Flatty - The Home Alone Build
Flatty - The Home Alone Build
This outta teach my wife to leave me at home alone for a couple days…
So, as the story goes, I used to wheel a flatty. A lot.
Then, I met the aforementioned wife, and life started changing. Still wheeled the flatty, but not as much. The creature comforts of the flatty were, well, not there. After this particular trip, she’d had enough:
So, I put in a heater and slapped on a soft top. Voila…
One fine afternoon, I decided to finally tackle that pesky oil leak from the rear main seal. Well, one thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, the drivetrain was out, the flatty was cut in half, a new front frame section was fabricated, and some new springs were hung under the front end, SRS style. A power steering box was also hung from the new frame section, and a tilt column from an XJ found its way under the dash.
About this time, I came across a raging deal on an XJ… Knowing a batch of kids was not far off, the flatty was parked and work began on the XJ build. Fast forward several years, and I’ve built/wheeled/sold that XJ, a YJ, a TJ, and a JK.
Now, we’ve come full circle. The kids are old enough to brave the elements, can get themselves into the rear seat area, and for the record, really only accompany me on wheeling trips about 10% of the time. So, as of 0600 Tuesday, 12-21-2010, the flatty resurrection is in full swing!
There are a lot of items that need addressed on the old girl. Obviously, there is the matter of reassembly. However, during that process, I will make some modifications/upgrades to my original, several-year-old, plans. There are also some maintenance items that need attention, such as rotten fuel lines, pinched brake lines, disintegrated motor/trans/case mounts, and the list goes on. Anyhow, here is brief look at what I’ve been doing while home alone…
First up was some corner protection/beautification. 10ga sheetmetal and a little time…
Then it was time to address the sides. Years of abuse had left them, ummm, beat. So, more 10ga, some tubing, and…
On to the front. After standing back and looking at it, I just didn’t like the blocky look of the front frame section, and especially the spring hangers. With a little plasma, a little skinny wheel, and a little porta band, it turned out like this…
And before you go mocking all my speed holes, consider this: I have a whopping 58hp at the flywheel… I need EVERY speed hole I can sneak in!!!
Next, I needed a place to hang some shocks. Looking forward to some future mods, I wanted mounts that would allow some decent travel…
So, that brings it up to current, as of about 1am this morning. There is still a formidable list of things to take care of before it’ll move under its own power again, and unfortunately my time alone is dwindling. I’ll be back to my usual, slower pace once the wife and kids are back. However, I am hoping to have it at least semi-functional (think EB at FYBR) for the spring snow run.
So, as the story goes, I used to wheel a flatty. A lot.
Then, I met the aforementioned wife, and life started changing. Still wheeled the flatty, but not as much. The creature comforts of the flatty were, well, not there. After this particular trip, she’d had enough:
So, I put in a heater and slapped on a soft top. Voila…
One fine afternoon, I decided to finally tackle that pesky oil leak from the rear main seal. Well, one thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, the drivetrain was out, the flatty was cut in half, a new front frame section was fabricated, and some new springs were hung under the front end, SRS style. A power steering box was also hung from the new frame section, and a tilt column from an XJ found its way under the dash.
About this time, I came across a raging deal on an XJ… Knowing a batch of kids was not far off, the flatty was parked and work began on the XJ build. Fast forward several years, and I’ve built/wheeled/sold that XJ, a YJ, a TJ, and a JK.
Now, we’ve come full circle. The kids are old enough to brave the elements, can get themselves into the rear seat area, and for the record, really only accompany me on wheeling trips about 10% of the time. So, as of 0600 Tuesday, 12-21-2010, the flatty resurrection is in full swing!
There are a lot of items that need addressed on the old girl. Obviously, there is the matter of reassembly. However, during that process, I will make some modifications/upgrades to my original, several-year-old, plans. There are also some maintenance items that need attention, such as rotten fuel lines, pinched brake lines, disintegrated motor/trans/case mounts, and the list goes on. Anyhow, here is brief look at what I’ve been doing while home alone…
First up was some corner protection/beautification. 10ga sheetmetal and a little time…
Then it was time to address the sides. Years of abuse had left them, ummm, beat. So, more 10ga, some tubing, and…
On to the front. After standing back and looking at it, I just didn’t like the blocky look of the front frame section, and especially the spring hangers. With a little plasma, a little skinny wheel, and a little porta band, it turned out like this…
And before you go mocking all my speed holes, consider this: I have a whopping 58hp at the flywheel… I need EVERY speed hole I can sneak in!!!
Next, I needed a place to hang some shocks. Looking forward to some future mods, I wanted mounts that would allow some decent travel…
So, that brings it up to current, as of about 1am this morning. There is still a formidable list of things to take care of before it’ll move under its own power again, and unfortunately my time alone is dwindling. I’ll be back to my usual, slower pace once the wife and kids are back. However, I am hoping to have it at least semi-functional (think EB at FYBR) for the spring snow run.
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
- mattawajeep
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2010 6:18 pm
- Location: Mattawa, WA
bobracing wrote:Why are you staying with the flat head?
Well, "staying with" is a loaded term... I've got plans for a 4.3L swap in the future, but a lot of other work will accompany that upgrade. For now, I just want to get it back on the trail.
bobracing wrote:Is that a stock heater?
I'm not aware of any heater that is stock flatty...Not a lot of Willys factory options in the 1940's There may have been some offered with the Arctic Top package? That said, it's just a basic aftermarket heater from a local radiator repair shop. Has a 2-speed fan and will roast me right out, even with just the bikini top on.
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
This went in my Flatty. Definitely keeps you warm. Fits nicely under the dash too.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/under-dash-hea ... rid=c926j1
http://www.jcwhitney.com/under-dash-hea ... rid=c926j1
Screaming Toylet wrote:Does it need bigger brakes?
It's got 10" drums front/rear right now, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for 11" rears and potentially discs up front... Do you have something socked away somewhere that I may be interested in? The wife is still gone...
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
I have a HP30 sitting behind the house that I will be rebuilding someday. I will be swapping the brakes from the stock D30 onto that one. It has complete disk brakes on it: calipers, pads, and rotors. Don't know what kind of shape they are in, or if you have any use for them. If you do, you can have them.
2018 JLU Rubicon
Tow bar mount
Trailer hitch
Tow bar mount
Trailer hitch
- White trash
- Posts: 1763
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:38 pm
- Location: El Pasco
TJDave wrote:I have a HP30 sitting behind the house that I will be rebuilding someday. I will be swapping the brakes from the stock D30 onto that one. It has complete disk brakes on it: calipers, pads, and rotors. Don't know what kind of shape they are in, or if you have any use for them. If you do, you can have them.
Those are scrap for toby's usage a OG dana 30 is not anything like a new dana 30.
Although I may know a guy that could use them....
Looks like fun Toby. My fresh 22re would work much better in there than that silly 4.3 and that 4.3 would work much better in my truck....
-
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:56 am
Work continues, albeit at a markedly s-l-o-w-e-r pace… Items of note, but not picture worthy:
• Replaced D41 rear axle with flanged D44
• Repaired sloppy brake and clutch pedal swing assemblies
• Finished installation of XJ tilt column (fabricated dash mount bracket)
• Replaced transmission and transfer case mount bushings
• Reinstalled shift tower assembly
• Reinstalled and modified throttle linkage to accommodate new Solex carburetor
• Reinstalled oil filter housing and lines after repairing mounting bracket
• Sketched up 1.376 billion roll cage ideas…
Now, a couple things I did take pictures of:
Here is something you simply don’t see – power steering on an L-head!! I fabricated the bracket based on what remained of the factory pivot-tensioner bracket from an ’85 XJ…
And here is the new radiator mount crossmember…
Notched for steering shaft clearance…
So, here is how it currently sits…
Next up will be finishing the brake plumbing, fabricating shock mounts (tabs, brackets, etc), hanging the radiator to figure out the hose routing with the new p/s obstructions, and starting in on the new cage and seats.
• Replaced D41 rear axle with flanged D44
• Repaired sloppy brake and clutch pedal swing assemblies
• Finished installation of XJ tilt column (fabricated dash mount bracket)
• Replaced transmission and transfer case mount bushings
• Reinstalled shift tower assembly
• Reinstalled and modified throttle linkage to accommodate new Solex carburetor
• Reinstalled oil filter housing and lines after repairing mounting bracket
• Sketched up 1.376 billion roll cage ideas…
Now, a couple things I did take pictures of:
Here is something you simply don’t see – power steering on an L-head!! I fabricated the bracket based on what remained of the factory pivot-tensioner bracket from an ’85 XJ…
And here is the new radiator mount crossmember…
Notched for steering shaft clearance…
So, here is how it currently sits…
Next up will be finishing the brake plumbing, fabricating shock mounts (tabs, brackets, etc), hanging the radiator to figure out the hose routing with the new p/s obstructions, and starting in on the new cage and seats.
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
- mattawajeep
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2010 6:18 pm
- Location: Mattawa, WA
I'm building it for 33's. I ran a set of 33's long ago, and below 5k ft elevation it wasn't too horrible. However, when I moved to AZ and started wheeling in the Flagstaff area, above 7k ft, it was not good. And our annual trek to Colorado with several 10k+ jaunts was just flat miserable... So I went back to a 31. The rollers in the pics are some old Dick Cepek m/t's, and are honestly the smallest 31's I have ever seen. I've got a set of 31" Wildcats that are roughly 1.5" taller and 1" wider mounted up, so even if I run those, it'll look different than it does right there...
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
Still plugging away, ever so slowly…
I have had the front sheetmetal on and off more times than I care to count, but the effort has not been fruitless. I got the shock mounts completed, the radiator mounts located, and the grill mount figured out.
Radiator and grill mounts:
Driver side axle shock mount tabs:
Driver side hoop shock mount tabs:
And, after much deliberation and a few test fits, I have set aside a set of 35’s I picked up and ended up stealing the 33’s off the EB, for now… Here is how it currently sits:
So, I still have a laundry list of stuff to finish, and I picked up a full set of 11â€
I have had the front sheetmetal on and off more times than I care to count, but the effort has not been fruitless. I got the shock mounts completed, the radiator mounts located, and the grill mount figured out.
Radiator and grill mounts:
Driver side axle shock mount tabs:
Driver side hoop shock mount tabs:
And, after much deliberation and a few test fits, I have set aside a set of 35’s I picked up and ended up stealing the 33’s off the EB, for now… Here is how it currently sits:
So, I still have a laundry list of stuff to finish, and I picked up a full set of 11â€
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
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