Die-Laughing's Jeep YJ Hardtop...

[Die-Laughing]

Well, I've been wanting to put a little jeep together for a while now and salmonfacesalad's jeep made me insane so, I just had to have one of my own. here's what I got so far..

Parts:
-Tamiya body
-TF2 chassis set
-R3 2spd trans
-Hammer case
-1.5 gearhead enk's (probably going to make my own wheels)
-1.5 stompers
-vanquish ax10 housings
-ARB diff covers
-vanquish 4link trusses

Plans:
-4 link front & rear
-tube fenders front & rear, plated
-winch bumper
-full interior w/ roll bar

Started with a Tamiya body.. hacked off the fenders & opened up the rear wheel arches about 1/4" further back


Put together some front tube fenders out of 3/32" (.094") solid stainless rod.. I didn't want it to look funky big and I already had this laying around. It should hold up well being solid but, well see. I don't think this truck will see a lot of abuse when it's done but, then again.. we'll see.


I'm still gonna do some tweaking to the front corners.. I might bring them in a bit to follow the hood line. maybe.




quick mock-up..






I got a long way to go... stay tuned

[ser3100]

OOOHHHH popcorn in hand sittin back watchin!

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by ser3100

OOOHHHH popcorn in hand sittin back watchin!

X2!!

You guys are killin' me with your YJ's

[STANG KILLA SS]

nice! love this!
do you plan on filling in the tube fenders? i did this on my FJ and it came out awesome
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5...atfenders1.jpg

[Die-Laughing]

Yes sir.. That's what I plan on doing. I just ordered materials. I went with .03" brass for filling the fenders and I'm gonna try working with .036" sheet stainless to do the quarters and other body panel related things. I got tiny screws (0-80) I think I'm gonna try to screw them onto the plastic, mostly for looks though.

[Die-Laughing]

I think I'm going to come up with a wheel that will hug the axial axle, drastically reducing the width without affecting performance. I don't really want to end up with the typical width an axial axle will provide. If that doesn't work well, I might go K44. But, I'd rather run a narrow configuration axial axle. Hell, I might narrow the axles themselves before going K44.

[badhoopty]

lookin good rick.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by Die-Laughing

I think I'm going to come up with a wheel that will hug the axial axle, drastically reducing the width without affecting performance. I don't really want to end up with the typical width an axial axle will provide. If that doesn't work well, I might go K44. But, I'd rather run a narrow configuration axial axle. Hell, I might narrow the axles themselves before going K44.

I'd like to get in on that action!

[Bananaclip]

I see something nice coming

[eddievedder]

oooo la la. Nice start my friend. K44s would be sweeeeeeet.

[AxialJeepster]

this should be fun

you know im in!!

[Die-Laughing]

Made some more progress...

I wanted to do sheet metal body panels so, I made some paper templates.


I then traced the templates onto a piece of .0125" sheet brass and then cut them out with scissors.


Here they are all cut out next to the templates. Two sides and one back panel.


I then formed the side panels to make the bend at the back of the truck and held them up to the truck to see how they looked.




I ordered some real tiny torx screws from mcmaster (0-80 thread) and some nuts because I had the idea of attaching the panels by simply bolting them on. I wasn't sure at first how I was going to like this but, I think it came out pretty good and I know they will be secure. Obviously the whole shiBanG will look much cooler after paint and all that.






I did both sides & the back panel like that and that's where I'm currently at. I'm thinking I want to braze the sliders and tube fenders to the sheet panels and make it all one solid unit. We'll see. I haven't quite figured that out yet.

[johnnyh66]

dude, that's dope.
Go DL Go!

[ser3100]

Ooohhh i love metal fender protection!

[Die-Laughing]

Yeah, I'm hoping to have it end up looking as clean as that jeep you started building last year..



I think I want to braze the rear tube fenders right to the sheet metal body panel and have the whole assembly bolt in place. The front tube fenders will be a separate unit because I think I already have those figured out. Right now it's looking pretty hackish compared to your work (above) but, it's coming along. It's still in the early stages.

stay tuned

[ser3100]

Not even! Yours looks good and im really digging the front fender work. Damn i wanna build again seeing this! Keep up the good work and cant wait to see more. At least you dont have to worry about real estate under the body since there is no interior unless your planning on building one. Sub'd!

[Die-Laughing]

Ok.. busted ass tonight after work.. made some good progress.

started with plating the front fenders...




Then, I attached the front fenders to the sheet body panels so it was all one unit..




Then I started on my rear tube fenders...






Then I sheeted the rear fenders and those are also attached to the sheet body panels.

Here's my disgusting looking little pieces of art. Man.. they look like hell. I went through hell to get them to this point but, I think they'll really set this truck off.






I can't wait to clean them up! They are going to be sweet when I get to do some finish work to them.

[Mr.Joshua]

Wow...looking awesome! Can't wait to see those panels painted up

What flux/solder are you using?

[Die-Laughing]

Thanks! I use the safety-silv 45... I love the stuff. Although, I have done cleaner work.. I'm still trying to understand sticking sheet to rod. I'm gettin' by for now but, man.. It can be aggravating.
I'm looking forward to cleaning the panels up.. I'm a ways off of paint but, that'll be a good day as well.

[salmonfacesalad]

Damn dude this is coming together fast. It looks great.

Is there a reason you didn't bring the rear corner armor all the way around to meet the lines of the tailgate? Do you have plans to make a drop down tailgate or something fancy like that? That would be sick.