Fubars snow jeep build

Discussion about deep snow wheeling, vehicle builds, trip reports, etc
Jeep84
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Jeep84 »

Hi there. I'm new. I live in Saskatchewan so i know exactly what your talking about. Yes, put it in. As soon as it drops below -18 C (Roughly 0 F), Not including windchill, there are huge benefits to "plugging it in". Especially on a brand new build. The oil pan heater is also a great thing to have, also a battery blanket. You can get those at any auto parts store. I don't have an oil heater myself, but i want one. I plug the other 2 into a tri-cube under the hood and just run one cord out. Also, remember; You only need to plug it in for 4 hours before you start it. Any longer than that, and you are burning cash without any more benefit. All those electric heaters under there use a fair bit of power when you add them up.
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Hey jeep84 nice to see a neighbor on here :beer:
Thanks for the advise, I did pick up a new block heater on sale 25 bucks and probably will get the pan heater too.

Got my harness and PCM tuned and back in the mail today. It looks clean and headache free.

The block has been cleaned and checks out free of cracks, ordered the .30 over kb pistons and some floating connecting rods. 600.00 for the parts, pretty pricey so I'll have to recover from that one.
The rest of the cost will be machine work and small pieces ie bearings and gaskets

Looking back at it a newer LS would have been the smart choice. I discovered my block is the only one chev produced that doesn't have a 4" bore, so parts are more $.

Oh well, too far into it to turn back.

It will be different than the average joes I guess.
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Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Not much to report, got layed off and been Doing renos to the house to try and sell by march.
I scored a bunch of these stainless steel 3 gallon tanks cheap. Figure they will work great for on board air setup.

Also traded my buddy 2 of the tanks to use in a hotrod airbag setup in exchange for these sweet low profile dual 10" electric fans and the temp switch for the rad.

Slowly but surely.

Oh and we have plenty of snow just thought I would rub it in for everyone who says it's the worst winter in years haha.
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Nobody
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Nobody »

What are those tanks from? Hope you get back to work soon, and send some of that snow our way.
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H8PVMNT
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by H8PVMNT »

We use those here in MT. The freeze plug heaters make your rig more comfey faster because the heater is warmer right of the get go but I think the oil pan heaters actually do more for yor engine. We had -40° F this winter and my '80 Toyota would still start and run as long as I pluged my pan heater in.

In the past with no heater the oil would be too thick to start it.
Wake Up, It's 5:29, time to go wheeling!
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Tanks were left overs from some compressor company good upto 250 psi.
Thanks for the pan heater info. I think I'll run both as well.

I re calculated my gearing ratios for the driveline and with 4:10 axles and the under drive / t case combo I'm planning I'll be able to crawl at ~300:1 in low low
I saw a video of a guy with 150:1 and it still seemed to fast for snow.

Snowbatman on YouTube has to be close to 300:1 and it seems to be really good for deep snow.
Just barely turning .....of course 4 hi on my planned setup would be about 150:1 so that's a decent spread I think.
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Nobody
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Nobody »

Fubar wrote:Tanks were left overs from some compressor company good upto 250 psi.
Thanks for the pan heater info. I think I'll run both as well.

I re calculated my gearing ratios for the driveline and with 4:10 axles and the under drive / t case combo I'm planning I'll be able to crawl at ~300:1 in low low
I saw a video of a guy with 150:1 and it still seemed to fast for snow.

Snowbatman on YouTube has to be close to 300:1 and it seems to be really good for deep snow.
Just barely turning .....of course 4 hi on my planned setup would be about 150:1 so that's a decent spread I think.
I'm at about 75:1 which isn't low enough a lot of times, but I'd say I spend the vast majority of the time in 2nd and 3rd gear low range, ~18-38:1 (36" tires).

If I could control my idle speed, I'd turn it way down. When you need slow, often times the lowest gears just have too much torque. A super low idle smooths everything out. One of the tricks I often use is to lug the engine in 2nd gear.
WINTER IS HERE
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »


I'm at about 75:1 which isn't low enough a lot of times, but I'd say I spend the vast majority of the time in 2nd and 3rd gear low range, ~18-38:1 (36" tires).

If I could control my idle speed, I'd turn it way down. When you need slow, often times the lowest gears just have too much torque. A super low idle smooths everything out. One of the tricks I often use is to lug the engine in 2nd gear.
Nobody, have you thought of adding a hand throttle?
ive seen some pretty slick setups, this would allow a smoother crawl for those super slow times. I know when i lug it it gets pretty jerky sometimes.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-wil ... ottle.html
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Nobody
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Nobody »

Fubar wrote:
Nobody, have you thought of adding a hand throttle?
ive seen some pretty slick setups, this would allow a smoother crawl for those super slow times. I know when i lug it it gets pretty jerky sometimes.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-wil ... ottle.html
I my case the idle speed is controlled by the computer, and I don't have a way to lower it.
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Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Been in the middle of moving, buy/selling reno-ing a house for a little while..

plans have changed and I picked up a 1958 Land Rover Series II . I scored it for a 1000

Still have the jeep, but I may sell it or just use it as a cheap winter beater for a while.
I figured it was to "complete" to tear apart and rebuild.

I never really knew about the land rovers until i came across the ad, and they look pretty cool.

dont know anything about it other than it has a 3 or 4 cyl inline gasser, all aluminum body with rivet construction and the thing is small.
88" wheel base i believe.

heres my inspiration with the plans for the rover.

Image

still going to go with the same engine, axles and transmission.. might opt for a short tcase box like an atlas though... i dont think ill have room for the np205 with a doubler hangine off the front.

a new frame and stretch are also in order.
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n16ht5
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by n16ht5 »

Those are awesome, should be a good build.
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Thanks,
heres the actual land rover..
ive been cleaning it out over the last few days and man is it ever gross.

it sat abandon in a farmers field for at least 6 years. nasty mice & bird carcass, spiders and flies galore.

i wont even put it in the garage until its quarantined.

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I had never used one of those tow bars behind the truck before but man do they ever work well.
backing ups a little more challenging though
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

update:

So I sold the land rover made some $$ on it and bought a 68 jeepster commando.

Yea the land rover just wasn't making me warm and tingly inside.

Also picked up a new tubing bender.

All the pieces are cut and cleaned for a new frame build.

The previous owners had welded complete junk to the stock frame and axles on the jeepster, so I would rather start at square one with it and not have any surprises in the future.

Pictures:
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Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

More pictures
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Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Plans are for suspension have changed to 4 link rear with a stretch, and leafs up front out boarded on the frame for stability and to keep it lower.

Wheelbase will be about 112" (stock was 101") this will be to improve the departure angles.
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Nobody
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Nobody »

Just catching up again... It looks like you'll do great work. Looking forward to seeing you finish something, anything! :finger: I like the commando's. :cool:
WINTER IS HERE
bobracing
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by bobracing »

Wow, quit the run around.
One, think your making way more work for your self than needed. Snow is a game of traction, not really hp like sand, low gears and technique are your friends in snow. Not to say hp isn't needed sometimes but not as often and a 4cyl will work just fine.
if making a dedicated snow wheeler:
Keep it low, make the body fit the tires, cut cut cut.
Lockers, not limited slips but lockers. Selectables are nice but on a budget, lunch box locker in the front and welded in the rear works nice too.
You'll have to figure tires yourself but radials seem to work and MTR & Irocs seem to be favorites.
I haven't seen length be a real issue, the more serious guys I run are in the 86" range.
Autos, ask anyone about trans and everyone will be different, but I think the auto will allow more control between gas and brake foot dance. Again the more hard core guys I run with are about 42:1 but also have autos. (4.3 / 700r4 / 5.38s in flatfenders)
Get the shock mounts u-bolts and anything else up from under the axle.
Shave the 14b. The LS in the 14b is probably a gov-lok, never had problems with mine but some say it's only time before they blow???
A nice steal cage with some sort of cover. Al or steal will be fine but it will help stop "stuff" from coming thru in a rollover, or turn it into a great sled on the roof.
No top, bikini and wind jammer are great with a good heater. Less damage when sliding into a tree.
With the commando, rails down the top body edge in the rear, again less damage when sliding into a tree.
Outboarding will be nessary to mount the front D60 front but will also be a good idea on the rear.

This is just things I've picked up over the years, hope some help.
Fubar
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Fubar »

Thanks for the input guys.

yes i will go lunch box upfront with arb in the rear.

I wasn't able to out board the leafs in the front.. my frame happened to work out to be the same width as the d60 stock mounting locations. which is nice anyways.

I frenched the frame to get the ride height a bit lower and build some shackle hangers for some leftover 4" shackles i had.

(the pipes bottom half will be cut to allow the leaf eye to sit in there)

and yes i will be cutting the hell out of the body to get a flat belly and 40's shoved in there.

the drivetrain will be fairly high in the floor but im ok with that.

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Nobody
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by Nobody »

Looking great!
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n16ht5
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Re: Fubars snow jeep build

Post by n16ht5 »

get to work, snows comin!
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