Well after lurking around this forum for a few years I thought I would post my build however unremarkable as it is. I envy you who have the tools, skills, and dollars to do a proper job, and there are so many of you.
In 2004 my nephew called me up asking if I was interested in a jeep project. He had a 83 CJ5 that needed work but he had too many projects on the go and was currently working on a 28 chev restoral. I jumped at the chance and he delivered to me a 83 CJ 5 along with a scrap yard 360 on a pallet for $1700. The jeep had been put over on it’s side and was hydro locked when they tried to start it. Consequently they broke some critical parts. This jeep had gone through a partial restoration years ago. I am sure it was not frame off as most of the body mount brackets were collapsed. The PO from my nephew had patched the frame, did a SOA, welded in checker pate for floorboards , patched in some corner panels and painted it. The whole tub was bondo but it was holding out quite well. Before tipping it over my nephew had replaced all of the bakes, drums, rotors , bushings and clutch. There were one year old tires and rims on it. I started with a low budget and quite a lot of interference from my wife. LOL (what’s new). I put the junk yard motor in with the 304 flywheel (wrong) and did my best to rebuild the body mount brackets with scrap iron and a homemade welder.
As it turned out the motor had a dead cylinder, but I knew it had to come back out anyway because of the wrong flywheel. I then got sick and my project was put on hold. Seven years later I am in reasonably good health and retired so I am resurrecting this project. This is the way it looks now.
As stated before, I want to drive this CJ so I am not worthy of being in the same class as the builds in this forum. Lots of low talent fixes here to get me on the road. No flames please. LOL
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Don’s low budget, low talent, little time build – 83 CJ5
