Hello from Michigan

[roadymi]

I just pushed the "Buy it now" button for a Powerultra 205 3 in 1 machine and also some extra consumables. I am in the beginning stages of a frame off restoration project on a Jeep CJ7. I have never used tig before so I am looking forward to learning that process. I had been planning on buying a Mig and a plasma cutter but this machine seemed like a better deal. I was a little leary of a china made machine but we'll put it through it's paces and see how she holds up.

I pretty much taught myself how to weld with some guidance here and there along the way. I farmed with my father on a rather large crop farm for 25 years. Got lots of experience building and repairing farm machinery.

[everlastsupport]

Welcome aboard.

TIG is not that hard and when you see the results. MIG is better if you have a lot of welds to do. TIG is slower and you have some prep work.

A frame on a CJ7, I would go TIG so I think you made the right choice and the plasma, well that's a bonus tool you will find a lot of projects for.

[WAYNESWORLD]

Welcome aboard. I sure love the old CJ's. Send in some pictures so we can see what you are up against! One thing I hate is the bolts that hold the trans crossmember skid plate on. You may need the welder to weld new nuts into the frame when the old ones break off. Good luck with the new welder and keep us posted.
Wayne

[roadymi]

Actually the frame is really solid. I've only twisted off one frame bolt and that was for the steering gear. Now the body mounts under the tub are a different story. They all need rebuilt. I've enclosed a pic of what it started out as. Pretty decent really so I wanted to strip it down and stay ahead of the rust.

[WAYNESWORLD]

That's a nice clean start. Are you going to restore it on modify it? Do you do any off roading? Is it the 258 6cyl? 3 or 4 speed?
Wayne

[roadymi]

Modify of course. What fun is stock? Nothing too radical. It is currently 258 w/ 3 speed. AMC 360 with T18 4 speed going in. Removing the NT axles and replacing with Dana 44's from full size wagoneer. Will have about 4 3/4" of lift, (2 1/2" leaf springs, 1" body" 1 1/4" shackles). Making flat tube fenders for the front and cutting out the wheel wells in the rear. Planning on running 35" Mud terrains. It will be pretty much exclusively used off road. We don't have real hard core wheeling here, but we have a pretty extensive seasonal county road system up north. We trailer up cause it's a 2 hour drive and really sucks when you don't have a way to get it home when she breaks.

[WAYNESWORLD]

Sounds like a fun project. I just put together a dana 44 last night but it is in my 1955 Thunderbird retro project. The 44 has not changed much in over 50 years. I added an Auburn prolocker and richmond 3.73:1 gears. It was the original rear since the Ford 9" did not come out til 1957. I know what you mean about draging them home when they break. In 1983 I bought a new Ford Ranger and started taking it apart the day I got it. I did a stout 302 and ran 12 inches of lift with 33's. Sure tore a few parts up on that one.
Keep us posted on the progress.
Wayne