An idea....CJ8+

[haven]

I've mentioned this project before, but here goes

This "jeep" is a Dodge pickup chassis with 5.9L Cummins, and bodywork from a Jeep JK Unlimited. It was built by AEV. More information here
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/39742-Dodge-in-Jeep-clothing-Rubi-Wagon

 

[Chrisbuilt]

My first post on this board and I hope to make it count.

I made a CJ9 because it's the only option that Jeep never made from the factory. It's an 83 CJ7 I cut in half and added 18" to in the middle and a hard top to match. The drivetrain is cheap, reliable, tough and easily fixable in the back country. Chev TBI 350 v8, th350 auto, np231/dana 300 doubler and d60/14b axles. The suspension is a home made setup with 15" travel airbags with front 3-link and rear 4 link. Nothing better than a Caddy ride and the reliability of a dump truck.
And my actual expo rig, 1994 f350, 460, 4x4 camper and tow pig.

 

[Bad Karma]

I was gonna post of pic of your rig on here Chris... you beat me to it.

 

[Jim K in PA]

Welcome to the portal Chris. A very cool rig you have built. I am going with air springs in my LJ. What bags did you use up front on yours? I have the rear bags figured out, but was planning to just use progressive coils up front due to splace limitations with the stock Rubicon axle and 33" tires. My rig is not anywhere near as radical as yours, as it is and will be my DD for a while (with the occasionaly multi thousand mile expo trip thrown in). :sombrero:

 

[Chrisbuilt]

I'm using Firestone 5429 bags on all 4 corners for simplicity. They have 15" of travel and are cheap at $140 each. The bags are 7" wide when inflated which makes them fairly easy to mount in tight spaces.

Mine is street legal and driven all over the place unless I think there is a possibility of a severe beating in the future. It rides like a caddy, height adjustable, tough and reliable.

 

[Jim K in PA]

Thanks for the info Chris. They look to be too tall for the amount of lift I want, but I will compare that bag to the Goodyear part number I found. Getting one with the internal bump stop is key.

 

[lstzephyr]

I have been thinking that a 3/4 size dodge w250 would be about right too. I have always liked those cj8 and have many times day dreamed about either a scrambler or a brute buildup. I really want a highline diesel brute.

But after being around a few at overland expo I realized a couple things.

One: with large tires those jeeps become almost as wide/tall as my dodge. They are shorter and smaller inside, but have close to the same tire footprint and width with d60s. That negates the major attraction of simply that would feel smaller.

Two: it is much simpler to just walk outside to my truck and drive it. Its not THAT big afterall. The big advantage to me of the jeep would be less weight and hopefully better mpg, but the cost of the build would negate the benefits except for offroadability.

Three: I'm always going to be a bike guy at heart, if I really wanted to hop rocks I would buy a trials bike. So the offroadness of it would probably be wasted as it would simply be hauling a bike to the trailhead or parking somewhere to camp.

Four: I'm cheap with vehicles. I would probably spend the build money flying to argentina or something.

So my use for the 4wheeled vehicle will remain a towrig, heavy hauler, camper thing. A jeep in the same role would still be heavy, large, and slow because I would build it to serve my purposes. So at best I would end up with a couple inches narrower and a bit shorter. I would probably be better off taking a sawzall to the frame, bed and camper of my truck and turning it into a shortbed.

But that is just me. It is a neat idea though.

 

[irishjeeper]

4 Bt is a great motor but as metioned before has a little too much vibration for a small vehicle to be a ideal swap for a CJ style vehicle, the Isuzu 4cyl 4BD1 3.9 ltr runs smooth and is coparable to the 4BT.
Another great swap and the one Im looking into doing when the chance arives is the
1980 IH Scout diesel 6cyl Nissan Turbo Diesel, most had the T19 w/Dana 300 T-case, and with little modification the dana 44s can be used as well, the rear 44 uses the same axle shafts for both sides so one extra shaft could be carried as a spare for both sides. I missed buying one 3 months ago and it even had factory AC which uses the York compressor so OBA is easy with it, rusted ones can be had for under 1500 alot of the time, its a little under powered but dana 44s can be geared super low.

BTW I love the CJ10. Good luck on whatever direction you go.

 

[mbryson]

My 1984 CJ-10a

88 Cummins 4BT
NV4500
D300
CUCV D60 front
CUCV 14bff rear with Detroit locker
Hydroboost 4 wheel disk brakes
Crossover steering
HMMWV 12 bolt dual bead locks with 37s

I honestly do not understand at all the hate for the 4bt on here. I have installed this one, and a bunch of others, and the noise/vibration is really no different than a 6bt in a first gen or an early 2nd gen. I have liquid filled mounts in this one, but the last FJ80 I helped with has solid mounts, and his wife drives it and loves it. Some of them are pretty hacked in, might have something to do with the dislike?

They are simple, reliable, parts are everywhere. Most parts cross with the Dodge 6bt like the water pump, thermostat, etc., the 4BT specific stuff it out there, it is a pretty common equipment engine. It is rugged, makes good power after some massaging, mine should be close to 200hp/500 ft/lbs. A little expensive, but that is the biggest down fall to me.

The biggest thing to me is the fact it is 100% mechanical. Nothing to fail, really. Mechanical lift pump, mechanical injection pump, mechanical injectors. I converted the only electronic thing, the cut off solenoid, to a cable pull. As long as you have a battery to start it, or a hill or buddy to push it, it will run without a single wire.

It is on a close to 3/t ton chassis in front, and I built the back out of 2x6 box, it is not going anywhere. It is a cut down M101a1 trailer for the bed.

Get a camper shell (the old boxy style ones work well), get the bows and canvas for a M101 tailer and cut it down, or, if you want to be really pimp, get a popup camper for it. It is a little bigger than a regular full size truck short bed.

With a 100% mechanical motor, heavy duty manual transmission, gear driver transfer case, 1 ton axles, etc., there is not much to worry about.

That thing is very cool. Love the "utilitarian" factor and the trailer bed as a truck bed. Sounds like a very solid build.

My first post on this board and I hope to make it count.

I made a CJ9 because it's the only option that Jeep never made from the factory. It's an 83 CJ7 I cut in half and added 18" to in the middle and a hard top to match. The drivetrain is cheap, reliable, tough and easily fixable in the back country. Chev TBI 350 v8, th350 auto, np231/dana 300 doubler and d60/14b axles. The suspension is a home made setup with 15" travel airbags with front 3-link and rear 4 link. Nothing better than a Caddy ride and the reliability of a dump truck.
And my actual expo rig, 1994 f350, 460, 4x4 camper and tow pig.

Do you have any details on the top mods? Very interesting build with the air bags.