Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

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Topic author
Charles Kline
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Location: Golden, Co

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

My plan was to get the engine on Mellow Yellow pulled last October so I could do the rebuild over winter but due to the mother-in-law having health issues and having to move her into an assisted living and getting her town house fixed up and sold that plan was thrown out the window. (it was an insane holidays to say the least)
Now that we're in February and car show season is kicking back up already I don't have time to have the Honcho out of commission. Hopefully I'll have it and Dorothy in Denver Comic Con again this year.

When I came across that parts car with a good engine (more info here) I decided I would put that engine in M.Y. and do a slower rebuild of its original engine.

While pulling the transfer case I found this hiding up above the crossmember:
The end of the H was pretty worn. Thankfully the front yoke of the Quadratrac wasn't worn quite as much and the parts car wagoneer's cardone matches.

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Crazy that the Honcho's DS is so much skinnier than the GW one.


REDONE had stopped by over last weekend and was asking why the engine needed to be rebuilt. Showed him this:

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Its got so much blowby its spraying oil up the fill tube into the air cleaner housing. That and the fact it leaks from every possible point, including coolant that leaks out of the center of corroded expansion plugs!


I checked the pump gear end clearance and got that put back together so the parts car engine is about ready to go, now to get started on the TH400 rebuild. (it likes to puke trans fluid out the dipstick tube) I'm going to make a trans holder similar to this:

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With it being 77 degrees today its perfect working on jeep weather. More to come!

-Charles
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REDONE
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Location: Lakewood and Bailey, CO

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by REDONE »

I capitalize on every chance I can to get face to face with people I know on line. Although I have to admit it's funny that I have a real FSJ radar. That day I took Colfax to OfficeMax, and then decided on my return route to be scenic. Some kid was climbing a snow drift, so I looked twice and behind him I saw 2 G-wags. Had to stop, and knowing you were in that general vicinity I got lucky! :-bd

Might fire up the grill this weekend, if so I'll let you know! Mellow Yellow is looking good! Not even the best bodyman can manufacture patina that realistic! ;)
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Location: Golden, Co

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Thanks REDONE.

What was the name of the machine shop you recommended?
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REDONE
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Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:48 pm
Location: Lakewood and Bailey, CO

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by REDONE »

Western Engine Supply. Terry is good people and a good engine guy. He's well trusted in by quite a few AMC guys here in the Front Range.

http://www.westernenginesupply.com/
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.
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az chip
Posts: 1433
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:59 pm
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by az chip »

You need a life size Helen Hunt cardboard figure.
'81 Cherokee Chief 81 WT Chief/MSD 6/Holley Sniper/ Rusty 4" Spring lift/ Bulltear oil adapter/K&P Engineering Oil Filter/ NP 208/ Serehill Light Harness/KC LED Headlights/ Evil Twin Fab Roof Rack and sliders/ Ross mirror mounts.
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ToolShed
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Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:14 pm

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by ToolShed »

Better yet, a life size Helen Hunt!
Jim

78 Cherokee Chief W/T 360 4V TH400 D20

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Location: Golden, Co

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Got the transmission holder built over the weekend.

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The TH400 (and some other GM trans) have these sockets on either side.

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Cut and drilled some scrap 1.5 square tube steel.

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Now I just need to clear off the workbench so I can start tearing it down.
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ToolShed
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by ToolShed »

Nice! That looks handy
Jim

78 Cherokee Chief W/T 360 4V TH400 D20

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Made a TON of progress over the weekend.

Got the extension housing cleaned up and installed.

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Added a couple neodymium magnets from a hard drive to the aftermarket pan

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Got the flexplates swapped and finally got the sizing ring in from http://performanceamstyle.com/

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some red loctite to help hold it in place

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Lining up to be married!

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Bolted up and confirmed TC still turned freely

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Also got a new dipstick (for $15 shipped beats the hell out of trying to clean and paint the original.

I was curious about it being a few inches shorter, but after comparing it to the dipstick tube on the grand wag I think this shorter one will be better. it looks to sit about an inch higher than the TF727 tube.

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Of course the bolt hols don't line up but a quick hole in the bracket and it was about perfect.

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Next up, clean the crusty vac and vent hard lines.

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Cleaning was going pretty good then found this bummer.

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A section of vacuum hose pushed down to cover it should work, and act as a pad for whatever it was rubbing on.

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Now I just need to clean up the engine bay and get this thing back in!

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Location: Golden, Co

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Looking through old photos, this one is pre lift install.

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Beavis
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Location: TX

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Beavis »

Please don't hate me, but we just got the ball rolling on a twister truck build. I doubt it will be to the same caliber of Mellow Yellow though. Ours is going to be more of a beach truck.

A few questions:

Does the movie truck have a lift? If so, is it a 3"?

I've got the rear bumper covered. But where did you locate a front grille guard? I can't find one.

Plans for Dorothy IIII(girlfriends part of the project)
1.) Insulate the outside of a water barrell
2.) Wrap with stainless sheet metal
3.) Make lid
4.) Fill with ice and drinks.
5.) CHASE THE STORM!!!!
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REDONE
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by REDONE »

Beavis, the grill guards come up every once in a while, but they aren't super common. Keep an eye on ebay, I've only seen them come up in forum classifieds maybe twice in the 15 years I've been a member (here and IFSJA).

As for the lift on the truck, that's a tough question because they used somewhere between 3 and 5 trucks for the movie. Only enthusiasts like us notice, but the brow comes and goes, the tires switch from MTs to ATs, and I could be wrong, but I think there's a scene where it has a pignose grill instead of the muscle grill too.

I like your plan for Dorothy!
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.
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DustinLangston
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:03 pm
Location: Cedar City Utah

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by DustinLangston »

Wow
Last edited by DustinLangston on Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
1982 Wagoneer Limited 5.3L Vortec 4L60E swap - finished/restored - sold - bought back - sold again
1979 Wagoneer 360 TH400 1339 QT - built into perfect daily driver - sold
1981 J10 Sportside Honcho - finished/restored - sold
1979 Cherokee Golden Eagle - 5.3L Vortec 6L80E swap - finished/restored - sold
1967 Super Wagoneer - sold, too much work
1978 J10 Golden Eagle - finished/restored - sold
1962 Rambler Classic Cross Country Wagon - current project, wife's daily driver - she'll never let me sell it

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Place holder
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fulsizjeep
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by fulsizjeep »

I have been known to hoard a couple brush guards since a deer killed mine in 2003.
Flint Boardman
88 GW, 401/727/208, 5" lift, D44s/4.10s/locked up, 35s
https://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Engine and trans is back in!

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az chip
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by az chip »

I think Dorothy's engine needs a bath. You can tell me to go away. ;)
'81 Cherokee Chief 81 WT Chief/MSD 6/Holley Sniper/ Rusty 4" Spring lift/ Bulltear oil adapter/K&P Engineering Oil Filter/ NP 208/ Serehill Light Harness/KC LED Headlights/ Evil Twin Fab Roof Rack and sliders/ Ross mirror mounts.

Topic author
Charles Kline
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Location: Golden, Co

Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by Charles Kline »

Dorothy doesn't have an engine. :P

That's the parts car engine to get it back on the road while I either rebuild the 360 that was in it or find a 401. I purposely didn't put a whole lot of effort into it.
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az chip
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Re: Mellow Yellow (Twister Jeep) and DOROTHY I

Post by az chip »

Oh yeah. Mellow Yellow. I'm tired. Stop yelling at me.
'81 Cherokee Chief 81 WT Chief/MSD 6/Holley Sniper/ Rusty 4" Spring lift/ Bulltear oil adapter/K&P Engineering Oil Filter/ NP 208/ Serehill Light Harness/KC LED Headlights/ Evil Twin Fab Roof Rack and sliders/ Ross mirror mounts.
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