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1955 Cj5 Project

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Valentino84, Sep 23, 2018.

  1. Nov 12, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    I wish i had a good update but... my Mother-in-law was just up at the cabin and sent me this...
    [​IMG]

    The plan was to head up this coming weekend and work on fuel; replace the carb and try to get everything back the way it was (that linkage is kinda crazy) and then pull the driver seat to get the fuel tank out and bring it home to clean out the rust. If i'm lucky the snow will all melt over the next few days and it'll start to dry up... otherwise it'll probably be next year before i get another good update. Damn you, weather!!!

    Thanks for the info on the shifting pattern, i'll try that next trip and feel it out!
     
  2. Nov 14, 2018
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    1,188
    Great Thread!
     
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  3. Nov 18, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    Went up to see if it had defrosted enough to work on, no such luck! That shine is about 1/4" of ice that's covering most of it

    [​IMG]

    Good news though! I got the thumbs up to move it under the car port to continue working on it, so first weekend in December (unless there is more snow) the mud should be dry enough to tow it up near the building on some gravel. Woot! This also gives me access to power! POWER!!!!

    We sprayed all the dash bolts and seat bolts with PB Blaster and took the spare turn signal and the valve cover home for some restoration when i get bored. My wife works at a machine/fabrication shop so we can get the parts sandblasted for a couple bags of Halloween peanut M&Ms. Once i get them all back i'll prime and paint them just for some nice little highlights in the engine bay.

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Nov 24, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    Waiting on the tow hitch starter kit to come in from Amazon and next week we should be able to get the CJ under the carport and start on fuel. Monday my wife returned from work with the sand blasting completed, it looks so nice and smooth i was tempted to just do a clear coat...
    [​IMG]
    Our Family decided to have our Thanksgiving get together today so i spent a few hours on Thursday getting the taping just right but it never got over 50* so i wasn't able to start the primer, until today! With a full belly and parts all prepped, i got all setup in my backyard once it hit 55* and let the parts soak up some sun for half an hour. Then it was primer time! I'm using the door from my former snake's home as a table, on a chair and it works great!
    [​IMG]
    I gave it light coats every 3-4 minutes until it was a smooth covering... Google reminds me in half an hour of YouTube videos i can do another coat. More light layers until i was happy with each side and it sat for an hour. I put down different paper and got onto the black paint! I did the same light coats, getting all the edges and corners first. Took a couple times but i'm happy with the result..
    [​IMG]
    After an hour of YouTube i got all the orange parts setup on fresh paper and started painting as the shadows started getting long... This is when my outside cat, Charles, showed up to help and beg for attention and food. Some neighbors moved a few years back and just left him so he lives in my shed and i feed him ever morning and evening. Super lovey cat, just too helpful for painting!
    [​IMG]
    Just moved a few to the table as the wind started to pick up and i don't want anything getting dinged up after all that work, i think the contrast of the flat black on the orange will look nice. And since my father-in-law was a surveyor, we agree the "survey orange" makes for a nice nod to him. :)
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2018
    73 cj5 likes this.
  5. Nov 24, 2018
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
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    1,486
    $5 for all that a$$-wipe is a great deal. And the parts look good, too.
     
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  6. Dec 9, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
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    32
    Today was more recon than anything, it was 19* according to my wife's Toyota. Mom warned it's a mud bog and she wasn't wrong... couldn't safely get the Toyota anywhere near the CJ5 without starting to slip on mud, and it's only 2WD so we definitely don't want to get stuck out there (no cell service) without a plan. It's probably not getting towed anywhere until next year.
    The jack stands and little red Harbor Freight jack were frozen where i had put them under the body. After some wrestling with them and falling into the snow/mud i got them unstuck but then found out the flat wheels are frozen in the mud so i can't lift it enough to remove the flat tires. Thanks to this forum i didn't feel too silly trying a few times to loosen the lug nuts the wrong way and then clicked... Oh, i bet these are reverse threaded- POP they came loose.
    [​IMG]
    My wife got one of the flat tires from the back loaded up, so i'll go by a used tire shop this week to get a replacement. I'll still need to replace two other tires (or see if they hold air) before towing it to the new work area.

    I saw a couple comments on another thread saying the center holes on the rims need to be a certain size to fit on the axles, but i was curious if i could go to U-Pull-It and get a pair of wheels off a vehicle (other than Jeep)... what vehicle should i look for at the yard? $25 for a wheel/tire is cheaper than i could get at used tire places for just a replacement tire, for now the goal is just get it rolling.

    Oh yeah, checked the transmission and its pretty close but i can totally feel the "H" pattern! That was a relief for sure. Thanks for the help!
     
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  7. Dec 9, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Orange and Gray? UGLY! Neither I nor Charles approve of this. :p :D

    At least it's not neon green, eh?

    You need more pics so we have more to look at between postings.
     
    Valentino84 likes this.
  8. Dec 9, 2018
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    Messages:
    971
    Great job! Keep up the great work!
     
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  9. Dec 10, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    Thanks for the encouragement! With this week's weather expecting to be colder and rain/snow this coming weekend, i can almost safely say my next update on the CJ won't be until next year at the earliest.
    A buddy from work asked me why i didn't just try adding air to those tires, and i think he's got a point... i only need it to roll 100 yards, if the tires hold air they should last that long as least! Working on getting one of that bar-type (sky lift?) jacks from the same buddy, that should solve the issues i've had with the floor jack as a bonus.
     
  10. Dec 11, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    Maybe you could get one of those "garage tents" and put it up over it where it's at. put a heater in it and keep on workin' on it! :bananatool:

    By the way, I think it's great that your wife is working on this along side you. Good stuff! (y)
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2018
  11. Dec 11, 2018
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    I was just looking at the harbor fraught portable car covers. I think adding some tin roofing and siding would be a good addition to it.
     
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  12. Dec 11, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Add air to the tires. You'd be surprised how flat tires that have been flat for a long time can spring back to life with some good ol' O2.

    It's not inconceivable (if they're not cracked and full of holes) to run the tires as-is.... for testing, etc. after you get 'er running, at least for a while.
     
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  13. Dec 11, 2018
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    847
    Bowbender said:
    This is great, a family project keeps you both on task and makes it more enjoyable and get results faster.

    Interesting post.

    Dave
     
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  14. Dec 19, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    Thanks everyone! When the mud is dry enough to tow the CJ out from it's current spot it's going under a car port and if it isn't running/driving by next winter i'll definitely tarp it up. This weekend will be dedicated to doing family and holiday stuff but i'm hoping if the temps from the last week keep up... that first weekend in 2019 could be the "move" day and it'll be much easier to get work done!
    My wife got a neat little 12V compressor to keep in her daily driver, so we'll use that to air up the tires on the CJ (fully knowing it'll take awhile) so it'll roll easier. It makes me happy that she is enjoying learning about the Jeep and getting to know more about engines. I fully know it's not really her jam, so i appreciate that she always goes with me to hang out and make sure i'm safe. Plus, i like her and love hanging out together ... even after ten years. Anyways!

    Merry Christmas everyone, hope you get what you want and your jeeps keep running! Can't wait until i can go Jeepin around the mountains when this one's running!
     
  15. Dec 24, 2018
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
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    32
    With snow and or rain expected for tomorrow my awesome wife agreed, today would be best to get the Jeep moved. It's been warm and dry so we expected the mud to be nice and dry... which it was! I stopped by Harbor Freight and got a 4-in-1 compressor/jumper pack so i can air up the tires where it sits without an issue. The plan was ready for execution, unit ....

    [​IMG]

    FFUUUUUUUUUUU.... Someone who has been finishing up the cabin has parked across all the spots and left their truck there like some pants-on-head idiot. I could have tried to get it parked to the right, not under the car port, but i worry it would block in said idiot who clearly can't drive like an adult. Not to mention the whole point of the car port move was to get it out of most of the weather and in a spot it's easier to work on.

    It sorta worked out since right after we started walking around there were over a dozen gun shots from not too far off, best to not just be out in the open. On the drive home we got really lucky, i spotted a huge deer in the bushes before it jumped out toward the road and I had already slowed way down. Second time I've ever seen one in the wild and i'm always blown away by how huge they can get!

    So now we are waiting on Toyota to move out the of the way and hoping for no snow/rain tomorrow, otherwise it'll be another 3-5 weeks for the mud to dry up enough.
     
  16. Apr 28, 2019
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    Long time, no updates. The "False Spring" our New Mexico mountains saw delayed any progress on the CJ5; it was 75* the second weekend in March and then it dumped almost a foot of snow the following weekend making any trips to the cabin a 4X4 adventure, with even the Sequoia struggling in the 10"-16" mud. I heard good news the second week of April that most of the mud had dried but splitting my hobby time between USPSA competitions and the Jeep, meant i only get one day a month to work on the CJ5.

    After sitting for so many years, i don't know why i had thought it would have changed much (if any) in the last 4 months but i had this odd sense of excitement and dread the whole half hour drive up there. Part of it was wondering where i put all the parts for the throttle almost a year ago when i started the disassembly.

    [​IMG]

    Oh, Hi there... i've missed you :) Something about the patina; rust and worn off green and white. She's beautiful!

    Going through the boxes and knowing past me only threw away gaskets beyond use (for tracing replacements) i was 100% relieved to find the throttle linkage wrapped up nicely in the same box as the carb i tried to rebuild last year, with gaskets still sealed in plastic. This was also when i realized the bracket for the throttle pivot point goes under a head bolt, a few extra steps and finding the thread sealer to get that finished up.

    [​IMG]

    Remembering spending a whole trip trying to remove that damn oil line on the back of the engine, i mentally prepared for the challenge to come... about 5 minutes later it was in! What a difference new parts make!

    [​IMG]

    Also, damn that orange stands out! I ran into a snag with the oil filter line that brought us to a halt for now. I ordered new oil lines but the longer of the two is the wrong thread pitch. (Oil Filter Inlet Hose 30)
    I'll reach out to confirm before i order it, but i think i need the adapter (Oil Canister Inlet & Outlet Fitting (straight port) Fits : 41-71 Jeep & Willys) to make the new line fit, but if anyone has experience with this i'm 100% open to suggestions!

    Oh, props to those here who suggested just putting air in the tires! I got a Harbor Freight jumper pack/compressor and got two of the tires aired up to 30PSI. We didn't try moving it today but i was really shocked those tires held air after that long!

    Next weekend is a USPSA match so i won't have another update until mid-May, but i'm thinking next is to find the kill switch and/or make some simple wiring harness to get power to the coil. I'm 100% sure the gas tank is full of nasty stuff so getting it running will probably be initially done from a gas can so i can confirm the fuel pump is working. I'm hoping i did a decent job on the carb (first i ever rebuilt, just replacing all the gaskets/rubber parts and cleared out the jets and all the channels- reassembled) so i don't have to send that off to someone but if that's the last step to getting it running... well worth it! Also, might try out the other carb i found in an ammo box in the back.

    SO HYPED! It feels so close to having it running, then brakes and fix the suspension .... probably steering... some body work so the windows fit all the way... oh, and exhaust... seats/seat belts... lol it's a fun work in progress.
     
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  17. Apr 28, 2019
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    1,486
    Be sure to post up when you wonder why its running hot. I have an answer ready.:whistle:
     
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  18. Apr 28, 2019
    Valentino84

    Valentino84 New Member

    Albuquerque NM
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    32
    If it's the coolant hose not connected, that's on the list too! I've gotta get the little on/off valve for the back of the head to connect to the heater core. Or did i mess up something? :(
     
  19. Apr 28, 2019
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    Mar 12, 2007
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    Nah. Thats it. Im just pokin. Looks like you are close! I envy short hood Jeeps.
     
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  20. Apr 28, 2019
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    I don't know how I missed this thread, but it looks like you're off to a great start! Your jeep is honestly in a lot better shape than a lot of guys start with, myself included.

    I'm glad you decided to just get the f-head going rather than go for an engine swap. My jeep has been sitting since 2012 because a "simple" engine swap turned into serious project creep. Get it running, drive it and enjoy it for awhile, and then think about new projects to do with it. I'll be following along to see how this one is coming along.
     
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