Dash Fabrication pt 3

Today I made provisions for the stereo system. I cut out the holes for the speakers and the hole for the stereo receiver.

Here is the panel with all the holes cut out.



Here is a shot of a speaker hole. The speakers will be mounted BEHIND the dash so they do not interfere with the rollcage.

Here is the stereo hole. I first cut it out with a dull jigsaw blade (it looked terrible). After a few minutes in the mill, it came out perfect:

I did forget to mention that when I received my panel that I got a little something extra. I opened up the box and there was some packing bubbles, the panels in a nice shrinkwrap on cardboard (see previous posts), a packing slip, brochure about the company and A PACK OF GUMMI-BEARS. I thought that this was kind of weird, but come to think of it, almost all of the industrial suppliers in town Copperstate Bolt and Nut, Southwest Hose, Santa Rita Steel, etc. all have candy bowls on their parts counter. Panel design has never been so sweet.

Dash Fabrication pt 2

Remember this?

The dash after a little early morning fabrication work:

Panel detail

Side shot

Light switches

Dash Fabrication pt 1

Here are some pictures of some of the fabrication process:

I clamped the new dash to the old dash to line up mounting holes/steering hole .



Holes were drilled to allow the jigsaw blade to enter. The funny business in the middle are some test cuts to see what my new jigsaw can do.

The dash is on the milling machine to get any tricky contours that the jigsaw couldn't get.

Here is a homemade mill-table clamp. Note that the steering hole is no longer a hole, it is a slot so you can remove the dash without removing the steering column or wheel. There will be a small plate that you can bolt up so it appears seamless.

Here I am testing the steering column shroud.


Testing alignment of holes and checking for clearances. If I was a true minimalist, I would leave it like this.

Panel!

Victory Lap

Tonight I took my victory lap around the block in the jeep.

See the video at:
http://jonathansjeep.blogspot.com



Here is me making some final preparations:


Notice I put the radiator protector in:


Here is my to-do list. I am knockin them down.


I received the LEDs for the dash


Here are some shots of the cockpit. No, the paper gauges do not work.






Look at that beautiful tire track!


In order to drive I had to bleed the brakes (new lines were installed, but never bled) and get the driveshaft hooked up. I also had some transmission bugs to fix, but was able to work all of that out today. Speed bleeders are AMAZING! Not only do they made bleeding brakes a snap, they also keep you from getting in trouble with the old lady for making her pump up the brakes and such.

The jeep felt very solid on the road and was just generally very intense to drive. Loud as hell with only headers on it too. I drove it around with no hood on for added respect and style points from my neighbors. I also had the girlfriend sitting in the passenger side of the tub.

Other news:
The horn in the jeep is busted and I have this one on the way:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380158631689

I am also looking for a good beep beep backup alarm. I had a TAIL-GATOR forktruck one slip through my hands on ebay for $3.50, lucky guy.

So in short, the major things left to do are:
Wire up the dash and components
Paint the rollcage, fuel rack, bumpers, crash bars, do touchups to chassis paint, etc
Muffler Shop
Title Inspection/Emissions/Registration

Good times.

O||||||O

Racin' Ain't 'bout Idlin'

Today I worked on getting the jeep to run. I first struggled with it not idling, but then I remembered that when I was rebuilding the carburetor that I figured that I would adjust the curb idle when it came time to fire the engine. So finally another 3/4 turn later the coolantless engine was purrring like a kitten. Which leads me to my next point, I have yet to hook up the coolant lines/radiator, which means that I have not ran the engine for more than 30 seconds within an hour's time. I also worked on the fuel lines a bit more and got the fuel tank venting and rollover cutoff valves installed. I cleaned up my vacuum system (My first hunch at the idle was not enough fuel flow or a vacuum problem).

I got the lights working so that when I get the jeep running during an all-nighter i can take it for a spin.




I installed the air cleaner, I have yet to paint up the air cleaner and all that jazz, but that is in the works.


I plan on getting the radiator in this week, taking care of the brakes, taking care of the transmission, installing the seats and then taking it for a spin around the block.

Visit here to see a movie of the jeep running:

http://jonathansjeep.blogspot.com/

All I have to say is racin' ain't 'bout idlin'.