Beginning CJ6 restoration

Hey guys I've poked in here and there on this forum this past year and I'm finally putting together a thread with pics to share what I'm working on and where I'm at(Snails pace).1971 CJ-6 with oddfire V6, the story on this jeep is that my grandfather bought this jeep back in the early 80's as a hunting vehicle. He passed away in 1991 when I was four years old. My father acquired the rig, but not a gearhead like my grandfather and I, sold it to my great uncle who used it to hunt as well. He tells me it sat for at least ten years on the family's ranch before he picked it up. He says all he did was change plugs and give it gas for it to run like new. Fast forward about another ten years my uncle has acquired a few more Jeeps and a kawasaki Mule so this past spring he offers to give me my grandfather's old jeep. I am super motivated to restore this rig one, to keep a little piece of granddaddy and also fufill my hunting transportation needs.Between finishing college and work I get to work on her probably once a month. As of today all the body parts are ready to remove once I get a fork lift pull the tub tomorrow.

These were the easier parts to remove..


Side view with my #1 helper


Other side


The infamous Dauntless V6


Now these are the reason why I am planning on trashing this body and picking up a parts jeep I found locally for $300...Do you guys think this tub is salvagable??

 

Do not trash that tub. If you don't want it, someone here will. No idea where you live but someone wants that tub.

Nice jeep to start with. Did I mention I'd keep the tub?

 

I didn't really mean I was going to trash it I did my best to keep it in one piece and I set it out behind the barn I figured I would need parts off of it even though when I got it off it looks twice as bad on the bottom. I am going to need a new tub for sure

 

that tubs in better shape than my cj6

 

I am just finishing up my CJ-6. Not as much rust but I did replace some of the tub. Not that hard once I got into. By the way, I noticed the spare tire bracket on the side. Interested in selling it?

 

Well the tub looked like swiss cheese from the bottom and I had to do everything I could to keep it from folding up after it came off the frame. I might sell that tire bracket I doubt I will use it. Another neat find was a VERY faded "Dauntless V6" decal on the lid of the air cleaner. I will work on getting pics of it asap.

One other thing I noticed with the tub off is that spots on the frame are really pitted from years of rust. Should I worry about this??

 

Good luck on your project. Keep us posted.

 

love it when the stories are like these. good luck with it and keep up the good work.

 

Here's an update to where I'm at 3 weeks later.






There are some spots that are pitted from so much rust I don't know if I should be concerned or not?

 

Is the pitting to the point that you can eaisly punch thorugh the frame? If not, I would not worry about it. Just clean and paint. If you get real worried about it, you can fill the pits with a little weld.

But it looks good.

 

The metal under seems to be healthy, no flaking. It is just right in the center of the frame I am afraid it will offer a weak spot to crack if the frame flexes. This is the first frame off restoration I've done and the oldest vehicle I have ever wrenched on so I was just wondering what ya'lls experience or opinions were.

 

If you are genuinely worried about it, you can fairly easily box the frame front to rear. But from the photos, it didn't look all that bad.

 

I agree I have seen worse. I wouldn't get concerned about it. at least not what we can see in the pics. you have a great jeep for the project.
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Wells guys after a month I've finally finished pulling the rest of the drive train minus the axles. That dauntless V6 is heavy!


A rat had a pretty good nest going in the bell housing!

Here's the #1 shop hand again, he had beat me outside to work on the jeep.

 

Well I picked up the donor jeep a few days ago for $300, mainly for the tub but this one is going to need work as well

Donor:

I couldn't believe this thing had this dash pad still intact, hopefully I can get it re-upholstured

 

WOW! I wish we had old CJ's in that condition and price up here! The worn paint in the rear wheelwell looks like the green the Border Patrol used to use?

 

I did get a deal on her I've been working on the guy for almost a year. First asking price was 800 but when I stopped by the other day he asked what I would give and brought 300 and he settled. He was also going to throw in a what I think is a '57 CJ-5 for another $150 which was hard to pass up but I already have a big enough project on my hands, any body need the 5 let me know I could get it for ya. Also I never thought about the teal green under-color being border patrol, but I'm in a prime location to find retired BP vehicles.