A very long cj 5 build.

It all started with a friend who was moving and needed to get rid of his '68 project. He had taken it apart and decided it was more than he could chew on. SO me seeing an opportunity (my wife called it something else) I snatched it up. This is going back now ohhhh probably 8 years? My oldest wasn't walking yet and now she is almost 9 so yeah about 8 years ago. Well I started with gusto, got a lot of good info off the jjournal web site years ago and worked on it until about 2001. At that point I built a new home, started a new job, started a log cabin, so on and so forth. Then the kids started coming and, well , a total of four later here I am. I pulled the jeep out from under the tarp and started on it again this summer. here is a partial list of things done to date:

- Frame sandblasted and painted with tractor enamal. brushed on very thick BTW
- Custom width D44 front axle with 4.88s open custom tierod and drag link tubes from Parts Mike. Ford hubs to get the bolt pattern
-Saginaw swap with 72 manual steering bracket and TJ steering box. Brace to be added to box soon
- Rebuilt 225 adapted to a Chevy th350 adapted back to my twin sticked pill removed D18 with Warn overdrive
- Stock rear axle housing with warn full floater, new carrier 30 spline spool with disc brakes.
- Full Fiberglass body. I have a one piece front end put most likely will go back to steel at this point.
Hoping to keep the momentum I finally got back up this summer. Try to get some pics posted soon from 6 years ago to update some of the build up and new ones of the recent work.

I would appreciate and comments or suggestions. Always looking for ideas!

 

my son has been saying that almost every night now. He just turned 5 in may and is getting into it. It has been a long road. When I moved it out if the woods I discovered the rear is locked up from sitting. I think some moisture got into the bearings and have rusted them soild. just add it to the list.

 

Nice project. Keep us posted

 

I love the whats that for? why are you doing that? why why why. Gotta love the questions. Little sponges.

 

I hear that Kyle will be 6 in august, and he has helped all winter with my 71 and unfortunatly he started picking up some words i dont want to come out of his mouth, so the wife started a swear jar for me, and now Kyle has me putting a quarter in it atleast once a day... little bugger is better at catching me than the wife R)

sounds like a very nice start to a build, gonna be one sweet ride when she is done

 

Boyink, as I decompressed on the hour ride home from work your humor finally sunk inR). There are actually some parts from a 68 CJ-6 in there somewhere. maybe in the t case. But no CJ 6 here.

Ohhhhh the language thing. My kids got into some of my old CD's and supposedly learned at least one word I would like them not to learn. That CD is going away. No swear jar here just some very stern warnings and dire consequences.

 

You got a nice start on that CJ!

I started swearing young because of my mother... I dunno what it was with her, but she swore, a lot! LOL, Now I gotta be careful at work, since I use the F Bomb as common as I use "the". My wife hates the F Bomb, but I can use any other word I want!

 

Finally got a chance to snap a few more photos. Progress has been slow and I have been without internet for a week and a half now. Anyway, installed the radiator, filled engine with oil. Installed plugs and dist., and built my under frame for my fiberglass body. First time welding!!!!!! Boogers galore! My son and I had a little fun in one photo. Some initials to puzzle over for a future owner.

 

Looks like you are making progress. It will be running in no time. I have a couple of years to wait until Sophia can start helping me on the 6. I hope to have it finished before then and I will have something else to work on.

 

Yep. That is the same boardwalk! They had to cut down that huge cottonwood infront due to a lightning strike. Still a very cool family camp experience. We will be there the third wekend in September and the first weekend of October. We are in the 300's in beechwood. Mallard Sprinter with a Wine colored Suburban and lots o kids. Look me up if you are going the same time.

 

Wish my dad let me help with his 5
theres nothing wrong with taking your time

 

Still working on the jeep! been at VBS all this week so working at night has been out of the question but progress is being made as follows:

Installed steering column and new borgeson shaft. Man they make a sweet shaft.

Installed brake MC plumbed and bled. Using Mid eighties buick somerset MC with wilwood adjustable valve for rear to front bias. Now residual check valves. Once it get s moving I will post how it works with out them. Oh yeah swinging brake petal and steering column from 72-75 cj.

Installed Roll bar twice.

Repaired windshield frame as seen in pics. It was in great shape excapt for the bottom piece of sheet metal where the defroster air blew through.

Built front bumper and started rear. Man, do I love my buddy's MIG welder. Never really welded before and I have discovered it is pretty fun. Boyink, I agree with your statement in another thread I am not sure how I will live without it when I have to return it!

The best part is it finally looks like a jeep. But as I told my wife wife " honey not only does it look ugly right now it doesn't run eitherR)"

 

a few more pics