Bouncing Betty build (81 BJ42) (1 Viewer)

[midnightrider]

Well ive decided to start a build thread, its going to be pretty slow going but heres the plan.

-SOA
-Highsteer
-4.88 gears in the diffs
-38x11x15 boggers
-Welded rear
-Grizzly locker front
-Snorkel
-Air horns
-Axle Armour
-Six shooter knuckles
-6 point roll cage
-Turbo with intercooler

Before i even start on doing any upgrades i have to do tons of body work. Heres some pictures of stuff i did before i started the thread. Replaced the front leaf springs and had to see how the cruiser flexed afterwards

 

[midnightrider]

Made mounting brackets for the air horns. Painted the front bumper and did a test fit on the snorkel. Snorkel hits the roof so i have some adjusting to do.

 

[midnightrider]

Part of the alternator mounting bracket was worn so i cut it off from the rest of the bracket and made up a new one and welded it back together. You can see the old piece in the first picture on the top right. Then sand blasted and painted it silver and re installed the alternator.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

Atta boy Curt. Keep the updates coming bro.

 

[midnightrider]

My son started painting the frame gloss black. The next two pictures are some repairs im going to have to do. The PO did some questionable patch work on the back of the cruiser and now its all falling apart. Most of the body mounts are pretty worn and need replacing and some of the mounts need repair. Insurance expires next week so ill be able to start doing the repairs. Going to take it out 4x4ing saturday one last time before the repairs.

 

[bikersmurf]

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

 

[midnightrider]

Yup, have a ton of work to do. Heres some pics from 4x4ing today.

 

[midnightrider]

Finally cut out the back

 

[bikersmurf]

Fun... It'll be worth it.

 

[midnightrider]

Yeah it will, the back doors were not closing properly and the entire back end made awful noises every time I hit a bump

 

[bikersmurf]

In 91, mine had got so bad, that it was knocking the cheap trailer lights off the tail end of the frame. I pulled the top, and it didn't go back on for two months... After I'd built a new 1/2 tub while using it as my DD... 500 miles from home. Nice thing was, the truck didn't get rained on once in that time.

 

[midnightrider]

In 91, mine had got so bad, that it was knocking the cheap trailer lights off the tail end of the frame. I pulled the top, and it didn't go back on for two months... After I'd built a new 1/2 tub while using it as my DD... 500 miles from home. Nice thing was, the truck didn't get rained on once in that time.

That sucks, luckily it didn't rain though. i was thinking about building a new tub, think it would be kind of fun. My sons trying to convince me to cut away the entire back of the vehicle and turn it into a tube buggy but i want to try and keep it street legal for now... Piece i made up, going to weld it across the back.

 

[bikersmurf]

I also built mine out of box steel, including uprights on both side of the tailgate/door opening. I'd direct you to the pics in my build thread, but I've just discovered they didn't make the transition into the new software.... Boo.

 

[wombat]

One word of advise, keep the top on while you do this or weld some cross pieces across the back to keep the sides of the tub from creeping out.

 

[bikersmurf]

Just curious, what did your rear bench come out of? How well is it working?

 

[midnightrider]

One word of advise, keep the top on while you do this or weld some cross pieces across the back to keep the sides of the tub from creeping out.

Yeah I thought it might do that so I left the top on

Just curious, what did your rear bench come out of? How well is it working?

Not sure what it came out of, It was in there when i bought it. It works pretty well but If your tall enough you hit your head on the roof going over bumps

 

[cruiserpilot]

"Not sure what it came out of, It was in there when i bought it. It works pretty well but If your tall enough you hit your head on the roof going over bumps" -- Simple, take the roof off!

 

[midnightrider]

Finally got around to working on the cruiser again, welded up some cracks in the body and some other misc stuff. Kinda got carried away grinding and noticed how much bondo is on this thing... should have put a magnet to it before buying it

 

[bikersmurf]

Should've, could've... I know what you mean... New floor, new frame, new hardtop, new axles, new transmission, new engine, new hood... I've got a half decent truck.

 

[midnightrider]

Should've, could've... I know what you mean... New floor, new frame, new hardtop, new axles, new transmission, new engine, new hood... I've got a half decent truck.

Damn new frame, wish i had one