Builds 68' M715, AKA "Smokey" (Can I post this Jeep on MUD?)
- Thread starter Rock40
- Start date
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- #362
Yes, @Crinkler you can find it here:
The Rock40 Build
After completing this trip recently https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/3-weeks-9-states-and-a-45-year-old-fj40-m416-combo.814678/#post-9314419 I've had several request to document the mods on my 69' FJ40 and 69' M416 trailer. There is a thread on Pirate from 2-3 years ago but if you don't visit...
forum.ih8mud.com
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- #363
Fixed the floor pan mod today.
Added a bit of the pan back into it
Squared it off
Welded in new metal
Sanded it to blend back into the floor
Tacked the bar back in place, fits great!
Added a bit of the pan back into it
Squared it off
Welded in new metal
Sanded it to blend back into the floor
Tacked the bar back in place, fits great!
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- #364
A few little things. Got the doors out that mount on the lower portion of the bad. Blasted them, super nasty and 3 coats of thick paint
I can only imagine what the truck looked like when it was this glow orange color
Blasted the tailgate hinges. Of the 4, only 1 is remotely straight
Added some support legs and feet to the seat hoops. This is the driver side
Passenger side support
And cut out seat mount brackets. Hopefully the seats will get installed tomorrow
I can only imagine what the truck looked like when it was this glow orange color
Blasted the tailgate hinges. Of the 4, only 1 is remotely straight
Added some support legs and feet to the seat hoops. This is the driver side
Passenger side support
And cut out seat mount brackets. Hopefully the seats will get installed tomorrow
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- #365
Nearly got both seat mounts knocked out today. Actually ran out of plate steel but it’s very close
Used some OSB to assist with the seat bolt spacing and you can see the 1” DOM bent up in place
Driver seat will sit just like this, some very odd bends and copes but it works
Used some OSB to assist with the seat bolt spacing and you can see the 1” DOM bent up in place
Driver seat will sit just like this, some very odd bends and copes but it works
MrMikeyG
SILVER Star
I really enjoy this thread! Keep on throwing out the updates. Stellar work!
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- #367
Thanks! Plenty more to come
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- #368
Seats are in and fully mounted now. Cut out a chunk of 3/16” plate this morning, spaced out the mounts appropriately and burned them in. LOTS of clamps and a big chunk of angle to keep things flat while welding
Both inboard seat mounts will require a small gusset on the forward edge
Bent up some chunks of 1.5” DOM and made some hip guards. They also triangulate and reinforce the rear of the cage
Added two small 1” grab handles and called it a day
Both inboard seat mounts will require a small gusset on the forward edge
Bent up some chunks of 1.5” DOM and made some hip guards. They also triangulate and reinforce the rear of the cage
Added two small 1” grab handles and called it a day
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- #369
Now that the seats and brackets are in, I was able to figure out the radio mounts
We wanted to get both under the passenger seat and it was a SQUEEZE. Layed out the mounting brackets…
Drilled 8 holes for welded nutserts
Burned them in…
And now they’re mounted. I need some strips of 1/2” UHMW to push them off the floor but you get the idea.
They fit VERY well and are a good use of space in the fairly cramped cab
We wanted to get both under the passenger seat and it was a SQUEEZE. Layed out the mounting brackets…
Drilled 8 holes for welded nutserts
Burned them in…
And now they’re mounted. I need some strips of 1/2” UHMW to push them off the floor but you get the idea.
They fit VERY well and are a good use of space in the fairly cramped cab
I will hop in here to talk about the radios we are using. We have a Kenwood TK-790H, VHF (for 2-meter Ham and also all of PCI's frequencies), and a Kenwood TK-890H, UHF. GMRS is in the UHF band but this radio is NOT FCC-certified for use in GMRS, so we won't be using it for that. These radios have a maximum output of 110 watts but can be easily programmed for 45 watts. We both have necessary licenses for the frequencies we will use.
Both of these radios are remote-head and we will be feeding both radios off one head, one at a time, which looks like this:
These radios are commercial radios, used in school buses, ambulances, police cars, etc., etc. You have to program them with exactly the frequencies you want to use--not a big deal.
We went with these over consumer-grade radios because we believe these are simpler to operate, more durable, more reliable and perform very well with good audio.
Kenwood offers smaller commercial options, contrasted here (TK-7360H, 50 watts maximum) on top of the TK-790H that we used. We went with the big ones so we could program them for 45 watts and just loaf them along, with the option for 110 watts if we felt it necessary.
Both of these radios are remote-head and we will be feeding both radios off one head, one at a time, which looks like this:
These radios are commercial radios, used in school buses, ambulances, police cars, etc., etc. You have to program them with exactly the frequencies you want to use--not a big deal.
We went with these over consumer-grade radios because we believe these are simpler to operate, more durable, more reliable and perform very well with good audio.
Kenwood offers smaller commercial options, contrasted here (TK-7360H, 50 watts maximum) on top of the TK-790H that we used. We went with the big ones so we could program them for 45 watts and just loaf them along, with the option for 110 watts if we felt it necessary.
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- #371
Lots of little stuff today
Knocked out the final welding on the power steering box mount
Pulled the inner passenger fender and finished the cutting/sanding so I could mount the coil reservoir
Knocked out the final welding on the power steering box mount
Pulled the inner passenger fender and finished the cutting/sanding so I could mount the coil reservoir
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- #372
Reinstalled all the inner/outer fenders and the grill. Getting ready to start cycling the front suspension and steering
Pulled the sad tailgate out of storage. It is seriously screwed and it looks like some drunken Private backed into all sorts of s***
These photos don’t really do the damage justice. The plan is cutting it apart in order to work some of the dents out and make it “flatish”. I’m going to have to fab all new hinges, the factory ones are too bent to hell to even consider making them work
Pulled the sad tailgate out of storage. It is seriously screwed and it looks like some drunken Private backed into all sorts of s***
These photos don’t really do the damage justice. The plan is cutting it apart in order to work some of the dents out and make it “flatish”. I’m going to have to fab all new hinges, the factory ones are too bent to hell to even consider making them work
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- #373
Installed the PSC pump, this is the hydro boost compatible version
Installation tool makes pressing the pulley on really easy
Installed
Installation tool makes pressing the pulley on really easy
Installed
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- #374
Cut off the passenger rocker and a bit of the cab corner. I’ve been putting it off because I hate trying to splice into the bent up cab
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- #375
Cut out as little of the cab corner as possible and patched it
Sanded down all the nasty rust inside the rocker
Shot it with Weld-Thru 3M primer
Patched it back together. About 1/2 welded now but the rocker isn’t going anywhere
Sanded down all the nasty rust inside the rocker
Shot it with Weld-Thru 3M primer
Patched it back together. About 1/2 welded now but the rocker isn’t going anywhere
Rock40 - Quite the comprehensive account! Excellent work! Blessings!
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- #377
A couple more things.
Stripped the windshield down, only 1 terribly rusted screw needed to be coaxed out with the welder
Cut off the old and pathetic windshield hood down hinges
Tuffy console finally arrived, it was ordered in October
It fits shockingly well here
Stripped the windshield down, only 1 terribly rusted screw needed to be coaxed out with the welder
Cut off the old and pathetic windshield hood down hinges
Tuffy console finally arrived, it was ordered in October
It fits shockingly well here
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- #378
Abused tailgate, so bent.
I sourced some steel locally and have a plan to cut it up, straiten and rebuild it
I sourced some steel locally and have a plan to cut it up, straiten and rebuild it
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- #379
Went to work with the plasma. There was a LOT of pressure on it and it actually sprung apart while cutting it
I have no doubt that it well look much better when your done with it.
