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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2023 9:44 pm
by Yeller
You’re on the right track with your measurements. Are you prepared to cut the floor and rear frame to get it to sit level? Of course that depends how low you are lowering it. I built a lot of lowered stuff in the late 80’s/early 90’s. My first cut and section of a frame and floor was a 76 Chevy short wide. It was dumb low lol
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 6:53 am
by SJohn
Yeller wrote:You’re on the right track with your measurements. Are you prepared to cut the floor and rear frame to get it to sit level? Of course that depends how low you are lowering it. I built a lot of lowered stuff in the late 80’s/early 90’s. My first cut and section of a frame and floor was a 76 Chevy short wide. It was dumb low lol
My goal isn't super low, but I expect that the rear frame and floor will have to be cut. I anticipate the rear frame will have to be notched to tuck the rear axle up in there. The majority of the front floor pans are already coming out, and with the much smaller transmission, I don't need to worry as much about room in the trans tunnel.
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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:01 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:08 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:08 pm
by SJohn
I forgot to mark this while the front axle was still under the Jeep so I hope someone can help me out here. Anyone have measurements of where the front axle lines up on the frame?
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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 1:04 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:26 pm
by sierrablue
Cool!
Just out of curiosity, not saying you're doing it wrong, why didn't you just take a Crown Vic frame and put a Jeep body and a 2JZ in it? Be easier and have less weight and fully independent suspension...well in the front for sure; Idr on the back. But you're not gonna be towing with the 2JZ anyway...
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:12 pm
by SJohn
sierrablue wrote:Cool!
Just out of curiosity, not saying you're doing it wrong, why didn't you just take a Crown Vic frame and put a Jeep body and a 2JZ in it? Be easier and have less weight and fully independent suspension...well in the front for sure; Idr on the back. But you're not gonna be towing with the 2JZ anyway...
I thought about a complete chassis swap but I don't have the space for multiple non functioning cars to sit around. The other problem is the rear of the CV frame is notched so high for the rear axle it would eliminate any space in the cargo area. I expect I will have to notch the Jeep frame and lose a small amount of space but not as much as I would with a CV frame. A good chassis swap other members have proven works well is a C10 frame but as mentioned I don't have the space for a spare frame to lie around.
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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 8:39 pm
by Yeller
And a c10 frame is floppier than a FSJ frame so I don’t see the advantage. If we were closer I’d volunteer to build you a custom frame that would be rigid and whatever ride height you desired that would be a major handling improvement. It’s not as much work as making everything else fit and something I enjoy.
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 6:32 am
by Stuka
SJohn wrote: ↑Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:12 pm
sierrablue wrote:Cool!
Just out of curiosity, not saying you're doing it wrong, why didn't you just take a Crown Vic frame and put a Jeep body and a 2JZ in it? Be easier and have less weight and fully independent suspension...well in the front for sure; Idr on the back. But you're not gonna be towing with the 2JZ anyway...
I thought about a complete chassis swap but I don't have the space for multiple non functioning cars to sit around. The other problem is the rear of the CV frame is notched so high for the rear axle it would eliminate any space in the cargo area. I expect I will have to notch the Jeep frame and lose a small amount of space but not as much as I would with a CV frame. A good chassis swap other members have proven works well is a C10 frame but as mentioned I don't have the space for a spare frame to lie around.
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I don't see the frame getting into the cargo area. Crown Vic swaps are super common. HotRod Garage did one to their F100 and that thing sits super low, and the bed it totally usable as I recall. Though I would have to rewatch the episode to know for sure.
The C10 frames are junk. GM did not box their truck frames until they moved to IFS. Everything before that has more twist than a twizzler.
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 7:43 am
by Yeller
the C/K10,20,30 frames are so bad that I won't build a 4x4 model that does more than go to the mall without a replacement, been asked a lot of times, I just refuse, fixing those broken pieces of crap is where I cut my teeth building complete frames. Before that was installing sub frames in 50's cars back in the very early 90's . The C10-2wd is ok as a driver but if you want it to handle, has to go to the scrap bin. The waggy frame is way better and with the size of the body reinforcing it, not horribly floppy. add a few bars inside for rollover protection and it gets rigid quickly.
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:27 pm
by SJohn
Yeller wrote:And a c10 frame is floppier than a FSJ frame so I don’t see the advantage. If we were closer I’d volunteer to build you a custom frame that would be rigid and whatever ride height you desired that would be a major handling improvement. It’s not as much work as making everything else fit and something I enjoy.
I would be all over that but honestly I'm enjoying the challenge so far. The rear suspension we'll see about hahaha.
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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:09 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2023 7:16 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 6:29 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 7:21 pm
by SJohn
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Fri May 05, 2023 5:31 am
by Yeller
Has rust but doesn’t look like anything unexpected.
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Fri May 05, 2023 9:38 am
by SJohn
Yeller wrote:Has rust but doesn’t look like anything unexpected.
Yeah, no real surprises fortunately!
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Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Sun May 07, 2023 6:11 pm
by SJohn
The 2JZ head is just about back together, new valve stem seals and lapped valves. Water leak test looked good initially for the first few minutes until I walked away for 20 minutes and came back to a wet table. Then I realized I should probably test them with the springs installed
. I just got the springs in and called it quits for the day so I hope the valves hold on the second go around. Installing 24 valve springs is a workout but at least its just one head hahaha!
Re: 1981 Cherokee Chief - Rustard - 2WD 2JZ
Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:08 am
by Stuka
Yeah, at least its not a DOHC V8 with 32 of them!