[Deer-Slayer_5]

So now that I can actually reassemble three years and 8 months worth of restored parts and trinkets, I've had to dig though boxes and boxes to get to where I need to be.

I'm starting with electrical and working my way around that. Back in the spring of 2019, using the scholarship money I won from my mechanical engineering "tech expo" competition, I bought the pre terminated painless wiring. I won the Technical Innovation award for my senior design project and it went straight to the Jeep lol.

So, I've been following along with the painless instructions but haven't gotten too fat before i had to install the brake and clutch assembly and that took awhile because I had to find all the parts. Tonight I'm going to re organize boxes and figure out what is where.

Anyways, the brake booster and pedal assembly look nice installed!

 

[Jim1611]

There's allot of work into putting it all back together. Good for us though that Jeeps are pretty simple, back then anyway.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

Been working in the garage the past few weeks but I don't have much to document... My primary source of taking pictures is my phone and the past few weeks the screen was failing. Apparently the iPhone X has an issue with the battery swelling and causes the screen to act up. So I drove to 3 stores to find a phone but due to the current "supply shortage" I had a hard time getting a phone.

In that time, I've been installing the trinketry stuff. Passenger and rear seats are in, Drivers seat could be installed once I find a drivers side seat slider... I realized my seat wouldn't bolt up to the bracket and couldn't figure out why, then I saw the seat was lower than the passenger side and remembered that I didn't have a slider. Other things that are going on are just the odds and ends that are taking up space in the garage. Just going though the boxes and finding places to put things.

Getting back on to the electrical, The dash components are slowly getting on. The painless pre terminated harness is awesome. I haven't found any issues yet but I'm not very far honestly. I'm not an electrical guy so I want to take my time and understand it.

For some of the long time followers, it's November so it's close to gun season so my time will be spent in the woods. The last two pictures are what I'm after this year... I'll be lucky if I even see him starting the 13th. I need to be out in the woods now but I can't get out of work lol

 

[Axhammer]

Congrats on the paint, and other progress. Putting cars together after restoration is always fun, since you finally get to see results.

I’ve been noticing a lot of deer activity when I drive to work in the pre dawn morning lately. They do some crazy stuff when the rut is on, and I think it’s almost time in my neck of the woods. Good luck with that buck…it’s a nice one.

 

[John Strenk]

Yep,
I have to keep an eye out around here also.
Even just walking into my back yard I've startled 3 bucks so far.
Soon my neighbors will start testing their rifles and they will all disappear.

So far the jeep score is

Jeep 3
Deer 1

 

[JoonHoss]

Josh, nice detail on the Dash...did you have your dash pinstriped, or is that a decal?

Hoss

 

[Jim1611]

Happy hunting. 13th is the first day here.

 

[bob4703]

Friend of mine got a nice 8 point buck Friday. Her Jeep didn't do as well.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

Josh, nice detail on the Dash...did you have your dash pinstriped, or is that a decal?

Hoss

The pinstripe is a decal. I got it from collins bros. Jeep. They seem to be the only ones reproducing it. I think Phenix was but stopped because I couldn't find it.

The others talking about my deer... I think he got in a decent fight with another buck because he no longer has all those points... Still waiting for some other pictures of him to show the other sides of his rack. but I'm certain he lost a good chunk of his main beam on the left side.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

Getting the engine bay all wired up when I can. I need a few sheet metal parts to be made so I can attach this MIDI fuse from the painless wiring harness. I think I'm going to re-create the diagnostic port bracket that mounted to the battery tray. Once that's done, I think that will wrap up the wiring for the engine bay.

I have a list of parts Id like to get that is NOS or used that keeps growing. It's mostly small stuff that to replace the broken or missing original parts. I hope I can get this running by the end of the year. Got to get some wire loom and hook up some power wires but here is the engine bay as of last night.

 

[keith460]

I have a list of parts Id like to get that is NOS or used that keeps growing. It's mostly small stuff that to replace the broken or missing original parts.

What is it that you need? I may have stuff laying around or in storage.

Engine bay looks great by the way.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

As I'm waiting for some parts to show up, I got to prime the oil pump and got the system to prime. So far I got 60 PSI with cold oil. I have the melling high volume standard pressure oil pump so hopefully I should have no oiling issues. I got a new distributor from NAPA and once I hook up the battery I may be able to turn it over.

I need to get the battery cables attached to the battery and respected areas. I followed the painless wiring instructions so a few things make me wonder still.

Do I still need to add more dedicated grounds to the electrical system?

I was looking at old JeepHammer posts about dedicated grounds and I'm not sure if I would just be creating more work for myself or if there the same outcome. Painless claims they have a better integrated ground system in the 10150 kit. Some input from you guys will be appreciated.

Also, would anyone be able to attach some dimensions to the clock hold down bracket? I should be able to make one rather than buy one I know it has a different geometry but some basic dimensions and hole locations would be great!

 

[keith460]

Also, would anyone be able to attach some dimensions to the clock hold down bracket? I should be able to make one rather than buy one I know it has a different geometry but some basic dimensions and hole locations would be great!

Here you go.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

Here you go.

Thanks Keith! I haven't forgot about your PM. As bad as I want to buy more jeep parts, I need to pace myself during the holidays

On a side note, I figured out why I had no cranking after the wiring was installed. The pesky ignition switch was adjusted in such a way that it was not fully receiving a crank signal. It makes sense now that I saw the slots on the ignition switch. For the first time in 3 years, the engine was able to turn over by a starter lol for me, this is HUGE.

On to the next step... Adding the cooling system and adding the rest of the fluids. Then I need to wire the rear section of the jeep and install other hoses and vapor items for the gas tank.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

After 3 years, 9 months, and 16 days... The Jeep starts and runs! Big moment for this restoration not only because it runs, but because it's able to move on it's own power. It's nearing the very end and the beginning of me driving it for the very first time. If you all remember, I bought this CJ and never got to drive it.

I did have some issues getting it going. I knew how to time it but somehow I ended up 180* out... Rookie mistake I guess. I had a huge backfire out the tailpipe and no successful starts. So, I rechecked timing and sure enough, 180 out. I retimed, making sure that I was on compression stroke and at TDC where the balancer was at the 0 mark. Double checked all the wire locations and made sure the distributer was clocked properly. One or two key turns and it ran. I still have to run though some heat cycles and break in stuff.

More to come! Enjoy this video of it starting!

 

[JoonHoss]

Very nice! Congrats on all your efforts and achieving that milestone!

Hoss

 

[Rkuehljr]

Congratulations! Lots of hard work coming to fruition

 

[Axhammer]

looks & sounds good, congrats!

 

[bwwhaler]

Congrats, looks great and sounds good.

 

[Deer-Slayer_5]

Finished up the Painless wiring this weekend. But I have some issues... When I give the system power everything functions in the engine bay, gauge lights work and most of them function so far. So I decided to plug in the tail light harness and I get functioning brake lights only. When I turn on the parking lights or headlights, the tail lights no longer work. I have no brake light, reverse lights, parking lights, license plate light, or turn signals while the parking/ head lights are on. What could I have missing or wrong?

The tail lights weren't attached to the Jeep yet but would that make a difference? I may have this issue with the front parking lights as well because they were not working either. Up until the tail light issues, I only had a few things not working. I knew the turn signals didn't function and I noticed that the 4WD light didn't come on when shifted in place.

Could all of this be a grounding issue or could I be missing some connections?