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Clay's Build Thread

556K views 5K replies 145 participants last post by  Skerr 
#1 · (Edited)
I have been contemplating posting a build thread for awhile. After viewing some of the current ones I got really pumped! I also figured that as long as I was going to be asking for help fixing stuff I might as well have it in the thread... so here we go. My 16 YO son, Clay, and I are building his CJ5. It's a 79 that I acquired in a boat/Jeep trade nearly 2 years ago. I got it for myself but I don't fit well, so I got a 7 and gave him the 5. He is really stoked about building the Jeep and I can't think of a better father/son project. Clay will be doing the work while I supervise ;). The 5 has a 258, T18A, D20 with axles from an 85 CJ7, D30 and AMC20. Gears are 2.72. We will probably go to a 3.73 in the future. It will get the RC 2.5" lift, Procomp 9000 shocks, and a urethane bushing kit (already purchased). It also has a FG tub which will require a bit of glass work. We had already completed the frame resto when we discovered that we didn't do it right. So we took it back down to bare metal again, finding some rot and a few cracks. We should have those repairs made in the next couple of weeks. After that the frame gets POR-15 and black implement paint. In the meantime, we'll be working on getting the engine painted and installing the MC2100. In these pics Clay is prepping the T18A for paint. He wanted to paint it silver with a red stripe, but I put the Kibash on that! So he settled for a silver tranny and red shift levers... when we get there. He plans to paint the rig International red (tractor paint) with a silver tub floor. Hmmmm... maybe! It MIGHT look good. We just finished watching the entire Season 2 of the Rat Patrol... so guess what HE wants to mount up!?!? :laugh:
 

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#653 ·
Bodywork is hard to explain in words, seeing how AJ skimmed and then taking down the high spots with a sanding board should help you out.

Don't let the primer fool you! Flat primer will make most panels look great, once you spray it with wet paint, especially metallic it will highlight the smallest of imperfections.
 
#656 ·
Sonny made the peach brandy from 15 cups of peaches. He pulverized them, added some water, sugar, and yeast. Then it sat covered for a few weeks. If you want the exact recipe, let me know. Sonny LOVES to talk!! I mean REALLY loves to talk. So you can imagine the great sacrifice I will have to make on behalf of all you winos!! :rofl:

Reagrading Bondo... I was expecting it to setup while AJ was mixing it. He mixed 10X the amount I mixed, and then worked it, and worked it. I was thinking that it would kick off and be wasted. But it didn't kick off. None was wasted, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He covered one side panel (above pic), cleaned the tools and made some more for the other side. Of course, I was finishing my 3rd little plastic cup of that peach brandy, and well... I was ready to shoot primer! Looked good to me! :D After a bit he showed me the "proper" way to use a file board. He had brought over two pieces of 36 grit file paper. I went to work and promptly tore in half both pieces!! DUH... So he put one on the block and let me go at it! Wasn't bad, but anyone can remove material with 36 grit! Shoot... I didn't even KNOW what I was doing. He would say something, I would nod and grin!

I didn't know that I wanted that much Bondo! I thought it was supposed to be a filler... I guess it is a filler, but we used it like a new skin. AJ said that with the paint we will use (Nason, single stage, Implement Red) we will see everything wrong when we're done. This is truly a very good education. I can't wait to get the tub on the frame.
 
#658 ·
So Scott just how many cups did you have??
I just had the three. Between Sonny, AJ and myself, we killed it! Sonny gave me a full bottle for my 50th... it's in the fridge! But I really need someone to share it with... :cheers:

Maybe that's why you were ready to shoot primer. :rofl::rofl: Yea, just give me the gun AJ and get back!! Oh man I love you older guys to death!
More truth than fiction, Jim! :D I suggested we use it to thin the Bondo...
 
#660 ·
Clay started working on his dash today. He stripped the few gauges and started wire-wheeling it. It has a few "bumps" in it to knock out, and a little surface rust on the backside, but that's about it. He has new gauges coming for Christmas (he doesn't know about them- from Meemaw and Papa), so he needs to get it ready.

Do we need to apply a filler to the dash or just prime and paint?

Thanks
 
#662 ·
Clay started working on his dash today. He stripped the few gauges and started wire-wheeling it. It has a few "bumps" in it to knock out, and a little surface rust on the backside, but that's about it. He has new gauges coming for Christmas (he doesn't know about them- from Meemaw and Papa), so he needs to get it ready.

Do we need to apply a filler to the dash or just prime and paint?

Thanks
With sheet meal it could look nice and straight until you put paint on it and then the "waves" come out. I would apply a skim coat of filler once the high spots are knocked down and sand it smooth.
 
#661 ·
Prime and paint unless you have some spots you want to smooth out.
 
#663 ·
Clay got it finished and it was dark when i got out of the woods, I'll check it out tomorrow. We may have to go with a skim coat.
 
#669 ·
Clay you continue to shoot yourself in the foot with a AK47 in full auto and reloading several times.Get the Ingersol Rand 8 inch gear driven DA Sander also known as a Mug Hog with 40 grit paper. That will calm your seas down quite a bit. Its much faster than a air file and is less likely to give you waves. Then hit the panel with your Dura Block sanding blocks, otherwise you are really making things much harder on yourself.

Ingersoll Rand Heavy Duty Air Geared Orbital Sander with 8 Inch Pad, Model 328

Dura-Block® Sanding Blocks - TP Tools & Equipment
 
#674 ·
Clay you continue to shoot yourself in the foot with a AK47 in full auto and reloading several times.Get the Ingersol Rand 8 inch gear driven DA Sander also known as a Mug Hog with 40 grit paper. That will calm your seas down quite a bit. Its much faster than a air file and is less likely to give you waves. Then hit the panel with your Dura Block sanding blocks, otherwise you are really making things much harder on yourself.

Ingersoll Rand Heavy Duty Air Geared Orbital Sander with 8 Inch Pad, Model 328

Dura-Block® Sanding Blocks - TP Tools & Equipment
OWWWWWW! You would use the DA over surfaces with curves, or on flat surfaces onnly?

I would agree Scott, a good quality DA would be far more useful than an air file.
I already have one, but I was worried that I would remove TOO MUCH material, causing valleys. What PSI do you guys recommend?

243 Actually my name is George but Ill answer to any pronoun or adjective.
"I will hold him and pet him and I will call him George!" :rofl:

I will call you George except when I am agreeing with and talking to Scott :rofl:
:rofl::rofl: George... I'm Scott, the guy that does the posting. Clay is my son who actually owns the Jeep (I gave it to him), and Dave is one of my Texas connections! :2thumbsup:
 
#676 ·
10-4... thanks, Ben. I'll try it.

Clay had primed the dash with rattle can. There were sanding marks from the 60 grit sanding disc he used! So we had to skim coat it. I told him to hand sand it lightly with 80, then we'll shoot it with the HB primer. The PO wrecked the hole for the radio. I'm wondering if Clay would be better off with a panel to cover it up? How big are these instrument panels that I see on so many dashs? They don't look so big in the pics, but looking at Clay's dash, they must be bigger than I thought!
 
#678 ·
Double D does great work! I'm going to have him build me a full custom dash when I get the money.
 
#680 ·
Guess who brought home the first meat of the season? My 11 YO busted this cull buck for his first one ever! 130 yards with my 30-30, one shot, 115#. Proud of him! :2thumbsup:

Nice finish to an otherwise marginal weekend!
 

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#695 ·
I had an awesome evening today! JCAL73 rolled into my driveway for a brief visit as he passed through my area. It was a real blessing to meet Jeff and share some time. I can tell you that Jeff is one of those kinds of guys that knows his stuff, and he pitches right in to whatever you are doing at the moment. He tested my oil pressure gauge and we learned that it is good. We also learned that the oil pressure sending unit probably is not! He found a couple of things under the hood that are installed incorrectly, and he also found a D44 laying on my floor that he wanted! So we made a trade. Yep... I'm real glad "Ol Jeff" showed up! Thanks for taking the time, Jeff! :thumbsup: BTW- Jeff picked up the D44 with one hand and set it OVER the tailgate of his truck !!
 
#702 ·
Scott,
I would like to say thanks for your hospitality.
You are one lucky man!
You have a wonderful home, gracious wife and smart well mannered children.
My wife wants the recipe for the onion rings!(me too!)
I was honored that you would have me and hope I get a trip down your way again soon!
The world needs more folks like yall!

Scott, I think a guy that could put a dana 44 over the tailgate of a pickup would be very good to have as a friend! Not to mention he sounds like he knows about Jeeps. :thumbsup:
The tailgate on my service truck is only 8 inches tall!:laugh:
Most of what I know about jeeps has come from here!

Jeff is a hoss! I'm glad he's a NICE guy!! The 44 was the NT I took off of Clay's rig. I installed WT axles, so the 44 was obsolete to me. I put it on CL but no bites. He asked about it, and when I told him it was available his eyes lit up, and he started stammering something about asking Eddie if it was a good one to build!! Eddie=Besrk! BTW- Jeff speaks highly of you Eddie. So he got the D44 with 3.73 gears and he gave me a Lockrite locker for my 20! YAY!! I am happy...

Too bad it's deer season. Gotta hunt...
I'm no hoss, he is just being nice, I'm just big bonned!:laugh:

I'm in time-out over the 44.:pout: No more projects until after the baby comes!
:cheers:

Jeff
 
#699 ·
Jeff is a hoss! I'm glad he's a NICE guy!! The 44 was the NT I took off of Clay's rig. I installed WT axles, so the 44 was obsolete to me. I put it on CL but no bites. He asked about it, and when I told him it was available his eyes lit up, and he started stammering something about asking Eddie if it was a good one to build!! Eddie=Besrk! BTW- Jeff speaks highly of you Eddie. So he got the D44 with 3.73 gears and he gave me a Lockrite locker for my 20! YAY!! I am happy...

Too bad it's deer season. Gotta hunt...
 
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