58 Half Cab Build

Starting the build of my 58 CJ-5. The Jeep belonged to my grandfather for many many year and I have had my eye on it since I was little. He used to own a resort on Tablerock lake in Branson, MO. He used the Jeep around the property for years doing everything from launching customer boats to moving fridges from cabin to cabin. In October 2012 I purchased an XJ trail rig that needed some work to have a little fun. A week later I'm showing my Grandfather the pictures of it and he say, Why the hell did you buy that thing, I thought you wanted to buy Willy." A week later I took off work and made the 4 hour drive each way to pick it up.

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Bringing it home

 

Nice early '5! Looks like it has the turbine hubcaps. Half cab looks to be in good shape too!

 

I drove the Jeep around for a few days and quickly realized the generator was bad. So I pulled it in the garage for a quick repair. Or so I thought......
[/URL][/IMG] I grabber an old alternator my dad had at his shop, some tail lights, and spools of wire. I'd be back and running in no time....

[/URL][/IMG] Took a few things off.....

[/URL][/IMG] Took the dash out and removed the rest of the 54 year old wiring.......

Well to get the dash out the windsheild needed to go down, which means the half cab needs to come off...
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A little about me. I am a 24 year old gear head living outside of St. Louis. I finance my Jeep projects working as a Sales Engineer for a factory automation / material handling company in St. Louis.

This was my girlfriend Kara. I took this picture around 2am on a Friday Jeep Night. After seeing her work on my jeep all night I knew I had no choice, she was my Fiance that Sunday. Hasn't touched the jeep since she got the ring......


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Kara knew what she was getting herself into with me.... I am wired a bit different and refuse to pay anyone to do something I know I am capable of. This is my makeshift paintbooth and my once gold campershell last summer.

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This is the XJ I bought before the CJ. Mice had ate the wiring and it wouldnt run. I was planning to fix it but ended up stealing the tires, seats, and cage and parting the rest out to help pay for the CJ

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I took a few more pieces off the jeep......
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Haven't worked on the jeep in over a month. Just purchased a home with a bigger garage but after moving the jeep while in 10,000 pieces Im ready to get at it again.

Right now the frame is 70% cleaned with a wire wheel but I had to cut the front of the frame off due to some major damage, No sure how that will be fixed....
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I took the motor out and apart with the intention of just freshening it up... I cleaned the block and found that it has been bored out .100 over. Can't find rings that size anywhere and dont have the money to resleeve.... any ideas?

Plan to finish the frame and motor as soon as I can then work on the axles (going through the brakes and giving a fresh coat of paint) I want to have a rolling chassis by the end of the month but we'll see.

Body has taken a back seat. I want the thing to run great and go anywhere. not worried about the looks..... yet.

Thanks for reading. I'll post again soon.

 

I like it. Like half cabs. Never saw a cover over the bed area like that though. I like that, too. And congrats on the engagement. Don't let her slack off too long.

 

My hubcaps! Been looking for a set of those with no luck! Love the half cab and bed cover, very cool! Also love the smiley faces on the doors, I'd leave those! Very lucky to have a cool old family heirloom Jeep like that. Looking forward to the rest of the build.

 

Got a bit more garage time in. Engine is cleaned and painted. I have 2 exhaust studs I would like to take out but other than that the parts are here and ready to go back together. Head has been cleaned, painted, and I reseated the valves with some lapping compound.
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I also got Kara back out in the garage to scrape grease off the axles and transmission.
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Our American Bulldog, Mopar, even came out to watch the build.
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So, did you fix the generator yet? LOL!

 

He's still haven't found where it is on the jeep ahaha!!!

Good job, keep going.

The thing i like the most after my frame off( not restauration but coil spring conversion) is that every bolt and nut on the jeep has been put in place by you. I'm proud to tell that everything on this jeep as been assemble by me

 

Haha. I do not even remember where I put the generator.
Got a bit more done Friday before a storm kicked us out of the garage.
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Sunday I got the front of the frame all welded up. Coating it tonight and should have it on all four tires tomorrow night.

 

where in ill. are /were you from lived in so. ill. till 6th grade...

 

We live in Columbia, IL. Just outside of St. Louis.

 

born in alton spent the early years in bethalto still have family in wood river...

 

Frame completely coated. Next steps, clean up front axle, build front bumper and winch mount. And somewhere in there put the engine back together. I've leaving to travel for a few weeks for work so the build is going to go idle for a bit. Stay tuned.
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