Warloch's 63 Cj5 Build

Time for a bit of an update - was able to go out for about an hour and finished the fish plates and boxing for the front cross member.

Now - I just need to remember the measurements to mount the radiator on this... but I think I either drank those brain cells, or surgery killed them because my notes no longer make sense

SO - I may not be able to finish that until I put the grill and engine back in.

Time to finish the frame work, then I'll slap some different axles in so the ratios match his current rig.

Next will be for the cowl mount for his fuse box and then get into fitting the pedals and steering to the tub once things are back together.

 

Got out and played a little in the shop. I'll try to take photos of the cowl conversion where we are putting the fuse box. B (neighbor who bought the build) has it in his current rig and I'm adapting it to this one for him as well.
As you can see - nice and ready - so of course I'll be cutting holes in it

You cut the cover off by the spot welds - these are in good. Hope you can make them out.

I used a spot weld cutter after trying to be more careful - frankly its easier for me to weld up the holes that futz with trying to save more material. I'll cover that when I do it.

Before I swap the welder back to .022 wire I wanted to finish a little nit problem. The rear crossmember had the brake line pass through torn out. So, out with the bad.

In with the new.

Also finished the mounting and trimming for the rear tank. Put a piece of belting under it. Will probably cut into strips but wanted to make sure it all fit first. May also add a top strap, but it's pretty snug. We will see as I finish things like that up.

Supposed to snow tomorrow night so we will see what I get to over the weekend. Got to be out of town next week for work. Might be the last time I have to travel for work - ever

 

If things go as planned - I'll be retiring the end of the year... maybe sooner depending on some peoples B.S. but that might cut into the fun and toys for early retirement so I'll have to watch that.

 

You know - some of the best decisions are made for you (but don't tell the wife)... It was such a S#it show at the office last week with a new reorg, nobody but the new CTO had a clue about or input on, that I'm retiring in July.

It was worth the shock on her face when she asked me how I was going to work with the changes and help drive her new agenda - "I'm not. I'm pushing the eject button and I'm out. This is my official notification I'm retiring in July. HR paperwork to follow."

She sat there with her mouth open and shock on her face - everyone else was smiling. Lots of folks said after they wished they had that option.

God that felt good

Now - back to the regular fun as soon as the rest of the snow melts from the dump we got while I was out of town.

 

Thank you gentlemen - and Congrats to those of you about to join the party too. I have to say I have a really mad CTO right now - but I don't care and told her that again today

People talk about being 'bored' in retirement as a huge challenge. For me its going to be training my wife that I'm NOT on 24 hour a day honey do list duty. It was hard enough when I started working from home.

 

Small update - got the holes filled back in from taking the cover off. Just some minor cleaning and surface work left but I'll do that just before I do the final paint (again) on the area.

Here are the clips - at least as close as I could find to the ones he used before. I'll drop them in some muriatic acid and clean the galvanization off. Then I'll massage the lever and soften the 'clip' as they are real tight

 

Before I go too far with today's work - the afore mentioned clips that somehow I didn't get on the post...

Now - this is the cover that the neighbor ******* (politically offensive name to some, but his real name) made that I'm putting on this build for him.

My process was to pull the clips apart and drop them in some muriatic acid for @ 30 mins - rinse with baking soda water afterwards to neutralize the acid.

Did some layout by putting the cover in with some magnets and cleaning up where I'll weld the clips.

Clips on

Decided to put some extra weld on as the single hole might pop off under pressure - but probably not

The black edging is an edge trim that goes on the cowl and cover to keep things from rattling and make it snug. Took @ an hour today to do it and then started on the clearance on the grill for the front power box hoses.

 

I would cut the new cowl opening so the old one would push up from inside. Spot weld it in place with some holes top side to give it a smooth - stock look with that 1" surround. That's assuming you have popped the top off like I did this one. You could then just spot weld it back on or build a cover like this for it.