[Exposed]

Got some stuff done on the Jeep so thought I would post some progress... Back when I decided to go the fiberglass route, I knew it would take some time to get all the little bugs worked out... One of the things that I did not like about the fiberglass dash was the rough back on it.. Since it does not have the rolled edge that the factory one has, when you open the door (if have doors), you see the rough backing of the glass. The front is smooth as can be but not the back. One of the other things with the glass tub is dash mounting. There are no nutserts (atleast with Shell Valley) in the tub to attach the dash to the tub. That does not seem like a big deal until you get all the stuff mounted to the dash and try to reach up to the top from the floorboard... So after considering what I could do, decided to do this. I used 2"x1/4" flat bar and made a frame to mount to the tub. Using 6 - 1/4" bolts welded flush to the front, mounts to the tub. This gets mounted first when putting together. Easy to get to without dash in place. Here is a shot of it...

With this frame mounted to the tub, now all the bolts that hold the dash in place are drilled and tapped into the frame. This gets us back to like the factory mounts. After mounting the dash in place, I just could not handle looking at the end of the dash. Since not smooth on front and back, decided to add another piece of flatbar to covere the end and top of the fiberglass dash. I used some 3/16" x 3/4" flat bar. Mitred and welded to the 2" flat bar to create a raised edge around the dash. Then the dash sits inside and all you see is the flat bar for the edge. This looks much better to me....

This also created a couple more issues. The hold down plate for the windshield to the dash now does not work. So, I took the top part of the plate and cut off, then welded to the top of the frame. The windshield is still adjustable but does not connect to the dash. Now I have a couple of holes to fill prior to painting...

Here is another shot of the dash mounted to the frame..

Another issue with the fiberglass dash is the thickness. It is about 1/4" thick and with the Kevlar. The switches that are threaded through the dash, will not bolt up because not enough threads. I had wanted to add a SS plate for looks to mount the Autometer gauges, so this fixes the issue.. I cut out the dash areas where the switches and gauges will go...
Here is a couple shots of the SS dash insert...




I have about another week of stuff to do and will be ready to paint assuming the weather cooperates....

[hippiejesse]

Any updates? I love this build, nice work! I would love a CJ but I need to get my TJ set up first... haha.

Keep it up man!

[ASteve]

Great build!

For what it's worth...I just ran my gas lines with Russell braided line, but where you put a larger diameter rubber hose to protect the hose going through the frame cross member I used a bulk head fitting. I added a little extra length in the hose from the tank to the bulk head fitting to ease removal when dropping the tank. Plus there is no wear area going through the cross member.


This is the fitting that gets installed in the crossmember. Then your hose AN fittings attach to this on each end.

[Exposed]

Thanks guys...One thing about this site is all the support you see for guys jumping in there and doing all the mods....

I almost used a bulkhead going through the frame but backed out... After putting the 1 1/2" body lift and since I built the tank, it sits little lower than factory. With that being said, I can disconnect the fuel line with the body on.. It is a tight swing for the wrench but do able. I also made the tank very easy to remove if needed.... Hopefully there will not be much movement if any between the tank and frame. I also moved the filter over about 3" toward the center since the exhaust ended up about an inch away from the filter.

I have been working on wiring the last month on and off since our weather here in Houston has been a real winter for a change... I will add some progress today on couple other things going on....

[Exposed]

Since our weather is been cold during the playoffs, I worked on the new leather seat covers. These seats came out of a 2004 Mustang GT. I had to build some frames to adapt to the Jeep mounting footprint. I also ordered a couple of the Rostra seat warmers that install between the foam and seat covers. With our cold weather this winter, there are really nice to have. If fact I ordered another seat and installed in my 2003 Cobra.. For $150 for both sides, relays, switches, wiring, etc., is a good deal. I know you guys up north are talking now about those wimps down in Texas.. ha ha...

I have completed the wiring harnesses from the firewall back to the rear now. I also bought a Viper Alarm system and added the wiring into the dash harness. I started Saturday on engine side wiring. Got all the heavy battery style cables built to fit. I will try to get some pictures to update in the next day or so. This last shot here was a couple weeks ago when finishing the rear harness to the dash area. Now all connector are soldered, heat shrink, plastic coinduit and sealed.

I gave up on painting since the Ground Hog said 6 more weeks of winter. It has been too cold in my shop to paint (no heat). Probably will work out better, should be complete with wiring in another week or two. Then all that's left is painting and putting together.

[243]

Are you going to show them the sweet 86 CJ7 you are dragging home complete with a D44???

You are sick, man, just sick!!!

[Exposed]

You spoiled my surprise!!!!! I was going to wait until I picked up Saturday morning..... I guess the cat is out of the bag now......

The CJ-5 I am currently building is actually the wife's (ha ha)... Guys pay close attention here.. The trick to having two Jeeps is make sure the first one is in her name on the title... Then, you say... You know I think I would like one for myself as well.... Anyway, it kind of worked for me..... I have been looking for a good 85/86 CJ7 over the last month or so... Drove to Orange, Texas two weeks ago and looked at one. One thing about buying cars off Craigslist, you need to see up close and in person. The one in Orange was okay but for $6500, not close enough in value... I had also seen and talked to several others looking to sell... Early last week there were two new postings, one in Austin, Texas and the other Abilene, Texas. Both 86 models... So yesterday took off a day of vacation and head to Austin and then to Abilene and then back to Austin. Guy wanted $6500 in Abilene and condition about like the one Orange. Would be a good off-road one but I wanted a nice one. THe other however in Austin, really nice. One owner, mother drove, then dad drove, then the son drove. Jeep came from Amarillo, Texas and moved to Llano, Texas where dad retired. The son drove it for awhile in Austin going to school. He bought a new vehicle and dad decided to let go of it. It is a nice Renegade, I6, 4 speed, A/C, PS, etc. Dana 30 front, Dana 44 rear. Started right up at 33 degress yesterday morning and purred like a kitten. Drove extremely well for a 24 year old Jeep. No slop in steering and rode not bad. Other than a new paint job about 10 years ago, is bone stock. Even the spare is original and never been on the ground. Only thing I found was a couple of bubbles under the paint in two places. Rust under the paint but not through. There is a small dent in right rear corner. Will have to do some patching to correct. It is a shame to have to touch the paint since it was two stage and pro put it on... Very well taken care of Jeep... I am paying $4800 for it... Below are some quick shots late yesterday....

[JoonHoss]

Originally Posted by Exposed

... I am paying $4800 for it... Below are some quick shots late yesterday....

that is a SCREAMING deal... very nice score!

Hoss

[Exposed]

Well, after being absent from updates on the Yellow Bee, the work has continued..Progress has been slow for several reasons, addition of the CJ7 being one. It is roadworthy now and been driving some. Not a bad vehicle at all.... Back to the CJ5, I have been working on the electrical for seems like forever. Yesterday, I had installed almost all of the electrical for fit up and test as many circuits as possible. At this point, wiring and painting is what's left in putting it together for the last time. As you can see from previous post, I have done a lot of changes to the CJ5. Different motor, steering column, brakes, instruments, A/C, to mention a few. Needless to say, the Painless harness was not going to cut it. So with lots of wire, cuts, solder joints and heat shrink, the harnesses are finally 99% complete. Below are some of the pictures. I have tested about 90% of the circuits and look good. Our down south weather is finally warming up so will setting up the paint booth finally and will be painting soon....

[motiv8ya]

Very Impressive!!!!!!!

[243]

Good job Calvin, the gauge panel is really nice.

BTW, I trashed the HF HVLP gun this morning. I was tearing it down for a complete cleaning and I was cranking down pretty hard on the nozzle adapter, sucker was reverse thread and I was at gorilla torque so most of it goes to the trash can.

[hippiejesse]

Nice CJ-7 you've found there! I really want some old iron... maybe someday, haha.

Keep up the good work!

[Exposed]

I have been trying to get in the painting mode for awhile here (weather preventing). The last two decent weekends I have been traveling to north Louisiana and then to Kansas to see dad and mother-in-law. On top of this, I had to do that Colonoscopy test last Friday...So with everything out of the way, I am finally back on track to start painting soon. First order of business, temporary paint booth. Dave (243) had gave me a link to Creative Shelters to build a temporary booth. Since the shop is really large on that side, I elected to go the temporary structure instead of trying to plastic off all around it. I elected to do a 12'x20' structure using 1" electrical conduit. I started on the structure Saturday morning. I have pulled my toy hauler out of that side of the shop and move ATV's, lawn tractor, and CJ-7 Jeep to the other end. I won't need these for a couple of weeks while booth is up. Conduit frame went up pretty easy looked good... Next is adding the tarps... The first tarp on side went up good. Fit was good, may be a inch smaller than the frame. I was thinking, this is going to be a easy deal. Then opened the second wall tarp. Started hanging and when got to the end, it was about 4" short... Thinking back to cutting the conduit, measured every piece twice to make sure were correct length. Next checked each connection to make sure it was seated all the way in the fitting. Everything looked good except tarp was short. Thinking the only thing left was the tarp length... Measured and crap the tarp was 4" shorter than the other tarp. I guess this is where I started getting upset...Both tarps same size, same information on package, and then I saw the problem.... Made in China!!!!!! Well I had decided I would take some plastic strips about 18" wide and tape over all the openings around the conduit and decided to live with it... Next I pulled out the top.. It fit good on the end I started with and worked down to the other end. On the other end, same issue except it was out of square about 5"... Measured frame again for squareness and was within 1/4" on both side... Measure tarp, yeap pretty square on the end I started and way out on the other end.. Bottom line, I don't think China has any quality control... I am not trying to build an air tight booth, just something to control over spray and keep some of the dust out... So moving on, decided to add a 1"x6" and ubolt to post for giving it some strength. This baseboard gave me something to put tacks on to hold bottom of the tarps. This worked out good around three sides. I added a strip of plastic over all the open areas... So all I like now is mounting the 20" diameter fans on one end to give me some air flow through the booth. Hopefully will get that done this week. Hopefully will be finish preping the stuff to paint this coming weekend....
Here is some shots...

[TRex]

Exposed,

She's coming along great! How long do you plan on keeping your booth in-tact? I'm planning on painting this week or next and your make-shift booth looks *a lot* better than what I had in mind.

Here's what I propose: We shoot your CJ first and work the bugs out of our technique . Once we've perfected our technique, we shoot my CJ!

[Exposed]

Trex, this definitely is a consideration... I had not thought much about it.... I have a couple of other things I was going to paint while I had it up.. I figured atleast 2-4 weeks... I don't really have any driving force (toy hauler will have to sit outside) on how long it is up... If you can tie down what your timing would be, we can talk about it....