PDA

View Full Version : Project HUM WEE



Pages : [1] 2

4.3LXJ
03-10-2010, 04:38 PM
Abovetimberline came out today and we moved Hum Wee into the shop. It has its own little niche separate from all those big bad Jeeps. Work will commence on it in short increments until we get to the really hard part, the engine and tranny. That will be the expensive part.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0434.jpg

prerunner1982
03-10-2010, 05:08 PM
Awww isn't the little guy cute? :smiley-laughing021:

I am very interested to see this thing come to life. :popcorn:

4.3LXJ
03-10-2010, 08:26 PM
It is a very fun little thing to drive. As you can see, it is aluminum and very light. Also wide and stable with fully independent suspension. Not a bad word here.

Rev D
03-20-2010, 08:33 PM
Went to the other forum and saw SoilantGreen's M422A1 write on up on these. I'm just sort of getting into the history behind some of these vehicles many I didn't know existed. Its to bad they're so darn expensive a SCAT V4 would probably come close to fitting one of these. I think your project will be cool as heck. I'll admit I had to look up to see what the heck this thing was. Pretty cool suspension too with the quarter elliptical springs and trailing arms. Looking forward to watching this one... :popcorn: Question, are you going to cut the toyo axles short like these and use the same sort of axle arrangement?

Regards,

Don

4.3LXJ
03-20-2010, 09:32 PM
Yes, I will cut down the Toy axles. I have some jigs I welded up for that purpose and have rearranged the pumpkin in a front end I have now. I will have a front and rear Toy 8.25 about 14" wide. The original Dana 27 will lot take the horsepower of the Subaru. Plus, you can't buy new stuff from Dana for the 27 any more, such as the power locks that came in it or the clutches if they wear out. It will just be better to update the whole thing. Driving these things is a kick. They corner like a sports car and follow the road exactly with no rebound on the suspension even without shocks. However, they soak up the bumps better than an old Caddie.

JRW7072009
03-21-2010, 03:50 PM
Looks very cool, cant wait to see what you do with it.

4.3LXJ
03-21-2010, 04:28 PM
The first thing I am going to do is put the springs back on it. I had them off to transport it down from WA state because it sits lower with them off. I seem to be missing one as well as a can of hardware. Most distressing. I may have to make some stuff up from scratch

Rev D
03-21-2010, 11:49 PM
I was looking at some pictures of that chassis. Its hard to tell from the photo, but are they truly quarter elliptical or they like a full length spring that has a shackel up front, solidly mounted to the frame in the middle and the end is connected to the trailing arm/stub axle (for lack of what its really called)? Here is the picture I was looking at:

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt155/ReverendDonnie/mitechassis1.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt155/ReverendDonnie/mitechassis3.jpg

Thanks, Regards,

Don

4.3LXJ
03-22-2010, 11:55 AM
Truly 1/4 elliptical. The pic above looks like the M422, the short version of the M422A1 so it is hard to tell because the springs pass each other. On the longer version that I have, the spring ends only go past each other about an inch.

BlueXJ
03-22-2010, 04:21 PM
Very interesting.

nismo5
03-22-2010, 07:20 PM
that thing looks pretty cool seems like you have plenty of projects going on :)

4.3LXJ
03-22-2010, 09:56 PM
that thing looks pretty cool seems like you have plenty of projects going on :)

Too many for my own good. I have an 84 Toy pickup and a Samurai too

Rev D
03-23-2010, 03:34 AM
Cool, that makes sense. Appreciate the reply. Thats gonna be such a neat project. Thanks again.

Regards,

Don

4.3LXJ
04-01-2010, 11:35 PM
Had a lousy day today,:brickwall: so I needed some mental health time. I decided to crawl under the Mighty Mite since I had other stuff in the shop and couldn't pull the jeep in. Hum Wee didn't have its spring on when I brought it down from WA state so I gathered up the stuff and went to work.

Took the front wheel off. This is what the front hub looks like.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0462.jpg

If this looks a little fragile, it is. I broke that special bolt in the center once and lost the wheel and hub going around a corner. I am going to change this, just don't know exactly what yet.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0456.jpg

Theses are the rear springs. One is disassembled, You will notice if you look closely that the center of the leaves are hollow. This used to be a standard design on military steel to help them flex more. You can't buy spring steel with that design any more.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0461.jpg

The front arms came apart kind of hard. I had to beat the mounting caps off. There is a few years of mud and rust in them. Surprisingly the teflon liners were in relatively good shape in spite of the mud.

My first improvement. Tapping the mounting caps for grease fittings to keep them from getting too much crud in them again.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0459.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0457.jpg

Here is the first spring on the left front and ready to rock.

4.3LXJ
04-02-2010, 09:54 PM
I got the other front spring on today and added grease fittings to the pivot bracket. The front stands on its own without stands now. It sits pretty high without an engine in it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0463.jpg

4.3LXJ
04-04-2010, 05:58 PM
Hum Wee got its rear springs today. It is looking lots better:thumbsup:

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0465.jpg

Thought I would have a little fun too. I used to run 32s on it, but they were just a bit too tall. I will use my 31s off the XJ on it when I go to 38s on it this winter.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0466.jpg

4.3LXJ
04-19-2010, 12:17 PM
After calling for a NorCal meet and greet, I had to miss it. My son called me and said there was another Mighty Mite in SoCal and it sounded promising. So we hooked up the trailer and Sat afternoon drove down to Long Beach and spent the night there. In the morning we looked and haggled and himmed and hawed and ended up getting this one. It is straight and has an engine conversion in it. We started back and had to shift the load on the trailer in the black section of town in front of the pawn shops. The guys there were great and we had lots of fun with them. I think if I asked them to they would have just picked it up and moved it for me.

We started back and had a tire smoking. Lost a center pin in the left rear spring and the tire was rubbing on the fender. We got off I710 in the Hispanic part of town and found a repair shop open on Sunday. I figgered I could have done this in a half hour, but it took him three hours. I am beginning to think that people in that part of Los Angeles are just incompetent. I could not find an auto parts store that knew what a center pin was or where the next auto parts store was. I ordered some food at Taco Bell and that was screwed up too. But $50 later we were back on the road and 13 hours after we started we pulled into the driveway and this is as far as I got. HUM WEE will have a friend in the shop now.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0467.jpg

Rysam
04-20-2010, 09:27 AM
I was wondering when pics would show up. looks like another fun project.

BlueXJ
04-20-2010, 10:25 AM
4.3LXJ you just fail to understand the Hispanic rule of thumb. Manana does not mean tomorrow or even morning it just means not now or no rush.

Rev D
04-20-2010, 11:27 AM
They regularly screw our fast food up down in the hispanic part of our street (west in this case) here in Phoenix. I mean we're talking 2 in the morning, only car and still screw it up. Hey I'm not racist at all, but damn how hard is it to get a order right with like one item? One the other hand last time I was at our local taco stand drive through (more authentic mexican food not that gringo bell stuff) they gave me my order and the guy behind me's order. (got three big breakfast burrito's of egg bacon and cheese and a huge bean burrito for like 4.00. (the place is cheap and really good). She had handed me mine, I was just waiting on change, so she gives me my change and another bag. Of course if she was paying attention and not habla'ing with her girlfriend she might have got it right. I don't feel bad they've screwed things up and shorted me before...

Regards,

D.

4.3LXJ
04-20-2010, 03:55 PM
4.3LXJ you just fail to understand the Hispanic rule of thumb. Manana does not mean tomorrow or even morning it just means not now or no rush.

No manana this time. Can you fix today? Only English speaking guy there, "Yes". But I am looking at the air line and wondering why he is using box wrenches. Also wondering why he is taking the spring off when all he has to do is line up the leaves and put the new bolt in. But then again, I never did find him a real center bolt. That apparently is a different art form.

4.3LXJ
05-02-2010, 08:56 PM
My son came down to visit in his YJ and work on HUM WEE Jr.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0493.jpg

We got into it and installed an Optima red top and a fuel pump and wired it up.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0494.jpg

This one has a 1.6L Volvo engine in it, clean conversion. But we were told it had a leaky water pump.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0495.jpg

We pulled the inspection plate on the gas tank and checked the filter and found it to be clean, but dry so we went to town and grabbed a few burritos and some gas and buttoned it up and poured it in. Had a few connections issues, but once we got juice to everything it fired right up and we took it for a test drive. It did OK, so we brought it back to the shop and found that the water pump did indeed leak and that the gas tank has a leak in it. We may pull the one out of mine and put in his and weld up a larger one for mine, say 15+ gals instead of the 12.5 stock tank. Next week we will tackle the brakes.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0497.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0498.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0499.jpg

pvt.Tadpol xj
05-02-2010, 09:07 PM
Very nice 4.3... Do you have a paint picked out yet?:coffee:

4.3LXJ
05-02-2010, 09:42 PM
This one will probably stay OD Green.

4.3LXJ
05-02-2010, 09:42 PM
HUMWEE Jr also has a vintage home made electric winch that was popular in the 50s and 60s. it consists of a 24V aircraft starter motor of WWII vintage that was very common then and a kit consisting of a drum and ratchet. Only power in and free spool. This one is deluxe with a home made brake with the parking brake off a 42-45 MB

Pay particular attention to the spelling on the license plate.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0500.jpg

jugbutt
05-03-2010, 09:43 PM
I have to say that is a alsome looking ride! Keep the photos coming!!!!!!!!:shocker:

4.3LXJ
05-03-2010, 10:35 PM
More work on it this weekend

4.3LXJ
05-04-2010, 09:59 AM
Here is my granddaughter driving it into the shop

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/006.jpg

4.3LXJ
05-08-2010, 01:04 AM
A little update on HUM WEE Jr. My son has been doing some research on the markings and numbers on it. It was apparently assigned to the 5th Marine Div. It has not to exceed 35 mph which means it was a base Jeep. The bases have a 35 mph top speed limit.

prerunner1982
05-12-2010, 03:23 PM
I am not sure if I passed this on to you or not, but if you didn't already know www.steelsoldiers.com is a great military vehicle resource. I think they might be interested in that winch...

4.3LXJ
05-21-2010, 01:18 PM
I am not sure if I passed this on to you or not, but if you didn't already know www.steelsoldiers.com is a great military vehicle resource. I think they might be interested in that winch...

OK, I'll check with them.

4.3LXJ
05-21-2010, 01:21 PM
A little further progress last weekend. I was gone, but my son came down and pulled the gas tank due to a leak. Looks like Dad has some work to do. We also had a problem with a leaky water pump that leaked more than it pumped. He has a friend of his half brother that works in a rebuild shop. So instead of $100 for a new one, he got this one rebuilt for a six pack.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/mightymitewaterpumpafterrebuild001.jpg

Rysam
05-21-2010, 04:17 PM
I love beer.

4.3LXJ
05-21-2010, 06:10 PM
I love beer.

So if you weld gas tanks, I think Paul could throw some your way. He works part time at a brew shop and is getting close to making award winning dark ales.

Rysam
05-21-2010, 08:36 PM
I try real hard to avoid things that would blow me up. 6 bucks for a 6er of Sierra Nevada torpedo is much cheaper to me.
I was just referring to beer being better than money. :D

4.3LXJ
05-21-2010, 09:53 PM
Never fear, I will fix the tank. I had to fix the new tank I put in because the wrecking yard jerks punched holes in it to drain it.

4.3LXJ
06-06-2010, 07:42 PM
Today was another Mighty Mite day for JR. We looked at the gas tank a little closer and found where there were about half a dozen tiny pin holes in it due to electrolysis. I got the bright idea to use the one out mine temporarily, and we found the same problem in mine. So I will begin a welding project on the tank later. A new one costs $900. Welding rod is cheap by comparison.

Paul brought the rebuilt master cylinder.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0554.jpg

and water pump

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0552.jpg

That green hose is a marvel of Swedish engineering. You press it between the water pump and thermostat housing. Unfortunately it has no tstat right now, we will address that later. Here it is all in with new hoses.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0555.jpg

We installed the master cylinder and couldn't get the brakes to bleed, so we started to investigate a little further. The rear brakes looked fine, and had a new seal on the axle shafts with new brake shoes.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0559.jpg

The front was another story altogether. The front seals work well even under water when new. But when they get stiff, they leak. We pulled the front brake drums off and found the brake shoes to be saturated with gear oil. So we pulled the front axle.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0558.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0556.jpg

And pressed the shaft from the bearing and seal retainer. in a couple of weeks, we will reassemble the brakes with new seals and bleed the brakes so we can stop for a change. What a novelty.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0557.jpg

4.3LXJ
07-11-2010, 08:51 PM
My son came down today to work on Junior. It was really hot today. I spent the day in my leathers welding up leaks on his aluminum gas tank and did not get them all yet. There were at least 30 pin holes. He got a new seal on an axle shaft and a set of brakes on one side. I tell you, we are both getting soft.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0561.jpg

New seal and bearing pressed on the shaft

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0562.jpg

Nice shiny brakes. Notice they are genuine military double anchor. There is no hose on the back either. This diff is mounted solid to the frame so it is plumbed with a hard line and is upside down from most double anchor setups.

cj4a nz
08-21-2010, 12:14 AM
neat wee project(s)
some of those bit look simular to my cj 4a the master cyl very close etcept for made from ali not steel
will watch with interest
Warren

4.3LXJ
08-21-2010, 10:03 AM
I was told by Surplus City, a large surplus store that all the "M" series master cylinders are the same. It so happens that the civilian jeeps "CJ" had the same master cylinders as the M series jeeps in this country. I am guessing that since your CJ has a copied engine etc. that some good old USA jeep parts will bolt right up. What does your CJ have for brakes? 9" double anchor?

4.3LXJ
08-22-2010, 08:09 PM
Well, we got Hum Wee Junior running today :jumping0041:

We had a problem with the gas tank. It leaked. We started looking for leaks and found 57 pin holes in the aluminum tank caused by electrolysis. So I converted the MIG over to aluminum and started welding. We kept finding more as we went and just couldn't get them all sealed. I kept filling it up with water and found that my water was so hard it plugged the holes with minerals and so we couldn't find them all and it eventually stopped. Filled it with gas and found it started leaking again. So we got some tank sealer and sealed it. We found three more holes where the tank sealer seeped through. Oh well.

So why not get a new tank? $800 for a new one. Here is the tank, sort of a unique little sucker.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0643.jpg

It is only a ten gallon tank and has a place for a center frame member where the differential mounts as well as the military grade pintle hook capable of pulling just about anything the military put pintle hooks on.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0646.jpg

The gas gauge sending unit was rusted into one position, so we got a new one and a gauge for it. Fortunately for us, it had a standard five hole mount common to all the early Jeeps.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0644.jpg

All the old screws broke off, so I drilled and tapped new holes for the same size screws.
Got it mounted finally with lots of choice words from my son, I let him be underneath after all. Filled it up with gas and started easily and found the water pump we got rebuilt for a couple of six packs leaked like a sieve.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/mightymitewaterpumpafterrebuild001.jpg

I took it apart and found he "rebuilt" it by putting a couple of sealed bearings in it instead of water pump bearings and a seal. So we started it up anyway and moved it around a little. We are on the hunt for a decently priced water pump now for a 57 Volvo.

Here is a couple of pics, one next to his YJ to show how small these little guys are.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0650.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0652.jpg

cantab27
08-22-2010, 11:16 PM
thats kinda cool that wee thing ....... looking good

cj4a nz
08-23-2010, 02:43 AM
those tanks look like mine (40 ltrs)but having two of them joined together and the fuel senders appear like most after market fuel senders,over here anyway
might be small but will go places the bigger one wont with out mods i'm picking
watching with interest

4.3LXJ
08-23-2010, 11:12 AM
Thanks Warren. The tank wraps around the center frame member and rear diff bracket. So it is a special one. And yes, it does get where others cant. It has factory front and rear Spicer Power Locks. Very good in the mud, sand and snow.

alwaysxj
08-23-2010, 09:43 PM
dude i love this little thing, i want one...

4.3LXJ
08-23-2010, 10:02 PM
Yes, they have cute :D

cj4a nz
09-01-2010, 04:23 AM
4.3 LXJ
did the water pump fit? did it go? and what is your son going to do with it use it or rebuild
just asking as want to see her muddy
Warren

4.3LXJ
09-01-2010, 06:54 AM
The water pump did not quite fit. The pulley was about 1/4" out too far. Tried to press it on a little further and the impeller shattered. So we have a new pump coming. Hopefully it will be right this time. Also, we have another little problem I have not addressed here yet. It has an ancient Borg/Warner overdrive on it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0648.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0647.jpg

These are the only photos I have of it right now. Normally that might be a good thing. However the overdrive only works in 2WD which is OK except it kicks out in reverse. So we only have reverse in 4WD. I contacted my friend, Mac of Mac's Jeep Parts in Peoria, OR whom I gave the guts from my Might Mite. He has two. Anyway, when he gets off a short vacation he will send me my old rear driveline back and I will donated to my son. Two weeks from now we should have it ready to get down the road.

It will see some mud, but not like yours. We don't have much of that here due to less rainfall and a much different soil profile than you have. He will have to put some tires on it also. The ones that are on it are street tires and very cracked from age.

cj4a nz
09-02-2010, 02:39 AM
problem I don't see one......oh you mean the oil leak? if borg warner the seal could be the same as older jags which is the same as mine part no cr15788 if that helps but they are still making oil
as for o/d not working in reverse years ago my triumph 2500 had one and only worked in forward gears 3 and 4 from memory could be a similar set up,
I had a switch on the gear stick to operate it
good luck

4.3LXJ
09-02-2010, 05:03 AM
This one has the electric shift on it. But is hooked up manual. However it is not working. The problem is we have no reverse except in 4WD. I am investigating adapting the Warn overdrive to the tcase instead. That would be a sweet set up.

XJ4IV
09-09-2010, 02:37 AM
WOW I love those lil things... how much have you been finding these things for? I think these would bee cool little offroad buggies for the kids and something to put major upgrades on... please let me know as I would SERIOUSLY like to find one or two

4.3LXJ
09-09-2010, 10:16 AM
WOW I love those lil things... how much have you been finding these things for? I think these would bee cool little offroad buggies for the kids and something to put major upgrades on... please let me know as I would SERIOUSLY like to find one or two

They are relatively rare. The number of them made is up for debate. I was told 6,000 many years ago and have heard numbers as low as 4,000. There is a guy on another site on a mission to confirm that. The low number might be the one from what he is getting with serial numbers.

But if you find one, they go for $4 - 6000. My son got his for $3800

Probably a more practical rig for kids would be a Samurai. For the price of a Mite you can have one fully modded.

XJ4IV
09-09-2010, 01:46 PM
... WOW rare has its price then huh... yeah sammy would work better on the budget LOL

4.3LXJ
09-09-2010, 03:31 PM
... WOW rare has its price then huh... yeah sammy would work better on the budget LOL

The nice thing about a Sammy and kids is the engine. Low horsepower to keep them out of at least some of the trouble they can get into.

Check out http://www.izook.com/default.htm

4.3LXJ
09-12-2010, 04:13 PM
We got HUM WEE running and drove on the highway today with it. It still needs some radiator work, but we got it figured out what we will do with it for that. O2 Subaru Outback radiator and dual electric fans fits almost perfectly. Here is a vid of some play in my field.

262XJ's Channel - YouTube

cantab27
09-12-2010, 11:24 PM
ahh must been a good feeling driving it ,,, nice one

4.3LXJ
09-12-2010, 11:39 PM
ahh must been a good feeling driving it ,,, nice one

Yes it was lots of fun. I haven't done that in awhile since mine has not been running for a long time. Had to show my son how to drive it. He likes to break it loose in his YJ. He tried in the Mighty Mite and it wouldn't. It has Dana Powerlocks front and rear which in that light rig act more like lockers. He took it home today. His daughter is claiming it as hers and wants to drive it badly by herself. However she is only 11. But that doesn't keep her from wanting. :D

4.3LXJ
09-19-2010, 08:24 PM
Just a little update: HUM WEE Jr went home to Grass Valley. It is now an official grocery getter, since it has gone to get the groceries. It has had the exhaust system repaired so it is quiet now. Paul says it goes much faster without the muffler. He is currently looking for five aluminum 5 on 5.5 wheels for some 10.5X31 TSLs. When he gets them we will post pics and take it wheeling.

4.3LXJ
09-19-2010, 08:36 PM
Spent some quality time with HUM WEE today. Decided to start making up the new rear axel for it. I am using the Toyota 8". That might not seem like much to those who advocate D60s or go home, but in a rig that weighs less than 2,000# that is a D60.

I started with an old 4WD housing I had laying around. HUM WEE has true fully independent suspension, which I will retain since that is what it makes it perform so well. So you can't just go bolting straight axels into it. I needed to cut it down to make the shortest Toy axel in history. Just 13" wide. I started with this jig to hold the axel housing that I made out of scrap once upon a time.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0665.jpg

I then put in the saw

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0666.jpg

And made it a little shorter

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0667.jpg

I have this alignment device I had machined up to fit a Toy 8" third member

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0293.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0294.jpg

Then this disc fits into the bearing receptacle on the outer axle bearing flange

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0668.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0669.jpg

Then the flange will fit something like this.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0670.jpg

I gave it up for the night since the housing was too hot to handle and the welder was not set up for steel yet. So this will be continued later.

cantab27
09-19-2010, 09:41 PM
wow steve nice work , wish i could fab and do stuff like that .... may have to send my jeep over for a holiday ....

4.3LXJ
09-19-2010, 09:42 PM
wow steve nice work , wish i could fab and do stuff like that .... may have to send my jeep over for a holiday ....

Shop's open :D

Hum Wee JR
09-20-2010, 02:26 AM
Hey Dad I got some seat belts. Seat belts are good for kids. I am also looking for an unique over flow tank for the radator. Also on the to do list fabing up something to attach the origanal air cleaner box might pic up an addational 1 horsepower using it as a cold air intake. lol. Well thats the todo list in between work, chores and homework with the kid. Oh still haven't found any rims. Put the word out around town though.

4.3LXJ
09-20-2010, 09:24 AM
Hey Dad I got some seat belts. Seat belts are good for kids. I am also looking for an unique over flow tank for the radator. Also on the to do list fabing up something to attach the origanal air cleaner box might pic up an addational 1 horsepower using it as a cold air intake. lol. Well thats the todo list in between work, chores and homework with the kid. Oh still haven't found any rims. Put the word out around town though.

You don't need to fab too much. We just need to fab some exhaust tubing up and some flexy hose, like off the 4.3 intake. I have enough 3" bends and sutff here we can make it work. Find yourself a short AEM cone filter to fit inside the original can.

4.3LXJ
09-24-2010, 09:32 PM
Well, I didn't finish welding up the rear housing tonight like I had planned. So, for another HUM WEE treat. Here are a couple of videos from the original prototype vehicle. Notice it is shorter than mine and the hood and windshield is different.

http://www.videosurf.com/video/united-states-marine-corps-drive-m422-mighty-mite-a-light-weight-rugged-jeep-on-the-rough-terrain-in-quantico-virginia-1217219932?vlt=kosmix

http://www.videosurf.com/video/demonstration-of-the-features-of-the-m422-%27mighty-mite%27-jeep-in-virginia-united-states-1212287329?vlt=kofmix

And for those of you who wish they had one, here is one for sale at a good price.

http://redding.craigslist.org/cto/1933541606.html :D

cantab27
09-24-2010, 10:49 PM
like the paint on the one thats for sale ....

4.3LXJ
09-24-2010, 11:21 PM
Yeah, rattle can from a distance :D

DETOURS
09-27-2010, 10:15 AM
Thats some project, looks like you're well on your way! Nice! :cool:

Sounds like theres a small/nitch market for fuel tanks. :rolleyes:

4.3LXJ
09-27-2010, 10:54 AM
Thats some project, looks like you're well on your way! Nice! :cool:

Sounds like theres a small/nitch market for fuel tanks. :rolleyes:

That is a fact. There are a few things on these things that develop electrolysis and fuel tanks and rivets are at the top of the list.

DETOURS
09-27-2010, 12:30 PM
Military Hummers suffer the same fate.

4.3LXJ
09-27-2010, 02:18 PM
Yeah, I think it is the combination of a steel frame and aluminum everything else

Hum Wee JR
09-28-2010, 12:24 AM
Hey Dad Hum Wee jr. got 2 Quarts of gear oil this week end and an overflow tank for the radiator. The soldering required was a pain in the rear. The brass barb fitting I got didn't Quit fit well in the radiator tank very well but I made it work. Oh and by the way it gets better gas millage than my yj not that that is saying much.I got the holes drilled for the seat belts just to find out the bolts that came with the kit aren't long enough! At some point this week I will need to make a trip hardware store while at work and should I accadently stubble to the other side of the store ware the nuts and bolts are....... I guese I will have to pick some up.

4.3LXJ
09-28-2010, 10:01 AM
Those seat belts use regular bolts? Many of them have some special eye bolt. It should get better milage with that itty bitty motor in it. Even with your lead foot.

4.3LXJ
09-29-2010, 05:40 PM
Well, here it is, the worlds shortest Toyota axle. All welded up and with a carrier bolted in so you could see what it looks like

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0676.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0675.jpg

This is quite a bit heavier than the aluminum housing D27 was. And I will pick up even more with the locker installed and heavier axles. So I am daydreaming about ways to shave weight on something that is already very light. The plan is to come in under 2000# when done.

This housing is not done yet, I have to weld mounting studs on it. This will wait until I strip the body off the frame, then I will mount it, then have it tanked and powder coated and have a new V6 carrier with a detroit true track in it. Stub axles will have to be made also.

Hum Wee JR
09-29-2010, 11:33 PM
I piched thoose sissy bolts that were too short into my plumbing truck for alesser project for some other day. I bought some grade eight bolts the right lenghth.
Passenger side is done. My daughter is thrilled she was hanging on to the panic bar like there was no tomorrow at about 10 miles an hour. My side is half way done the other half is being a royal pain. Then the over drive decided to die right after pulling out of my driveway. Arg. So I used the jeep to pull it up the hill. Then the gauges on the jeep died all in about 5 minutes. Gauges are fixed now just a 15 amp fuse. Sunday jr will get worked on. Don't have a camera but will try to use my cell phone for pics.

4.3LXJ
09-30-2010, 12:19 AM
Just mail them to me and I will post them

4.3LXJ
10-10-2010, 08:14 PM
My son called me and said he was having some trouble with HUM WEE Jr. He said it was only running on two cylinders and blowing oil out the tail pipe. So he had it hauled down to Chico and we took a look at it today. One of the air cleaners on the dual carbs was missing a bolt and the base plate was over the carb. Put it back in place, and fixed that quick. But we pulled it off anyway because we needed to get a bolt for it. Here is what we found.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0680.jpg

Nice home made gasket. Now look what it says.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0679.jpg

That is one sexy gasket if you ask me. Sort of goes with his license plate CEX...

He also said he lost reverse. I figured it was something simple, so we pulled the tranny tunnel by just removing a dozen screws.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0681.jpg

Next we pulled the top cover to the tranny

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0687.jpg

It was something simple alright, the alignment pin for the shifter broke. I thought, no big deal, so I tried to remove the remnant but couldn't with my extractors. Furthermore, the top cover was not made to disassemble. The forks are riveted to the rails and the shifter comes out through the bottom. So we're screwed on this one. Fortunately, I have one I am not going to use. But it is in Oregon. So Paul and I are planning a road trip and look at another Mighty Mite on the way that is for sale. Also we will get my rear drive line and install that so we can remove the overdrive that is in it.

Also, he has 4 31X10.50X15 Swampers to put on it. However, we need wheels. He picked these Samurai wheels up cheap.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0689.jpg

Might Mite wheels have a 6" back spacing. If we take these to Stockton Wheel, they can split the wheel and add 2.5" to the inside and they will be perfect for the Swampers.

cantab27
10-10-2010, 08:37 PM
split the wheels ,, is that when they cut center out and swing it around the other way .....loving the gasket ...

4.3LXJ
10-10-2010, 09:01 PM
No, they put the wheel in a lathe and cut in half, then add a ring inbetween and make it wider. Very old school. I used to run 15X15" wheels on my old Jeep. It was the only way you could get them for less than the price of a second mortgage.

cj4a nz
10-11-2010, 02:17 AM
that gasket would of been factory :smiley-laughing021: but worked
sounds like you are tripping over most of the states getting bits for hum wee what petrol worth a litre? or gallon
getting there,but will be worth it in the end

4.3LXJ
10-11-2010, 11:11 AM
HUM WEE Jr. is having self esteem issues since we removed the gasket. Doesn't feel sexy anymore. His therapist said to put it back. :D Petrol is about $3 per gal. But we are Californians. It is common for people in the south to drive 100 miles per day just commuting to work. My son puts on about 250 miles per weekend taking his daughter to see her mother and sometimes doubles that if the snow is flying. So a little trip to OR is not bad. Besides he hasn't seen my buddy Mac for many years. I used to take him to Macs Jeep wrecking yard for hours at at time and let him play. I just don't know where he gets this Jeep thing. :D

cj4a nz
10-12-2010, 03:48 AM
so the old gasket going back on then!!!!
humm don't know where your son got hislove of jeeps from either !
we are paying $1.90 ish a litre bout 94 cent your money
put new carb on mine now its playing up hurmph back on with the old

4.3LXJ
10-12-2010, 09:37 AM
Well, we can't loose a gasket like that. I was tinkering with the intake a little last night. While waiting to go to Oregon, I thought I would plumb in the original air cleaner to the dual carbs. It will certainly breathe better that way.

Hum Wee JR
10-13-2010, 01:26 AM
I got some more frame work for the top today. Only problem my mighty mite is in Chico and all the top hardware is in Grass Valley and it does not fit well in the yj with top on. Need some warm weather to take the top off the yj for the 1 and a 1/2 hour ride. Either that or quit being a sissy and ware a really warm jacket. The only time I have to make the trip for the next couple weeks is at night and it's been getting down to the 40's and 50's. Oh well....

4.3LXJ
10-13-2010, 01:42 PM
Just quit being a sissy. Back in the day ...

cj4a nz
11-07-2010, 09:57 PM
humwee jr add teaspoon of cement to morning coffee and harden up!!!!!
any more done? want to see video of it getting muddy

4.3LXJ
11-08-2010, 10:03 AM
humwee jr add teaspoon of cement to morning coffee and harden up!!!!!
any more done? want to see video of it getting muddy

Yes, Jr. came back to me to work on, no reverse. Will post pics of that tonight. We are going to have to get some tires on it. We have narrow drag slicks right now. We need to get some wheels together for it. Not real common. But we are working on that.

4.3LXJ
11-08-2010, 08:24 PM
humm don't know where your son got hislove of jeeps from either !


Might be because of stuff like this.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0001.jpg

4.3LXJ
11-08-2010, 08:43 PM
Here is the latest. My son called me and said he couldn't get it into reverse. That made it inconvenient parking down town and pulling out of his driveway. We couldn't resolve it over the phone, so HUM WEE Jr. came back to the shop. It didn't take long to figure it out, the gear shift handle would go into complete circles. There is a little alignment bolt that is common on just about all top cover trannys that wore out or broke. So I pulled the tunnel off the floor to take a look.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0681.jpg

So then we pulled the top cover

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0684.jpg

I pulled the alignment bolt out and found that it was a grade 8, and like lots of grade 8s it was brittle and broke. So there was a piece stuck inside and it was tough to drill.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0685.jpg

I had to let it sit for a couple of days, so notice I put a rag over the tranny to keep the dust out of it since it was sitting outside at the time.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0688.jpg

It started to rain a couple of days later, so in a totally blonde moment, I hit the starter and pulled the Mite into the shop. And then realized I managed to suck that rag down inside the gear box and wrap it around the gears several times :mad0090::eek::sad0147:

So here is half a partially digested rag. The other half came out the bottom.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0709.jpg

OK, so I got it back together. Not sure how that happened after considering the rag incident.:stars:

So while I was at it, I decided to do our first modification. This goes under the heading of cheap mods.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0710.jpg

There is a piece of linkage that connects the top cover to the transfer case linkage. Its purpose is to keep you from shifting into what passes for low range on these, a 5.87 first gear, unless in 4 wheel drive. With a whopping 60 squirrels under the hood, sometimes you need this gear on pavement. So, I did the same thing as a $200 Tereflex mod in a NP231 by drilling a new hole in the linkage so it is in position to allow it to shift into 1st gear while in 2WD

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0713.jpg

The nice thing about this one is that we can put it back if we want it completely original.

cantab27
11-08-2010, 09:47 PM
nice steve ,,, that rag thing is something i would do lol

4.3LXJ
11-08-2010, 10:14 PM
nice steve ,,, that rag thing is something i would do lol

It just goes to confirm my denial of aging. Those are not grey hairs I have, they are platinum blonde.:D

4.3LXJ
11-10-2010, 06:09 PM
When I pulled HUMWEE Jr into the shop, we had a new revelation ... A nice big puddle of engine oil on the floor. A little investigation revealed the oil pressure line for the mechanical oil pressure gauge had given it up. Where it flexed, it was rubber. Not sure how all this came about during the conversion, but it was steel line out the back of the gauge and then had a fitting with a rubber line to another fitting. Trouble was, it was not nylon reinforced or anything. I am surprised it lasted this long. So, Paul just happened to have bought a gauge set that had a new oil pressure gauge in it. But it was mechanical and had one of those little plastic lines that is just begging to fail. So when I installed it, I took a few precautions. I got some wire loom armor and wrapped it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0714.jpg

Where the line attached to the back of the engine is where it would flex the most, so I double armored it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0715.jpg

Then I wrapped it with tape and zip tied it down with some cute little itty bitty ties.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0716.jpg

Now we are ready to go again

cj4a nz
11-14-2010, 12:09 AM
all wiring and fragile pipes shoud go thru the plastic armour there is about 25 mtrs in the jeep :D don't want any shorts anywhere lots of itty bitty cable ties and plastic clamps make it all good and looks tidy and profesional
good work,keep it up

cantab27
11-14-2010, 12:53 AM
nice steve ,,, usual high standed of work again ...

4.3LXJ
11-18-2010, 07:03 PM
My son called last night to say he was coming for the weekend and that he wanted to hit some mud in HUM WEE. So I thought maybe I should put it back together. First I started with changing tires so we could get his US Maypops off. They had more cracks than a 100 year old chain smoker. So in a senile moment I went to put the Sammy tires on it that were on mine. It did not take long to remember that I had turned down the center of the hubs to accept Jeep wheels. The Mite hubs are about .1" larger than a Jeep hub and just large enough you can't get the wheel to seat properly. So I spent most of the day hogging out the centers with a die grinder. Well, on to the interesting stuff.

I went to Oregon to get my old rear driveline so we could remove the Borg/Warner overdrive that someone had put in. It hangs down too low for a good wheeler and only works in two wheel drive and is notorious for popping out of overdrive going down hill. So I have been investigating putting in something a little better.

Here is the back of the tcase with the inspection cover off. If you have ever had a D18 or 20 tcase this should look very familiar.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0710.jpg

Not a good shot, but you can see the classic 5 bolt pto cover used from 41 to 72 on Jeep tcases.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0717.jpg

Here the cover is removed. This should look real familiar. I could bolt up a standard rear PTO or a standard D20 output assembly and it would work just fine. So at this point I am getting excited because I am thinking I can adapt a Warn overdrive to this tcase. The gear tooth count is different, but what the heck, I adapted one to a MB tcase once. Piece of cake. Then I got the nut of the output shaft.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0813.jpg

What kind of a bastard spline count is that? It should be six or ten, not thirteen. @#$%$%^^&&*&^%$#$#%&&

Oh well, it can still be done. We will see how it pencils out.

cantab27
11-18-2010, 07:45 PM
must be kiwi

4.3LXJ
11-19-2010, 09:51 AM
must be kiwi

Gotta be :D

4.3LXJ
11-21-2010, 04:00 PM
Took HUMWEE out for a little test drive today. The powerlock is working well.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0829.jpg

We let the 10 year old grand daughter drive it too.

[IMG]http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/th_MVI_0824.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

Click for video

cantab27
11-21-2010, 09:36 PM
ha ha thats so cool that little beast , cheers steve

gary63
11-21-2010, 09:48 PM
it look like it handles very will and the suspinsion work good and smooth.
like it when people redo the older autos I have a 1960 willys wish it drove as nice. Keep up the good work.:thumbsup:

4.3LXJ
11-22-2010, 09:55 AM
it look like it handles very will and the suspinsion work good and smooth.
like it when people redo the older autos I have a 1960 willys wish it drove as nice. Keep up the good work.:thumbsup:

The suspension is the real asset in these little guys. It does work smooth. When we get a chance, we will do some vids of how well it works. Need to get some shocks first though.

ice_cold
11-22-2010, 11:59 AM
Appears the grand daughter has a heavy foot...lol

4.3LXJ
11-22-2010, 09:17 PM
Just like her father

Hum Wee JR
11-22-2010, 10:42 PM
Aparenlty she thuoght she was going to spin broadies the first time she got to drive it with no seat belt or doors. She did good though. Got the clutch on the second try and got it perfect.

4.3LXJ
11-23-2010, 09:54 AM
But of course she did. It is in her genes. :D

4.3LXJ
12-26-2010, 08:11 PM
It was Christmas for HUM WEE Jr. too. It has been back to my shop and I have been using it for a parts runner while I have been a little distracted working on the XJ, but we have gradually been getting together all the stuff necessary for a full military arctic top, you know with sides and doors like we all like.

The hoops we got with the vehicle and may have been the originals it was issued with. Here you can see them in the folded down position. They look very similar to all small military top hoops, with some minor exceptions.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0876.jpg

Notice that they are even with the rear of the vehicle and do not stick out past the tailgate like civilian CJ top hoops do.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0839.jpg

When you fold them up, you remove a bolt from the end and rotate a flat bar about 180° to the rear hoop and move the front hoop forward and then reinsert the bolt which holds the top hoops in the spread position.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0879.jpg

These believe it or not are the front door hinges, which stay attached and help stabilize the windshield. At the top of the pic is a door hinge bracket we robbed off HUMWEE Sr. which I will not be using on my build anyway. Christmas present #1 to the boy.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0889.jpg

Next you put in the top bars for the front, which keeps the hoops from flopping around. These bars I had to make for him because we couldn't find any available. Christmas present #2

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0890.jpg

Next you put in the vertical front bars. These we bought, which was a good thing because I would never have figured out how they were supposed to be. They also have a notch for the door handle to lock into.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0881.jpg

Next come the door frames, which fold for storage. The canvas is made to come off so both hoop and canvas can be folded for storage in the top. When we get all the canvas I will show how that is done.

Here it is unfolded.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0880.jpg

The hoops are then fitted into the permanent hinge.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0838.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0836.jpg

Last comes the rear hoop vertical supports, only one pictured here. I had to make these too. Christmas present #3

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0877.jpg

Lastly, you need to have a place to keep your hardware stored so it doesn't get lost, So I sewed up this pouch, a near replica of the military model. Christmas present #4

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0888.jpg

That is going to be it until we get canvas in about a month, then we will finish this part of the project.

cantab27
12-27-2010, 12:57 AM
really cool steve ,,, shes come a long way ....ps ya spoil that boy of yours lol

4.3LXJ
12-27-2010, 11:12 AM
really cool steve ,,, shes come a long way ....ps ya spoil that boy of yours lol

Well at least I made him buy his own. You gave yours his :D

cantab27
12-27-2010, 11:22 AM
Well at least I made him buy his own. You gave yours his :D

yep got me there ....and your boy keeps it on all 4 wheels ..:rotfl2:

4.3LXJ
12-27-2010, 12:51 PM
yep got me there ....and your boy keeps it on all 4 wheels ..:rotfl2:

Probably just because it is more stable. Rated for speed on a 40° side hill.

The granddaughter decided she needed to drive "her" mighty mite. She took it out in the field and kicked up some mud. Somehow she managed to get it all on her dads side of the rig. You suppose she is getting wise to that stuff already?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0887.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0886.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0885.jpg

4.3LXJ
12-28-2010, 08:42 PM
Hey Jr. Checking out your thread?

Hum Wee JR
12-28-2010, 08:53 PM
Yeah well after to many years of trying to weasel and con a mighty might out of dad I started a three year on again off again mission to find one of my own. Now that I have one my daghter is giving me the same treatment. The apple definitly didnot fall from the tree.

Hum Wee JR
12-28-2010, 09:01 PM
After I finish moving next month I will order the canvas for the top. It takes 30 to 60 days to make. While I am waitng for that I will be replacing the vacume windshield wipers and working on puting in a heater.

4.3LXJ
12-28-2010, 09:03 PM
Don't forget about taking that Studebaker overdrive out. Might be nice to have a normal reverse again.

Hum Wee JR
12-28-2010, 09:24 PM
Don't forget about taking that Studebaker overdrive out. Might be nice to have a normal reverse again.
Yep when that thing is destined for my scrap bin. PS anybody what a stupidbaker overdrive?

4.3LXJ
12-28-2010, 09:35 PM
I already tried to give it away

No luck

4.3LXJ
02-13-2011, 07:19 PM
Paul came for a few hours today and we took HUM WEE Jr. for our customary trip to town before working on it. We have been getting some parts that will keep us busy for awhile. But first, we decided to tackle that winch on the front. We have decided to remove it and use a receiver cradle instead and take some weight off the front.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0915.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0916.jpg

So we fired up the compressor and got the air tools out and thought we would have it off in thirty minutes. Well, all I can say is the guy that built that bumper must have been a nuclear physicist or something. It appears he built it then welded everything on. After an hour here is what we had.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0917.jpg

Thee hours after starting we finally got it off. I grabbed it to muscle it off and wow, that thing literally weighs in at around 300# The Mite just got a 1.5" front lift. Here is what we had then.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0918.jpg

We figured with all that rectangular tubing and 3/*8" winch plate that we could hit a train and it wouldn't be hurt. Of course the rest of it would be an accordion. LOL

He wants to get his front approach angle back so we will move the front bumper back. Easier said than done. We found that we had to disassemble most of the front clip and take the skid plate off so we could get at it with a sawsall AKA weapon of mass destruction in Paul's hands.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0919.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0920.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0921.jpg

We thought we would get a pic comparing our tow skid plates. Mine has been well used as you can see in this pic.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0923.jpg

Here is the winch cradle we are going to use. The winch that came with it is on Paul's YJ

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0922.jpg

Here is is ready to reweld the bumper back on.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0925.jpg

It is amazing what you can find when you remove a little metal. We found several coolant leaks we didn't know we had. If you look closely at this radiator you will see it is a fugitive from World War I. It is a brass honey comb radiator. Who knows what it came off of. The PO reworked it to be a cross flow and notched the tanks for the front bumper braces.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0924.jpg

It took a while to get the bumper ready to weld back on and pizza is calling me so I will finish it later.

4.3LXJ
02-18-2011, 06:45 PM
Well, the parts are coming in. We will have plenty to do Sunday.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0947.jpg

We have parts now for new electric wipers, u joints for the stock driveline so we can get rid of the B/W overdrive and a HEATER :thumbsup:

Much more than we can do in one day. Top canvas hasn't arrived yet either.

cj4a nz
02-18-2011, 07:47 PM
HEATER :smiley-laughing021: what do you want that for ?? just wait for the canvas
my heaters tucked up partly behind the dash in front of the gear sticks
looking good
are they greasable uj's

4.3LXJ
02-18-2011, 11:12 PM
You know, I haven't looked at the U joints to know if they are greasable. I will have to check that. Not much angle involved with this one anyway. It is almost a straight shot. Our heater will actually be in the engine compartment since the dash is also the firewall. It is a weight saving thing.

4.3LXJ
02-20-2011, 08:26 PM
Paul and I worked on HUM WEE Jr. again today. Had a good day and took lots of pics, only to find out I forgot to put the memory chip in the camera. So to make a long story short, HUM WEE went on a diet again today and lost another 90# We stripped out the B/W overdrive and all the iron holding it in. We found some wiring hooked up to it and this dash switch that went to nothing. I guess it might have worked, we don't know now. What we do know however is that now we have reverse in two wheel drive, which is a real plus in town. We also know that thing was assembled by the PO with lots of the other stuff removed. We had to take the hot drill to it and cut it up a little to get it out without removing the rear suspension. Then in all the melodrama, I set my arm down on a white hot piece of metal I cut off. Really woke me up.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0952.jpg

Anyway, it was not serious. It felt a lot better once i picked off the melted coat material. Here is the stuff we stripped out today.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0949.jpg

The pics we lost was the ones that showed how far it hung down.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0647.jpg

This is the best pic we have of it now taken from the back. You can see it hung down quite a ways and was the lowest point on the whole vehicle.

Here is the driveline in place now. Lots of room under there now.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0950.jpg

bluedragon436
02-20-2011, 08:37 PM
Looking better under there!! At least you had the jacket on... otherwise your wake up call might have hurt a bit more...

4.3LXJ
02-21-2011, 10:12 AM
Looking better under there!! At least you had the jacket on... otherwise your wake up call might have hurt a bit more...

That is for sure. But you are right, it is looking much better. Paul can't wait to take it up in the mud and snow. But there i more to do first.

cantab27
02-21-2011, 03:00 PM
nice steve ,,,, good to see warren chipping in with a intelligent question ....lol

4.3LXJ
02-22-2011, 09:45 AM
He does that now and then :D

4.3LXJ
02-27-2011, 07:53 PM
Spent a little more quality time with HUM WEE today. It was time to put it on more of a diet than it has been. The fan which was on the crank shaft and not entirely behind the radiator anyway was a little mangled

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0960.jpg

It went by way of the trash can. We pulled that heavy brass radiator and tank too. Since Paul is a plumber, he felt right at home with the official sink drain top radiator tubing. Genuine antique brass.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0961.jpg

The top tank was put on and not intended to be taken off. The bracket was being held on with three head bolts, so we decided to remove it and leave the bracket, even if it did weight a couple of pounds in its own right. We took the torch and pry bars to it to remove it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0962.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0963.jpg

We removed another ten pounds in battery tray, genuine 1/4" angle iron.'

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0966.jpg

Here is the battery area afterwards.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0965.jpg

I welded up a new aluminum battery tray. Only weighs less than a pound. We also rotated the air horn on top of the air cleaner for a future air intake project.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0969.jpg

We set the new heater in beside the battery to see how it was all going to fit. Looks like I need to make a few adjustments to the battery box, but it will all fit together, though somewhat tight.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0970.jpg

OverEasy
02-27-2011, 10:41 PM
I love seeing progress on Project Hum Wee! Whats in store for it next?

4.3LXJ
02-28-2011, 12:43 AM
I love seeing progress on Project Hum Wee! Whats in store for it next?

Windshield wipers and radiator.

4.3LXJ
03-04-2011, 07:50 PM
I love seeing progress on Project Hum Wee! Whats in store for it next?


Windshield wipers and radiator.

OK, I lied. :o The radiator has not been ordered yet. I guess what really is going to happen is finish the heater and wipers, then we will get the radiator.

Anyway, I cleaned up the battery tray area. It had lots of sulphate salts and some corrosion. So I took it off with scotch brite on my die grinder and a little elbow grease and sand paper. Here is a shot with it taken down and some paint from the surplus store. It is genuine Viet Nam era marine green

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0991.jpg

And finished up

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0992.jpg

Next I painted the new battery tray, riveted it down and then riveted in the passenger side heater duct.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0993.jpg

Touched up the rivets and put in the heater, temporarily that is. The duct work needs much more work before anything is permanent.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0994.jpg

Then set the battery in to check the fit. Just right. :smiley-gen165:

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0995.jpg

Paul is coming again Sat. night and we will work more on it Sunday.

OverEasy
03-04-2011, 08:40 PM
Man, that now looks great! I love that color green! The original OD!

4.3LXJ
03-04-2011, 09:44 PM
Eventually, I am sure we will get the whole thing painted. He wants to put it in a car show in the fall.

OverEasy
03-04-2011, 11:56 PM
Eventually, I am sure we will get the whole thing painted. He wants to put it in a car show in the fall.

I know if it were mine I would show it off every chance I had! Such a sweet little ride.

4.3LXJ
03-06-2011, 10:06 PM
Well, today about all we managed to do is spend money and take it apart further. We bought some cooling fans for it and a fuse block. The military did not put a single fuse in the whole rig. So we ordered a Painless 7 circuit weather resistant block. Should be here Tues.

We were getting ready to plumb in the heater. We had to remove some very ancient pipe plugs. We had to use the hot drill on them to get them to budge.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0996-1.jpg

Didn't end up getting all the brass fittings we needed, so that kind of got stalled for the time being. We striped out some more wiring, found some wonderful bare connections.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1000.jpg

We also found a home made kick down switch for the overdrive under the gas pedal that we removed.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0999.jpg

Then we took the windshield off and the support under it so we could plumb in the ductwork for the defroster and run wire for the windshield wipers we are adding.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1001.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1002.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1003.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1004.jpg

It may not look like we rally made any progress, but we are ready to start reassembling some things as well as make the heater function about like a normal modern heater.

bluedragon436
03-06-2011, 10:13 PM
Looks like a pretty good amount of progress on the Wee....

4.3LXJ
03-06-2011, 10:14 PM
Thanks. But we are anxious to have it back in one piece and get the new tires on it.

OverEasy
03-06-2011, 10:22 PM
Pics never show the time spent on a build. Looking good though, can't wait for reassembling pics!

4.3LXJ
03-06-2011, 10:25 PM
Getting the radiator will be the big thing, then it will start looking like a Mighty Mite again.

bluedragon436
03-06-2011, 10:27 PM
picking up another one from a mighty mite.. or one from another vehicle?

4.3LXJ
03-06-2011, 10:41 PM
This one will be a custom radiator from Be Cool. The original Mighty Mite engine was air cooled. It was a good idea at the time, but the engines were junk. They only lasted 500 hours before a major rebuild. The problem was chrome plated aluminum jugs, and cast iron rings, which is kind of backwards from the usual chrome rings and cast iron sleeves. The chrome would peel off and they would begin to smoke. My own got so I could only keep plugs in it for about 50 miles before they would foul out. So we will get the radiator for this engine, which is a conversion anyway. They we will change the front clip a little, for the better I think to accommodate the wider radiator.

bluedragon436
03-07-2011, 02:05 PM
So will that help your plugs last a bit longer, by keeping the engine a little bit cooler?? I wouldn't mind playing with something like rebuilding one of these one day... but they seem like they wouldn't have any real support or information out there to help rebuild them... so for what I am sure is a pretty limited database of information... you guys are doing a great job..

4.3LXJ
03-07-2011, 07:27 PM
So will that help your plugs last a bit longer, by keeping the engine a little bit cooler?? I wouldn't mind playing with something like rebuilding one of these one day... but they seem like they wouldn't have any real support or information out there to help rebuild them... so for what I am sure is a pretty limited database of information... you guys are doing a great job..

If you need info on these guys, check www.g503 Some parts are easy to get, others, like the jugs and pistons are rare.

4.3LXJ
03-13-2011, 06:34 PM
Pics never show the time spent on a build. Looking good though, can't wait for reassembling pics!

You got your wish, sort of. We finally made contact with the custom radiator guy. He said he had seen a Mighty Mite before, but wanted to see it in person to make a radiator for it. Personally, I think he just wanted to see it for fun. I could have given him all the measurements he needs. So it is back on with the front clip and down to Yuba City on the trailer for HUM WEE Jr. But first we had to address some screws broken off in the nutserts in the fender.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1009.jpg

These are spendy little things. Over $1 dollar apiece. I got plenty so I could put some in mine too.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1010.jpg

Here is our high tech tool for installing them. The gun to do it in a jiffy is $100, so I passed on that. The idea is that you put them in a hole and use the allen screw to hod them in place and use the nut to draw it up like a pop rivet.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1011.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1008.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1012.jpg

That funny colored piece in the middle is off mine. It was painted Civil Defense blue when I got it. Almost a pastel blue. It appealed to my feminine side.

4.3LXJ
03-16-2011, 09:15 PM
We have been feeling under the weather with some kind of nasty cold going around. But I have been eating enough garlic to keep the vampires away for some time, so I don't feel so bad. But I don't have a voice. So when it warmed up today I wandered out in the shop to work on HUM WEE Jr. I thought I would get the heater squared away. We wanted to have nice warm air and not take any nasty oil fumes and such from the engine compartment, so I started working on a fresh air intake from the hood area. First I bent up some aluminum for a blower housing.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1005.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1006.jpg

Then cut a hole in the top for an air intake

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1007.jpg

Then put some sides on it

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1024.jpg

Then pop riveted it to the plastic heater core housing

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1025.jpg

Then ran the wires through a grommet and painted it to match the rest of the green machine.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1026.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1027.jpg

cantab27
03-17-2011, 04:08 AM
as always nice tidy work Steve with good write up....love this build....hope yall feeling better soon...

OverEasy
03-17-2011, 10:05 AM
I love the updates to this build! Great fabwork going on! :thumbsup:

4.3LXJ
03-17-2011, 11:46 AM
Thanks guys, more to come

4.3LXJ
03-17-2011, 09:26 PM
I went to put the heater in today after the paint dried, well sort of, over night and it didn't fit #@#%*^%$#. I guess my eye balling and measuring off into space while leaning over the fender doesn't work so good, so I had to cut a chunk out of one corner.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1029.jpg

Then I had to make a piece to fit the hole. Unfortunately my brake is too big to make so many bends on something so small, so I had to make this with snips and a duck bill. It fit pretty good considering the low tech way I made it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1030.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1031.jpg

Finally got it to sit in there right.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1032.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1033.jpg

cj4a nz
03-18-2011, 05:00 AM
looking good almost like a factory heater and just remember low tech was the way your hum wee was built !
are those stromberg carbs? brings bad bad memorys work fine when set up but other wize :shocker: ,are you planning to keep or upgrade them

4.3LXJ
03-18-2011, 10:29 AM
looking good almost like a factory heater and just remember low tech was the way your hum wee was built !
are those stromberg carbs? brings bad bad memorys work fine when set up but other wize :shocker: ,are you planning to keep or upgrade them

That is a good question, one for which I don't have an answer. They work fine now and give a few extra much needed horsepower. But we are exploring options. One is to mount a Subaru turbo on it with a Weber side draft feeding it. We could get up to double the horsepower this way and is OK with this low compression engine (7.5:1) The other is to use a Volvo marine engine with a ton of bottom end and almost triple the horsepower. If it will fit in the same place and bolt up, we may do that next year.

4.3LXJ
03-31-2011, 10:06 PM
Had to take some time out from working on HUM WEE to put another carb on the truck. We are going to need it to take HUM WEE for a ride to get a radiator fitted up on the 15. The old Quadrajet leaked all the gas into the intake and always instantly flooded it so bad it would make the plugs wet on the first crank. I got tire of pulling the plugs all the time when I wanted to use it. One of the advantages of having a son with lots of toys is he has some spare parts of his own. This came off his old 351 he had in his Ranchero.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1035.jpg

Well, back to HUM WEE. I am still perfecting the heater on a rig that was never designed for one. After getting the heater in place, we need a clean air source. The fire wall is the dash on these things, so you cannot hide anything under the dash. So I decided to use the louvres on the back of the hood as a source since it is supposed to be a source of high air pressure anyway. My first attempt to make a bend in something too long for the brake was a limited success.(that is where you have no failures) It didn't come out straight enough doing it by hand, so I had to go to plan B I tacked in a piece of angle to the hood brace and then screwed in a flat piece.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1036.jpg

Next I started making fill in pieces that will also be structural.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1037.jpg

Here is one installed

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1039.jpg

There is quite a bit more work to be done on this before it is finished, but it is a good start anyway.

4.3LXJ
04-04-2011, 10:07 PM
Spent a little more quality time with HUM WEE Jr tonight. I cut a hole in the air duct pan and pop riveted it to the tacked in angle aluminum and buffed it up so the paint would stick to it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1040.jpg

I gave it a shot of paint with our genuine military replica rattle can paint. Then it was time to work on a seal. I got some bulk rubber trunk seal from a company that makes replica door seals etc. Only cost about $16 with shipping. I chose one that had a hollow spot in it so I could get some fasteners like these.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1041.jpg

I tell you we have the most wonderful fastener store here in town. It is run by a couple of crazy ladies, well crazy in a good way. It is always worth the good laugh you get there while getting stuff most people have never heard of. All the car restoration guys go there for cool stuff.

Got a good start on the seal here, hiding the fasteners of course

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1042.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1043.jpg

All finished up and ready to shut the hood. I peeked in the air scoop and found that the seal is about a half inch tall with the hood shut, just right

bluedragon436
04-06-2011, 02:02 AM
Looks good, and some awesome ingenuity...

4.3LXJ
04-06-2011, 11:05 AM
Thanks

Hum Wee JR
04-09-2011, 07:41 PM
I Haven't had internet since january and Since my wonderfull boss decided that I need to work for him on sunday instead of the mighty mite. I borowed his computer in the office (when no one was here) to let everybody know the long awaited top finally showed up. I will try to get some pics to dad to post.

4.3LXJ
04-09-2011, 08:30 PM
Bummer son. Still coming Friday?

4.3LXJ
05-01-2011, 09:10 PM
Paul and I spent some time on HUM WEE today. Getting a custom radiator is going to be a bit spendy. So we went to the pick and pull and got some tanks/junk radiator. Saved us $160 getting some brass tanks. Here is the XJ radiator sitting on the bumper. A bit wide as you can see, but we will take care of that

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1101.jpg

cj4a nz
05-02-2011, 04:07 AM
looks ok like that.................................... till you hit something! project still progressing forward thats good :innocent0002:

4.3LXJ
05-02-2011, 09:32 AM
Yes, the goal is that it goes home on June 1 with a good cooling system, top, larger tires and wheels and heater so it can be used as a daily driver as well as wheeling fun.

cantab27
05-02-2011, 01:37 PM
good to see progress Steve.......plus ya still getting bits on the xj done,,,,,,

bluedragon436
05-02-2011, 02:03 PM
Looks good.. Are you guys going to leave the rad on the outside or put it behind the grille??

4.3LXJ
05-02-2011, 05:30 PM
Looks good.. Are you guys going to leave the rad on the outside or put it behind the grille??

Put it behind the grill, which has yet to be made. We are getting a custom radiator made. The tanks alone would cost $200. So by getting this junkyard radiator, which was not a bad find being it is a two core, we will save about $160 on the tanks alone, plus this one is set up with a temp sensor switch in the tank which we will use to turn the fans on and off.

OverEasy
06-07-2011, 05:03 PM
Anything been going on with this, updates?

:pray:

4.3LXJ
06-07-2011, 05:42 PM
Well, yes. We just haven't posted yet because we are not far enough into this yet. First Paul found a genuine Mighty Mite trailer (like the bantam) cheap. But he couldn't really afford it so he told the guy what he had. He was just too honest about it.

Second we are fitting a custom radiator to it. We have the radiator but did not make any decisions on the options until last night. So it just looks like we cut more out of the front clip now, which is off again. As soon as we get a little farther, we will post. This is a major hurdle we had to clear.

4.3LXJ
06-07-2011, 09:31 PM
We need to clear a major hurdle with HUM WEE. We have to keep it cool. To do this we needed a custom radiator, which can be expensive in aluminum. Griffin wanted $900 for one. We went a cheaper route locally. We went to the pick and pull and got a used Renix era XJ radiator. All we really wanted was the tanks on the sides, and mountings were a good thing too. The XJ radiator was far too wide for the little Mighty Mite, but it is the only brass tank radiator 11" tall, which is what we have to work with. So we took the new used radiator down to the local radiator shop which had done custom work for me before very reasonably and told them what we wanted. Here is what the made for us.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_1128.jpg

The inlet and outlet have been resized to 1" for itty bitty motors, fill spout added, drain cock moved 90°. They used a penny for that hole. Now our radiator is legal tender. A new two row core and custom mounts for $287 with tax out the door. About $250 before tax. We will be running a new fan switch in the left tank that comes on at 186 and goes off at 174 to keep the fans operating automatically.

We only have it sitting in the slot right now, no permanent work done yet.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_1127.jpg

OverEasy
06-07-2011, 11:31 PM
Ahh Sorry I jumped the gun on this one, I was just going through MM withdraws. :D And no. . . Not the little candies. ;)

Anyway, yeah. Custom aluminium radiators can be really expensive. I looked into getting one made for a S-10 I had one time with a 350 in it. I changed my mind pretty quickly.

Anyway, glad to see this thing still being worked on and now that I've had a small fix, I can wait on more! :thumbsup:

cj4a nz
06-08-2011, 03:18 AM
looking good as always
work mate put ali tank in his race car then did some gas cutting result = one expensive nackered tank was nearer $2 k from memory :yack:

are you running one or two fans?? if running two could I suggest the second one working off manual switch in the cab,used when things getting a little warm,had that set up on previous vehicle

4.3LXJ
06-08-2011, 10:16 AM
Too rich for our blood

4.3LXJ
06-08-2011, 08:58 PM
Anything been going on with this, updates?

:pray:

The more I try to make everything fit, the nakeder it gets:cry:

It is getting as bad as a flasher exposing its front.

OverEasy
06-09-2011, 11:29 AM
The more I try to make everything fit, the nakeder it gets:cry:

It is getting as bad as a flasher exposing its front.

LOL! I guess it's cause everything is Itty-bitty on the MM? Fitting the modern stuff on it takes some ingenuity? I don't know, I've only seen one of these things once at a local car show. I then saw your build and have been watching and reading up on them, pretty cool little vehicles!

4.3LXJ
06-09-2011, 01:23 PM
Yes, space is a problem. Everything has to be fabbed. There are no aftermarket parts.

bluedragon436
06-09-2011, 02:32 PM
That radiator looks good... and way cheaper than the Griffin option... I bet that thing will def. help keep it cool once you get it all back together and going..

4.3LXJ
06-09-2011, 03:14 PM
That is the plan, but my son managed to take the bottom rubber mounts for it home with him so now I will have to wait until he shows up again to finish it.

Hum Wee JR
06-10-2011, 12:47 AM
Dad, you told me to put them in a safe place. My pocket seamed like a good idea at the time. See what I get for listing to what I am told. Haha next time I will listen and think.:rolleye0012:oh well I will be back soon.

Hum Wee JR
06-10-2011, 01:04 AM
Sorry I have been sacking on the project. Winter is a busy time of year for me at work.on top of that I comute my daughter out of state on the weekends and when its snowing the trips get long. Doesn't leave me much time for me. In July I will have more time to play and am going to get into some more of the projects on hum wee jr.when the heater is finished we will put the windshield back on. Then finally test fit the top that is still sitting in the box. But first the cooling system. I really need to drive this thing even if it is only around the block.

4.3LXJ
06-10-2011, 11:19 AM
Dad, you told me to put them in a safe place. My pocket seamed like a good idea at the time. See what I get for listing to what I am told. Haha next time I will listen and think.:rolleye0012:oh well I will be back soon.

Son, thinking is what got you in trouble this time. You just need to give it up.:ass:

cj4a nz
06-24-2011, 05:14 AM
Steve probably a bit late but what are the dimensions you can work to for the radiator ?? close to a 3b ? mine bout 500mm sq (18"i think)

4.3LXJ
06-24-2011, 09:25 AM
Warren, I used XJ radiator tanks for the Mite because we only had 11" (280 mm) to work with on height. Are you planning to make a radiator for the 3B?

bluedragon436
06-24-2011, 01:58 PM
Sheesh why isn't this thing done yet?? Isn't building this thing, just like a Civic?? Parts are re-tally available at every junk yard and auto parts house??? LOL... JK!! But seriously, look forward to seeing pics as the progress continues!!

4.3LXJ
06-24-2011, 03:43 PM
My apologies, been on the sick, lame and lazy list for the last month. Severe infection in my back. I am just now getting back to something resembling normal. I did pick up some steel for the radiator support today, so work will commence shortly.

bluedragon436
06-25-2011, 02:52 AM
I was just giving you a hard time!! Glad to hear that you are feeling better though...

4.3LXJ
06-25-2011, 10:27 AM
Yeah, I know. No problem. But I have been kicking myself for not feeling better and cancelled a couple of wrench ins with my son on it. He was here foe Fathers day but I just wasn't up to going out to the shop. But that will change

4.3LXJ
06-29-2011, 07:19 PM
Spent some quality time with HUM WEE today. Nice and cool after an unseasonal Junuary rain. Good day for hot work. I cut the cross supports out the PO had welded in for the old winch. It was really a lot of overkill here.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1132.jpg

However, getting rid of the welds was a PITA. I finally had ot resort to using my die grinder in those tight places.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1133.jpg

I welded in a 1/8" steel plate to support the radiator and make a new bumper/winch receiver brace.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1135.jpg

I set the new radiator in just for giggles to see how it was going to work out.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1136.jpg

It is going to be just about right. I am going to work some more on it tomorrow and see if I can't get it bolted in.

gary63
06-30-2011, 07:33 AM
Looking good and looking like you are having fun

4.3LXJ
06-30-2011, 08:38 AM
I always have fun in the shop. The best part of this is I get to spend my son's money instead of the other way around. It's payback :D

gary63
06-30-2011, 09:57 AM
it is always fun to spen other people's money and even more fun the spen your kids money L.O.L.:smiley-whacky084:

zjrog
07-03-2011, 11:16 AM
it is always fun to spen other people's money and even more fun the spen your kids money L.O.L.:smiley-whacky084:

Indeed!

bluedragon436
07-03-2011, 12:12 PM
Hey payback is always bitter sweet!! Got to figure the son spent plenty of dad's money over the years!! LOL... Glad to see it coming along, can't wait to see it as it continues!!

4.3LXJ
07-03-2011, 01:12 PM
We will work on it more. He will be here next week end we think. He is in Oregon now and planning to visit a wrecking yard with some Mighty Mites in it. Will post pics if he gets there.

4.3LXJ
07-17-2011, 09:36 PM
Took some time off from my XJ today and worked on HUM WEE. We are planning on possibly taking it with us on vacation to the Frodyce Creek area in another month, so it was time to put a radiator in.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1256.jpg

Set it on some rectangular tubing spacers and got the general layout done.

Got it spaced right and then added a piece of aluminum flat bar across the bottom incorporated in the lower mount to support the fans.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1259.jpg

Then made some top mounts that use some of the original studs for mounting an AC core on an XJ.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1260.jpg

Popped the front clip on, what is left of it anyway and added a top brace for it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1261.jpg

Here it is with the hood shut. I still have some tweeking to do but will begin the front grill next, as soon as we decide what it is going to be.

4.3LXJ
08-07-2011, 09:11 PM
My son came around again and we spent some more quality time with HUM WEE.

We decided it was time to get this rig on the road soon. So we prepared to put the windshield back on. But before we could do that, we needed to take care of the defrost he will need in the winter. After pussy marines don't need a defroster right? :D So we needed to get the hot air up to the windshield. These things have a CJ5 windshield frame and base, so theoretically it shouldn't be too hard, however the M422 dash is not flush with the edge of the cowl like a CJ5 is. The windshield is sitting over space. So to duct the air we will go through the dash and into a rectangular duct I made out of aluminum and through a hole, offset instead of the center like the CJ.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1293.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1294.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1295.jpg

We made a matching hole in the bottom of the windshield base and splashed a little paint on it and bolted it back on.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1299.jpg

Also, we decided to finish off the cooling system. I let the plumber do a little plumbing on the old Volvo engine and we adapted a radiator hose to the wee little motor and radiator.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1297.jpg

We also plumbed in the heater and added a remote valve to control the heat temp. Old school, but it works.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1296.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1298.jpg

I am now in the process of adding a fuse block and some rewiring so we can have cooling fans. However, we decided to see how badly we needed them, so we filled her up and went for a spin. We got it a little warm sitting still before starting out to see if we could cool it down easily. We kept it at a steady 20 mph and found that it cooled down quickly without any fans. Just about right I would say.

4.3LXJ
08-14-2011, 12:20 AM
Paul and I spent some time on HUM WEE today. Getting a custom radiator is going to be a bit spendy. So we went to the pick and pull and got some tanks/junk radiator. Saved us $160 getting some brass tanks. Here is the XJ radiator sitting on the bumper. A bit wide as you can see, but we will take care of that

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1101.jpg

4.3LXJ
08-14-2011, 10:12 PM
Got busy on Hum WEE Jr. again today. I have been wanting to get the top out of my spare bedroom, smells like new canvas in there. So we decided this was the day to put the windshield back on and try out the top. All I can say is that If it is a passing squall, just get a little wet. It takes the whole platoon to put this on. But we got the officer version on, the typical bikini top with a rear curtain.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1306.jpg

Only took us about an hour with resizing some hardware I made by guessing at it. Then we thought we would try some side curtains and door skins. We don't have all the hardware for it yet, but I will work on that.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1307.jpg

Really makes it look short doesn't it. But it has more rear cargo room than a CJ5 or YJ or TJ. But it still does have some cute with the top. One of the nice things about this top though is that once you get it on the windshield and over the hoops, it is easy to tighten up. The straps make it easy. Feed them through the rear bar and hoops and just pull down on them. We found that it was still kind of loose and we were a little concerned, but believe it or not, the canvas started shrinking out in the sun and tightened up.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1311.jpg

It will still get tighter I think. We will store the curtains and door skins inside until we are ready to complete the hardware.

HUM WEE has no fuses, you just burn up the wiring if you get a short. So we started updating the wiring. I built a box that holds some wiring, a plug and wires for a flat towing pigtail and mounted a Painless 6 circuit waterproof fuse box and a Painless waterproof relay for the cooling fans. Once we got the fans wired up and made sure they were working, we drove it to town to show off.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1313.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1314.jpg

4.3LXJ
08-21-2011, 07:32 PM
It was another productive day for HUM WEE Jr. Paul and Emily got into the act yesterday with dismounting the 31" swampers so we could put them on some wheels to fit the Mighty Mite.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMAG0036.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMAG0042.jpg

We had to do some suspension work on the front. The PO over sprung it to make it sit level with that 300# winch on it. It was not designed to be that way. The front is supposed to sit a little lower than the back. It is after all rated to haul 500# in the back at speed through the bumps. We put the springs back to stock and found that the cast iron Volvo is about the same weight as the air cooled aluminum V4 that was in it. So we took the four extra leaves out of the front springs and put the swampers on.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1348.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1349.jpg

As you can see it is a wee bit taller than my XJ with an 8" lift. However it has a much lower center of gravity. We took it for a suspension test through the country club district. They have 15 mph speed bumps that will work a suspension. I can take them at 30 mph in the XJ with all the suspension work I have done on that. Here is a video of HUM WEE taking one at about 35 mph.

[IMG]http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/th_MVI_1350.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

And one of it going through multiple chuck holes by the house. Notice the wheels go up and down and the Mite does not.

[IMG]http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/th_MVI_1351.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

Almost ready for some wheeling with it next weekend.

cantab27
08-22-2011, 03:53 AM
brilliant Steve , that thing is way cool..... funny how 4 wheels and a engine brings out the kid in us.........well done , shes come a long way....

prerunner1982
08-22-2011, 08:37 AM
Cute little bugger... Love it.

4.3LXJ
08-22-2011, 09:29 AM
Thanks guys.

bluedragon436
08-22-2011, 11:52 AM
Looking good Steve!!

4.3LXJ
12-01-2011, 07:21 PM
I started a custom slat grill, somewhat like the original that was only about 9" wide. Slow going though. I don't think I can have this ready for the Christmas parade Saturday. Bumper is on too, but I will have a better pic of that later.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1488.jpg

I think I am going ot have to clean some mud out of that radiator too now that I think about it.

4.3LXJ
12-04-2011, 11:53 AM
A few more delayed pics. Me of my best side doing surgery.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMAG0068.jpg

Paul on the drill press

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMAG0070.jpg

And the bumper welded on.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2011-12-04_09-28-45_539.jpg

cj4a nz
12-13-2011, 01:32 AM
we need a pic of those lights going in the dark
looks good as normal

4.3LXJ
12-13-2011, 10:27 AM
we need a pic of those lights going in the dark
looks good as normal

Well next time I will have Mark from Payless 4X4 take some. The parade was going too fast for me to do it and I couldn't ride and take vids at the same time. Next year we will be more organized and have more lights.

4.3LXJ
12-25-2011, 06:45 PM
Well shoot. It is Christmas and the boy couldn't come here and wheel with me because he is sicko. So I did a little exploring and then gave him a little present. We have not finished the top on the Mite because we couldn't find any pics or anyone who knew what the brackets for the vertical rod behind the door. Finally, he found this on a Japanese web site.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/mite.jpg

That was enough to let me know what it looked like and where to put it. So I made this crude one, which I will refine later and use something besides drill screws. Just couldn't find a hardware store open today.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1513.jpg

So with bracket and rod in place, I mounted a side curtain. We still have to get some more footman loops, but they at least are available.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1512.jpg

Merry Christmas Son

bluedragon436
12-27-2011, 02:49 AM
As usual, coming along nicely... I think it's a conspiracy for us folks that want to enjoy any time off afforded by holidays working on our Jeeps, to not be able to find an open hardware store!! LOL..

4.3LXJ
12-27-2011, 11:02 AM
As usual, coming along nicely... I think it's a conspiracy for us folks that want to enjoy any time off afforded by holidays working on our Jeeps, to not be able to find an open hardware store!! LOL..

Definitely. Can we sign a petition or something?

4.3LXJ
12-30-2011, 06:18 PM
Took a little time before rebuilding the turbo on the Subaru today to put the other side curtain on HUM WEE. It was cold and blowing, hands were getting numb and if I had it to do over again, I would have all the hardware on and ready to go and assemble the top and then put it over the hoops. Once this baby shrinks, it is tough to get everything just right.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1514.jpg

Hum Wee JR
12-31-2011, 01:56 PM
Hey dad, I found an old picture of top hardware while going through my filling Cabnet of car stuff. There is an adjustment to the top hoops we missed. It should make the seam on the top sit level and installation easier, still at least a 2 person job though. When I get there next I will show you.

4.3LXJ
12-31-2011, 03:15 PM
Okie dokie

4.3LXJ
01-02-2012, 11:02 PM
My son decided to spend Hew Years Eve with me, well sort of. He missed his date by an hour. So the next best thing for someone who doesn't want to drink on New Years is spending it at Dad's. Besides I promised to take him wheeling. So off we went up Cohasset Road again in search of the elusive Murphy Trail. I thought I had found it this time. But first, since he had some disease on Christmas day, we had to finish Christmas. Out came what was left of the fudge I made him. Almost had to make another batch. But he saved me from myself and ate what was left of it. So here is the gift. A headlight upgrade. He grabbed them and put them in before I could get a pic of plain jane looking sealed beams. But here they are installed.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_13-56-47_6.jpg

As yo can see, they are fairly bright even in daylight. They are Sylvania Halogens. Interestingly enough, this is the fourth rig these have been on, just like the tires on this rig. But the only one that is the same is the Mighty Mite. So much for he history lesson. P.S. They are almost as old as he is and they aren't legal ..... ssshhhhhhh

I had been by the entrance to this trail at least a half dozen times, but the trail is kind of hidden. All you can see from the main road, which is called Ponderosa Road at this point is this wide spot in the road.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_14-08-55_289.jpg

But back in the back there is a road that takes off through the brush that rapidly deteriorates to a trail. We got to the last place we could turn around, somewhat challenging in itself and did something I thought I would never do. I ran over a ricer He He He

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_14-13-38_153.jpg

Here at the last place to turn around is a two door ricer used to make a water bar and flat spot. After this, the trail drops off at a steady 30° angle and no place to turn around. It has several lava cap drop offs. Since the Mite brakes had already been hot and he doesn't have the deep gears I do, we decided we needed to get to the bottom and come up. So off we went and back down Ponderosa Road towards Deer Creek. We think we can access the bottom of it there. But we paused for a Kodak moment. A few pics of the scenery from the Murphy Trail. By the way, the trail goes straight down to the bottom of this canyon.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_14-19-09_894.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_14-18-16_210.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-01-01_14-18-10_999.jpg

There are lava columns here too, just like Devils Kitchen two ridges over

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/Cohassett%20Road/IMG_0608.jpg

It was getting late and we were having trouble with the high tech Volvo water pump that has to be greased daily or it leaks. So we turned around here and headed back up. It is quite a grade and the Mite was performing admirably. Our cooling system, minus the stone age water pump was performing admirably also. Never got hot and Paul was headed down the road hard. In fact he slowed down for me. I couldn't keep up with the antique 65 hp mill in the Mite. You see, it has a suspension that was designed to take the bumps and just soak them up heading to and from the battlefield. The XJ, eve though it has a kick butt suspension was designed to flex more slowly so it was rocking around like a round bottom boat in a storm. The might just stayed straight and stable. He tried to kick it loose in the muddy corners but was unable to. It just kept it up. So we stopped toward the top for a Kodak moment again and take some vids of the suspensions in action.

We stopped at a two foot water bar. He can take it faster than I can, so he got air born. No problem though, no bounce even.

http://youtu.be/aKITEXsSYZw

Now here is my XJ on the same water bar.

http://youtu.be/UkZTp5HGbN0

As you can see, even though it takes it well it has more of a ship rolling on the ocean motion. It would have been worse if I had gotten air born and been traveling as fast as the Mite.

We came to another area with rocks and dips in the road. Here is the Mite

http://youtu.be/LbBLbtVNK3k

And here is the rolling XJ, a little slower on the same spot.

http://youtu.be/kcK7EPCDtQ8

Needless to say, he was pleased. The Mite did everything I told him it would. He only had two words to say about it. "It Mobs"

4.3LXJ
04-05-2012, 08:17 PM
Well, it is official. HUM WEE has a rod nock. We just had too much fun and ran that antique Volvo motor too hard for too long. So, now it is time to update a little and get rid of some junk. Paul brought his Isuzu down that he couldn't sell and we decided after some measurements that it could be a donor.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1558.jpg

It has, now don't laugh, a 2.8L GM V6 in it. However it has a one piece rear main seal, a problem in the early ones like the one I had, and is a TBI engine. It is rated at 120 hp, double what we have in HUM WEE now and we can get part for it. Plans are for an updated camshaft to take it to about 140 hp. That will be about 1.4 hp for every ten pounds of vehicle. Which will be pretty fast. Also we will rob some goodies for the rest of the vehicle, such as windshield wiper parts.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1557.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_1555.jpg

When the shop is clear in a couple of weeks, we will strip the motor out and any other part we need and get started on a transplant.

Now the really good news is that Paul is on the injured list. Which means he gets to stand around an supervise Dad who is doing all the work. There must be something wrong with this picture

cantab27
04-05-2012, 09:23 PM
coolies Steve,, should be a good read coming up soon.......why is the Isuzu hard to sell

Hum Wee JR
04-05-2012, 11:44 PM
I have been trying to sell the dang thing for 2 years for $1500 and had 1 call. Nobody wants the thing. It has 143000 miles on it. One of my brothers did fold the door backwards on it . But now I don't care anymore. I am gutting the thing for all I can and scraping the shell. I didn't even realize that the motor would fit untill last week.now it is dismantle and fab time. Woo hoo !!!

4.3LXJ
04-06-2012, 12:24 AM
Then it will be called HUM SUZU :D

4.3LXJ
05-06-2012, 05:32 PM
Paul came down again today to supervise me since he is still on no duty. We pulled the Isuzu up to the front of the shop

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/100_0118.jpg

And began striping the engine and getting it ready to pull. It is ready now to pull all the way in and lift the motor out. Will do that later.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/100_0129.jpg

bluedragon436
05-06-2012, 05:56 PM
Can't wait to see that bad boy coming together with a new heart!! You thought you had fun with it before... Now you know you will for sure once this swap is done!!

4.3LXJ
05-06-2012, 06:59 PM
Oh yeah. We plan to beef up the little 2.8. We would like to hit about 150 hp or better. In a rig less than 2,000# that would be a kick.

4.3LXJ
05-21-2012, 07:15 PM
I got our donor engine out today. A wee little motor. You cannot even see it for the stuff hanging on the front.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-05-21_16-55-17_562.jpg

But I can see some things happening to HUM WEE in the future. That is a good old GM power steering pump on there as well as an AC compressor that is gonna start pumping air I think. TBI so it will do well on inclines

dillonreid
07-15-2012, 11:54 AM
This is the second build thread of yours I have finish and Im amazed not only with this build but the XJ as well keep up the good work :thumbsup:

4.3LXJ
07-15-2012, 04:05 PM
Thanks Dillon. But the fun is just about to really begin with the Mite. Since the Volvo motor is almost ready to give it up permanently, we are going to remotor it. We are shooting for close to 1 horsepower for every 10 pounds of vehicle. That is a fast vehicle. It will make it much more fun. I have been putting the finishing touches on the top so it fits right. Good hot weather project eh? In August after I get back from Fordyce Creek we will pull it in for the motor swap and finish up the details.

gary63
07-15-2012, 07:33 PM
Are you going to keep the tran. or change it out too? hope you plan on putting some kind of cage with that kind of hp to lb. and being a 4x4 it will be a fun ride.good luck have fun and i can wait for the out come.

4.3LXJ
07-15-2012, 11:00 PM
The plan is to keep the stock tranny. It is unique and so is the transfer case. Yes, a cage is in order but not a problem yet. These little guys are rated at speed on a 43° side hill. And believe me, they will. They corner like a sports car, but soak up the bumps. A fun little vehicle. They just need more horsepower.

dillonreid
07-15-2012, 11:10 PM
Your making me think about working on my xj.... and my bank account dropping:timeout:

4.3LXJ
07-15-2012, 11:32 PM
Why not, I was working on mine today

cj4a nz
07-16-2012, 02:48 AM
whats the revs/ratios going to be like with the other engine? or a regear comming up?
glad to heard thing still moving forward

4.3LXJ
07-16-2012, 04:10 AM
The RPMs will be about the same. Right now it cruises on the Freeway about 60 - 65 mph. However, after the engine is done, we have plans for an overdrive adaptation. It had one when we got it, but it didn't work well. The tcase has the same bolt pattern on the cover yours has on the PTO cover on the back of the tranny. We just need to do some machine work on the gear and output/input drive and we will have a 25% overdrive. That will give it a cruising speed of a good 75 mph. Good enough even around here.

4.3LXJ
07-31-2012, 08:01 PM
Did a little work on the Mite. Our efforts to get the rare arctic top right are finally paying off. I made some adjustments to the back and got the door hardware on and this is the result.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-07-31_14-57-28_458.jpg

We have to let the canvas shrink up a little, but it will work out well I think. Certainly not as air tight, if I can use that term, as a civilian top, but ready for the foul weather now.

4x4Dalton
07-31-2012, 10:23 PM
:thumbsup:Lookin good man

4.3LXJ
08-01-2012, 09:32 AM
Thanks Bear

Mudderoy
08-01-2012, 10:15 AM
Did a little work on the Mite. Our efforts to get the rare arctic top right are finally paying off. I made some adjustments to the back and got the door hardware on and this is the result.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/2012-07-31_14-57-28_458.jpg

We have to let the canvas shrink up a little, but it will work out well I think. Certainly not as air tight, if I can use that term, as a civilian top, but ready for the foul weather now.

Something very cool about a rig that was built for a specific purpose.

4.3LXJ
08-01-2012, 10:59 AM
Thanks Tony. It was really ahead of its time. Just all kinds of fun to wheel. The XJ even with good suspension mods will not keep up with it. It will be even more fun when we double the horsepower.

4.3LXJ
01-14-2013, 09:51 PM
Spent a little time in the shop today, time to work on HUMWEE. So I got to do do inventing, so here it is

Brought to you by Warrior Performance Suspension (my old company)













Never done before (at least I think so)

















Based on cutting edge technology (it was fifty years ago)

























Using cutting edge machinery (it was fifty years ago too)
















Made to exact tolerances (within a couple of inches)













The one (probably)













The only (maybe)
















Mighty Mite 2" lift kit

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0059_zpsdd200df5.jpg

Plus a handful of bolts

XJ Wheeler
01-14-2013, 11:32 PM
Co














ol!

4.3LXJ
01-15-2013, 09:59 PM
Well, went to install the lift kit today. Thought the kid would be proud. So got one corner in and then there was an Oh shit moment. 2" more and the front axle falls out of the Birfield joint. :bang::bang::bang: Gave the kid the bad news but said in another fit of inspiration that if we redesigned the axle a little. So we are talking about it.

Hum Wee JR
01-16-2013, 12:55 AM
Hey dad, I think I got it figured out on the cheap. I will talk to my machinists tomorrow. I gave him some top hardware and door frames for his cj as a future down payment for a favor I have yet to cash in. I think it is time for that favor.:rolleye0012:

4.3LXJ
01-16-2013, 01:00 AM
Okie Dokie. We need a drive shaft slip joint that fits a 1310 U joint and he will have to machine a small grove in the end for a snap ring. We will need to get it I think before he starts.

4.3LXJ
01-16-2013, 01:01 AM
P.S. I will finish the lift

bluedragon436
01-16-2013, 01:13 AM
Can't wait to see it come along and lifted!!

4.3LXJ
01-18-2013, 06:02 PM
Well, here it is. Front lifted 2", no rear lift yet.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0063_zps2d19f934.jpg

I think we will do a 1" lift on the rear, maybe just to accommodate suspension dynamics. But that is up to the boy

Next step is to re design the front axle. More on that later

4.3LXJ
01-20-2013, 02:59 PM
Well, spent some time on it again and put it back in the shop. Don't even have time to clean the floor LOL

Took a measurement on the new ground clearance under the pumpkin.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0068_zpsed52d902.jpg

It is hard to hold the tape measure and shoot the camera, but this slightly downward angle would be close to 12" inches under the pumpkin. The rear is at 13" The clearance increases if it high centers in a rut or in soft mud. The wheels will go down an additional 3" to give a maximum of 15". This characteristic makes these little guys an incredible mud machine. If we could swing it, I would put little paddles on the brake drums to assist it when rolling along on the drums.

But we have a small axle length problem we need to address with the increased suspension travel. The slip joint for these is in the birfield joint inside the boot.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0065_zpse0f675a3.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0066_zps878e2472.jpg

The way it is designed it only has about an inch of travel in there. We were going to combine a rear axle slip joint and front axle to get the travel we need, but I seem to have lost one of my spare rear axles somewhere in the decades. So on to plan B. We will make up a 1/4" spacer to go here

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/HUM%20WEE/IMG_0067_zps09014b21.jpg

XJ Wheeler
01-20-2013, 09:39 PM
Quite an interesting suspension, and inboard brakes. oooow.

4.3LXJ
01-20-2013, 11:11 PM
Yeah, pre Corvette even :D

XJ Wheeler
01-21-2013, 04:01 AM
Doing a brake job little different, eh?

4.3LXJ
01-21-2013, 09:53 AM
Doing a brake job little different, eh?

Oh yeah. Double anchor brakes too.

Hum Wee JR
01-21-2013, 10:54 PM
Being inboard there's no room for your brake tools to fit, but for fun they were built upside down to. The slave cylinders are on the bottom. It's almost like trying to put brake shoes on backwards. None the less, I still love my mean green midget.:out:

XJ Wheeler
01-22-2013, 08:14 AM
Being inboard there's no room for your brake tools to fit, but for fun they were built upside down to. The slave cylinders are on the bottom. It's almost like trying to put brake shoes on backwards. None the less, I still love my mean green midget.:out:

Lol, gotta love good ol engineering. :p

praetorian
10-09-2013, 11:17 PM
Bump for updates!

4.3LXJ
10-09-2013, 11:41 PM
I haven't got any. The kid has me busy on his TJ which will take precedence this winter. But I will accumulate some parts to change the engine as we go

4.3LXJ
12-02-2013, 10:19 AM
Small update here on HUM WEE

We cleaned out the back of the shop and put the Mighty Mite in. It is parked next to its soon to be new engine. It is going to be quite a project, but much better when done. We had to push it in though. Somebody forgot his ignition key and said: "Dad, can I have the key to my car?" I said he had to be back by ten o'clock. :smiley-taunt002:

But Dad apparently doesn't have a key for it :bang:

Mspeters
01-11-2014, 06:56 PM
4.3 LXJ - Hum Wee,

I re-found your build. What trans are you planning for the V6 ?
Interested seeing your engine fit-up pictures.

My mite conversion to a VW turbo diesel is now running and has about 150 miles. Months of debugging left before ready for a desert camp trip. Front driveshaft has intermittent bad vibes when powerloks slip on mild steering input. Hoping the new clutch packs will settle in. It has a mild lift 1+ inch and a body lift to clear the bellhousing. Both diffs are located slightly lower. Also adapted Toyota power steering, and disc brakes. The diesel has a modified IP pump that adds grunt at the top end. It has a 3:1 dana 18 low range.

Some pics here on the expo portal. Started with a wrecked parts rig which had been turned into a dune rig with a mazda rotary.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/119132-M422A1-Mighty-Mite-diesel-build



M422A1 TD 1st drive in HD - YouTube

4.3LXJ
01-11-2014, 07:05 PM
Ha, another one. We will be using the stock tranny and tcase. I have to make an adapter out of the Isuzu bell housing. That project is on hold for awhile. The boy has got me working on another of his rigs, a 98 TJ that is to get a V8. If you are chattering, it might be you have the wrong oil in the diffs. Use some black Power Punch in them. It will make the clutches slip like they are supposed to. Your top looks nice. We have to finish our top up so it is tied down properly

jimmixj
01-12-2014, 09:16 AM
That is a very cool lil bit there Steve! Funny, I was just reading an old 4 wheeler mag that had a writeup on these trucks. It looks like a ton of fun...Well, just a little over a ton! LOL Can't wait to see the build!

4.3LXJ
01-12-2014, 10:00 AM
Thanks, actually just under a ton :D

They weigh in at 1720# soaking wet. But yes, lots of fun to drive