Lazarus - Back from the Dead

[carwash]

I would love one... do i get to choose color?

[carwash]

Had school til 10 tonight, then hit the shop to knock out a couple hours.... Dave brought his hummer shells back, all beadblasted and ready to go. I welded the rock rings into the outer shells... now the fun part, reassembly.







Started my frame repair tonight as well. The areas of swiss cheese will be sleeved with c-channel. I made the channel from rect stock. Found some in my piles and piles of stock that has the right ID to go over the existing OD. Cut the one end off, making a sweet C that will slide down over the frame, once i notch out the areas for the rock sliders and body mounts.









Once welded in place, should stiffen things up extremely, and make a nice solid area to mount the new custom crossmember to. got too late, and I didn't feel like cutting steel anymore... this is the first of about 6 i need to make...

I always know when your workin cause whenever I am coming home from class I see the light showing through your sky light on the shop.

Lookin good.

[carwash]

Ha, that's funny, didn't know you could see it from the road... stop by if you see the light on.

Yeah just barely. Im usually truckin my butt home to get some dinner so I never really stopped. Next time Im passing by and see the light on I'll stop by. Give you a hand or point and laugh or something lol

[blazerbrad]

So I have to ask.......what's the story behind this build pattern. The tube work, sliders, 1-ton axles with H1 rims, neon paint, all on a CJ... all seems to be about the same cookie cutter pattern as several others I see on this board. Not knocking it by any means, just curious. I assume the same guy(s) had a hand in all the builds?

[94Dodge Truggy]

Originally Posted by blazerbrad

So I have to ask.......what's the story behind this build pattern. The tube work, sliders, 1-ton axles with H1 rims, neon paint, all on a CJ... all seems to be about the same cookie cutter pattern as several others I see on this board. Not knocking it by any means, just curious. I assume the same guy(s) had a hand in all the builds?

They were family friends who built them all around the same time with the help of an out of state builder. Uncle Holly, Steve Waters and Jeff Smith owned them originally. Documentation now states that Jeff Smith still owns his and Steves was sold to Jim Smith. There are 3 of these rare pieces known still to exist and CW is altering history. Some say to leave them stock as it may be worth more original. Others say modify it and make it better. Lets tune in and see what the new color scheme will be!

[carwash]

I recall one time the club being called the Skittles, because of all the neon colors..

Jeff Smith and Steve waters had theirs built by JB's offroad in Indianapolis if i recall correctly. Jeff's was originally blue and yellow and stevers was green and red. Jeff still has his, it is now silver and blue, and yes, steve sold his to Jim Smith, and it's now painted black, green and orange if i recall correctly. (2 different color tube fenders, but you didn't hear that form me!)

This CJ was purchased by Shane originally, and its initial build was at Jeff Smith's shop at his house. They did all the tube work just like was done on his and Steve's. I guess either shane lost interest or ran out of money or something, as I don't think it ever saw the trail. Steve ended up buying it, after regretting the sale of his to Jim... but lost interest as well. He had intentions of putting Uncle Holley's motor in it, so it came with that as well.

The tube work is vintage in my opinion. Was very popular on a ton of rigs nationwide for a while, about 10 years ago-ish, during the time when lean and light was unheard of. It's not my favorite either anymore, but I'm not gonna redo it all... that's for sure. It protects teh tub a bit, and Dave likes it, so it all stays. So to keep Truggy happy and the value of the vintage rig intact, I will leave the tubes unmolested and just reinforce where necessary...

New color scheme will be much more mild... maybe even a black frame and cage... unheard of!

[carwash]

Frame sleeve cut and in place, awaiting some squirted metal. This will make a really nice surface to mount the crossmember to. I hate welding stuff to a jeep frame, just can't be trusted...

[sarge]

glad to see that someone else is dealing with rust ........ did I say rust ....... I have a mess on my hands and I just keep cutting and cutting only to find guess what ?????..... that's right , More RUST !!!!! I'll post some picks a soon as I remember to bring the camera inside .

I remember the " Skittles " comments ,Mike I think you and I were both in the catagory with your Pumkin and my Chevokee

[itbrokeagain]

Originally Posted by sarge

glad to see that someone else is dealing with rust ........ did I say rust ....... I have a mess on my hands and I just keep cutting and cutting only to find guess what ?????..... that's right , More RUST !!!!! I'll post some picks a soon as I remember to bring the camera inside .

I remember the " Skittles " comments ,Mike I think you and I were both in the catagory with your Pumkin and my Chevokee

Many many years ago my cage went in at Mikes house. He brought out some bright ass ugly orange paint and said I painted it orange so if you dont like it too bad.

[redcj3a]

Nice history lessons. I have been looking at this build and kept thinking it's foundation was one of the Jeeps I have seen at the past charity events in Trenton. So, I am not totally wrong, it is one of a set of triplets.

Sarge, I am waiting to hear of the build you have hinted about in a couple of your responses.

John

[JasonCJ7]

This Jeep was fully assembled and did make a run at Harlan. The builders got it ready for the trip and then tore it back down to complete it.

[sarge]

Originally Posted by redcj3a

Nice history lessons. I have been looking at this build and kept thinking it's foundation was one of the Jeeps I have seen at the past charity events in Trenton. So, I am not totally wrong, it is one of a set of triplets.

Sarge, I am waiting to hear of the build you have hinted about in a couple of your responses.

John

No build yet for me ! I'm fixing up an XJ that I got off of Jon (lilblueXJ) for my 16 year old .

Here is what I'm dealing with :

This is whats left of the floors in this rust bucket:



and another:



got started on the passenger side last night:



will finish it w/ bed liner fo easy clean out.

[carwash]

Ok, all frame repair done. Beadblasted, and back to the shop for spring mounting and reassembly, etc.

Plated the corners with some triangles. The P.O. had plated the frame in the rear on the bottom and sides, but it was done with some sort of really wavy metal, so i wanted a nice strong flat surface to mount the shackle hangers to.





Put on the outriggers for the front, fitted and polished them into the 3x3 front block to make it one nice piece. Looks nice i think.





Did some plating on the top of the frame in the rear as well where the spring mounts will sit for the same reason. There was some really unlevel wavy metal here as well. Flat surfaces are much nicer for mounting crap to.



Another shot of the tcase mounting area of the frame. This area was one of my biggest concerns due to the force that is put here.



Here's some shots of it all bead blasted and etch primed.









Obligatory action shot....



Wheels painted and mated up with the tires. No shots of tires on, got too damn late. I like the paint color. Drab olive and black. This will be the color scheme of the rig all over as well.

[Hope Springs Hauler]

I like the colors

[94Dodge Truggy]

dull finishes seem to be harder to keep clean but thinking that this will look nice.

[RuffedUpXJ]

The colors do look nice. Is the rig going to be Drab Olive? It would look nice and since its CJ a little bit of a nostalgic feel to it.

[carwash]

i warned him of the difficulty of keeping it clean... but i guess the look outweighs the work for him. It will look a bit cool and nostalgic. He is looking into a semi gloss maybe for the tubes/frame, etc.

Lookin good Carwash! Working on it this weekend?

[carwash]

Probably some, not sure when yet. Have to start on this cage for this cj5 as well soon... that might bet this weekend's project.

Well if you need a hand give me a shout. I'll bring some brew. And yeah, you better start on that cage. Its been too long!

[carwash]

Got the front end done as far as spring hangers and shackle mounts. Measure 100 times, weld once.









It's pretty sweet seeing the springs on it, even if it is upside down. I used the length of string method to know where to place the shackle mount. ie; measure the length of the spring as if it were flat. hold it at the bolt for the spring mount, lengthen if forward past where the spring stops in arched position. Take a look at how much string you have extra, and make sure that the length of the shackle you have can absorb that much length by the shackle swinging forward...

Here's some shots of the springs on... moving right along i guess.







Now on to the rear.

[RuffedUpXJ]

Looks good Mike. leaves for the rear as well?

[mckeddie]

Originally Posted by carwash

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damn, that side tube/nerf bar looks about as good as 1 of my better stick welds? you can definitely tell what you've done compared to what all was already done. looks great!