[mdwatts11]

Just wanted to show yall what I've been up to the past couple months, and where all my money has been going (as a college student there isn't much to go around).

Its a 79 CJ5 that I bought for $700, and was going to trash it but I figured this would be a good one to tinker around with. So I started taking stuff off, then ended up taking more and more off. I finally got to the point where I decided to just take the whole thing apart.

Here is what has been done so far: Beadblasted and powdercoated frame, 4 inch Skyjacker with Nitro shocks, almost new crate motor (bought it from a guy that had just bought the motor, then couldn't get it to pass emissions, so he is doing a 4.0 swap), new clutch, gas tank, prebent brake lines, new brakes, EMPI carberator, motorcraft igition, new poly mounts everywhere, Warn locking hubs, a TON of elbow grease, and more trips to the hardware store than you can imagine.











This is how I bought her--



Now, I am trying to finish up the chassis. I need to get the power steering box on, gas tank, fuel lines, driveshafts, and a few other misc parts.

On the body, I have to cut out the entire front floorpan and weld new ones in (I am going to buy the premade ones from quadratec because it is much easier to buy them). I am going to have the tub beadblasted, painted and line-xed. Hopefully all within the next couple weeks.

Tell me what you think and if you have any suggestions/recommendations.

[T18A]

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[Fatman]

Originally Posted by mdwatts11

This is how I bought her--


Tell me what you think and if you have any suggestions/recommendations.

(Click free)
Niec job Watts, very good looking work. Keep us up to date on the tub and the rest of the build.

[BESRK]

Wow!! Nice job! How much did powder coating a frame cost? I try to get around 4" or shock shaft showing at static ride height.. that works out pretty well. Any less and you start bottoming out on smaller bumps.

[CJfreak]

Great looking progress md......hopefully I'll be able to post some progress pics of my '75 cj5 soon

[John N]

Looks very nice, that's a lot of work you've done. My 2 suggestions to add...ditch that flex fan, they like to eat radiators, and you may want to go with one piece axles now, while it's apart.

Good luck getting it done on time and budget.

[mdwatts11]

[QUOTE=T18A][QUOTE=mdwatts11]...
Its a 79 CJ5 that I bought for $700, and was going to trash it but I figured this would be a good one to tinker around with.
...

You got a bargain! Couple of nits...
I see the exhaust manifold is not drilled for the air injection system and you don't have the air pump mounted above the power steering. Are you exempt from smog checks?

The front shocks looked nearly compressed already. Are you sure they are the right ones?

That is a good point about the shocks. I noticed it a little when I put it together, but didn't think anything of it since it all came in one big box from skyjacker. Are the fronts and backs different? Maybe I have them backwards.

And yes, I am exempt from emissions. In Georgia, if the vehicle is older than 25 years old it is automatically exempt. It sure is nice to be able to ditch all those extra sensors, charcoal canisters and whatnot.

The electric fan is definitely the way to go, I learned that on my YJ with a 350 conversion. I will probably have to wait till I get it back together to do that.

To have the frame and skidplate beadblasted and powdercoated, it only cost me $475. I think it is worth every bit too. I tried to scratch some off in an unnoticeable spot, and it is very tough.

Yall are probably going to pissed, but this Jeep is not going to go off road. I am spending bookoo amounts of money, and I don't want to ruin it by taking it off road. It will be a show jeep. I am about to get another YJ that is in good shape, another deal that is too good to pass up. That will be my beater.

Thanks for the advice!

Michael