Warloch's 63 Cj5 Build

Well - a short little update. I've done a few things, planned more, but life gets in the way.

Spent the first two weeks of June in Europe - we booked a Viking Rhine River Cruise in March of 2022 that finally happened.

Dabbled on the jeep as my hip allowed:

Got some primer on the last two items that need paint.

Put the front clip back together so I could fit the updated cross member for power steering and see what needs cleared for the hoses before I paint the grill.

Then we had a fire out at the farm... what's left of the old out building.

I have to get that cleaned up before hip replacement 23 August... yay. I did pull the rest down. My sister and Mom wanted me to prop it up so they could park a truck under it - eh NO.

And then since I've been out of commission for most of the year. My sister has been 'helping' around the place. Her idea of keeping the barn organized...

I used to fit a truck, trailer, tractor and other implements in there. Not so much now.

 

Well - this will probably be the last update for most of the year. Getting harder to move around and I have to stop meds this weekend that help me move around so I'll be ready for surgery the 23rd.

Got Color on two of the last three pieces.

Just have to do some trim/redo on the front driver side of the grill to clear power steering hoses and I'll be able to paint that one. Though it may wait till spring and warmer weather.

I was told I 'should' be back out in the shop sometime in November. OK, got lots of mechanical to finish up and then get it done by late spring.

 

And I'm getting back into the shop pretty much on schedule. Did some puttering around cleaning before, but was not comfortable with the 'ups and downs' of moving around yet.

Last weekend I was actually able to crawl under the front and fit the grill support on the crossmember.

Got things lined up pretty well.

Marked the mod I need on the grill to clear the power hose lines.

And fit the radiator back in.

Now I just need to build the brackets to mount the radiator. I fit mine so that the uprights come off to make pulling the motor easier.

Also did some more cleaning so I'm getting close to pulling the body for the last time.

Hip only takes a couple hour to get pretty sore - so will be building back up to things.

 

DING DING DING - we have a winner

I take things apart so much while building that I just leave it there till I'm finished.

 

23 August. I've been walking fine since week 6 and have been moving around pretty good. My problem had been getting up and down without 'something' to help that first bit off the floor. Partly hip and partly due to the spinal fusion I had too. He had to use a special hip plate due to the fusion(s) at L4, L5, and S1 to allow more movement later on. My back and hip were super stiff by the time I had the surgery so it slowed things down a bit.

Now I'm fine getting up off the floor without anything around. I could do it in mid October, but it took time and I had to be careful - just wasn't as steady. Last thing I needed was to tip over into something in the shop and cause more injuries. If that didn't kill me, my wife would have so I decided to take it slow. Did some cleaning and moving of things out there, but I had to crawl on the floor and weld the grill mount on my back while twisting up in there. Good test, but I've had enough welding slag in my coveralls over the years I wanted to be mobile enough to handle it.

I was 17 in the drive way of the house with my coveralls around my knees swatting welding slag out of my underware when my girlfriend and her mom pulled in - behind me... my dad just laughed his a$$ off at it.

 

Not as big of an update as I'd hoped, but it got damn cold over turkey weekend and limited my ability to go out to the shop.

Time to pull the tub for (I hope) the last time... at least that's the plan. I've had folks ask about the process, so here it is.

But first - Why does every horizontal surface in the shop 'collect' things when your not looking?

Popped the fenders and grill off - now to keep from scratching them too much while they are not attached
I roll the rig back to the lift and set it up to pull the tub.

Once the tub is off the frame. I roll the frame out the other door and hook the rotisserie up to the tub.

Then the frame comes back on to the lift so I don't kill my back welding to finish up structural work.

The neighbor likes to pull the battery cover off and puts his fuse block and that in that space over the glove box. It will be much easier to do it on the rotisserie than crawling in and doing it.

Finished up the Grill mount on the new cross member. Now I'll finish the front rails and work my way back on the frame.

Can't work on it this weekend - might get out a bit during the week so we will see.

 

I'll post pics when we do it - he basically turns the faux battery box cover into a cover for that space with a hinge and clasp. Some edging on the metal keeps it clean and water tight.

 

Yippee - got the 'OK' from the Dr to start being able to do things in the shop again after my latest "Damn, I'm getting old and cut open AGAIN" moment...

The goal was to not be cut open by a surgeon this year (first time in 9 years)... made all of 10 DAMN DAYS

Now I just need the weather to cooperate with all the snow and cold this year.