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Meh, just wheel it..CJ build

21K views 142 replies 33 participants last post by  OldCJ 
#1 ·
Meh, just wheel it..home made flat fenders,highline, and doors. 2 Jeeps, no money

Well, I guess it's my turn to stop reading about the work that others have done and post up some pics of my old CJ. I started with a 78 CJ frame that had been sitting in the field at my dad's place for at least 20 years. The plan was to strip the parts off that I could reuse on my 74, then scrap the rest. The drivetrain was all original, except for a 327 Chevy. Plans changed, and I decided to patch the frame from the back of the skidplate all the way to the rear bumper. The frame was so rotted i couldn't lift it with a jack under the axle, since it was just stuffing the hangers up into the frame.:eek: I used the 4WD Hardware tub from another Jeep that I parted out and slowly started getting it together.I also used a 350, since the adapters were already installed. I'll post some pics as soon as I find them again.
 
#3 ·
Picked up some heavily damaged fiberglass fenders and fixed them, traded parts for a grille, reused the original hood. Used a 69 windshield, the 78 dash, and the seats and steering column from an 80 Wagoneer. Once the body was bolted down, I made some rollbar tie-ins from thick wall square stock that are welded to the top of the frame rail. I scabbed together a temporary bumper to use with my towbar. And yes, I have a pit in my garage.:D
 

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#4 ·
I modified the grille and radiator so the one from the wagoneer would fit, and did some work on the paint. Allis Chalmers Orange, from a rattle-can, Rustoleum black in the center and under the hood.
 

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#6 ·
Front clip is painted. I took it four wheeling a couple times, then swapped some parts for a bigger bumper.Trees will fear me:club:. And swiped the 33x12.50s from my 74. My daughter likes the Jeep too!
 

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#7 ·
Also picked up an old Viking electric winch. It would power in and out, but I had no idea it had a free-spool until I found some info online. I got the parts from Pierce Sales in Texas. They took over the patents for the Viking and Koenig King winches years ago, and still had the shaft, shift fork, clutch dog and handle. I drilled the old shaft out and installed the new one, now it works like a dream.Like the rest of the Jeep, it's not pretty, but it was cheap, it's paid for, and it keeps me wheeling.
 

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#8 ·
Next project is to swap the rear axle to another one that I picked up that has one-piece shafts, 3.54 gears and a Trac-Lok.Then hopefully build some flat fenders.
 
#11 ·
That's it, I'm taking my ball and going home. :(

Rear axle swap was going to start tonight, but I'm too damn tired from delivering roofing today.:drool:
 
#13 ·
If I get it stuck, I'll leave it there and build another one.:laugh: I have less money into this one than it would take to fill the gas tank. :2c:
 
#20 ·
Honestly, there's not much point in putting a nice paint job on it. The tree branches and nasty Mounds mud are hell on paint (and windshields) anyway. The goal is to make it more reliable for a trip to Rocks & Valleys or Silver Lake this summer.
 
#23 ·
You did good! But I have to ask this question... if you have a pit in your garage, why'd you leave it in a field for 20 years?? I wish I was a mechanic! :thumbsup:
 
#25 ·
To make a short story long, my dad gave up on Jeeps and switched to trucks and hot rods.They all sat out back forever and wouldn't sell them. Years later the township was on his ***,so he scrapped a 65ish and a 72 with a steel top like mine. I said many bad words to him, and told him he'd better not scrap the 74 that we rebuilt when I was young. So we bartered, and I literally drug it from his yard to mine. Here's some pics from the Grayling run after I got it going.
 

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