Grendel
Iron Sharpens Iron
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 297
- Messages
- 2,791
So, a few folks asked me for a build thread on the all aluminum Jeep I am building from parts mostly sourced on Pirate.
I really liked the idea of a Jeep rod, but really want performance, not a shitty ride. I also found an all aluminum CJ2 tub here that was widened and lengthened to actually be usable.
Considering that I also had some Corvette suspension kicking around when I noodled that purchase, I pulled the trigger on it. I also found adapters for the Vette sub frames that I had, so I really wanted an all aluminum frame, welded to the tub to make it unibody... and worked with @zachv (RIP) to design an aluminum cage that's going into it.
So I had a rendering done about 2 years ago and now having changes made to that rendering, as we made some design changes.
This is closest to what we decided on
New Aqualu aluminum body, widened 5” and lengthened 7”.
Aluminum 2"x4" frame rails, welded to the body, as is the cage for an all aluminum monocoque design. Think incredibly rigid unibody like very fine race cars. She does not twist in corners.
2019 Corvette Suspension, new from GM, all of it.
2019 Corvette Z51 Big Brakes steel brakes with hawk pads. New from GM/Hawk.
Ride Tech coil over shocks and Delrin bushings for a Vette. New from Ride Tech.
2009 rear Corvette Z06 19x12 rims on all four corners.
6th Gen Camaro rear differential and axle shafts go into the 2019 Corvette 33 spline wheel bearings.
Has GMPP 3.92 gears and e-locker/LSD in it. Also has plumbing for a differential cooler.
Engine is Gen5: LT83 . That's a forged LT1 crank, forged rods with forged Mahle pistons, a whopping cam, DOD/AFR delete and an LT4 blower in a new L83 block with all new high-end wearables built by Chad Golen. We kept the direct LT4 injection and factory harness. There is a massive air to water cooler in the chin, under the custom bumper and frame cover.
All fuel and transmission lines are AN.
All brake lines are stainless.
Manual master cylinder is by BAER.
Chassis harness is all new, American Auto Wire, along with Swap time converted, new GMPP engine and transmission wiring.
Steering column is by Flaming River, as is the stainless steering shaft to the all-new Flaming River Corvette power rack and pinion.
Gauges are Dakota Digital HDX-2017 powered by their BIM for CANBUS.
MK15 Mod4 Vietnam era practice dummy bombs were internally coated after TIG welding the water fill shut and adding stainless fuel fills to the top. You can fill the fuel tanks (there’s 2 bombs and one fuel pump carrier) from either side of the Jeep.
Transmission is a truck based new 8L90E, paddle shifted via Twist machine “shrifter” paddles, has a B&M dip stick/trans fill.
The cooling fan and fuel pump are PWM by the factory ECM.
All lights are LED, including JW Speaker Headlights and very custom and very bright fog lights.
Aluminum cage is all custom, miter cut and slugged at all TIG welds.
Sony touch screen is in an all-aluminum console, with a boat housing to protect it from the weather with four boat speakers mounted on the cage.
This “jeep” is incredibly light and very overpowered… the only thing slowing it down is aerodynamics. It was built to be able replace any part of it locally, from the dealership.
It's currently on a bug-fix after build world tour with Automotive Excess in Laconia, NH. I will have it dyno tuned after that tour ends. I am sick of working on all projects.
Think Ariel style race car, but with real styling.
You'll see in later pics, some of the changes.
The inspiration for this particular one is a B25 - When I thought about this, it was Memorial Day. My Grandfather flew off the Hornet and ultimately became a Squadron Commander and Navy ace. He was aboard the Hornet when Doolittle took off.
Originally, was going to ship this to JR to build, but as we all know, life throws a lot at us and it's happening in my shop instead.
I will get a JR build at some point ...
The funny thing is that this has been a two year plan, with work in fits and starts, but we ended up build a 4 of these after we started this one.
Now we're back on this one, doing all the different things.
So, I will reserve a few posts, so I can catch everyone up to where this one is and if of interest, keep it going forward.
I really liked the idea of a Jeep rod, but really want performance, not a shitty ride. I also found an all aluminum CJ2 tub here that was widened and lengthened to actually be usable.
Considering that I also had some Corvette suspension kicking around when I noodled that purchase, I pulled the trigger on it. I also found adapters for the Vette sub frames that I had, so I really wanted an all aluminum frame, welded to the tub to make it unibody... and worked with @zachv (RIP) to design an aluminum cage that's going into it.
So I had a rendering done about 2 years ago and now having changes made to that rendering, as we made some design changes.
This is closest to what we decided on
New Aqualu aluminum body, widened 5” and lengthened 7”.
Aluminum 2"x4" frame rails, welded to the body, as is the cage for an all aluminum monocoque design. Think incredibly rigid unibody like very fine race cars. She does not twist in corners.
2019 Corvette Suspension, new from GM, all of it.
2019 Corvette Z51 Big Brakes steel brakes with hawk pads. New from GM/Hawk.
Ride Tech coil over shocks and Delrin bushings for a Vette. New from Ride Tech.
2009 rear Corvette Z06 19x12 rims on all four corners.
6th Gen Camaro rear differential and axle shafts go into the 2019 Corvette 33 spline wheel bearings.
Has GMPP 3.92 gears and e-locker/LSD in it. Also has plumbing for a differential cooler.
Engine is Gen5: LT83 . That's a forged LT1 crank, forged rods with forged Mahle pistons, a whopping cam, DOD/AFR delete and an LT4 blower in a new L83 block with all new high-end wearables built by Chad Golen. We kept the direct LT4 injection and factory harness. There is a massive air to water cooler in the chin, under the custom bumper and frame cover.
All fuel and transmission lines are AN.
All brake lines are stainless.
Manual master cylinder is by BAER.
Chassis harness is all new, American Auto Wire, along with Swap time converted, new GMPP engine and transmission wiring.
Steering column is by Flaming River, as is the stainless steering shaft to the all-new Flaming River Corvette power rack and pinion.
Gauges are Dakota Digital HDX-2017 powered by their BIM for CANBUS.
MK15 Mod4 Vietnam era practice dummy bombs were internally coated after TIG welding the water fill shut and adding stainless fuel fills to the top. You can fill the fuel tanks (there’s 2 bombs and one fuel pump carrier) from either side of the Jeep.
Transmission is a truck based new 8L90E, paddle shifted via Twist machine “shrifter” paddles, has a B&M dip stick/trans fill.
The cooling fan and fuel pump are PWM by the factory ECM.
All lights are LED, including JW Speaker Headlights and very custom and very bright fog lights.
Aluminum cage is all custom, miter cut and slugged at all TIG welds.
Sony touch screen is in an all-aluminum console, with a boat housing to protect it from the weather with four boat speakers mounted on the cage.
This “jeep” is incredibly light and very overpowered… the only thing slowing it down is aerodynamics. It was built to be able replace any part of it locally, from the dealership.
It's currently on a bug-fix after build world tour with Automotive Excess in Laconia, NH. I will have it dyno tuned after that tour ends. I am sick of working on all projects.
Think Ariel style race car, but with real styling.
You'll see in later pics, some of the changes.
The inspiration for this particular one is a B25 - When I thought about this, it was Memorial Day. My Grandfather flew off the Hornet and ultimately became a Squadron Commander and Navy ace. He was aboard the Hornet when Doolittle took off.
Originally, was going to ship this to JR to build, but as we all know, life throws a lot at us and it's happening in my shop instead.
I will get a JR build at some point ...
The funny thing is that this has been a two year plan, with work in fits and starts, but we ended up build a 4 of these after we started this one.
Now we're back on this one, doing all the different things.
So, I will reserve a few posts, so I can catch everyone up to where this one is and if of interest, keep it going forward.
jus kiddin... kinda
