Topic: ultimate junkyard build

[BigCountry]

ok. here's the scenario. your local boneyard has a decent selection of suv's and pick-ups ranging from early 70's to damn near present. condition of them also varies from "all kinds of hell" to "why is this in the yard?"

what make, model, and year would you grab to do a purpose built offroader, not needing to retain much of the body but more for frame and parts. what comes with decent enough axles and drivetrain for the build that there wouldn't be a need to order new everything, and what would you swap out?

i'm thinking using the frame and part of the body to make a crazy machine.

but what package from the factory would you pick as a starting point that would need the least new parts?

[FourbangerYJ]

Mid 70's F350 should get you D60's and a granny tranny 4 speed and a NP205 T-case.
Some of the GM fullsize 1 ton trucks came with 14bolt rearend and D60 fronts.

[BigCountry]

Mid 70's F350 should get you D60's and a granny tranny 4 speed and a NP205 T-case.
Some of the GM fullsize 1 ton trucks came with 14bolt rearend and D60 fronts.

either of those trucks i think i would shorten down to a more trail friendly length...build a buggy with just frame or maybe with the cab as well...

[FourbangerYJ]

either of those trucks i think i would shorten down to a more trail friendly length...build a buggy with just frame or maybe with the cab as well...

I wheeled with a guy a few years ago that had a Ford PU of some type. He ditched the bed and shortened the frame and made a flatbed for it. It was a pretty nice setup.

[drunkencityworker]

I would say yj...cut tub behind front seats...flatbed for tools/spare and full cell...stretch with waggy springs...scout axles....dana 300...5.0(fuel injected) and t-18 with the 6.32 granny gear. run 36s and beadlocks. exo cage and beat it.

Scout axles with chromolies will give decent strength and clearance and dana 44 aftermarket.
5.0=relativley light v8 fuel injected aftermarket availability for upgrades and maintenance.
T18 will give you decent crawl without doubling tcase and in second normal crawl
dana 300 can be twin sticked for technical driving
staying sua with waggy springs will keep it simple low and stable and cheap


When people start talking about dreams but this is managable out of junkyard parts.
just off the top of my head seeing junkyard build. Has to be stuff found relativly common correct?

[Sine Deviance]

In that scenario I'd probably try to build my own frame so I could put together a really effective offroader. I'd build it like a sand/dune buggy, except the engine would be in the front.

With that said ... I'd go with a 350 smallblock and maybe a 4L6E out of a Tahoe donor, for starters. Another option is an AX-15 rebuilt with upgrades if I wanted to go manual, which I probably would. I'd use an NP231J t-case.

Axle/suspension would be a problem for me... I'd like to go fully independent. But if I did decide to use solid axles I'd go with a D44 in the front and a D60 in the rear. The suspension setup... I have no idea.

[Jeffy]

In that scenario I'd probably try to build my own frame so I could put together a really effective offroader. I'd build it like a sand/dune buggy, except the engine would be in the front.

Of all my friends who have gone from stock Jeep to modified Jeep to cut up Jeep to custom buggy... Most if not all wish they would have started off with a custom buggy and not cut up their Jeep.  The Jeep will limit what you can do and you'll soon find that you would have been better off building it from scratch.

I would just gather parts.  If they're cheap, grab more then one set and sell the other off to make money.  NV4500's, Dana 60's and 14 Bolts if you want to play with the big boys.

[BigCountry]

Of all my friends who have gone from stock Jeep to modified Jeep to cut up Jeep to custom buggy... Most if not all wish they would have started off with a custom buggy and not cut up their Jeep.  The Jeep will limit what you can do and you'll soon find that you would have been better off building it from scratch.

I would just gather parts.  If they're cheap, grab more then one set and sell the other off to make money.  NV4500's, Dana 60's and 14 Bolts if you want to play with the big boys.

i would want a minimum of Dana 44's up front. really thinking a 14 bolt rear. but as for a starting point, other than a jeep, what would you use to jump start it? i wanna build the cage custom, but i don't wanna start screwing with a jig and all the bull that comes with it. rather have a good frame i can incorporate...

i'm also thinking a granny tranny 4 spd, or a 4 spd auto. kinda like having clutch control...idk...

[Jeffy]

i would want a minimum of Dana 44's up front. really thinking a 14 bolt rear. but as for a starting point, other than a jeep, what would you use to jump start it? i wanna build the cage custom, but i don't wanna start screwing with a jig and all the bull that comes with it. rather have a good frame i can incorporate...

i'm also thinking a granny tranny 4 spd, or a 4 spd auto. kinda like having clutch control...idk...

Dana 44 and 14B rear?  You want a Dana 60/14B.

I still think building it from an existing chassis will limit your options.  You can use square tubing for the actual frame.

[sharpxmen]

Dana 44 and 14B rear?  You want a Dana 60/14B.

I still think building it from an existing chassis will limit your options.  You can use square tubing for the actual frame.

2x5x1/4'' with some beefy crossmembers would probably outlast everything else you put on. It's not cheap though, i paid about $80 for a 5 feet piece.

[FourbangerYJ]

2X4X3/16 would be plenty strong...stronger than any Jeep frame.

[neale_rs]

I would start with a full size truck as a base, dana 60 front and rear or 14B rear.  Then strip down the body.  You would have the full width axles, good wheelbase, and monster flex from what I have seen on local full size Dodge builds. With no sheetmetal to worry about it would be very capable.