Thumper gets another Mod

AKoller wrote: Jeepster Jim, To wire the electric brakes I used DPDT switches. I wired the left and right individually just in case I would ever want to use them as cutting brakes down the road sometime. I currently cannot because I'm running an auto locker in the rear. The diagram below is how I wired them. I ran 12v fused power to feed the switches. I then wired in 4 individual circuit breakers after the switches. I used 10 amp breakers for the "brake apply" function and 15 amp breakers for the "brake release" function.

THANKS for posting the schematic of the switch's! So if you want BOTH wheels locked, you need to activate both switches?

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I finally took the time to read through this thread and am very impressed with the work you have done on your Jeep. Wish I had your skills.

Before I took Thumper to Easter Jeep Safari I had done the following things to him: (all of which I did between January and April)
-Completely rebuilt-regeared and installed a narrow track Dana 30 (equipped with an Eaton E locker) front differential with factory disk brakes.

-Completely rebuilt-regeared a offset-flanged Dana 44 (equipped with a Yukon Grizzly locker) setup with Ford Fusion disk brakes.

-Installed a Wilwood master cylinder with remote reservoirs.

-Ran all new brake lines (steel and rubber)

-Installed a complete new power steering system. Everything is new from the steering wheel to the tie rod ends.

The one thing I knew with everything I did to the Jeep was none of these things were going to make it more capable. These were all things that were in theory just going to help the drivability.

With all of this being said I was pleased overall with how everything worked. I only had two different issues during the week that I have since addressed. First of all by the end of the week it felt like the brakes were dragging slightly. All I had to do there was adjust the actuating rod on the brake pedal. The other thing that was getting really annoying to me was the power steering belt kept slipping and squealing. After getting home I figured out that my steering stops weren't adjusted out far enough causing the steering box to "deadhead" over loading the pump in turn causing the belt the slip. Now that I have the stops adjusted correctly it seems to have cured that issue.




Edited by AKoller - 15 June 2022 at 9:22am

nice photo! composition is great with that sorta phantom spotter in the background. most focus too much on the vehicle only and don't consider the importance of the overall composition. or the timing is just not conducive to getting a great image. 

jpet wrote: Cool picture!! Hey did you do White Knuckle while you were out there?

I sure didn't. You have plans this weekend? Maybe I should go give it a try.

smfulle wrote: AKoller wrote: jpet wrote: Cool picture!! Hey did you do White Knuckle while you were out there? I sure didn't. You have plans this weekend? Maybe I should go give it a try. Sorry about that. ☹️

No need for apologies. We just have something to look forward to.

This last Saturday I spent the morning stretching the wheelbase on Thumper. A little over a year ago I installed rear springs all the way around on him. I set the front springs in place to where I retained the 80" wheelbase. After wheeling it that way for over a year I've decided that I wanted to try to move the front axle a little further forward.

I started out with new shackle and spring mounts I sourced from Walcks. I modified the front shackle mount by cutting about 3/4" off the front.



I then mounted them to where they are flush with the front edge of the bumper. This is as far forward as I could go with the front axle without causing issues with the steering. I'm currently running a Saginaw power steering box and this puts the drag link and tie rod where they are exactly parallel to each other.







Edited by AKoller - 16 Aug. 2022 at 9:03am

Bridog wrote: Looks good Alan!  Any thoughts about stretching the back?

I have but it's a compromise. If I do that I will loose more breakover clearance on my belly so I really need to give Thumper a tummy tuck first. Right now the skid plate is sitting at stock height. I think I have room with the engine to go up with the skid plate somewhere between 1-1/2" to 2". After I get that done then maybe. I haven't looked at it that close yet but I could possibly gain another couple inches of wheelbase.

Did you change your springs?  What springs do you run front and rear?