1981 CJ5 Frame-up - Page 10

**Bojon** · 10-30-2011, 11:56 PM

Well I got some new parts in Friday but haven't had the time to open them till now. New aluminum valve cover, superior axles, rear cross member, and some small stuff. The cross member was kind of a last minute decision, I figured that I could get away with the one on the frame. Now that I have it in my hands I'm extremely happy I got it, its much thicker then the original.

I'm glad I decided to unbox everything now, rather then wait till I was ready to bolt it on. Somehow the superior axles got through manufacturing and quality control without the flange being threaded for the bolts. I'm glad I wasn't ready to put them on yet.

**Bojon** · 10-31-2011, 05:04 PM

I called Morris 4x4, while I was on the phone they called Superior Axles, and the two made sure that they had the right parts to send out to me tomorrow. Outstanding customer service from both of them

**Bojon** · 11-03-2011, 03:12 AM

Colorado has been getting some great snow here recently, and I'm leaving in about 5 hours to go set up a hunting camp. Be gone for about a week or more, so wish me luck.

Also I think I have found a new engine for my 5, http://www.v8.co.nz/news-3900/mopar-...r-crate-engine

The things I would do if money were limitless...

Scout98 · 11-04-2011, 03:53 AM

Just found your build - nice work.

**Bojon** · 11-13-2011, 08:24 AM

We had a pretty good hunting season this year. The buck is mine, the bull is my cousins. The bull scored a 317

KMD · 11-13-2011, 09:56 AM

Congrats on your hunting success.

**Bojon** · 12-16-2011, 07:39 PM

The semester is over, and I've been spending the last several days on random projects. Welded a new rear cross member on the frame, in the middle of repairing a body mount. I'll finish those tomorrow and with a little luck be painting the frame, and maybe the axles on Sunday.

I spent about 12 hours between yesterday and today rebuilding my steering column. Tore it completely down, cleaned, painted and put it back together. Put in a new turn signal assembly, and a new lock cylinder. All the other parts were in pretty good shape, with the exception of the lower bearing. I have one on order, and when it shows up shouldn't take more then a few minutes to install. Thanks to Skerr for making an extremely detailed thread on disassembling the column here http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/ti...lease-1294496/.

My tear down was nearly identical, the only difference being my housing is slightly different. But with all his pics I didn't feel much need to detail the project.

**Bojon** · 12-17-2011, 05:33 PM

Spent most of the day with a wire wheel on the frame. My plan wasn't to strip the frame to metal, but just knock off anything loose, and get as much rust off as I could. It actually looks pretty good. I'm debating if I should wait till Monday, so that I can have the areas I couldn't reach with the grinder, like around the shock towers and body mounts sandblasted. We'll see, might just call it good enough. The paint I have is supposed to be capable of covering over grease without chipping.

Fixed a couple of body mounts. Made a stencil with cardboard to make sure the hole was lined up, cut a piece out, and welded in a new in. Pretty easy, and probably only took me 20 minutes on each.

I will definitely be painting tomorrow, if not the frame then I'll get the axles done

**Skerr** · 12-17-2011, 07:54 PM

You did a good job filling that gap on the body mount. You're coming along good. Getting the frame completed is one of those landmarks when you take a deep sigh of satisfaction. I would recommend taking that extra little bit of time to get your frame cleaned up completely. You're already into it. It's nothing but time. And I'm certain you couldn't possibly think of anything better to do! But that extra half-hour or hour will pay you back ten-fold.

Also, I'm sorry I missed your hunting pics, but OMG!! I don't even want to go to the woods after seeing those pics.

**Bojon** · 12-19-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skerr

You did a good job filling that gap on the body mount. You're coming along good. Getting the frame completed is one of those landmarks when you take a deep sigh of satisfaction. I would recommend taking that extra little bit of time to get your frame cleaned up completely. You're already into it. It's nothing but time. And I'm certain you couldn't possibly think of anything better to do! But that extra half-hour or hour will pay you back ten-fold.

Also, I'm sorry I missed your hunting pics, but OMG!! I don't even want to go to the woods after seeing those pics.

We definitely had a good hunting season, I wish every season was as successful.

Your right I'm going to take the extra time and get the frame cleaned up the rest of the way. I'm not sure when I will get the chance, the weather report shows that it wont even be getting back into the 50's till next Monday, so I might lose my momentum for the next week.

Yesterday was beautiful and in the 60's. I would have gotten a lot done, but had to make time to watch some football. I did manage to get my axles painted though. I brushed the paint on, so it's not perfect, but for all intensive purposes it's plenty good. I was surprised at how thin the paint is, and it starts to harden as soon as its brushed on. If I were going to do it again, I would paint in small increments. That would keep the paint a little smoother.

I'll take the covers off and paint them separately, with the other small parts I have to get cleaned up.

Jeepican · 12-19-2011, 02:40 PM

Looks good!... What paint did you use?

**Bojon** · 12-19-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepican

Looks good!... What paint did you use?

It's a chassis paint for use on semi's that I got at carquest. I'm not sure of it's specific name, it's been a while since I bought it, they just referred to it as a chassis paint. I guess they use it on semi's, and said that it was a far better product than all of the name brands that they had on the shelf. They've always steered me in the right direction so I took their word for it. Plus I think I only paid about $40 a gallon for it, and will probably have 3/4 of a gallon left when I'm done.

blackhawk51 · 12-20-2011, 03:21 PM

VERY nice progress so far. I am beyond envious of your tilt steering column. I look forward to seeing this in the reassembly stages...those are always the best and most fun IMO.

**243** · 12-20-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bojon

We had a pretty good hunting season this year. The buck is mine, the bull is my cousins. The bull scored a 317

Nice Mulie J

**Bojon** · 12-20-2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawk51

VERY nice progress so far. I am beyond envious of your tilt steering column. I look forward to seeing this in the reassembly stages...those are always the best and most fun IMO.

You should see the junkyard nearby, it's littered with tilt columns. I'm really looking forward to getting the frame painted and axles underneath. All the parts that can go back on it will leave me so much more room for everything else. Plus a large milestone like that will be a big relief.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 243

Nice Mulie J

Thanks Dave! I shot from about 300 yds, he took off, made it about 20 yards, and just before I was going to take a second shot, fell over dead. I'm not sure if I was more pumped that he was nice, or that I got such a clean kill.

It's been pretty cold, but everything's covered in snow so its beautiful. Did some odd jobs that I could manage inside. Painted the front axle shafts, hubs, and my new valve cover. I spent more time taping off the valve cover than anything else, but it turned out pretty well. I used high heat paint on the hubs and cover, and I doubt that they will actually get hot enough to cure, so I'm gonna bake those in the oven tomorrow