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1966 Tuxedo Park Mark Iv Restoration

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by BJHitson60, Jan 18, 2018.

  1. Jan 18, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    I'm starting this thread on the restoration of my 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV. I purchased the Jeep in December of 2013 from a gentleman in Henderson, Nevada. Had about 48,000 miles on it. Please be patient as it may take me a while to get everything uploaded. This is what it looked like when I purchased it.

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    Here are some more photos of how it looked before restoration.

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    Believe it or not, the main reason for getting this Jeep was for this original oil bath air cleaner...

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    I towed it back to Northern California with a U-Haul trailer - ask me about the pot holes in I-5

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    As always, I started with the engine...

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    Had to find some correct wheels to replace the after market white spoke wheels. Had them sandblasted and re

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    Painting the engine - good color match as the paint on the valve cover is original and the oil pan has rattle can Buick paint.

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    Having grown up in the Las Vegas heat, radiator needed a new core.

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    I had the heater core redone as well - shop in New York had the original heater core - correct thickness.

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    I had to find 4 correct stock wheels to replace the after market white spoke wheels. Here is what they looked like before blasting and repainting with Glacier White.

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    The exhaust is original and still in good shape except for the muffler and tail pipe. Rock damaged both the muffler and rear cross member.

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    Original Borg and Beck clutch had to go because it had a film of dried oil and dust on it which made it grab...

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    Did all the seals in both axles...

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    As you can tell, I am not married so I can put Jeep parts where ever I want. :)

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  2. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    OK, here is phase II.

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    As usual, the spare tire was hit and the quarter panel was bent and a little torn. Also, the tailgate had a serious bend at the top so I opted for another original tailgate (from a Marlin Blue Jeep).

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    News flash - chrome is not cheap... Note checkbook in box with parts to be chromed... ;)

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    Firewall needed some work - I had some Prairie Gold mixed and put in a rattle can. Did the firewall with with it.

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    Hellion likes this.
  3. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    NOS Sheller steering wheel and new seat covers - starting to look better...

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    NOS fender well pads from e-bay. Send these to Colorado to have a guy put matching "basket weave" fabric in the tops.

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    Got the decal from a member here. :)

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    NOS tailgate chain covers. Rear seat looking better. Also, had the seat belts redone from a place in Texas.

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    Walt Couch likes this.
  4. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    [​IMG]

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    NOS hub caps. Side mirror is aftermarket but a good replica.

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    Done!

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  5. Jan 19, 2018
    Focker

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

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    Never.

    You did a fantastic job...Great work! :clap:
     
  6. Jan 19, 2018
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    Very Nice
     
  7. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    Thank you Focker.

    Right! I meant done with "that one"... :rofl:
     
  8. Jan 19, 2018
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
    Messages:
    2,754
    Beautiful!!!!
     
  9. Jan 19, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    Well done!
     
  10. Jan 19, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Fabulous work!

    My only criticism is a lot of the photos are missing annotations. I’m a n00b so I’m not sure what I’m seeing or what you’re trying to tell us in those photos. :shrug:
     
  11. Jan 19, 2018
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Messages:
    683
    Very nice!

    Really like the seat covers, remember where you sourced those?
     
  12. Jan 19, 2018
    James Robbins

    James Robbins jrobb

    Atlanta
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Messages:
    121
    That was a fun run down. Looks great!
     
  13. Jan 19, 2018
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2007
    Messages:
    5,916
    Extremely well done. Now I know who was bidding against me on ebay for Tux parts. :D
     
  14. Jan 19, 2018
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,381
    Looks real good, you have something to be proud of. Like the rear seat, might have to add that to mine, got the seat frames need the brackets for the body.
     
  15. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    Thank you guys for the nice comments.

    Next time, I'll try to include more annotations.

    Seat covers came from the Jeepster Guru (he has a web site you can check out). He supplied the covers and I had a local shop install them because they had to do some custom foam work to get them to look right. Over 45 year old foam in the Las Vegas heat... The back seat cover is just a tad wider than the original cover - not sure why. The front seat covers are spot on correct.

    Interesting fact about the fender well seat cushions - apparently not all have the same spacing for the four snaps that attach to the vertical wall of the fender. The center two snaps fit nicely as do the two top snaps; however, the outside snaps do not line up with the 1966 holes. I am guessing the pads I got are from an earlier era.

    Walt - I would not be surprised if I was bidding for some of the same items. :) Fortunately, most the items specific to the Tuxedo Park were OK, or at least, not missing.
    There is a super nice 1966 Tuxedo Park on e-bay right now (Indian Ceramic) with only 3,000 original miles... It should really be in a museum. Don't worry, I won't be bidding on that one. :worry:
     
  16. Jan 19, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2009
    Messages:
    204,347
    If you want a '66 oil bath air cleaner, I have one. I'll trade you mine for your Jeep... :lol:

    Very nice. Same color as my first '66 CJ5 Tux... :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
     
    BJHitson60 likes this.
  17. Jan 19, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Were the windshield-to-hood rests chromed from the factory? Looks like yours are, can’t tell for sure.

    Is that a gloss grey primer inside the tub and what kind is it?

    I looked at your original oil bath a.c.; is the original decal gold-foil backed? The letters look like shiny gold.

    I vote your efforts as as close to a technical restoration as I’ve ever seen. I know the word restoration is a slippery slope though.

    By the way, I can see your license plate numbers now... :twist:
     
  18. Jan 19, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2009
    Messages:
    204,347
    Is that an after market sway bar on the front axle?

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  19. Jan 19, 2018
    1947cj2a

    1947cj2a Member

    PNW
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2017
    Messages:
    223
    Nice work!!

    Quick question. What tires are you running?

    once again, great work.
     
  20. Jan 19, 2018
    BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    San Rafael, CA
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2009
    Messages:
    214
    Thx.

    The tires are Yokohama Y742S - 7 x 15 on 5.5 inch wide stock rims - just could not find any proper off-road white walls. You can get them through Tire Rack.

    I am pretty sure the original air cleaner decal was some type of foil - yes. And yes, the windshield hood rests were chrome from the factory, I had them redone and then reinstalled the tube pads. The taillights, hood latches, and the license plate light bulb holder cleaned up with a little steel wool so there was no need to re-chrome them. I did not personally apply the paint or primer but it is a single-stage epoxy type paint.

    As for the sway bar, I am not really sure but they look like they could have been dealer installed. It appears to be a pretty clean and professional job - at least relative to the frame hole drilling. Would be curious what other members think...
    if I get time I will include a photo of the overdrive shift lever which I believe was also dealer installed (chrome).

    OK, hope no one tries to steal it by knowing the license # :shock:
     
    Hellion, Beach66Bum and Tom_Hartz like this.
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