[BriansCJ]

The goal: A capable and reliable daily driver on 35s/36s with a classic CJ look.

First a little background. We got this Jeep a few years ago. We werent sure if we were going to restore it but most likely make it a dedicated trail rig. We had an 05 Rubicon that was going to be my daily driver. We sold the 05 Rubicon and decided to build the CJ5 into a DD/weekend toy.

Our old Rubicon, I still miss it.

The CJ when I got it

Took it out wheeling

Then we drove it around for a while. One night I came out of the store and went to start it. It backfired and fried some wires(PO's patch Jeep). We got it towed home and it sat for about a year until now. You can see in the pics that the sun and salt air did a number on the body's gelcoat.

 

[BriansCJ]

The first thing I did was take it up to get a roll cage built by AtoZ fabrication. It is a top notch cage. I dont plan to roll this Jeep, but I also dont plan on a drunk driver hitting me, or what happened to aircruiser.
Edit: The week before I planned to take it up, all 4 tires were slashed. I ended finging some BFG ATs for $40 on CL and had walmart mount them for $20, after arguing that they would fit. I went from 32s to 30s.
Heres a pic of the cage

 

[SKT]

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Count me in on following this "build" thread.

Just in time, as so many of the other JF members here have recently "completed" their builds.

Good to see you finally working on this '5 - the cage looks great BTW!

Nothing like DD'n a CJ - you won't miss the Rubi once you get the bugs worked out of your '5.

You'll be happy you went this route instead of making it a dedicated trail rig.

Any plans to stretch the wheelbase if you go with 36's?

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[BriansCJ]

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Count me in on following this "build" thread. Just in time, as so many of the others here have recently "completed" theirs.

Good to see you finally working on the '5 - the cage looks great!

Nothing like DD'n a CJ!

You'll be happy you went this route instead of a dedicated trail rig.

Any plans to stretch the wheelbase if you go with 36's?

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I am planning a small stretch eventually. Around 3-4" in the rear with a Ford 8.8 and 2-3" in the front with a HP30. I want to keep it full bodied. I will probably relocate the gas tank to the bed and enclose it in wood/fiberglass. As you can see, I have no plans on running a back seat by the cage.

 

[BriansCJ]

I started ripping out the interior, to bedline.

The PO, put in a bunch of insulation and glued it to the floor. Its a pain to get off.

And heres a cool pic I took at work the other day, right before a thunder storm rolled in and we had to close the beach. Thats Trump Plaza in the background.

 

[BriansCJ]

I took off the passenger fender to replace the headers, plugs, and paint the valve cover.

New "fenderwell" headers on, along with the painted valve cover. I eventually want to get aluminum "Jeep" valve covers but these steel ones will do for now.

I started to mock up the front passenger side fender. TNT 4.5" flare.

The "nutserts" spun inside the tub for the fender bolts, so I cut the old fender off. I tried to access it from behind but it was a no go. I made a bracket out of some 16g steel and bolted it to the fender and then the tub. I drilled holes in the tub near the old mounting holes so the bolt heads would sit in the tub and the fender would be flush.

Its on.

 

[BriansCJ]

That was the past 3 weeks in fast forward mode. Updates will be slower now, in real time.
I just ordered a painless wiring harness, and rear TJ Xenon 4" Flat Flares.
I am off tomorrow so hopefully I can start mocking up my AtoZ rocker guards and Genright corner guards.

 

[twinstickd20]

I'm in for watching this one, I like to see the dd cj's that also do well on the trail, and I may be able to give some helpful advise every once in a while.

 

[SKT]

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Any updates on this one?



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[BriansCJ]

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Any updates on this one?

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I just started school again, so I'll have a lot more time to work on the Jeep compared to when I was working.

My rear flares came in. Xenon 4" flat flares for a TJ. I hope to have the passenger side mounted up with the corner guard by the end of this week.
I also got the rest of my ignition components in. A Summit CDI box, MSD Coil, MSD F150 distributor cap, MSD wires, a painless harness, and some other misc. things.

I also ordered some 35" MTRs yesterday, so once I get them I can start looking at ride height.
Probably going to go SOA, w/ YJ springs. I just dont want to be too high.

And my moms XJ got hit a few weeks ago, so Ive been trying to deal with that also.

 

[SKT]

I just started school again, so I'll have a lot more time to work on the Jeep compared to when I was working.

I also ordered some 35" MTRs yesterday, so once I get them I can start looking at ride height.

TTT for updates.

Let's see how those 35's look on/beside the '5...

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[BriansCJ]

TTT for updates.

Let's see how those 35's look on/beside the '5...

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I was just about to update this in a few days. We moved and now I have a full garage:2thumbsup:.

My mom totaled her XJ, wasnt her fault, driving me to school. The insurance let us keep it, and I fixed it a little and started driving it when I got my license. I also parted out(still am) my 90 XJ. Ive just been sidetracked with a bunch of little things.

As for updates, most of the parts are in. I decided I want to do a 5.3 vortec swap too. Next summers paychecks should cover that. I am going to hopefully buy a SM465 next week. I am still looking for a D300.

 

[BriansCJ]

Heres the back Pass side before

I trimmed the bottom lip flush with the crossmember

Marked the corner for the flare cut out, on my living room floor.

Corner is all cut and painted ready to be mocked up

Its on

And heres a shot at projected ride height, with one of the MTR/Ks.

Then I had to disassemble everything to move.

 

[BriansCJ]

Heres a shot of the new garage.

 

[SKT]

I was just about to update this in a few days. We moved and now I have a full garage:2thumbsup:.

As for updates...

Very nice updates!

Looking forward to seeing this one come together!

Bet you're glad to finally have a garage to wrench in...

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[BriansCJ]

Very nice updates!

Looking forward to seeing this one come together!

Bet you're glad to finally have a garage to wrench in...

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Definitely beats snow/wind/rain etc...

Its full now though. I should have some more room once I get rid of some stuff and get done a friends clutch on his Rubi.

 

[BriansCJ]

I'm hoping this build will start to pick up now. I got some more drivetrain parts in. I should be getting tools for gear set up soon. The body is almost ready to be pulled off.

My XJ is also pretty much done, so it won't be taking all of my time and money.

I also bought this over the summer