Build ‘68 M715, AKA "Smokey" (Can I post this Jeep on MUD?)

[Rock40]

Added nutserts to the glovebox insert

Tearing down the windshield some more. Removing the factory soft top rail and getting ready to fab the windshield hold down pads

 

[Rock40]

More windshield massaging…

Fairly easy. Lower the windshield onto the pads and lock it in place via pins on each side

 

[Rock40]

Ported hydroboost

Sigh…. More issues with the exhaust and engine being too close to the firewall

 

[Rock40]

Ugh. Thought I saw a few pine cones up in the cab

 

[Rock40]

Sway bar finally arrived. That’s in

Really heavy construction. Makes my Currie sway bar look puny

 

[Rock40]

Finished welding out all the rear exhaust pieces. All done with that now

 

[Rock40]

2nd battery of course won’t fit with the inner fender installed

 

[Rock40]

Finally got the damn tailgate straight. Took it up to a neighbors fabrication shop. 8’ table and about 12 huge clamps, strongbacks and then welded “C” channel vertically to the inside of the gate. AND broke a finger the day prior dropping the gate on it. Thought it was just smashed but I actually cracked the bone right off

 

[Rock40]

Made an EGR block off plate for the 8.1 using 1/2” thick 316L

 

[Rock40]

Went to Hawaii with the wife, caught up for now

 

[Wilbur6122]

Haven’t posted in awhile, time to catch up

Rear shock support, removable

View attachment 2992825

View attachment 2992826

Windshield dash bar, 1.5” DOM

View attachment 2992827

Supports for comm headsets and a truck rear view mirror

View attachment 2992829

View attachment 2992828

You’ve been busy! Nice, detailed work you’ve done. Thanks for posting. Was wondering what progress you had made.

 

[MrMikeyG]

Very cool to see an update. How did those Borla pieces "feel?" Do they seem decent? I'm in need of exhaust stuff for my 80, and I'm thinking of the Borla cat-back and some oem bits to finish it out.

 

[Rock40]

Very cool to see an update. How did those Borla pieces "feel?" Do they seem decent? I'm in need of exhaust stuff for my 80, and I'm thinking of the Borla cat-back and some oem bits to finish it out

The Borla bits seem to be pretty well made overall. They are 304 stainless. They welded up fairly good, not as nice as the flanges to the 3” pipe but also nothing to get upset over. We’ll see how they sound

 

[DRANGED]

Got a pic of your x-ray?
(I'm in medicine )

 

[Rock40]

Got a pic of your x-ray?
(I'm in medicine )

Hahaha! No, sorry

It was a great pic tho, looked like I was giving the bird since I broke the middle finger

 

[ferg]

Update?

 

[Rock40]

Update?

Need to do one. Bogged down a bit with projects at the house now that the weather is turning along with getting my 40 ready for Rubithon this year

 

[Rock40]

Time for an update.

Mark came down from AK and we got the front axle removed (in and out multiple times) and the front bumpstops installed

 

[Rock40]

This is the problem with a long travel suspension on a LOW truck. Not wanting to go over a 2.5” lift, there is essentially not enough room on the passenger side for the bump to have enough uptravel. The large D60 casting is in the way. And there is basically no other place the passenger bump can go.

So, designed an inset basically then milled out the cast housing. Bump strikes the original leaf spring pad so the casting is extremely thick there

Bump pad removed to show how it’ll sit

Fully milled out

Dang snug. This provides a total of 3.5” of uptravel with a 2.5” bump. Tires are REALLY stuffed in the fenders but it’ll steer

 

[Rock40]

Also broke apart the 75 or so spot welds to separate the fender flare from the outer fender. Many of the soot welds were broken anyway and I wanted to clean the rust out.

With the outer fender out of the way, I was able to slightly grind back a body seam and part of the outer fender which created about 1” more tire clearance at the rear of the tire

This lip was ground away

Added a fender brace which supports the inner fender and holds it to the rear as far away from the tire as possible