Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 Frame
New Custom Fabricated Hangers Front Springs – Front Hangers
The front hangers were a little easier to design than the rear hangers. Mainly because they are of a simpler design and use all the existing holes as well as a few new holes for the grade 8 hardware. The only exception to it’s simplicity was a 2 3/4 inch tube I had a machinist friend turn for me and the large diameter hole drilled in the angle iron. The rest was just measuring, cutting, drilling, grinding, welding, more grinding and a paint job. But before any cutting was done it was very important to put everything down on paper and measure everything many time before I was comfortable that I had what I wanted. Once I had the design though, it went pretty quick.
Where the metal met metal and it was to be welded I notched the pieces to allow the weld to penetrate into each piece better. I read that in the welding booklet that came with the welder. I’m certainly no expert in welding but with practice my welds have greatly improved.
These front hangers were fabricated from 1/4 inch steel 2×3 angle iron. The tube I had machined to fit the poly bushings. The length of this angle iron was cut to 7″ and angled down to 1″.
A large hole was drilled at just the right height to accommodate the poly bushing. Then the custom machined tube was welded into place using a 1¼ inch by 3 inch machined plug that fit snug in the tube and angle iron.
Pictures above are a test fit of all bolt holes and measurements. The frame rivet was removed and the hole was used by a grade 8 bolt. I was using 2½ wide Wrangler springs rather than 2″ wide CJ springs. Wrangler springs are a little longer so I moved the front hanger forward a little which is why the frame rivet is removed and the bolt is used in it’s place. All other holes that could be used were as well as a few drilled. On the side of the frame I used the existing hole as well as drilling 2 holes forward of the crossmember. At this point the gussets were not welded in yet on the 7″ angle piece on the side of the frame.
Next are all the pieces of the new hangers, front and rear of the front springs. The gussets have been welded. Everything has been cleaned and prepped for painting.
Finished front hanger. Passenger side. Frame is upside down.
The budget Rebuild by Ralph HasselThe complete build is documentedhere on www.Offroaders.comThis 1978 Jeep CJ-7 never started life as a complete Jeep; rather it was built completely from parts. The goal was to build a […]
A Budgeted Jeep CJ-7 Rebuild from Concept to Conception by Ralph Hassel My evolution of thought… It all started with a humbling realization a number of years ago. My current vehicle, a 92 Toyota pickup 4×4, […]
This relatively simply oil pan modification, though it’s being done on Project CJ-7, can be installed on almost ANY 4×4 with an exposed oil pan. Though it may be a rare event to poke a […]
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In swapping the T-18A onto this Jeep project, a good tip was passed onto me from Mike of www.Jeepfan.com. This tip has to do with the stock clutch fork being used in the stock bell […]
Fabricating Custom U-Bolt Plates with Skid Protection for Project Jeep CJ-7 With the job of a Dana 44 axle swap to the project CJ-7 came the need for new u-bolt plates. Two things made stock u-bolt […]
A Simple yet very effective method of protecting your tie rod from impact with rocks and things, is to raise the tie rod up. Raising the Drag link also reduces bump-steer, a side effect of […]
Using 6 bucks worth of material to protect a 300 dollar 3-core radiator and to cool the V8 Engine. When looking at the grill of my 78 CJ-7, the one thing that just stuck out like […]
After doing some research I finally decided to look for a Borg-Warner T-18A manual transmission. Manual because that is what I prefer. The T-18A because of it’s 6.32:1 first gear and it’s heavy duty, cast […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Daystar Swaybar Bushings Tip. When swapping out your stock CJ swaybar bushings with the Daystar Swaybar Bushings, here’s a Tip – Use the CJ bracket! Here’s why…First off, upgrading your sway bar bushings […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 – Disassembling the Scout II Dana 44 Front Axle. After acquiring the Dana 44 axles I also picked up a Dana 30 narrow track front axle that was in great shape. The […]
Continuing on from the front axle prep, the rear axle’s spring pad angle recorded and spring pads were removed. That was followed up by an inspection of differential and rear drum brakes to make sure […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 FrameNew Custom Fabricated HangersFront Springs – Front HangersThe front hangers were a little easier to design than the rear hangers. Mainly because they […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 Scout II Dana 44 Axles Swap onto a CJ-7 FrameFabricated Leaf Spring HangersInstalling the Front Leaf Springs HangersBelow is the whole set of hangers. Gussets have been welded in and all the holes […]
Project Jeep CJ-7 U-Bolt Skid PlatesFabricating Custom U-Bolt Plates with Skid ProtectionWith the job of a Dana 44 axle swap to the project CJ-7, came the need for new u-bolt plates. Two things made stock […]
