Operation Phoenix

This just in...B and R my local junkyard has a frame and tub for $1300.

I can strip my Jeep this weekend and prep for next week... transfer everything over...

July 10th... that's when we're leaving.

Anyone wanna entertain my insanity PM me. All the beer and pizza you want.

-Mac

Too far to wrench but I got a full set of TJ rollbar pads if you want them.
 
This just in...B and R my local junkyard has a frame and tub for $1300.

I can strip my Jeep this weekend and prep for next week... transfer everything over...

July 10th... that's when we're leaving.

Anyone wanna entertain my insanity PM me. All the beer and pizza you want.

-Mac

<checks prices on flights>
 
Let me introduce you to Phoenix....Chris can you move this thread to the builds section... retitle it Operation Phoenix.

Here we go...4 cyl 99 chassis...the wrecking yard let me have a lot of extras... almost intact wiring harness, dash, tons and tons of parts. All told about $1600.

Insurance company is covering nothing. Since it was me and my wife nothing will be covered.

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For your expert help I'd pay shipping and offer you a free trip on the forth to a professional fireworks show. Want to light up 250 plus 3, 4 and 5 inch mortars ?

-Mac

My boss is out of town all week and most of my customer base is on the west coast.....
 
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Let me introduce you to Phoenix....Chris can you move this thread to the builds section... retitle it Operation Phoenix.

Here we go...4 cyl 99 chassis...the wrecking yard let me have a lot of extras... almost intact wiring harness, dash, tons and tons of parts. All told about $1600.

Insurance company is covering nothing. Since it was me and my wife nothing will be covered.

View attachment 436853

View attachment 436854

I cant believe b&r sold you that for $1600..you must be a sweet talker
 
Let me introduce you to Phoenix....Chris can you move this thread to the builds section... retitle it Operation Phoenix.

Here we go...4 cyl 99 chassis...the wrecking yard let me have a lot of extras... almost intact wiring harness, dash, tons and tons of parts. All told about $1600.

Insurance company is covering nothing. Since it was me and my wife nothing will be covered.

View attachment 436853

View attachment 436854

How does it work that insurance pays nothing? If both vehicles are covered I don't get it.
 
I could almost see that if both vehicles were insured only with liability but a comprehensive plan should cover that.

Comp doesn't cover vehicle on vehicle damage it would go under collision. I got door dinged a couple years ago in a parking lot and they said I would have to claim it under collision. At the time I had a $500 deductable so it would have been cheaper to take it to a paintless dent repair shop than the deductable...
 
Let me introduce you to Phoenix....Chris can you move this thread to the builds section... retitle it Operation Phoenix.

Here we go...4 cyl 99 chassis...the wrecking yard let me have a lot of extras... almost intact wiring harness, dash, tons and tons of parts. All told about $1600.

Insurance company is covering nothing. Since it was me and my wife nothing will be covered.

View attachment 436853

View attachment 436854

I am about 4000% on board with this plan. Eagerly awaiting the next post!
 
Ok...so today was busy. But let's start with yesterday...

Drove all afternoon to grab my TJ...6 hour drive with my truck and trailer...7 hours back. An hour of winching and loading.

Got home at 5 am. Slept until 7 am. B&R called and they wanted me to look over my frame and tub. Unloaded my white 97 and drove my truck, trailer and tools to the Eugene yard.

Talked to folks... basically they wanted to know exactly what I wanted...which I completely appreciate. I offered to do all the work on Phoenix...flame red 99 4 cyl chassis. They wanted the fenders and seats...since they didn't say anything about the sliders I kept the passenger flip and fold for my driver side. Me doing the work also meant getting Phoenix today and not next Monday or Wednesday!

Phoenix came with everything. I paid a little more for the hood. I ended up with the tailgate, roll cage (with padding!), two center dashes, the dash, console...the radiator unfortunately had a hold in the plastic tank. The fuel filter housing came in handy.

Got it loaded and home. Pulled all the stuff out and made sure the frame and tub were rust free...they are pristine.

Started taking apart my 97. Unloading the back and getting my plywood shelf off revealed how catastrophic the damage was...the entire back floor was ruptured and torn.

My friend Bob got off the front driver's fender, bumper and winch.

I pulled the fuel tank...it's crushed in slightly on the passenger front corner...no damage to the tank itself... easily beat back into shape.

Started troubleshooting the no start issue. No fuel pressure. Voltage to the plug. Pulled the pump assembly...the plastic legs and pipe had sheered off in the impact leaving the pump pipeless and rattling in the tank. Used parts from Phoenix...it came with a housing complete with a pump...put my original Bosch pump in Phoniex's housing and jacked it close enough to connect everything and my white TJ fired right up.

Now I have a solid base to start from.

Planning on pulling both tubs tomorrow.

Need to move motor mounts from my frame...or buy lifted ones...I have to be careful and NOT stack so many things on that I run out of time.

Back Dana 35 is going to need a complete set of brackets. They were all leaned to the side. Recommendations on whose to purchase would be great. My Currie track bar was jammed in tight...but seems ok. My welds ripped slightly on the bottom of the angled bracket.

I think the Dana 35 is straight. I'm sticking with that story until I check more. Visually looks good and I trust my eyechronimeter.

One slightly bent rear Black Maxx shock. Gotta get that ordered.

Did a live stream on YouTube at 7 pm PST and will do a recap nightly through this build.

Accident dash/tail cam footage is on YouTube too.


Thanks everyone for the support, suggestions and help!

Thanks!
Mac

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Ordered two rear Black Max shocks from Skyjacker...was original going to order one but it appears they've updated the shock and incremented model numbers.

I ordered B8528s...and I have B8528s...hmm... maybe reading the website wrong...also given the smashing probably a good idea anyways.

Ordered upper and lower control arm mounts from Barnes. Was going to go with Iron Rock but they only have lowers...and my lowers are ish and my uppers are folded over.

-Mac
 
Oh man...that is a crazy story. Sorry to hear about your sister. 35 is WAY too young. Glad you found the dog and didn't add to the list of disasters. Women drivers, Am I right?

I wish I had the time to help with the rebuild for two reasons...I love a good wrenching party and swapping tubs isn't terribly difficult. Once the tub is off, the frame will be a cakewalk. The second reason is I would LOVE to find a clean, 03-06 frame and get it back to MI. They seem to be exceptionally inexpensive in the PNW...vs me paying 2K for one in Indiana.
 
Oh man...that is a crazy story. Sorry to hear about your sister. 35 is WAY too young. Glad you found the dog and didn't add to the list of disasters. Women drivers, Am I right?

I wish I had the time to help with the rebuild for two reasons...I love a good wrenching party and swapping tubs isn't terribly difficult. Once the tub is off, the frame will be a cakewalk. The second reason is I would LOVE to find a clean, 03-06 frame and get it back to MI. They seem to be exceptionally inexpensive in the PNW...vs me paying 2K for one in Indiana.

I recently turned down a perfect 03-06 frame for 500$ because i didn't want to move the steering box sleeve for my saginaw.
 
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