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258-360 swap, among other things.

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jeepconvert View Drop Down
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Joined: Apr/15/2017
Location: NW Washington
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    Posted: May/13/2018 at 11:59pm
About a year ago, I came to the conclusion that the I6 in my 77 Hornet was getting to be a little on the tired side. The very next day, I had the engine out and a new one sitting in my garage, ready for it's home... and now, in 2018, I've finally gotten around to obliging it's lustful desire to see tarmac again. 

This is what she needs to get going again:

Master cylinder
Lights wired
Trans output
Driveshaft
Rear Diff
Tires
Radiator
Dent removal
Water pump
Clean up rats nest
Bleed Brakes
Fitech
Intake manifold
In tank pump
Alignment
Suspension Upgrade
Subframe

I figured that I would document my build here, as I make it a point to be as non-standard and difficult as possible with anything I do.

So here is day 1:

The stock I6 crossmember sits too far back for the engine to properly sit, and the control arm brackets sit very inconveniently in the path of my hand-me-down Headmann headers. How to remedy this? Buy a V8 crossmember? 

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182022_zpszsknbvx2.jpg

Nay! I'll build one instead.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0510182104_zpsd3i6nsnf.jpg

Pardon the clutter, all I have to work in is a one car garage that we share between four people.

Here it is mocked up

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182021a_zps9nke4e4v.jpg

When I removed the subframe, the transverse and lateral lower control arms had to come with it. But not to fear, I planned ahead and made a new mount for my new "tractor-supply-special-adjustable-camber arms," as you can see in the picture.

I fabbed some brackets to link the new arms to the existing spindle setup, using a spare ball joint to hold it in place while I get the arm placement right.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182130_zps2bbwl4rj.jpg

Pardon, again, the booger welds. I ran out of argon for my TIG welder, and had to make do with my cheap flux core welder. Its just a test piece. The final product will be TIGed, and much prettier, though I'm fairly sure that it would hold as-is.

My MK1 Eyeball is dialed in, it seems, as the engine rests very comfortably on it's new chair, and the transverse control arm fits very nicely, well within the angular limits of the heim.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182025_zps8jv6bx5b.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182018_zps3qlqcfjo.jpg

I have encountered my first problem. The lateral control arm, in it's planned position, will contact the tire at much less than full lock, and moving it inboard puts it in the way of the exhaust again. Rather than redesign the whole setup, I've decided to reverse it. I swapped the spindle brackets so that the control arm tracks forward, rather than aft. There is much more room this way, and I have far more options for bracket placement.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k89/dariandarrow25/0513182021_zpse9wt1ago.jpg

That's all for today. Tomorrow I expect to pick up some argon and start fabbing some real brackets for a more permanent setup.
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