The Bronzewyrm Evolution

Well i figured id get started on the thred, the jep is coming apart tomorow for mockup. and there has been a feiw people interested in what i have in store for for my latemodel.

I researched for a long time befor i started pulling the trigger on parts, as i want this to be one of a 3 step final build on this jeep.
3-link was on the top of the list, i kicked al the options around and this was the best fitting for my applacation/buget. Then i thaught of a Friend of mine parting a jeep.


The Dellstopjeep 3-Link will be going under it. it was built with pure beef! 2.63" Balistic joints, on DOM. with all the brackets (thx dustin:greensmok)


I will be building the factory front axle from the my 92, she will live on too!



i have a set of 4340 cromolly front shafts, inner and outter; and spicer joints i will be putting in this axle. (in the 00 LP axle currently) it will also be stuffed with a Grizzly locker, and nitro 4.56 gear

im going to replace the pass side upper axle link with this 7/8" joint


the front will be finished off by a ruffstuff panhard bar kit, its dom with full hyme joints. ill leave my ZJ steering probably untill closer to winter. it will sit on theese for heigth

For the rear i kicked around all kinds of ideas. until i found a Member in so cal that was willing to ship me an axle he had for sale.

8.25, 4.56 geared, ausi-locked, ruff stuff diff cover, 1k miles on setup.... Plus

Aloy shafts FTW! plus stock spares... he says, eh ill take $300 for it. :shocked::shocked::shocked:! even with shiping i jumped on it.

i could have used the shock hangers that were on it but theee were much more protectivelooking for the shocks.


got this cool thing too, made my springs free shipping. all for 1bill.

ill be useing a dodge 1/2t rear leafspring, on hd relocation brackets (as long as scott dident sell them) and some boomerang shackels i got from eric off the mustache ride. im ordering frame stiffys from ruffstuff tomorow, and the other misc things i need for the final fab on the front axle. and i should be able to start cutting for the rocker replacements by the end of the weekend.

Stay tuned!... and my tire choice will shock you:skull1: shocks will be that last thing i order because im not shure how well it will flex by the time im done with her:eyes:

First off, wanna buy some shackle relocation brackets?

Secondly. Where's the mention of quarter panel guards ya jackazz.

Slacking a bit, bronzey!

NW-ZJ-SCOTT said:

First off, wanna buy some shackle relocation brackets?

Secondly. Where's the mention of quarter panel guards ya jackazz.

Slacking a bit, bronzey!

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:badpc:dooh

so like scott said im a jackazz. ther was a big part i missed. that really did help this cycle kick off.

me and scott were at daves b-day run. lineing up to run some trails. when we had a little rub action...


the zj made it out with little to show for it:guitar:


after all this. me and scott put our heads together and cooked up a way to make shure there were no hard fellings afterwards. so i got to do this...

First step is to get the paint off of it so you can see what your working with, and so you can tac to the panel(s). a little Uni spotter action. and the Frame rail can come out to do its thing, along with the port-o-power!


more unispoter action. getting it close now


and Vwalah! a semmi streight qutar agin.

some filler

A little Iceing to smoth things up.

ready for Primer! scott picked up some sweet guards to cover the remander of the dammage, and to inshure this never happens agin. THANKYOU Scott :wave1:. getting some etch primer.

ill have to find the final intalled pic, or ill get another one today. more to come. im headded to the shopie!

The primer actualy mache very well. alot of people think i collor mached itirate1:


Wel today started off like any other at the shop.blood blister on the side of the hand, and smacked myself in the fingures with a hammer 1st 5min...

I started bu removing componets from the d30 currently under my jeep.

the cromos,uni-berings, and brakes came out easy.

everytnig went really well untill i got to the stupid uca's:flamemad: im drilling the driver side, i hope the pass side free up tomorow....

Hoover mode is offical

front axle striped and out!


At this point it was time to start mocking up the 3link. it is going to take some serious cutting/welding by the time im done, but i know it will be well worth it:guitar:. so i puled the crossmember, cut the rock light out, and grabed the new dellstop peices.

i first mounted directly in the factory crossmember mounting holes. while talking to eric about the links when i baught them i remember him aying that the arms had actualy pushed the axle in his jeep about 1" forward, at6" of lift. so i figured if anything id be 1-2" forward and have to adjust. at least thats what i was expecting... i grabbed one of the 3" coils i had laying on the ground and threw it in there. with the links conected and weight on the springs i was Way back with the axle. back, weird...



so i thaught for a feiw min. grabed a 4.5: spring out of the box, worse. so i pulled it all apart, droped the crossmember, and moved it one knotch forward on the mounting location. pushing it all forward. slaped the 4.5" coil back in, lower links on and...

Much better. i think it may be close enough to stard some welding soon :smoker:

Well today was a good day.Mock up is all but done. i started the day by pulling the front axle to begon work on the pass side uper link mount.


i dident want to work on the floor, my knees really cant take that anymore so i got crafty,

marked the center points front/back, left/right. started cutting...





I got the chop saw out and cut a peice of DOM for the new mount, ground it a little for a tight fit to the axle tube. i hade some square stock so i made up a gusset real fast. looks good IMO.

now i was ready to put the ale back under the jeep agin...AGIN:sure:... all this axle moving by myself takes a toll... so i slid it back under the jeep, hooked the lowers up, droped the springs into place and jacked it up a little to put preshure on them. i was looking to locate my upper link on the frame side at this point. but as i lifted i knew there would be no way to control the pinion angle. So, i ran home to retreive my monkey, and another stand.

Once i got something under there to control the pinion things went simply. i was able to use the monkey on a stick as a 4th link on the driver side. once in place, i jacked it up to ride heigth. when i saw the stands free up just a smidge, i crawled under and marked the location for my upper link.

Ride heigth +/-

Lower link located. i think my angles look fairly good. but then agin this is my first link build, so fell free to give pointers :thumbup:


The monkey doing its thing :wierd:


After feeling good about my placement on things, i knew. it was time to deal with that axle side mount for the frame. it took me 1.5 hrs, 4 cuttoff wheels, a sledge, and a hand grinder. but in the end i got it cleaned up


i wa origonal going to "stuff" my uni-rails on the jeep. but after looking a bit further i realized that will be sooo much of a gamble 1. and hokey rig 2. I decided to give HD some buisness. my stiffeners are on the way ATM.:yelclap:

i have one heim joint to order and 2 brackets to exchange with ruffstuff. and im ready to burn the front end home. ill have to build a custom crossmember D/T the location of the link arms, and i will be doing a belly pan while im down there. things seem to be going good after 3 days of work so i dont mind a feiw extra things adding up. this is the kind of work i can actualy enjoy

So much more to come....

Axle end upper link mount looks super cool John.

I wish I could have watched you separate that upper body mount from that "piece of jeep" we give you. I bet that sucked.

Bronzewyrm said:

So, I ran home to retreive my monkey
The monkey doing its thing

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some things just sound so wrong.

BoringDave said:

some things just sound so wrong.

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Common dave. theres Never anything wrong with, Doin the monkey!

Nice, looks like your XJ is coming along well... Freedom edition:worship:.

BTW, is the Navy Jeep, which I think is a JK, owned by a guy named Mel?

MCObray said:

Nice, looks like your XJ is coming along well... Freedom edition:worship:.

BTW, is the Navy Jeep, which I think is a JK, owned by a guy named Mel?

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thanks man.

yes many of the rigs around the shop are owned my mel. he is my best customer:loveu:

Well i got to it today on the stiffeners, orderd on sunday, arived on friday:yelclap:


as you can see the pass side has got a little "self clerance" going on...



i got part way throo grinding and preping that side to be welded up. when tessa showed up at the shop with a "suprize" she says


this stuff was ordered on tuesday, came in saturday. Dan is the man! thx ruffstuff, the old brackets will be sent off monday . i pulled the front axle out agin for the last time now!


welded the correct bracket on for the panhard bar setup.



also burned in the tube adapter while i was there. now it was time to remove that pesky driver side uper axle side mount.

wont be needing this anymore!


the front axle is now ready to be sent off and have the gears/locker installed. rear axle just needs the shock hangers redone. so now im off to tackle the stiffener. im hoping to have the pass side finnished tonight. well see.

ttyl

only one question......

if you are basically installing all new custom brackets, regearing the axle, and basically rebuilding the whole thing. why didnt you just swap a 44 into the front? it would have been the same amount of work and been quite a bit stronger

98CherokeeSport said:

only one question......

if you are basically installing all new custom brackets, regearing the axle, and basically rebuilding the whole thing. why didnt you just swap a 44 into the front? it would have been the same amount of work and been quite a bit stronger

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it really was on my mind. i know "for shure" this rig will see no more than a 33" tire. i won the 4340 aloy shafts at NWfest 2010, then the yukon grizz locker at NWFest 2011. i had the HP laying around from the last jeep build. and i dident have the funds for the clayton axle brackets i wanted anyway. basicly i saved myself some parts tracking work, and a ton of cash. IMO, an inner sleve kit for the front axle and it will have all the strength i need.

Bronzewyrm said:

it really was on my mind. i know "for shure" this rig will see no more than a 33" tire. i won the 4340 aloy shafts at NWfest 2010, then the yukon grizz locker at NWFest 2011. i had the HP laying around from the last jeep build. and i dident have the funds for the clayton axle brackets i wanted anyway. basicly i saved myself some parts tracking work, and a ton of cash. IMO, an inner sleve kit for the front axle and it will have all the strength i need.

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You'll be fine..

Makes sense to me

im hoping ill never have a problem with the front. the psss side has a solid frame and the upper3link bracket is welded up. i have burned through 70ft fo wire so far:flame: