BlueBomber
Adventurer
my flowmaster is only loud at idle (i have a ford truck with a 240c.i. straight six) is yours always loud?
BKCowGod's 1980 Cherokee Chief Build Thread
- Thread starter BKCowGod
- Start date
preacherman
Explorer
Looking good. I like the rack. I heard he was not building them anymore so it's cool you have one.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Another weekend, another few oz of blood on the ground...
Today was quite productive. Did the TFI upgrade and replaced the blown (for the 2nd time) passenger exhaust manifold gasket with one from Remflex. So much better. Exhaust gasket is pretty straightforward, but I do have a few comments regarding TFI.
Kragen tried to charge me $45 for a cheap coil and $22 for a dizzy cap adapter. I got both, along with a mounting bracket and coil wire, Ford OE, from Pick-N-Pull for much cheaper.
Full parts list:
From 1980 Jeep Cherokee with 360
* Champion RN14YC spark plugs, gapped to .044 - $13.50
From 1989 Ford F250 4x4 with 460
* General Cable silicon ignition wire set (Kragen 6201)- $19
* Niehoff Pro Power distributor cap (Kragen FF79CS) - $11.99
* OEM Coil (pick-n-pull) - $7.00
* OEM Dizzy Cap Adapter (pick-n-pull) - $4.00
From 1984 Ford F250 4x4 with 460
* BWD NASCAR Select distributor rotor (Kragen D166) - $6.99
This stuff really is plug-and-play. Just make sure to keep track of which wire goes where. I already notice a difference in starting and idling, and it rolls onto throttle very smoothly now.
Total cost for today: $65 (including Pick-N-Pull entry fee)
Today was quite productive. Did the TFI upgrade and replaced the blown (for the 2nd time) passenger exhaust manifold gasket with one from Remflex. So much better. Exhaust gasket is pretty straightforward, but I do have a few comments regarding TFI.
Kragen tried to charge me $45 for a cheap coil and $22 for a dizzy cap adapter. I got both, along with a mounting bracket and coil wire, Ford OE, from Pick-N-Pull for much cheaper.
Full parts list:
From 1980 Jeep Cherokee with 360
* Champion RN14YC spark plugs, gapped to .044 - $13.50
From 1989 Ford F250 4x4 with 460
* General Cable silicon ignition wire set (Kragen 6201)- $19
* Niehoff Pro Power distributor cap (Kragen FF79CS) - $11.99
* OEM Coil (pick-n-pull) - $7.00
* OEM Dizzy Cap Adapter (pick-n-pull) - $4.00
From 1984 Ford F250 4x4 with 460
* BWD NASCAR Select distributor rotor (Kragen D166) - $6.99
This stuff really is plug-and-play. Just make sure to keep track of which wire goes where. I already notice a difference in starting and idling, and it rolls onto throttle very smoothly now.
Total cost for today: $65 (including Pick-N-Pull entry fee)
olympiccop2002
Explorer
A guy at work has one of these. I think they are pretty cool. Keep the pictures coming! I love the idea of building it on the cheap! :sombrero:
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Finally got some more time, and I am feeling VERY productive.
SUSPENSION
I removed the 3" body lift and replaced it with 1". Just enough that I could still stuff 33's, but much easier to maneuver and quite a bit better looking. Replaced the shocks with Edelbrock IAS units, body lift is from BJ's, had to remove a few extensions installed by the PO to account for the 3" lift. In the process I cracked the front bumper in half (don't ask), so...
BUMPER
Took a piece of 4"x4" square tubing to Steel Werx and had them slap together some brackets. Coming soon: CB antenna, 2x driving lights.
UNDERHOOD
Melted the notorious Motorcraft ignition controller, so I went on eBay and picked up an MSD 6AL. Felt bad with my cheezy plug wires so I went to Summit Racing and got Ford Motorsports 9mm plug wires and a high performance TFI coil. When I get a moment, I think I'm gonna regap my plugs out to .5 (at .44 right now) but I can already really notice the difference with these changes. Highly recommended.
Parts
Steel & Fabrication - $50
MSD 6AL ignition - $100
Ford Motorsports wires - $44
Summit TFI Coil - $29
1" body lift - $45
4x Edelbrock IAS Shocks @ $29/ea - $116
TOTAL: $384
Shown here is the MSD in its temporary resting place, GIANT plug wires, rat's nest of wiring, the invincible Optima battery, and about 150lbs of early 80's smog equipment:
I highly recommend these shocks. Edelbrock regularly sells them for $29/ea shipped. Also in this picture is the giant round pumpkin that they so creativelly named the AMC20 and the hanger for the nicely tucked up Flowmaster 40 series.
I really do enjoy the new stance, and it is a lot easier to get in. The bumper also makes a great step for under hood work.
SUSPENSION
I removed the 3" body lift and replaced it with 1". Just enough that I could still stuff 33's, but much easier to maneuver and quite a bit better looking. Replaced the shocks with Edelbrock IAS units, body lift is from BJ's, had to remove a few extensions installed by the PO to account for the 3" lift. In the process I cracked the front bumper in half (don't ask), so...
BUMPER
Took a piece of 4"x4" square tubing to Steel Werx and had them slap together some brackets. Coming soon: CB antenna, 2x driving lights.
UNDERHOOD
Melted the notorious Motorcraft ignition controller, so I went on eBay and picked up an MSD 6AL. Felt bad with my cheezy plug wires so I went to Summit Racing and got Ford Motorsports 9mm plug wires and a high performance TFI coil. When I get a moment, I think I'm gonna regap my plugs out to .5 (at .44 right now) but I can already really notice the difference with these changes. Highly recommended.
Parts
Steel & Fabrication - $50
MSD 6AL ignition - $100
Ford Motorsports wires - $44
Summit TFI Coil - $29
1" body lift - $45
4x Edelbrock IAS Shocks @ $29/ea - $116
TOTAL: $384
Shown here is the MSD in its temporary resting place, GIANT plug wires, rat's nest of wiring, the invincible Optima battery, and about 150lbs of early 80's smog equipment:
I highly recommend these shocks. Edelbrock regularly sells them for $29/ea shipped. Also in this picture is the giant round pumpkin that they so creativelly named the AMC20 and the hanger for the nicely tucked up Flowmaster 40 series.
I really do enjoy the new stance, and it is a lot easier to get in. The bumper also makes a great step for under hood work.
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
I like it lower too. Looks great!
Bugetexpedition
Observer
you should throw some skateboard tape on the top of that bumper for when you are working under the hood and the bumper is wet.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
don't worry - it's in the works... I just wanted to wait until I'd dropped in the lights and antenna.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Wow - been a while. Panicked rapid preparation for my brother's bachelor party camping trip meant loosening the purse strings a bit. Last month saw the addition of:
* Functioning low range finally (it was free, just had to fab up a proper-length shift linkage to take into account the new smaller body lift).
* Upgraded electrical accessories: GPS now has a dedicated power port under the dash so no wires snake, Music now pushes through an iPod to a Clarion DXZ385USB stereo to four Kenwood speakers that will be switched out to externally amplified elemental designs components eventually. Total cost ($100 deck off eBay, $10 wiring and mounting stuff) - $110
* New futon mattress (Gold Bond, brand new in plastic) found on Craigs for $40
* Completed roof rack mount for German army surplus shovel: Shovel was $14, two pieces of PVC pipe and hose clamps were $8. Drilled a hole through end of shovel and pipe, stuck a bolt through with a wingnut and shovel is held firmly in place.
I think that's about it. This was technically the shakedown run for the Jeep, and it performed admirably. My ignition key switch thingie finally bit the dust, but I have been expecting this for some time. I also vapor locked on a hill and had to deal with that, but that's a Motorcraft carb thing. I may consider a fuel injection swap in the future, but for now it's not a huge issue.
* Functioning low range finally (it was free, just had to fab up a proper-length shift linkage to take into account the new smaller body lift).
* Upgraded electrical accessories: GPS now has a dedicated power port under the dash so no wires snake, Music now pushes through an iPod to a Clarion DXZ385USB stereo to four Kenwood speakers that will be switched out to externally amplified elemental designs components eventually. Total cost ($100 deck off eBay, $10 wiring and mounting stuff) - $110
* New futon mattress (Gold Bond, brand new in plastic) found on Craigs for $40
* Completed roof rack mount for German army surplus shovel: Shovel was $14, two pieces of PVC pipe and hose clamps were $8. Drilled a hole through end of shovel and pipe, stuck a bolt through with a wingnut and shovel is held firmly in place.
I think that's about it. This was technically the shakedown run for the Jeep, and it performed admirably. My ignition key switch thingie finally bit the dust, but I have been expecting this for some time. I also vapor locked on a hill and had to deal with that, but that's a Motorcraft carb thing. I may consider a fuel injection swap in the future, but for now it's not a huge issue.
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
lol!