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What? Another Jeep?

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jun 20, 2022.

  1. Jun 20, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    I have no idea why I picked up another Dauntless other than it was nearby and decently priced.

    Here it is:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I'm sucker for old survivor Jeeps.

    Basic Specs:
    • 1968 CJ5
    • Appears to be Island Blue
    • Dauntless V6 that runs well with right at 100,000 miles on it.
    • Transmission converted to T90 instead of T86
    • Large Hole Dana 18 with Warn overdrive
    • 4.88 gears in stock axles
    • 11" brake conversion
    • 16" wheels with 235/85R16 Interco tires
    • Still has Ross steering
    • Full roll cage (three inch tubing!)
    • GM alternator
    • DUI HEI conversion with MSD box
    • Inexpensive 8000lb winch
    • Came with both a Bestop Super Top and a Kelly Bonanza hard top
    • Stock single exhaust
    • Vintage Kayline tire rack.
    • 2.5" or so lift with springs and shackles
    Immediate needs:
    • Water pump leaks
    • Radiator leaks at bottom tank
    • Steering bell crank has a good 10 degrees of wobble
    • Seat upholstery is shot
    • Pulls left when hitting the brakes quickly so likely needs wheel cylinders
    It's got some of the typical rust issues and the paint is tired, but other than that, it's a fun runner.

    My wife has taken a liking to it so it's probably her Jeep. The immediate goal is to get it to be a good runner and then decide what to do about the rust and body issues. I may patch and spot paint to keep the patina or it might get a fresh paint job in the original blue.

    I'll update this thread with lots of pictures and a better inventory over the next few days.

    I spent most of the day yesterday making space in the shop. Now I have too many Jeeps:
    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, Curtis Sweet, fhoehle and 30 others like this.
  2. Jun 20, 2022
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    847
    Nice!



    Dave
     
    Fireball likes this.
  3. Jun 20, 2022
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2012
    Messages:
    2,352
    Congrats, you were needing something to do!

    It has a tow bar, is the rear axle a full floater?
     
    Fireball likes this.
  4. Jun 20, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    4,716
    Looks like your a collector with no excuse not to play.
     
    Buildflycrash and Fireball like this.
  5. Jun 20, 2022
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    966
    Not hard to do is it :rofl::rofl:
     
    Fireball likes this.
  6. Jun 20, 2022
    rusty

    rusty Well-Known Member

    norfolk,va
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2006
    Messages:
    1,652
    I like it.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  7. Jun 20, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Love the paint on it.

    Looks like an old school build.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  8. Jun 20, 2022
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Love it! Looks great with the rest of the gang.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  9. Jun 20, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Don't see the flatfender build in that group pic...You also need that flatfender in Idaho to truly be a collector...multiple examples of different era CJs...I believe in you.
     
    Ol Fogie, termin8ed and dozerjim like this.
  10. Jun 20, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    It's right there!
    [​IMG]
     
    Rubicloak, Stakebed, Muzikp and 7 others like this.
  11. Jun 20, 2022
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    966
    Don't ya just love an extra project staring at you.....:rofl::rofl:
     
    Twin2 and Fireball like this.
  12. Jun 20, 2022
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    393
    I hate to say I’m envious, but Momma always taught me to tell the truth!
     
    dozerjim, Twin2 and Fireball like this.
  13. Jun 20, 2022
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2021
    Messages:
    1,620
    I don't think there is any such thing as "too many Jeeps".

    Decent looking ole gal, the 67 I just parted out was that color.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  14. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    Here's the walk around. Lots of pictures over several posts. They are in the order I took them.

    The Kelley Bonanza hard top is packed into the barn for now. Still has original paint that's in decent shape overall:
    [​IMG]

    The windshield fillers are present as are the upper hinges and fasteners:
    [​IMG]

    Fenders have some minor cracking but are in generally good condition:
    [​IMG]

    The plate covering the rust hole at the original spare tire mount is rusting through itself:
    r[​IMG]

    Rust-through at the top of the right rear filler panel:
    [​IMG]

    Driver's side floor rusting though above the hat channel:
    [​IMG]

    Passenger side is the same but worse:
    [​IMG]

    Found the remote for the Chicago Electric 8000lb winch and it seem to work fine. Tow bar will get removed. We aren't going to use it. The passenger side of the hood is bent inwards preventing the hood from closing properly. It takes all of my significant weight to get the latches hooked and this is how it ends up:
    [​IMG]

    Tires are Interco TrXus LT235/85R16. They are about 32" tall. Despite being from the Super Swamper folks these radials seem to ride and drive petty nicely. The Spare tire matches:
    [​IMG]

    Dash has been painted black. Has a hole cut for a stereo. Has cabinet lock replacing the stock glove box lock. It does have the larger replacement glove box insert. Heater controls are present and hooked up. I have not checked heater for functionality yet. Cheap aftermarket chrome grab bar:
    [​IMG]

    Has three guages cut into left side of dash. Still has Spartan turn signal switch. It works but isn't cancelling at the moment because the rubber cancel wheel to too tight to the steering wheel and deformed. The weird gold thing a a cigarette lighter powered defroster. The red button runs added on windshield washers:
    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, Rubicloak, 73 cj5 and 8 others like this.
  15. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    Continuing to walk around....

    Seats are Meh. Original but need recovered and the foam is mashed out. It will be getting some Rugged Ridge/Smittybilt seats in the short term since it's so expensive to get these re-covered:
    [​IMG]

    Spare tire rack is a vintage Kayline that has been significantly and nicely beefed up:
    [​IMG]

    The roll cage isn't fat. It's big-boned. Three inch tubing on that thing. Surpsingly it doesn't really get in the way:
    [​IMG]

    Fancy bends. Added dome light. Added dimming mirror.Bosch wiper motors that seem to work well:
    [​IMG]

    How did they smash the gas cap????:
    [​IMG]

    Radiator leaks all over the bottom of the tubes. A new aluminum Champion is on the way since it's the cheapest of all options:
    [​IMG]

    Water pump leaks too. Sounds like marbles when running and you can wigglethe fan back and forth a good tenth of an inch. New one on the way:
    [​IMG]

    Engine still has original paint, stickers and wire looms:
    [​IMG]

    Battery hold down is lacking:
    [​IMG]

    Has the fresh air hose for the heater that's always missing:
    [​IMG]

    DUI ignition with an MSD 6AL box. Seems to work well:
    [​IMG]

    A rare-as-hen's-teeth intact fan shroud. 5 blade fan. It's too bad this doesn't have the wider 21" radiator that came a year later:
    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, Curtis Sweet, fhoehle and 7 others like this.
  16. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    And more....

    Previous owner was active on the forum under the MOP username back in the day. Used to hang out with Sparky. The Roll cage, T90, and overdrive came from a parts Jeep that ended up with Sparky:
    [​IMG]

    Bed looks good. Previous owner sanded off the surface rust and primered it for protection many years back. I'm glad he did:
    [​IMG]

    Strange air cleaner on this one. The PCV fresh air intake matches up like it belongs there, but I've never seen a Jeep air cleaner with this weird adapter. The hole in the bottom of the air cleaner isn't quite 4 barrel size:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    It's missing the extra arm to change the ratio on the throttle linkage but is seems to drive fine anyway. Maybe this vintage didn't have that?
    [​IMG]

    The hood fitting too tight has destroyed the welting:
    [​IMG]

    Springs are unknown. They have military wrap and rubbing blocks at the ends of the leaves. They don't match either the ProComps on my '69 or the BDS springs on my '71. Looks like one inch lift shackles. It sits about the same height as my other two 2/5" lift Jeeps. No caster shims, but it tracks nice and straight. Dana 27 with leaky knuckles and 11" brakes:
    [​IMG]

    The only frame damage to be found is previously repaired diagonal cracks at the front frame horns:
    [​IMG]

    Look like old Ranchos?:
    [​IMG]

    Vintage correct Warn hubs:
    [​IMG]

    Not the greatest backing plates on the roll cage:
    [​IMG]

    Seems like twice as many cross frame spacers as stock?:
    [​IMG]

    Front pinon seal is keeping the dust down:
    [​IMG]

    The overdrive is an actual Warn unit and should have the bronze shift fork. It seems to shift well:
    [​IMG]

    Disintegrating hat channel:
    [​IMG]

    Clutch linkage has been upgraded with a ball joint and a fork instead of the factory bend rod. It feels very smooth. Now that I see the picture, either the pin or the crossbar hole is getting worn. Will need to investigate:
    [​IMG]

    Amazingly, it actually has the factory clutch fork return spring:
    [​IMG]

    The exhaust follows the factory routing:
    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, Curtis Sweet, Rubicloak and 11 others like this.
  17. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    Wow, I'm amazed you're still here.

    Left rear fenderwell looks great:
    [​IMG]

    Rust at the left rear tail light and outboard body attachment bracket. This is far beyond "patina" and will need to be addressed:
    [​IMG]

    Inside:
    [​IMG]

    A factory drawbar that isn't all bent to heck:
    [​IMG]

    Wiring needs some cleanup:
    [​IMG]

    Passenger side outer body mount is even worse:
    [​IMG]

    Spare tire brace is rusted away and through the body skin as often happens:
    [​IMG]

    Passenger side floorboard looks OK, but there are a lot of pinholes in the bottom of the toolbox:
    [​IMG]

    Dana18 and T90 have recent rebuilds but have typical leakage:
    [​IMG]

    110V Block heater. It ties into the block drain plug on the passenger side. I'll be removing this:
    [​IMG]

    Rust on the passenger side hat channel:
    [​IMG]

    Oh, there's where the vague urine smell is coming from. Time to don the rubber gloves and N95 mask:
    [​IMG]

    Full of wheat grain, poison pellets, urine, poop, nest materials and death. At least 8 carcasses in there. And. the. smell. Thank god for the shop vac:
    [​IMG]

    It's all scraped clean now and I'll be spraying some bleach in there.

    The Jeep came with a bunch of other goodies/junk:
    [​IMG]

    Replacement right hand filler panel:
    [​IMG]

    Exra T90 and the old 10" brakes. Another bin has the bulk of the original T86 in it:
    [​IMG]

    Crossframe, Jerry can, air cleaner element:
    [​IMG]

    More Bantam trailer and Jeep parts. Some useful stuff like a Spartan, steering column clips for the turn signal wiring, and a complete heater control assembly:
    [​IMG]

    Spare knuckles. I'll probably use these to do the backwards bolt modification:
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    In summary:
    • A pretty solid Jeep that needs a few mechanical items to make it a solid driver.
    • But... it has isolated rust issues that are beyond patina and need to be repaired. Other than the hat channels and the back corners the rest of the body is in very good shape.
    • My wife seems to be claiming it so I have to make sure it's really up to snuff mechanically. That's fine with me. I'm glad she's interested.
    I did jack up the back and spin a wheel. Seems to be an open diff.

    I gotta say I really like the thing in spite of it's flaws. It makes me smile looking at it:
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Jun 21, 2022
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    Messages:
    971
    You, really only like it because of the black wheels!
     
    ojgrsoi and Fireball like this.
  20. Jun 21, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    Repair number one.

    It was driving me crazy how hard it was to shut the hood. Here you can see how much the passenger front was bent in. The gap at the back of the hood was even but it was this far off up front:
    [​IMG]

    Getting the tractor involved:
    [​IMG]

    Moving forward and doing it again. I used the block and hammer to flatten the kinks in the bottom lip while pulling:
    [​IMG]

    I couldn't get the c-clamp any further forward so I resorted to a pry bar for the very front:
    [​IMG]

    After some pounding of the inner frame to prevent it from hitting the fender it was closing pretty good.

    Before:
    [​IMG]

    After. Much much better:
    [​IMG]

    There was also a 3/8" deep dent and bent footman look where the hood had flipped up in the past:
    [​IMG]

    A few gentle whacks with the soft-blow and it's 95% of the way back. Loop bent back into place too:
    [​IMG]
     
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