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

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:15 am

I may have gone cold turkey for a while, however I am always watching :shock:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:19 pm

Thought I'd post some pics of what's going on with the crossmember now.
There was not enough clearance for the front yoke on the transfer case to spin so I am going to drop a section 2 1/2". I made my cuts after securing it solidly to a table.

Then I cut a couple pieces of 1/4" plate to 4" x 5-1/2" and slid them into place.

Now I just have to weld it all back together! I've got it tacked now, I'll try and do the real welding on it tomorrow at lunch.

And yes, if you are familiar with the underside of your KJ, you may notice that the bottom of the crossmember is now the top! The two drilled holes are for the C4 trans mount. I am also going to slot those just slightly to allow myself room for adjustment to line up the rear output yoke with the rearend, just in case our test fitment was off a little bit.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:03 pm

I assume that you also shortened the pieces 1/4 inch on each end to compensate for the added plates? Or is there enough room so that 1/2 inch will not make a differnce when bolting it back up?
What else are you adding to strengthen that area, forgot what you were discussing

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

Weld her good, looks too good to mess up with bird droppings :jester:

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

tommudd wrote:

I assume that you also shortened the pieces 1/4 inch on each end to compensate for the added plates? Or is there enough room so that 1/2 inch will not make a differnce when bolting it back up?
What else are you adding to strengthen that area, forgot what you were discussing

Remember ASSUME and Larry don't go together :ROTFL:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:47 pm

BugginKJ wrote:

tommudd wrote:

I assume that you also shortened the pieces 1/4 inch on each end to compensate for the added plates? Or is there enough room so that 1/2 inch will not make a differnce when bolting it back up?
What else are you adding to strengthen that area, forgot what you were discussing

Remember ASSUME and Larry don't go together :ROTFL:

yeah after I posted that I thought I just wasted my time.. :banghead:

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

tommudd wrote:

BugginKJ wrote:

tommudd wrote:

I assume that you also shortened the pieces 1/4 inch on each end to compensate for the added plates? Or is there enough room so that 1/2 inch will not make a differnce when bolting it back up?
What else are you adding to strengthen that area, forgot what you were discussing

Remember ASSUME and Larry don't go together :ROTFL:

yeah after I posted that I thought I just wasted my time.. :banghead:

No...............
you just made him go back to work and cut it apart! :ROTFL:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:08 pm

maybe......... depends on if he reads this or not :wink:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:11 pm

Oh ... Coooooommmmme ooooonnnnnnn, give me just a little credit! Yes, I took the extra 1/2" out of the pieces! ...... I had to. The crossmember is solid to the table and the pieces wouldn't fit back together if I didn't! :goink:

Once I get the side plates welded I may go ahead and gusset it too. At least I listened to Hart and used the 1/4" plate instead of the 3/16 that I was going to use! :roll:

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

tommudd wrote:

maybe......... depends on if he reads this or not :wink:

Your the one with a cell phone, I think maybe you should make a call :ROTFL:

and Larry when you read this later, it is not a showing of lack of confidence, it's just concern buddy :goink:

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

KJWildman wrote:

Oh ... Coooooommmmme ooooonnnnnnn, give me just a little credit! Yes, I took the extra 1/2" out of the pieces! ...... I had to. The crossmember is solid to the table and the pieces wouldn't fit back together if I didn't! :goink:

Once I get the side plates welded I may go ahead and gusset it too. At least I listened to Hart and used the 1/4" plate instead of the 3/16 that I was going to use! :roll:

SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I told Tom you could do it :shock:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:26 pm

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:34 pm

yeah but are they SQUARE

didjado this and that anwhatif!

once ya test fit it, pull it back out and gusset that fool "Justin Case"

I personally hate crossmembers, they all should be steel I-beam

ran over a dog, ripped the trans cross out of my T/A left me driving home holding my trans up by the gear shifter

welded it back up 3 times, it never would take the torque after that first rip

had stress creases all in the rear of the body and the member never dropped, hit a dog and all sorts of conniption occurred

- long as ya got real good puddles ya shouldn't have a problem with it, i just really like to overdo things to the point where i'll never think about it ever again until it's one of those "YEAH RIGHT.." sort of mental responses

KJWildman · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:27 pm

Wellllllllll, I didn't do the welding on it like I said I would today! :roll:

After I unbolted and unclamped it to get to the bottom side, it looks like it pulled one way and bowed the other way just a little bit when I tacked it together! :evil:

Not much ..... maybe a couple mils. (less than 1/8"), but when I laid it over on the table it wasn't flat! I swear that sucker was SOLID to the table!!!!!! I'm going to have to test fit ( again!!!! ) before I finish welding. I don't want to get it all done and then not have a bolt line up!! :roll:

Once I make sure it still fits .... then I'll put my "bird droppings" on it (HART!) unless a better welder wanted to help me out instead of insulting me!! :ROTFL:

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

KJWildman wrote:

Wellllllllll, I didn't do the welding on it like I said I would today! :roll:

After I unbolted and unclamped it to get to the bottom side, it looks like it pulled one way and bowed the other way just a little bit when I tacked it together! :evil:

Not much ..... maybe a couple mils. (less than 1/8"), but when I laid it over on the table it wasn't flat! I swear that sucker was SOLID to the table!!!!!! I'm going to have to test fit ( again!!!! ) before I finish welding. I don't want to get it all done and then not have a bolt line up!! :roll:

Once I make sure it still fits .... then I'll put my "bird droppings" on it (HART!) unless a better welder wanted to help me out instead of insulting me!! :ROTFL:

well on vacation but working tomorrow! Not at the shop however, I just may work Thursday also (depends on how money hungry I get) :twisted:

Taking Friday as an actual vacation day. Oh come on, there has to be a welder there that will lay some puddle quick for ya. I am sure you can get it if someone there can't help ya. If ya want me to do it just let me know sometime before Friday, I will for sure make time for ya :wink:

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

if i was closer to ohio i would swing in and weld it up for ya....

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:24 pm

so... ya sayin it's "Snotsquare"

if ya got a set of those 1500 lb carpenter clamps and 2 pieces of flat stock scrap ya might be able to keep it from twistin, it's hard to keep stuff from drawin on the tacks though

you'd almost be better off bracing it flat in two pieces of large channel if you have channel big enough, much easier to tack against the brace force than it is perpendicular to it

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

Sorry Larry,money hungry has for sure kicked in! Workin Friday also and dare I say I may also Saturday :shock:

The money is green and very good, so it's hard to turn it down :roll:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:20 am

Jeepin - No, it was snot square! :lol:

But I broke loose the tacks and resnotted it! :lol:

Now it's square! and straight and level too! :lol:

Brought it home and threw it under the KJ and whadyaknow, it fit! I'll get it all welded up good now and throw a quick coat of paint on it and I can test fit the whole kit an kaboodle together this weekend! :lol:

Buggin - 'Sok, I understand money first! Believe me, I understand money first!! Do what ya gotta do buddy. This thing aint movin' for another week or two anyway!! :lol:

4x4kayak - Thanks for the offer brother! I think I got it covered. I can weld, it's just that Hart's welds just looked so pretty!! :ROTFL:

I'm off on Friday and Monday so I've got a 4 day weekend to play with it.

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

snotsquare, I love it even more being resnotted! :ROTFL:

I may not work Saturday, just a quicky for them to wrap up is all and I may just enjoy my last 2 days! :ROTFL:

So what happening? :jester:

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

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