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'57 CJ5: Updating The Old School

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by AlexCold, May 28, 2016.

  1. Mar 23, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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  2. Mar 23, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    I did, a fellow Pirate member shipped me a pitman arm from an Chevy Express Van which has a raised end that's 5.5". I'm going to give that a shot to see if it gains me some clearance at full droop.

    I've seen the camaro stuff, check ebay. There's used flat ones on there for 30-50 bucks made of billet. It's my backup plan if 5.5" is too long, which would suck.
     
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  3. Mar 25, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    So many things have passed since then.

    Spartan locker installed. I had the cross-shaft backward and was using the smaller hole for the pin. Reinstalled everything and it's back together. Still need to set the pinion angle.


    While pulling the brakes, I noticed the driver side was missing the park brake shoe adapter so I ordered a service kit and installed that..

    Finishing up the steering.
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    Capped the crossmember.

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    Just need to add a support Heim for the steering shaft and I'm done with that.

    Chris (the_freeak) hooked me up with an express van pitman arm which will work nicely. Thanks again.

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    My mentor and best friend has been helping me the last few days with the wiring and finishing off the last few things. Hopefully it's firing today.
     
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  4. Mar 25, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Oh forgot to mention my sweet custom headers...

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    Also I cut the front fenders for clearance. Eventually I'll make some custom tube ones.

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  5. Apr 1, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
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    Is it running yet?

    What is that pitman arm from exactly? The ones I'm seeing online for an express van have an integrated TRE.

    And is the taper situated so the drag link sits above or below the pitman arm? (I'm assuming below by how it's situated.)
     
  6. Apr 3, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Yes! Started right up, 40psi oil pressure! sounds good too. Had an issue with the internal slave cylinder so I had an emergency call to Novak for their external slave cylinder kit. Installed it with their adjustable throwout bearing. It worked great but my measurements could have been better, including my pedal ratios. Essentially I needed all the travel of the clutch and had to notch my floor. Not a big deal to a guy who just want's his jeep to work!

    Been finishing wiring, about 98% only needing to fix some minor issues.

    Next part is reinstalling the cage, fab seat mounts and fixing a fuel leak at the pump (forgot the thread sealer, doh!). After that I just need to make a quick trans cover.

    The Jeep will be 2wd only going to EJS though, not enough time to install/setup the gears in the front. I'm planning on taking all my tools to do it there since a fellow wheeler is willing to help do it there for the Friday Flat Fender Fun Run.

    The pitman arm is for a very specific year range, something like 1994 express van 1500. At some point they switched to that arm with the integrated TRE. The taper is such that the drag link sits below. But if you use the 7/8" "1 TON" TREs you will have to machine it down so you could do on top or on bottom. If you use the smaller TREs no machining is required.
     
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  7. Apr 5, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Took it out for its maiden voyage today for tacos. Ended up with a major leak at the transfer case to adapter surface. I'm going to pull it tomorrow so hopefully I can easily reseal and finish building the transmission cover.

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  8. Apr 5, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
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    (y) How did it drive/feel?
     
  9. Apr 5, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Awesome!

    Aside from the driveshaft spinning uncovered between the seats, and the locker engaging/disengaging every shift it wasn't that bad. A bit squirrly at speed.

    I do have an engine issue where it doesn't want to spin faster than 2100 rpms. It just chugs until the rpms are dropped. Anything under 2000 is super smooth. Idles along at 1000 in 4th gear around town, no problems. Need to fix that.
     
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  10. Apr 5, 2017
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Jan 15, 2011
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    Seem to be a fuel problem, had this problem when i change my fuel pump on my tbi set-up. I was having the right pressure, but the volume wasn't good so when i was cruising at low rpm no problem but as soon as i was going more than 2000 rpm engine started bucking juste as you describe.
    In you're case it's maybe a pump that is going bad but still able to pump up some fuel.
     
  11. Apr 6, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Having engine surging over certain RPM ranges limiting my speed down, haven't been able to figure out why. Tried a bunch of combos of mechanical and electric pump, nothing works. Could be a carb issue but seems weird since it puts around fine and will rev high without a load.

    It drives nice. Not a huge fan of the locker in the rear. Damn transfer case still leaks at the adapter. I very much dislike that.

    At least I took it out and some poser shots.

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    1st gear and 2-low is ridiculous. The 3.15 gears are sweet!
     
  12. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Time for an update. Things have been very busy at work after my trip to Moab, but I thought I should recount the trip and then get back to the CJ.

    Since my CJ wasn't going on the trip, we decided to leave Sunday instead of Saturday. Everything was going well until we reached our first fuel stop, and I noticed that there was a "crunchy" sounding spinning sound. We were pretty sure the tensioner or the idler bearing was done for. Unfortunately, we needed to get to Phoenix to find a parts store that would be open. Pull into the first O'Reillys on the way that has the parts and proceed to replace the tensioner who's bearing was toast.
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    Lucky for us there was an awesome burrito spot in that parking lot, and we had a big breakfast burrito and on we went through the Phoenix Valley.

    Many fuel stops later (4.0L lifted Jeeps are not great for fuel mileage) we reach Utah.

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    We arrive early in the evening and unload and head to Moab Brewery. Great spot for microbrews and silly Utah laws. We decide that night to do 7 mile Rim the next morning. As we're ready to head out, the other Jeep in our party decides to pour oil from from the pressure line.

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    After fixing that we went on our way. Never being to Moab, we just winged it and found the entrance. Things are fairly well marked and we had a great time at the beginning of the day.

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    Hit up Uranium Arch.
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    After this we got a little lost and we weren't sure if which way to go, then our buddy in the CJ says he's got a map! Yeah that would be helpful. It looks like we had two options. Head down Wipe-out Hill (not recommended by some wheelers we passed up) or continue down 7-Mile Rim. We took to finish 7-Mile which was quite enjoyable going through a small canyon and soft dirt were we could pick the speed up.

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    That ended our Monday adventures! We came to the condo and grilled up some grub. It was a good day.
     
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  13. May 8, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Or any other Jeep I've ever known. ;)

    Thanks for sharing the report.
     
  14. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Tuesday we had signed up for an RR4W led trail, something easy to get the experience. Hell Roaring Rim. It was the coldest day of the week and it was a neat trail. Nothing really difficult, but with a good payoff at the end for scenery.

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    It was also Quadratec BBQ night and it was really cool seeing some of my favorite Jeeps!

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    Wednesday we did Fins & Things. By far my favorite trail of the week.
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    Check out all that articulation!
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    Just follow the tire tracks!
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    Then we checked out the Jeep concepts. This one was my favorite.

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    But you can't really hate this one.
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    While those were cool, this one had the most real world cool to me. A nice older couple from Texas own this one. Has the cleanest, sleeper LS swap I've ever seen in a CJ.
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  15. May 8, 2017
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    that looked like fun!!! Thanks for sharing!
     
  16. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Thursday we hit up Chicken Corner, which is the easiest rated trail on the RR4W leads at EJS. It's a long trail but very easy with some scenic views of the Colorado River. Our buddy in the CJ5 hated it though because of the washboards and him being in such a short wheelbase. I enjoyed the Chicken Corner though. It would make a nice day with the family as there is lots to explore on that route.

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    Lockhart Basin looks like a fun trail to try one day.
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    Why the call it Chicken Corner, as there's a narrow trail that takes you around the bend to a mesa. It's not that bad, but I wouldn't want to do it on a rainy or windy day.
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    Tried to finish the day at the vendor show, but the wind picked up and it was full on sand storm.

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  17. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Friday morning I stopped by the meetup for the Flat Fender Run and brought some donuts. Checked out some really cool flat fenders. I didn't want to ditch my buddy so I didn't tag along. Maybe next year.

    Rango is freaking tiny!
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    unfortunately I didn't take a photo of all of them as I got stuck ogling them all.

    We finished out the day by checking out Potato Salad Hill, and the rest of the Vendor show.

    Until next time!
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  18. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Overall, I had a great time. I highly recommend checking out EJS if you've never been. The trails aren't that crowded and everyone we ran into was friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back.
     
  19. May 8, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    So back to the now. The CJ is still having issues were it falls on it's face at 50 mph. Just starts chugging down and dying as if it doesn't have air or fuel, 4th gear at 2200 rpm or 3rd gear at 3000 rpm. If I down shift from 4th to 3rd and slow down it reignites and it drives fine.

    First thing we did was make sure the timing was correct. Found TDC with a piston stop and reset the timing. While it does idle smoother, it still didn't change the problem. We're worried there might be an issue with the Pertronix unit, but we don't think so. We turned up the fuel mixture and tried another pass. This time, we noted that the carb was flooding out. So we're pretty sure it's not a spark issue. Just in case we're going to install the distributor from my spare engine and make sure it's not the spark.

    We're starting to think it may be an issue with the carburetor, but it's clean on the inside. I have a 2100 that I'm going to rebuild and install if it's not a spark issue. My friend is bringing a clip in O2 sensor to get an idea of my a/f mixture.

    I still need to finish the transmission cover and fix the t/case leak.

    Just need to install the power steering hoses and find a belt and I'll have power steering!
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    These seats are worth every penny.
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    I'm really starting to dig the roll bar. It's got an old school look to it.
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    Plenty of room underneath the seats for gear.
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    Not the greatest room behind the seats, but plenty for two passengers.
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    The only 3 gauges I need. Not sure I have enough switches.
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  20. May 11, 2017
    AlexCold

    AlexCold Member

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    Yesterday we swapped in the spare distributor with points and the old coil, and it was a failure. It ran worse than with the Pertronix installed distributor and coil, so it's definitely no the problem.

    The carb acted as if the needle wasn't seating, and pouring fuel in. What's really weird is that the carb ran fine before sitting for the year and it's not gunky or bad inside.

    I have 2100 that I stole from my EB, so I'm in the process of rebuilding that one. It's pretty gunky from sitting for 10+ years, so I'm dipping it and going through it all.
     
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