I think I know how this will....

come out.....but, I want to know how many of you are "do it yourselfers" or "pay someone else'ers" or a combination of the two. I know a little about mechanical things but my expierence in actually working on vehicals is narrow. I can do basic stuff, bleed brakes, flush radiator, grease things, etc. But, the steering is horrible (1/2 turn of play before anything turns), tie rods are loose, bellcrank lifts and shifts....basically, it is a 50 year old steering system that has been used and abused. I bought a early CJ steering rebuild set that looks like it has about everything you can replace. I only have basic working tools (plyers, sockets, screwdrivers etc), no pnumatics, torque wrenchs tierod pullers or anything like that. Yes, I'd like to say that I did it myself, but if I try this, I know for a fact that it will take me weeks if not months to get everything fixed and drivable again.....not to mention it's 100 degree's here all the time.......and, I just hate having my Jeep "non-working".

So, should I do it myself, at least attempt it myself, or take my box of parts to the nearest 4x4/alignment/steering place and say "fix it."

Dondo

 

Those of you that are in the "combination" area, what would you farm out versus do yourself?

 

Well so far all I have farmed out was a front end alignment. I think I would also farm out any gear changes in the diff's as I use my Jeep for daily transport at highway speeds. Mike

 

For my JEEP I'm planning on doing EVERYTHING myself - BUT...

I'm doing this because I'm using this project to learn as much as I can about restoration/maintenance, etc. If that's not what you're looking for, nothing wrong with farming out some stuff.

On my DD I generally fix things myself at home, but if something breaks up at school the local Ford dealer has been very good to me. I don't have any tools or place to work there, so it's just easier to pay the money and have it handled.

 

I say do it yourself. Worst case, you can't fix it THEN you sent it on. There is sooo much knowledge around here, I don't hesitate to tear into something

 

With vehicles as old as what most of our Jeeps are you're better off learning to fix it yourself as most mechanics you would take these to, it would be a learning experience for them also. Heck if you take one of these Jeeps to get lubed they'll miss half the zerk fittings on it. In 13 years I have rebuilt the transfercase, transmission, the v6 engine, stripped the frame, brakes, rewired, and rebuilt everything mechanical but my rear axle, I have rebuilt both of my front axles, my dana 27 and my newer dana 30 and shortened a front driveshaft to accomodate my dana 30. My front end alignment is the only thing I have paid to have done, other than some sand blasting.

 

I voted for a combination. And I'll tell you why. I am kind of in the same boat as you. Although I do have a few extra tools like a welder and an air system.... but there are things that just aren't worth it to me to do myself. I am having my jeep painted professionally, although I did try myself, I found I just didn’t have the patients or time to do the prep work correctly. I found out painting really isn’t something you can just stop in the middle of and pick up later like most of the other work I’ve done. Finally I recommend doing as much as you can yourself, the more you do the more confident you’ll feel about the “harder” stuff.

 

It's all me baby! R)

I have found I can do everything I have put my mind to. If I can't then I'll find out how.

 

We do all of the Jeep work ourselves, and just the basics on our Daily Driver vehicles. I don't particularly want to spend my whole weekend wrenching on my Toyota Tacoma, which absolutely MUST be running on Monday morning, but I might spend a little time changing oil, replacing a hose, etc. On the other hand, I enjoy working on the Jeeps, and if we don't happen to finish a job in one weekend (or even 2 or 3), not a problem, as we have other rides for the week. Wanting a Jeep to be up and running again after the latest fix or upgrade keeps us focused on the job. I say take on the easier jobs on your Jeep at first. Spend the money you save on tools instead of giving it to your mechanic. As you get more competant, your tools and the jobs you take on will get more complex. If you believe a job is beyond your capability, get a mechanically-inclined friend to help you, and watch and ask lots of questions.

 

when i first got my jeep the steering was horrible also.
i ended up paying someone to fix it and as was mentioned earlier they have no idea what they are doing either. they got it done, but no better then what i could have done with some patience and tools.

the way i think of it now is if i do it myself i get to buy a bunch of nice tools that i can then use on the next job and they usually cost less then having the work done by someone else. you can almost get step by step instructions here on the board for any project you want to dive into.

chris

 

I try and do most of the work myself.....if I cant I recruit my buddy who's a mechanic and get him a case of beer and the work gets done

 

You can find a JEEP minded mechanic to have the hard stuff done (with warranty); Basic stuff is easy on these old rigs. I rebuilt my xfer case with tons of help from folks here and Eric at Novak. I'd hate to do it again. I got lucky that it worked the first time. I'm mechanically 'impaired' though. It takes me 4 times as long at 4 times the cost and 4 times the blood, sweat, and tears.

I voted the combo route but I refrain from much wrench work anymore.

 

Not if your wanting the castor checked so you can make shims. I also let the shop check the frame work to see if it was as straight as I hoped it would be. I do understand the welding and such and the roll bar thing, but for general wrenching there are no specialized tools needed other than a torque wrench and the gage for setting pinion depth and a magnetic base to use the indicator for checking end play on other things. No offense to the mechanics on the board, but a race car engine is a far cry from a precision machine. Heck a Cox airplane engine is truthfully more precision than a Rolls Royce engine and thats no joke!!. A large chunk of rebuilding the transfercase and such is having enough confidence to try to undertake it and realize that being clean is one of the most important things.

 

not much to the steering rebuild. don't need the pickle fork, hit the side of the tierod end w/hammer till it falls off. not much there, and besides help is here when you need it.

 

Well, you all have about done it.....

I'm almost willing to tackle the steering by myself...I'm betting that after about 3 or 4 Mooseheads, I'll convince myself that I can do it...

Dondo

 

the only things i farmed out where my front frame horns transplant, since i am not a certified welder and i like to know that the front of my cj is not going to suddenly out run the back.
some custom fitting for the exhaust crossover pipe around the saginaw conversion
had the front brake drums turned,
and alignment.

i also had the steering upgrade i put in inspected by my local garage mech. i just wanted to have another pair of eyes and hands go through my work. he didn't even charge me.

the rest i have done with the expert advice and digital handholding by the good people on this site.

includes new steering saginaw upgrade, leaf springs, ubolts, shocks, shackles, electrical rebuild, front brake linings and new left front brake cylinder, cleaned and repacked the front bearings

if i have to redo the trans or xfer i may start it to see how bad. if i get in over my head i'll find someone to bail me out. but as i said the resouces on this site (the people) are great at talking you through things and giving you the confidence.

 

i was surprized at how far off my camber was when I had it checked. The front end shop actually had the shims and took care of it all for $50. Mike

 

I do almost everything myself, except for machine work and diff gear set up. But I actually turned wrenches for a living in the 70's and still have all my tools. For diffs, I have a friend who has all the right tools and a lot of experience, so I have him do that stuff for me. Body work and painting are my weak points, but I'm getting better at it.

 

Some things I sent out. Tranny rebuilts go out only because of my garage not being able to stay clean. I don't do gears because I am not confident. My DD gets some stuff at home but I am not scared to take it to a shop. Dad took his car and moms car to the shop today for brakes but only because it was a lot quicker for them to do it then him.