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'66 Cj5 Tux Resto-mod

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by truckee4x4, Jul 9, 2018.

  1. Aug 8, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    All right well I got the LH floor and rocker tacked in, and got her flipped over for the first time in a year!
    A70E8966-C775-465A-A174-39135580D1E2.jpeg
    I got ambitious and picked it up off the rotisserie with the hoist and set on sawhorses, but quickly realized I need a couple extra sets of hands to maneuver it over the frame.

    A9E1040A-921C-49F8-B371-E9F73F995C98.jpeg Sadly the wife and two year old are not those hands. Have to corral some neighbors one night after work this week.

    can anyone who has done this advise - Will I be able to lift it high enough with your standard Harbor freight engine hoist to get it over the steering column or do I need to take the Ross box and column out??
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2021
    timsresort likes this.
  2. Aug 10, 2021
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
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    Looking at the pictures on my build, I set the tub with the Transmission and T-Case in, no steering column. If the transmission is in and the steering column is in too. The steering column is at a angle and the transmission shifter cane is straight up. Might have issues lowering the tub because of that.
     
    truckee4x4 likes this.
  3. Aug 11, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Happy to report that with a rafter-mounted electric hoist (thanks Amazon!) and a simple tag line through a pulley, I was able to pick the tub and pivot it over the steering column. 1317EAEE-CA95-438A-8FCB-67899E775BE9.jpeg

    Sure is nice to see the tub back on the frame!

    622F1B9C-51C8-479D-B1A6-5707111D84BD.jpeg
    Might need to lift the body up a little bit more to accommodate the Sniper under the oil bath air cleaner though:
    F8EF232F-FE93-4377-82A6-63758C9FA579.jpeg

    And the chain clutch hits the bracing, so I’ll either need to bend it or move it back about an inch (Or lift the body another 1" or soo, not desirable).
    2E2E9125-8527-41E4-8A98-943BBA5D508A.jpeg

    The good news though is that my measurements were spot on - check out the alignment of the LH body mount hole (looking up from below) when all the other bolts were in place:
    62B1BBD0-826D-4504-A537-1E7C728EE8C0.jpeg

    Next I just have to get it back off and on the rotisserie so I can weld up the LH floor and braces and then spend about two more days going over and fixing whatever else I can on the body, which is a lot…but - progress sure feels great!
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2021
  4. Aug 12, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Got the LH floor welded in tonight.

    what do you guys think - should I grind the spot weld “domes” flat, or leave them? @timsresort what did you do?

    also, I got a reminder last night right before the hoist from the vehicle’s future owner that I better keep the progress going!
    A03E192B-C200-4F43-9F0B-F1CBA7B071EC.jpeg
     
    montanacj, Twin2, blalp! and 4 others like this.
  5. Aug 14, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Love the photo, we were all a jeep kid once. On the welds underneath, I did a quick clean up with a flap wheel. I don't think it's necessary to get all perfect. It's a jeep, and your time could be much better spent. If it shows, like outer body, yeah, you want it to look nice-ish. But keep in mind you can see spot welds on stock early jeeps. The quicker you can get this jeep going, the quicker you have great memories with your son.
     
    truckee4x4 likes this.
  6. Aug 16, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    This is good advice, which I will be taking. Unfortunately I moved a little too fast yesterday and made that mistake I've made a few times in this project - which is to try and get one more thing done at the end of the day. I went a little too hard on the flap wheel along the seams of my LH rocker and ended up getting the sheet metal too hot, so now I've got some oil canning. I should have stuck to the edge of the grinding disc. In the grand scheme of things, this body is so lumpy and bumpy it's not a big deal, but I am kicking myself over it because they were prertty straight, and now I'm not sure - is this fixable with filler or have I ruined them for good?

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e6c.jpg
    These are going to look real nice soon enough!

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e6a.jpg


    Other than that I went around the body and got it to probably 80% done and ready to hand over to the body shop. They will have their work cut out for them!

    wRF1Cn9IRFGsJkvjJQR3qQ_thumb_7e7d.jpg UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e79.jpg

    dwv5E5qSREepQ2tSwaodfQ_thumb_7e7e.jpg UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e7c.jpg I'm hoping that one more weekend of attention will get it that last little bit, and also that their skills can un-^%$@ my wavy rockers and the other areas I did a poor job.

    The next item of business that needs attention is to figure out how to flatten out the Advance Adapters chain clutch bracket so it sits more flat inside the frame. Their tech support said "hit it with a big hammer" but I might try and press it with a bottle jack this week in the shop at work. If it cracks, I will weld it.
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e68.jpg UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e5e.jpg UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7e5f.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2021
  7. Aug 16, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Body shop? What's that? But...if you do have a body man, I would ask him about the side, he (or she) might be able to shrink that back in. Did you get the V6 emblems from Sam? He told me some stories about getting exclusively licensed for those. Looking good, Grant.
     
  8. Aug 22, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    So tomorrow is “learn how to add brake fluid” day. Can any of you more experienced mechanic guys and gals point me to a good step by step YouTube tutorial or website that I can refer to as I try to teach myself how to set up my brake system?

    Here’s what I’m starting with- I have put new 11” drums on the rear, a proportioning valve, discs in the front, and a dual reservoir master cylinder. All the 3/16” lines and fittings to everything are good to go - all is just finger tight. I did not bench bleed the master yet.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2021
  9. Aug 22, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    All right well I think I got the brakes dialed and ready to rock, I bench bled the master and then bled all four wheels until there were no bubbles.

    Having never done this before I wonder – what is an appropriate amount of pedal travel? Should there be a point past which I can’t push the pedal with my hand? How can I be 100% sure I don’t have any bubbles left?
     
  10. Aug 30, 2021
    Andrew Theros

    Andrew Theros Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Los Osos, CA
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    Hope you guys are all okay up there. Not sounding too good.
    I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
     
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  11. Sep 20, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Well it's been a few weeks and I've got some small steps forward to report. Luckily the Caldor fire stayed out of South Lake, lots of friends in Meyers were evacuated but they are all home now. What the firefighters did is nothing short of amazing. We are far away from that up here in Truckee, and although the smoke was bad occasionally we have yet to have a major fire threaten us.

    This weekend I worked on buttoning up odds and ends on the engine, the fuel tank, and running the fuel lines to the Sniper.

    I also sent the chain clutch bracket back to advance adapters and they flattened it out for me for free so I won’t have an issue with the body. Great customer service.

    I think I hooked up the wiring to the HEI correctly, assuming the pigtail from the billet housing plugs into the cap, and the other two wires are for power and the tach signal to the Sniper yellow Coil (-) wire from the main harness.

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8064.jpg

    What are the tabs on the back upper RH valve cover supposed to convey - electrical wiring? UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_805b.jpg
    Learned how to cut and crimp spark plug wires, got the hoses fitted up to the engine. Looks like the wires are on the headers in this pic - they are about 1" above in free air.
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_806d.jpg

    RH side:

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_806e.jpg
    Got a hole put into the top of the fuel tank for the return, and a new gasket and sending unit. Getting a wrench in there to tighten the bulkhead fitting was a two beer job in terms of how long it took. Have to figure out where to run the return line under the tank

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_806c.jpg
    Ran the fuel line and filters inside the RH frame rail:
    A77C9BF0-30AA-4BD4-A2FC-F9B8C96A0CB3.jpeg

    I test-fit the grille and radiator, which was a challenge with nothing to strap anything to trying to hold it myself.

    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8067.jpg
    @timsresort - did you find there to be enough room for the stock fan and radiator with a 1.5" fan spacer? I do not think I am going to be able to run the stock fan. So the question is - should I try a thinner profile mechanical fan, or should I upgrade to electric?

    And of course went to the Reno Air Races where my son got his newest rating:
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8047.jpg

    F/A-18 Super Hornet - what do you think happens if this screw comes out?
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8052.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2021
  12. Sep 20, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Everything should clear with a 1/2" spacer, a factory fan, and the proper vacuum advance can that has the spigot off to the side (AC Delco D1366C or equivalent for a 1976 Buick).

    Here's my '69 with the 231 HEI, 225 length water pump, stock fan, 1/2" spacer and the proper vacuum can:
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Sep 20, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yeah the vaccum can on my HEI is unfortunately not the same. I’m reluctant to rip this HEI apart as I’m afraid of breaking it...how hard would the surgery be to swap them?
    ACDelco Distributor Vacuum Advance D1366C | O'Reilly Auto Parts (oreillyauto.com)

    Not even sure if I can obtain one of these, they seem pretty hard to find.

    61BCA984-0117-4DDE-82C4-B5BE019B1791.jpeg

    Lower profile fan? Derale Performance Plain Stainless Flex Fan
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
  14. Sep 20, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    truckee4x4 likes this.
  15. Sep 20, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  16. Sep 20, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Cheers, I have the guys at the O checking on whether or not they can order it. I tried Ebay, Amazon, Napa, and RockAuto and no luck anywhere, if anyone has any other leads LMK.
     
  17. Sep 20, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  18. Sep 20, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    This just made my day, off to find a buick offset vacuum can!

    Edit: so deflated..... no longer available.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2021
  19. Sep 21, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    According to Summit, I was able to order one as linked above...we'll see if it actually shows up. I'll keep you posted.
     
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  20. Sep 21, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

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    I'll have to check summit! Amazon and rock auto were NLA.
     
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