday and most of Sunday off husband duty if you need help with this thing.

looking good man!! i'll be building a similar project soon my self! keep the pics coming!

Thanks guys, I picked up my rear 4link johnny's and disk brake brackets from TMR today. They look awesome and I can not wait to get the rear in. Got a few smaller projects to do with the engine though before i tackle the back.

For this year coming i am running leafs in the front. I want to get it all kinks worked out of the chassis and rear before i convert the front next year. I didn't like the leaf sping brackets i had made for the leafs so i cut them off and re did them. I put the front in and squared it up and it is all tacked back in place. I want to drop the engine in to make sure the leafs will be riding where they should with the extra 700 pounds in the front.

Here is a pic of the jointts and brackets. (Thanks again Tim!)

Any more progress?

I have picked myself up some new seats, transfer case and Fuel cell. For the most I am in collecting part mode and working on the cherokee. My next task is to do the 4:1 kit on my dana 300.

Disk Brake Conversion is completed on the 14bolt. Just need to run the lines.

damm wheel studs git expensive eh! did you use the factory 14 bolt ones?

I have not got new ones yet. I have all the original ones from the 14bolt. I was thinking about putting in new ones but i had not priced it out... now you got me thinking i may put them old ones back in lol.

Chris

Here are some pics... & a Quick update.
4Link is all tacked in place and tested for clearance. Again Awesome job Josh man!!! We will be putting in the springs perches and beafing the crap out of the connections on the upper mount to the axle aswell.

Picked up the t-case today, Dana 300 4:1, Heavy Duty output, twin stick. I will take some pics this week.

You so should sell me those tires and rims, they throw the colour scheme way off, makes it look like a mall crawler .

Good job dude, nice work. Looks like you'll be ready for summer.

Quick question. How wide is your trailer between the fenders? How well do those tires/rims squeeze on the deck?

I haven't baught my trailer yet... soon i will need one. Most of the ones i have used i have to go up and over the wheel well. I am going to be purchasing one this year though.

I am sooo trying for spring to have this thing moving but i still need so much more done.
Without josh's help i would not be ready this year i don't think.

Yeah the tires i have looked awesome on your jeep hehe...

Chris

Well you let me know where you park your heap, and I'll make sure your heap won't have trouble fitting onto trailers anymore

lol... nice

Here are some pics of the t-case..
Dana 300 Tera 4:1 Low and Tera Heavy Output. It is all new inside. The one side of the gears is off less than an 8th so i was thinking one of the spacers are in the wrong spot. Anyone know much about these? I didn't install them so i am seeing if anyone has some suggestions before i pull it apart and try and re assemble it.

Here is a pic of the gears and i put in arrows to the offset gears.

Been awhile since I updated pics so here goes.

LOOKS GREAT MAN

That looks awesome man.

i'll have to drop by again to see it in person.

Thanks guys, Seba it will be back home after tomorrow pop by anytime.

Ok Chris your home from Cali, we still havent seen any pics, time to get back to work.

nice build, truck looks really good- really like the toob work

lol, yeah i know... I have so much to do and cali broke the bank!!! I am going to start on the engine as i have alot of stuff to do there that does not cost me any $$$$... The rear links and axle is removed now and off to have all the joints welded up. I will finish welding up the other stuff while it is gone.

Josh (dweezel) did do an awesome toob job on her thanks!

Well i finally got some good working time in this week into the Jeep... Rear axle is all clean back up braced and all welding is done in the cross member area. I may add more bracing in but for now i am moving onto the next thing which is finishing the front portion of the cage and building my radiator brackets. I made the mistake of tarping the crawler and putting it outside for a few weeksin the spring. The moisture totally surface rusted EVERYTHING!!! So i have spent ALOT of time re-cleaning the metal! I learned though if you spray it down with WD40 it protects the metal but unfortunatly it was after i had done it.

My son has been a great help, we spend lots of time together working on the jeep!

Things on my list that i need:
- Clocking ring
- Cable shifter for the 300
- HEI distributor
- Hiems for the steering
- Driveshafts (front and rear)
- plumbing

After that she should be ready for testing lol...
Anyone know where i can get a cheap clocking ring for a 300?

Chris

oh wow, I had thought you gave up on this project... heard you were spending all your time and money building up some cheerleader mobile or something like that.

glad to see progress is being made again... get on it!

Chris will this Bee ever fly?

I think this Bee is a Queen Bee... would rather be looked at, waited on, and moved everywhere by other's brute force and ignorance... as opposed to actually moving under its own power.

thread henceforth renamed - Queen Bee