Project "Thunderstruck" - KJWildman's never-ending V8 swap

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:44 pm

awesome.... this... is... awesome... i'm enjoying following it! i feel like a groupie

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:57 pm

Are you done yet

KJWildman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2010 12:27 am

Diggerfreek wrote:

Are you done yet

Nunya durn bizness you creepy eyed frog you! :goink:

Pay attention and you wouldn't have to ask!

:ROTFL:

Still trying to shoot for having it able to drive down to ECS, Digger , Only 28 more days!!!! :shock:

I'm sure it will be running just not sure about about the little things ... lights, gauges .... driveshafts :roll:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:44 pm

Hey next time you have the engine sitting in can you measure the distance between the waterpump and radiator?

Kinda looks like you could have moved the engine back some,maybe 1" or 2" from the pics you posted.Was that due to trying to retain the OEM t-case/trans crossmember? Could try a short WP,have to check into electric WP's and see if there reliability has gone up over the last few years since I last looked at them,would make accessory drive routing very easy then.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:13 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Hey next time you have the engine sitting in can you measure the distance between the waterpump and radiator?

Kinda looks like you could have moved the engine back some,maybe 1" or 2" from the pics you posted.Was that due to trying to retain the OEM t-case/trans crossmember? Could try a short WP,have to check into electric WP's and see if there reliability has gone up over the last few years since I last looked at them,would make accessory drive routing very easy then.

I didn't get the tape out but there wasn't very much, maybe a couple inches. And that was just with the stock KJ radiator sitting in there. The one I'm looking at is about 2" thicker. I can move the radiator out about 2" toward the grill. So that will realistically only give me about 3" from pulley mounting surface to the radiator. I'm using an electric fan that is about 3" thick! That adds up to 0" clearance!! :shock:

The water pump that's on it is 6" from back to pulley mounting surface. How much room would the shorter water pump give me? Is it a direct replacement? Oh, and, don't tell me, I already have the short pump!! :roll:

I'm not really familiar with the electric WPs, I was just thinking of my clearance issues. Remotes DO get $$ tho'for just being a water pump! :shock:

Oh, and as far as placement fore and aft. We (BugginKJ and I) moved that sucker back and forth a dozen times. Because of the front diff and the double sump oil pan, along with clearance for the header pipes out of the engine compartment and clearance for the valve covers, I think we actually ended up just perfect. I just gotta slide it to the right just a scosch more to add just a little more clearance for the steering shaft ( peace of mind more than anything else

). We had already planned on doing major reconstruction to the crossmember so that wasn't a consideration at all.

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Speaking of crossmemeber, did you get anywhere on the spacer today? Oh and also slotting it out? Oh and anything else ya had to mess with? :jester:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 04, 2010 12:21 am

I've ran a few elec pumps over the years, they seemed to last an average of 3 years with rough use, one seemed to actually meet it's early demise due to the type of antifreeze being used

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:45 pm

Well, didn't get it done Thurs, or Fri., so I went out this morning and took the waterpump and timing cover off. Made sure everything was cleaned off (I'm gettin excited) sorted out the gaskets, made sure I had all the bolts and laid them all out. Now I'm gettin real excited. Clocked the crank to TDC, Clocked the Cam to TDC, line up all the dots and marks and assembled the gear drive timing set to the front of the motor. Checked the clearances like the sheet said to and clearance was too much. Disassembled the idler gears and installed the longer idler pin that comes with the set, then reassembled to the engine and put the timing cover on. took the timing cover back off checked clearances .... perfect! Started to check the proper torque on the cam bolt with my Snap On Techwrench (ATECH3FR250) Torque wrench and got a code! :evil:

ERROR 0 (it's digital) checked the book, gotta send it in, major error! :evil:

Dam $500 Torque wrench anyway. Went back to my old school needle torque wrench and tightened the cam bolt, rtv'ed the gaskets and did final install of the timing cover and water pump. I may take the water pump back off and go another way but, for now, it's together. I thought!!!! :evil:

Turned around and there on the work bench was laying this:

Anybody? ..... It's the cam follower for the mechanical fuel pump!! :evil:

Now I have to take it all back apart, install the cam follower, retorque, get new gaskets, clean the surfaces again and reassemble!! :evil:

It doesn't pay to get excited and in a hurry! :roll:

So now, I said screw it, I'm cookin and drinkin a Corona!

I know ... it's not a Jeep picture..... but doesn't that look good? 1.8lbs of BEEF! It's HUGE!! :BANANA:

Holiday weekend, I've still got 2 days to play with the Jeep!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:03 pm

haha

Extra!?

Gotta love extra!

I've had my fair share of extras, and to be honest, usually the extra requires undoing half of something you just finished

luckily, each particular extra only happens once

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:33 pm

Extras are always fun...... At least you didn't get the motor installed then find it :banghead:

ptsb5a · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:20 pm

Personally, I'd a said screw it. Get a block off plate and an electric fuel pump. There already is a pump in the tank right? Maybe just a fuel pressure regulator to turn the pressure down for the carb.

jafstl38 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:59 pm

KJWildman wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

Are you done yet

Nunya durn bizness you creepy eyed frog you! :goink:

Pay attention and you wouldn't have to ask!

:ROTFL:

Still trying to shoot for having it able to drive down to ECS, Digger , Only 28 more days!!!! :shock:

I'm sure it will be running just not sure about about the little things ... lights, gauges .... driveshafts :roll:

Hey Hey!! he's the hypno-toad!!

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:08 am

Yes, the ALL MIGHTY HYPNO TOAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KJWildman · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:04 pm

Got some new "STUFF" today!

Got this.... an MSD 6AL ignition Box

and I got an MSD Blaster 2 Coil

along with a Holley Performance mechanical Fuel pump, which I know will make me go faster, 'cause it says "High Performance" on the box !!! :SOMBRERO:

Here's the specs on the fuel pump

I also got the new gaskets for the timing cover and water pump. :oops:

Still need a new oil pan before it goes in for good too.

evil libby · **Joined:** Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:41 am **Posts:** 296

looking good

gushatman · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:05 pm

subscribed!! What a build!! :SOMBRERO:

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

So ahhhhh Larry, what's on the menue this weekend? :jester:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 6:41 am

BugginKJ wrote:

So ahhhhh Larry, what's on the menue this weekend? :jester:

Brats and beer! oh ... wait.... we tried that and never got to the brats! :shock:

Wanna try it again? :wink:

Wanna get the motor and trans set again to get finalization on the crossmember mods. Pull the fuel tank and start on the dash. I'll have to see from there.

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Just shout if ya need me. This will be the last weekend I touch tools, anything rusty, greasy or just plain dirty (other than my wife :ROTFL:

) for a week :shock:

TAHOE · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:17 am

BugginKJ wrote:

.....just plain dirty (other than my wife :ROTFL:

) for a week :shock:

DOH!!!!

Project "Thunderstruck" - KJWildman's never-ending V8 swap

Who is online