Build - 1970 CJ5

You could also try gravity bleeding. You'll need some containers (I use old mason jars), and some tubing to fit snugly over your bleeder. Run the lines into the container all the way to the bottom, and then fill the container with brake fluid. Just enough to cover the end of the hose so it doesn't suck air into the system. Open your bleeders and make sure the master cylinder stays topped off. It is a slow process but works. Do a regular 2-person bleed job after that.

 

Spent the entire day on the jeep. Made a lot of forward progress. Got the brake problem resolved, I bench bled the master again and re did the whole process, when I got to the front it was more of the same, hardly any pressure. Very little air/fluid was coming out. Had the fiancé pump the brake pedal for a solid minute and then I would open the bleeder on the last push of the brake pedal and after doing that a few times, more fluid/air would come out and the pedal then got more firm until everything was 100%. So brakes are done! Then the brake switch got wired up, took about 5 minutes and had it all figured out with the EZ harness. That completed the wiring and then I started taping and organizing all the wires behind the dash. Everything is secured out of sight and now just the fuse panel needs to be secured.

So so with the wiring and brakes done it should be time for exhaust. But I felt up for washing the jeep. And since the brakes were working great I pushed the jeep out of the garage and jumped in while it rolled. Stopped it, and then since I don't have an ebrake setup yet, I put it in 1st gear, let off the clutch and then the jeep kept rolling. Stopped, tried another gear, jeep still rolled. This is the first time I have been able to stop the jeep while sitting in it so it's the first I was aware of this. So here we go with another disaster it sounds like. Later I got the jeep back in the garage, put the rear up on jack stands and messed around with gears and the transfer case. No matter what I did, I could always turn the wheels. The rear driveshaft was spinning with the tires, so I am guessing the place I had rebuild the transmission/transfer case had done something incorrectly. Will call them tomorrow and maybe tow the jeep to them since its towable now.

2 steps forward, 1 step back.

I will give a detailed wiring write up now that I am done soon.

 

Sounds like the transfer case is in neutral, or the clutch isn't holding. Did you replace the clutch?

 

Thank you for the reply!!

Yes, we replaced the clutch when we put the engine back on the frame a while back. I have been reading about how to try to free it up if that is the problem. Gonna try the 3rd gear start in gear with clutch depressed tomorrow. If the jeep lurches forward then it will be clear its a clutch issue I would assume. At least I'm learning!

 

The clutch isn't stuck, otherwise the Jeep would not move when in gear. Is your adjustment too tight, keeping the pedal engaged? Did you use the right disc, slipping the disc on the trans input before install to ensure all was good? Are you SURE the transfer case isn't in neutral?

 

I moved the transfer case into every possible spot... So I wouldn't think so. It's kind of a loose lever though, but I tried several different times.

The clutch shouldn't adjusted to tight, it's pretty hard to push the clutch pedal down and It feels like a normal clutch pedal. I can try to loosen the cable just for the heck of it but it's not very tight as it sits.

 

Just loosened the clutch cable, it was pretty loose before and now it's barely just hand tight. No changes. Tried starting it in gear, nothing to the wheels. So i would think the transfer case. Tried once again to move it around in hopes that Its maybe in the wrong spot, still nothing.

 

Just dropped it off at the jeep shop that did the transmission work. They will hopefully get to it soon... Didn't like leaving it and not sure what I'm going to do with my free time now.. Fingers crossed for a solution soon. Here it sits amongst the yard of jeeps and big trucks. Makes it look even smaller....


Towing the jeep was pretty nerve racking. The most it's ever moved is from the garage to the driveway and back since we started the build. Went around the neighborhood a few times then set off the 10 miles or so to the shop. Took as many back roads as possible but still had a few miles on a 3 lane highway. It towed great and no issues with the steering or tracking. Just for piece of mind I dropped the rear driveshaft... It was a successful adventure.

 

Any news on the clutch? I've been having the same issue with mine for a while now...

 

It wasn't the clutch, turned out to be the transfer case. Shop fixed the issue and then couldn't figure out how to get the linkage back on correctly so that's off now, I'll have to fix it later. Towed it straight to another shop so an exhaust could be put on it and some other engine work. Engine sat for a while and there were many issues with vacuum lines and so on. So that's all being worked on now. Hope to have it back next week some time, hopefully as a running and driving JEEP.

 

Glad they fixed the issue,

What was the issue anyway? That single stick linkage is always tricky to put on.

 

I think It may have just been the linkage? From what they said it was just in neutral, and everytime they would put the linkage back on, it wouldn't come out of neutral. I know they didn't dissassemble anything or drop the transmission and transfer case. The transfer case shifter would move into the different gears before but I guess incorrectly and was stuck in neutral somehow. If I had known it was a linkage issue I could have fixed it myself... :/

thought about converting to a twin stick but right now I don't think dropping the transfer case is a good idea, moving soon and need all the pieces together. I have searched and found pictures of how the linkage should be, so when I get it back I'll do some messing around with it.

 

Yesterday I got the JEEP back from the shop that did some engine work and the exhaust. The engine runs great now and was definately in need of some TLC, more than we origiy thought. Oil pump was bad as was causing all kinds of issues. Carbarautor had a lot of issues and vacuum leaks. Everything was gone through and compression tests done just to make sure all was healthy and now the engine is running good and there are no noises or signs of trouble. This is all good news!

Towed it back home, installed the driveshaft, and now having clutch problems. It's not disengaging. First thing I went to was the adjustment, it's not that. So from all the other research I have done its either a disc installed backwards or it's just stuck because it sat for several months... I read a ton of things and I guess it could be over-tightend bolts or a throwout bearing issue. The bearing was the same size as the old one. But in the end, this is all stuff k am not capable of doing, both because of my knowledge and because I don't have the right equipment like a working jack or any help. So back off to the shop it went today. I was able to actually drive it kinda, tried starting it in gear to see if it was stuck, it would come unstuck. No luck but I did get to drive down the street and then turn it off so I could put it in reverse and back it into the garage. Kind of exciting since it's the first time I had ever moved in this jeep without pushing needed...

Thats all for now, can't wait to get it on the road, need tires next and that might have to wait until next month.

 

Given where you live and the months of sitting is is possible that your clutch plate is rusted to the flywheel or coverplate.It happended to me once. Large trees or heavy vehicles seem to be needed to fix the issue. For me, I idled up to one of the trees in my front yard, shut the Jeep off as I got there, put the transmisson in high, stomped on the clutch and engaged the starter. It broke loose nicely. There a few other people that have had this issue so you should probably try a search as well.

 

Ill ill give that a try! From searching I knew that engaging the starter could get it unstuck if that was the issue, but never saw the up against a tree thing. I'll give the mechanic a call today, he said he thought it was stuck. I'm at work for the next 48 hours so I can't try it. Thanks!!

 

The clutch issue turned out to be a broken throw out bearing I guess? It's the best I could come up with from the description I was getting from the shop. Everything was new but apparently the throwout bearing was installed backwards. Or something around there, I don't have much knowledge of that stuff and I'm sure I am saying things that are incorrect. Anyways, it's back home. It runs and drives good! Drove it around the neighborhood with the biggest grin on my face. I didn't want to go too far since the old tires are so dry rotted but it's also not registered yet. I need tires, a new windshield, and to get it registered next. I have decided to go with the 33x10.50 BFG KM2's. I just hope that they don't look too small.

I put the transfer case linkage together the correct way using old threads and pictures as a reference. But even though I can shift in and out of 2wd and all, the lever will not go all the way forward. It is in 2wd but the lever is at about a 45 degree angle. I'll get some pictures soon. Just a quick post, nothing else new.

 

Well it's been a while, I have been very busy and the jeep got put on the back burner for a little bit. My brother acquired an old set of 34x10.50 super swamper tsl's. They aren't in the best shape but are better than what I have now. Yesterday I finally got the jeep over to a shop to install the new tires. Very happy to see a bigger tire on it, and the very aggressive tread of the super swamper is kind of growing on me. The tires are so worn that they only measure at 32" tall so I am on the fence once again whether to still go with a 33x10.50 bfg. I guess it all depends on what the actual size of one is. But I am ok with these tires for quite a while.

In in other news, a new windshield has gone in. Today I finally got the linkage figured out on the transfer case. It just took a BFH to get the lever to go all the way forward and thus back into high range. It still needs a lot of little stuff but I'm glad it finally looks like a jeep and drives! Oh also, got the winch mounted but still need to get a fairlead for it. Here's a couple pictures:

One last before:

 

Good looking jeep!

 

Looks great!

I've got a brand new set of 33x10.50 bfg km2's on 15x7's on my build. I'd be happy to measure actual height tomorrow if it will help you out.

 

Thank you!