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82 CJ7 Project: "Rustful Dead!"

20K views 154 replies 19 participants last post by  Project1 
#1 · (Edited)
I have posted a few things on the forum but it looks like it's time to put up more pics of the CJ I have started on. It belonged to one of my brothers for a long time and has been sitting for years now. He sold it to my dad, kinda hoping dad would fix it up and give it back to him, and dad finally sold it to me after a discussion about how much I missed my other jeep. I don't have a lot of time to work on it but I have almost completed a dry workspace for it and I am working on making it mechanically sound first.

So far it has gotten new fluids throughout, a gas tank repair and rebuild, new battery, brakes all around which included a new drums and calipers and media blasted and epoxyed really rusted wheels.

A tranny place swapped my brothers T5 for a 3 speed when his went out telling him it was better for it. It went out 6 months later and they would not warranty it and had sold his T5(go figure) I was able to locate another T5 and had it rebuilt and the transfer case gone through so they are mated back up. When I put thme back in I went ahead and put in a new clutch kit too.

I got a little gas in her and after sitting all that time she started on the 3rd try and ran pretty well. The carb is slightly rough but I'm going to drive it a bit and see what shakes out.

Here are my starting pics for ya'll. After a life in the mountains of TN and then North Carolina Beaches it has made it to it's retirement(active) with me in Florida. I don't think there will be trouble getting fresh air in the cab for a while. :cheers2:
 

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#106 ·
A festival/craft show in McDonough. It is how we make ends meet with me in school full time again. Also why everything on the jeep is jy or scrounged.

I am at FSU today trying to take care of my admissions for this fall. I finished my AS degree so now we have to figure out how to pay the big money. Because I worked before and because life got in the way the govt decided I don't get my GI Bill or College Fund. They will give me loans though.
 
#107 ·
I have found everything I need for the power steering upgrade except for a power steering pitman arm and the bell coupler from the steering shaft to the steering box. I guess I will have to order new ones. Let's hope the show in White Springs goes well and the wife let's me buy them. :)
 
#108 ·
I have you covered with the pitman arm and the speedo. Looking forward to seeing you in White Springs this weekend. I wonder if you'll have time to come by and see all my stuff?? Hopin...
 
#110 ·
So, I followed JeepHammers instructions for distributor install. I just needed a gasket to stop the oil leak from the PO not putting a gasket. To be safe I went through the entire process like it was a new distributor. TDC and my current settings were close, the difference is probably just the 9 degree BTDC for my timing.

After I fastened everything down and double checked I got ready to test fire and reset timing.

It cranked fine, almost caught, then the starter started dragging????? I thought I screwed up something somehow, I can do that.
When I went over to look the solenoid had a little wisp of smoke and the starter lug was melting out of it????

I disconnected the battery and am heading to get a new solenoid. Is this just coincidence? Or something I did?

Help!
 

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#111 ·
You were right about the coincidence on the phone Skerr. Gotta love a small town, I drove 15 minutes to town and had to wait over an hour for them to get one from another store. At least I got it today. Came back to clean all the connections and look what I found when I pulled the starter cable off. Good reason to disconnect your battery when you have an obvious current overdraw. I must have pushed the rubbed part tight when I was cleaning up the oil leak.
 

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#112 ·
HALOjmpr said:
You were right about the coincidence on the phone Skerr. Gotta love a small town, I drove 15 minutes to town and had to wait over an hour for them to get one from another store. At least I got it today. Came back to clean all the connections and look what I found when I pulled the starter cable off. Good reason to disconnect your battery when you have an obvious current overdraw. I must have pushed the rubbed part tight when I was cleaning up the oil leak.
And after all of that I was so eager to test drive it that I left my IPad and phone on the cowl. Thank goodness something wasn't right because I turned around in 1/4 mile and came back. Looked for my phone and realized whatI just did. iPad and phone located and both just scuffed a bit. Griffin case for the IPad just paid for itself there. Flew off at at least 25 mph and no damage.

Bad news is engine is running fine but still leaks oil. Now that I really cleaned it up its obvious it is coming up thru the distributor and leaking??????

Now what? New Distributor? Is there an o-ring worn out? Any ideas?
 
#113 ·
Wow! You almost plunged yourself back into the Dark Ages in one fell swoop! Way to go, Moe! Glad your stuff was not damaged.

Are you SURE you installed the metal washer between the dizzy and the block?? Take it back out. Clean the mating surfaces. Put it back together. I have no other knowledge of possible leak spots???
 
#114 ·
Skerr said:
Wow! You almost plunged yourself back into the Dark Ages in one fell swoop! Way to go, Moe! Glad your stuff was not damaged.

Are you SURE you installed the metal washer between the dizzy and the block?? Take it back out. Clean the mating surfaces. Put it back together. I have no other knowledge of possible leak spots???
My dizzy does not have a metal washer. I cleaned both sides well. I put the felt washer back that they had left off. It did not leak from here before. I wonder if this isn't why they had the vac advance plugged?

I did go back and look at PCV, put a new one in, still on new canister. I had the canister going to manifold vac for some reason so I changed that to ported like it recommends. I even vented PCV to atmosphere. It still leaks up through the dizzy, not from the base. The leak comes from the plate under the rotor cup. Higher the rpm the more leak you get.

Don't know what to do now. More research I guess.
 
#115 ·
Well, good and bad news. No more oil leak! All it took was a new distributor! Somehow oil was leaking up thru the old one. Bad news, it isn't running as good as it was before now :(

I also got some courtesy lights rigged inside. 2 sets of strip LEDs on each side. Lights up pretty nice. May rig something on the roll bar, just a different color. Those were on clearance for $5 each so I couldn't resist.
 

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#117 ·
Skerr said:
I really enjoyed your company today, Paul. Thanks for spending so much time with us.
It was our pleasure! We had a great time and really enjoyed it. You have a great family and y'all have done a great job with the boys! I am glad it worked out where we could hang out a while. I hope the boys haven't burned down anything with the fire starters yet!!!

I got the mower set up but ran out of daylight so I started working on the jeep again. It seems like an avalanche of issues sometimes :)

I got brake, park and hazard lights all working finally. I had to take out the trailer harness hack from the POs and trace everything out. Swapped the hazard flasher for the turn signal, hazard would still work but still no turn signal. So it's not fuse or flasher. Hand signals will have to work for now :)

Reset timing on motor and took it for a ride to make sure the dizzy oil leak was finished. It was, but I almost feel like I am on hidden camera!!! For no reason the 2 bolts at the front of the oil pan were loose, I could turn one by hand, and that was now leaking like crazy. I tightened them down and let it Idle and revved it some and it seems to have stopped 99.99% of it. What the heck already!

Jeep will run 68-70 but not liking a heavy foot. Have to let it build rpms or it bogs if you get to heavy footed.

The adventures continue.
 
#118 ·
Have you got a little 12V test light? It is a very handy tool to have when testing these CJ circuits. Pull the bulbs out of the sockets and test for current there first. If not, trace the ground wire and clean/reattach. Most of the time there are grounding issues with the electrical. Most of the time it is a bad connection. Although the factory flasher should work alright, there is a digital one available, about $15, that I have more confidence in. It's heavy duty (towing type) and clear, smoky plastic. Get a couple of them and plug them in. Save your old good one in your parts drawer.

I meant to say also that your bogging engine still sounds like a combo of tuning the carb and getting your timing just right. Double check, triple check, quadruple check for intake leaks. Retighten your manifold bolts. I promise they have loosened up some!
 
#119 ·
Skerr said:
Have you got a little 12V test light? It is a very handy tool to have when testing these CJ circuits. Pull the bulbs out of the sockets and test for current there first. If not, trace the ground wire and clean/reattach. Most of the time there are grounding issues with the electrical. Most of the time it is a bad connection. Although the factory flasher should work alright, there is a digital one available, about $15, that I have more confidence in. It's heavy duty (towing type) and clear, smoky plastic. Get a couple of them and plug them in. Save your old good one in your parts drawer.

I meant to say also that your bogging engine still sounds like a combo of tuning the carb and getting your timing just right. Double check, triple check, quadruple check for intake leaks. Retighten your manifold bolts. I promise they have loosened up some!
I do and a nice multimeter. The flashers are interchangeable according to the numbers on mine. The hazards worked with the one flasher so I switched the flasher and they still worked. I will get back to the turn signals one of these days.

I have been working at the front garage and in the dirt because I wasn't done with the new workshop, tired of rolling in the dirt though. I went ahead and lugged most of my tools and parts back to the workshop and moved the jeep back there. I get to work on concrete now, just have to get power from my generator while I'm working.

I am going to reinstall the distributor tomorrow. I am having to turn it much further clockwise to get it to 8-9 BTDC. Makes me think it's not dead on the gear set. I think some how I am like one tooth off? I am going to try to gently lift it and "feel" one tooth over? We will see I guess.
 
#120 ·
Good luck on the tooth. I was once there, too. Because of the helical cut, the rotor will advance if you don't get it just right. Glad you are out of the dirt! I am cooked red!!
 
#121 ·
Well, at the surgery center awaiting another surgery on my back. Relatively minor compared to the others. Hopefully after they burn the nerves out from L3-S1 I will be pain free and functional again.

Cross your fingers!!!!! The jeep needs my help :)
 
#124 ·
Well, negative on the surgery relieving my pain. I have been doing therapy, water therapy, traction and FSU Spine and Wellness center visits trying to find some relief. Nothing has worked so far. The consensus is that I have scar tissue inside my spinal fusion putting pressure on the nerve root at L3-4. The neurosurgeon says it is not operable so we are trying everything available for pain management.

Keep your fingers crossed.

On the bright side I did manage to put new fender flares on the jeep today and mount the half doors i got. A small victory is better than none.!!!
 
#126 ·
I have not gotten to the power steering or anything else for that matter. I did finally get some used tin to use for siding on the shop I built so that will have to get done first.

School is back full time and I travel every weekend for shows to supplement our income while I am in school again full time. It leaves me about 3 hours a day to get anything else done .... if my back lets me.

I'll take local volunteers to come help with the PS and PB set ups :)
 
#129 ·
Hey Man,

I am feeling tired at the moment ... 3 am and I can't sleep because of back pain. It's too late to take anything to sleep because I have to get up soon. I had another Doctor refer me to a specialized Physical Therapy for some relief ... but they don't have a contract with my provider and they are the only ones that do it. I'll keep plugging through.

The planning is the tough part since every weekend the wife and I work at the shows we do. I know you would help and even the thought I greatly appreciate. Give me a call for when you have some free time, I have classes M-F but I"m usually home by 2:30 at the latest.

I hope the family is doing well .... do I need to bring my zero turn down there for you to mow? I will if you just say the word! Heck, I'll even sharpen the blades for you before i bring it :)
 
#130 ·
LOL! Hey Bud. My ZTR is STILL in the shop. Grass is still rank, but "Hey", my yard is now reseeded! We have a matted-down trail from house to shop and clothesline.

Are you going to be coming over this way for any events in the future?

Prayers for your back, Paul. I think I have a pretty good understanding about it.
 
#131 ·
Update again .... Physical therapy not approved(Thanks Obamacare), Chiropractor = Fail. I had another surgery/procedure yesterday that was only supposed to take 15 minutes ... it took over an hour. I am a little sore today but not as bad as I thought I would be. I am going to Jacksonville and Daytona tomorrow to try to collect some more parts for the Jeep when I do feel better. If all works out I will have a 360 for it!!!!

I should know in a a week or so if this will help to recede or eliminate some of the scar tissue. The fusion in my lower spine appears to be very solid and my C6-C7 replacement is functioning flawlessly.

I guess it's kinda like they gusseted my spine and welded the tubes for me :)

Now I've got Spine Bling!
 

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#132 ·
positive note!!! Out and about today and feeling pretty good. A bunch of jeep parts followed me home including an AMC V8!!! Tranny and xfer look like a T15 and Dana 20..... can anyone confirm from this one cruddy pic? It was dark when I got home but I will post better pics tomorrow.
 

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#135 ·
Clay's is doing great. Mine needs a tranny and rear end rebuild. I pulled the tcase yesterday.

I sort of thought, although you didn't say, that you were going to wait until NEXT weekend to go get it??
 
#139 ·
It will be like Christmas in a way when you get to open the thread and see my surprises ... that's right ... not just one thing!!!

Looks like you got a truss from your spine. Did Besrk make it? :)

And congrats on the 360.
Thanks Moc, maybe you can sell me for spare parts on the black market when my wife and docs get tired of fixing me up !
 
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