Slow & Steady Overland Build

[mzeblue]

I’m a bit late starting my Overland build thread. I’ll start with the pic I posted in the show-off thread when I picked up the vehicle on New Year’s Eve 2019 from Airpark Jeep in Scottsdale.

123120: A late white Christmas on New Years eve...

010120: Not long after bringing her home, I picked up Rubi LE takeoffs from Whatexit? here on the forum. LetzRoll in Mesa, AZ installed the takeoffs and a Mini Tazer to allow me to calibrate to the new wheel height and disable the dreaded auto-shutoff.

010620: ...the little things matter too. Here is the rubber stubby antenna and monochrome flag decal - both from Amazon. (And, yes, I read about the proper orientation of The Flag prior to application.....)

012220: Today, I had the Mopar lift and 35” KO2’s installed (at Larry H. Miller, Avondale and Discount Tire, Scottsdale, respectively) after much reading and hand wringing over the level versus lift, 35 versus 37, and 3.73 versus regear discussions. The KO2’s are mounted on the LE rims, no offset from stock. I’m quite pleased with how it has turned out so far, particularly with the Mopar Lift and 35” wheels. I had planned on installing an earlier purchased Teraflex 1.5” leveling kit, but the rake to me seems less obvious with the Mopar lift, so will be returning the leveling kit. I don’t mind a little rake, though this may change after eventually replacing the bumper and adding a winch.

012520: Took our first drive off-road today along a short, relatively easy power line service road, Camp Creek OHV Trail. It had just enough hills, bumps, ruts and mud to make it fun and interesting for a first timer. We traversed the trail easily in 2WD, but mainly because I had a hard time shifting into 4WD and didn’t want to use monkey strength to force it. We are thinking Big Maggie Creek trail next, but avoiding the mine side....for now.

013020: Bestop Sunrider installed!! This ought to be everyone’s first mod, at least if your weather permits.

022020: Awesome work by pixeldecal.com to create a decal for my step father's U.S.S. Shangri La CVA-38 cruise patch. He would've been 75 today.

033120 Here’s an overdue pic with Rubicon hood installed; top painted and BAK Revolver X4 Tonneau installed. I still have the Bestop, but just running with the full top for now.

040420 With all this free time in COVID isolation, I got the VR10 installed in the Arcus bumper. The end of the winch line is terminated with Warn Sidewinder. I also considered the Factor 55 Flatlink. It was a fun morning project actually, at worst fiddly.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
LOG:
123119 Bought from Airpark Jeep (Scottsdale, AZ)
010120 Bought Rubicon LE take-offs from @WhatExit?
010120 Rubicon LE take-off's installed along with a Mini Taser at Letzroll (Mesa, AZ)
010620 Rubber antenna + decals
010920 Sprayed bedliner
011620 Installed Bedrug
012220 Mopar Lift installed at Larry H. Miller Jeep (Avondale, AZ)
012220 BF Goodrich KO2 35's installed at Discount Tire (Scottsdale, AZ)
013020 Bestop Sunrider installed
020520 Mopar Trail Rails installed
022020 35” KO2’s replaced by 37” Milestar Patagonias at Outlaw Jeep (Scottsdale, AZ)
022620 Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper installed at Outlaw Jeep (Scottsdale, AZ)
022620 Black Rhino Overland Wheels installed at 4WP (Glendale, AZ)
030220 Rubicon hood installed
033020 Installed under rear seat storage bin
033120 Freedom top smoothed and painted body color
040420 Warn VR10 installed. Decided to save the M8274 rebuild (ongoing) for a future project.

PLANNED (or at least thinking about):
- Synergy Mfg front track bar and sector shaft brace
- Rear control arm skid plate
- Steering stabilizer and bracket

LOOKING To Buy/Trade:
- Rubicon fender flare take-offs in white

Sponsored

 

[mzeblue]

In an impulsive move, I sold my 35" KO2's and replaced them with 37/12.5/17 Milestar Patagonias. With the Mopar lift and LE wheels, however, there is rub on the control arms when steering lock to lock. Not a problem for most of the driving I do, but it has forced my hand to go with wheels with less back space / more offset. I considered Spidertrax spacers, but went ahead with ordering Black Rhino Overland 17x9 wheels. In the meantime, here’s a pic with the 37’s on LE wheels:

 

[WhatExit?]

Looks great Gil! Congrats on joining the 37" tire club!

Take a look at Harbor Freight's winches! They've gotten really good reviews from people I know. And as often (infrequently) as they're used, there's not a lot of sense in spending a lot of cents on a Warn (just my opinion).

I look forward to what you do next...

 

[mzeblue]

Next step: restoring a recently acquired ‘76 Warn M8274 and mounting to a Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper. The bumper goes on this week, but I estimate a few months to complete The M8274 restore.....

 

[WhatExit?]

Next step: restoring a recently acquired ‘76 Warn M8274 and mounting to a Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper. The bumper goes on this week, but I estimate a few months to complete The M8274 restore.....

THAT there is a WINCH! Be sure to post the work you're putting into its restoration. I look forward to seeing what's involved and what it looks like when it's done!

 

[mzeblue]

THAT there is a WINCH! Be sure to post the work you're putting into its restoration. I look forward to seeing what's involved and what it looks like when it's done!

When it’s all done, I will be about $1650 total into it, and it will have:

- new upgraded 6hp 12v Warn 9.5XP Motor (68608),
- new Warn splined pinion (98380/15879),
- new Warn control pack (38845),
- new lower housing and drum support (7594, 7532),
- new ratchet wheel (7601),
- new pawl assy (7605),
- winch service kit (8680) installed,
- brake service kit (8409) installed, and
- synthetic line.

In nearly every instance, the above parts were cheapest on Amazon and available through Prime.

I plan to refinish the upper housing. As far as how I will specifically refinish the upper cover, I am on the fence whether to preserve some patina as a nod to its age; paint to match the new lower; and/or keep the original labeling. Not sure. I’ve seen examples of both and haven’t decided. I may tap/plug the lower and upper housings to allow easy oil drain/refill.

Most of the rebuilds I’ve read about have been able to preserve the gear set. So, I hope that remains true for my rebuild.

I’ll clean up and resell any still-reusable replaced parts to recover some of the new part costs.

 

[furrymurray]

Next step: restoring a recently acquired ‘76 Warn M8274 and mounting to a Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper. The bumper goes on this week, but I estimate a few months to complete The M8274 restore.....

One of the best winches ever made! That thing is sweet and cant wait to see the finished product.

 

[mzeblue]

And, the fun begins. Clearly, the drum support lower (driver side), motor, solenoid, and cable had to go. Looks like I can recondition and sell the lower housing (passenger side).

 

[WhatExit?]

You're gonna have an advanced degree in winch restoration when you're done

 

[DiscoDino]

Love the 8274...only winch I have on my rigs! I've restored an old 8274 and same route as you...would recommend an Albright contractor and the Gigglepin end plate for ridgity if you need to replace the end plate anyways...

 

[mzeblue]

Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper installed by Outlaw Jeep, Scottsdale, AZ:

Before:

After:

 

[mzeblue]

Lots of mods today, first the Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper installed at Outlaw Jeep (Scottsdale, AZ), then the Black Rhino Overlands at 4WP (Glendale, AZ). No more tire rub!!

It may be in my head, but the vehicle seems to track better with the wider stance, though I might have preferred less offset if that was possible without rubbing with the 37’s on my Mopar lifted Overland.

 

[PacificWander]

I feel like you shoulda just bought the rubicon with the type of changes u have made lol.

I also bought an overland a week ago- upgraded to launch edition black wheels and falkens, rubicon fox suspension, 1.5 in terraflex leveling, tinted windows, blacked out grille and bumper bezels, installed aux switch kit post purchase, k&n performance air filters system, ceramic paint coating.


Plan to:
Find Mopar steel bumper,
Winch install,
Brush bar on bumper
Baja ip6 pros on bumper
Baja ip4 pros at a pillar base
Rigid midnight 50 in bar above windshield,
Black n-fab nerf steps to rebalance running boards,
Spray in liner
Bed rack
Rtt
Etc

 

[mzeblue]

Today was disassemble the 8274 day. There are many threads and videos on the internet for rebuilding 8274’s, so I’ll spare the play by play. I generally followed this YouTube video for disassembly.



The only thing I’ll add is that a torch to heat up and soften the old crusty sealant really helped to separate the upper and lower housings.

I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the gears and the oil. Makes me think I shouldn’t worry about adding a drain/fill plug for oil, as the next change of oil from this rebuild will be fine for another 40+ years.

Lifting the retainer plate releases the drum. The drum easily separated from the main gear.

Everything is soaking in mineral spirits. Clean up and inspection is tomorrow.

 

[WhatExit?]

Love the 8274...only winch I have on my rigs! I've restored an old 8274 and same route as you...would recommend an Albright contractor and the Gigglepin end plate for ridgity if you need to replace the end plate anyways...

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