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74 Cj5 Renegade Restoration... Progress & Pics

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Chris'74, Jun 5, 2020.

  1. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Start of a frame off restoration! I have always wanted to restore a jeep to show room factory quality. I was born in '74 and only wanted this year, and the Renegade as a project. So I spent 7yrs looking for this jeep. I finally found it in Texas on FB and dropped everything to drive to Texas and pick up. It was in very good shape when I found it with only a few rusty areas, a small hole/damage, and all stock but for a lift kit. I'm about 50% done with the restoration so I thought I'd post up a few pics.

    Where I'm at now...all parts striped down. 80% parts sandblasted and powder coated. Axles were painted because I did not want to tear them apart (But one day will). Exhaust is original and ceramic coated with manifolds. Engine rebuilt and painted. Tranny/T-case rebuilt and painted. All new brakes, lines.

    Left to do...Sheet metal which has been sandblasted, pending Body work, wiring, interior, and seats. Body going to a great local shop for restoration and paint.

    Tear Down 1.jpeg Tear Down 2.jpeg Tear Down 3.jpeg Tear Down 4.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
  2. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Going ... going ... GONE. Tear down complete.
    Tear Down 6.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
  3. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Powder Coated parts & Painted axles
    Powder coated parts.jpeg Axles Painted.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
    Bonepl8 and Walt Couch like this.
  4. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Rebuilt 304, new clutch, rebuilt T15/20
    Engine.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
    heavychevy, jeepstar, Bonepl8 and 4 others like this.
  5. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    I've been busy. Got it back to a 'rollin' chassis. I have to keep ahead of the body shop. COvid lock down actually helped me a bit since the body shop was closed for weeks. Gave me a jump start. I should add... After this pic was taken. And AFTER engine painted. I realized the water pump casting was interfering with the Harmonic Balancer. I put the engine on TDC before putting water pump on. The Body shop let me know, when the were painting tried to rotate to get balancer's underside painted better. And hit. Ugghhh... Found a better pump and no issues. But it is not painted! No biggie but guys, check your clearences before paint!

    Rollin.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2020
  6. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    For those looking at engine paint... I spent a great deal of time on this one. Many say '74 is this darker blue. My engine (and jeep) was manufactured in '73. And luckily I had a bit of overspray on the back side of the fly wheel that had original paint. Which matched the Eastwood color more then the +74/75 color. SO I went with the Eastwood color. Pic are two samples I had the body shop spray out. One on the right is Eastwood AMC Blue Metallic. Left is the '74/75 darker blue from PPG. Original Paint Flywheel.jpeg
     
  7. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    I have a great sandblaster / coater (Diversified Finishers). He knows classic cars/trucks/jeeps. And knows how to treat 45+ sheet metal good. Here is body after stage 1 of blasting. He'll come back and do stage 2 with beads...then it is back to body shop for the works. Prior to blasting I welded up all the holes that are not factory from PO drilling in BS stuff. Including all the snaps for the soft top. PO had so many soft top snaps on the rails, he must have had three different tops...none of which I have now. So I wanted to start over when I find a top or buy one aftermarket.

    Body Sandblasted stg1.jpeg
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2021
    heavychevy, Bonepl8 and Ol Fogie like this.
  8. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
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    225
    The next BIG project is to figure out the seats. Which have been a very big challenge. The original seats had three different vinyl on it. when I got to the foam they smelled like death! This jeep was a Texas Farm jeep. Never really on the road. So I bet he never really put the top on it. Who knows what peed and sh*t on them. So I pulled the foam. The frames of the rear and passenger were basically rusty dust! I wish I took a pic of my garage floor as I pulled them apart. Could not believe the rust on the floor. SO I went and looked for seats.
    covers.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2020
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  9. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Passenger seat
    Seat.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
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  10. Jun 5, 2020
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Dang dude! Looking great!! :beer:
     
  11. Jun 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Thanks... This is me paying homage to classic jeeps. I already put it into my will that it goes to family! Before this I took CJ/YJs and turned them into mud/rock crawlers. You know the 44's, 5.3, cut corners, Atlas-4spds, 60s, beadlocks, and "Crap". After awhile I got so sick of breaking stuff and fixing it all I sold everything. And well, timing was right since they keep closing all the trails out here in the east (Remember Telico). This is my penance to the jeep gods for all those CJ's I cut up. Will be 90% factory stock. Only going to add 31's and new wiring harness. Otherwise Stock as much as I can do.
     
  12. Jun 9, 2020
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    161
    That is how it should be. I think there is also a movement out west to have trail runs with tires sizes no bigger than 33's. I miss the days when 31's could get you through the Rubicon with some good driving..
     
  13. Jun 25, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Quick trip to the body shop...Our Dream Auto... Looks great. Not the best pics. It was still in their trailer from picking up from blasting. There are some small issues to repair and prep for paint. Probably another 4-6 wks till paint
    0AD9C9CD-87A4-4395-86B3-E0FB4A3A6409_1_105_c.jpeg 0E10F93D-B099-4388-8036-36C53A9E9436_1_105_c.jpeg 3CE68FC7-DABC-4C17-91E8-20B5C5805B3F_1_105_c.jpeg

    And picked up the paint sample... 510. Looks awesome. Doing base/clear. Put the engine paint next to it just for others who may be looking at options.
    9C57C96B-AF14-4CDE-BEE5-654C418715A9_1_105_c.jpeg

    Here's my steering wheel. it is in rough shape. I'm going to restore it and keep it on a shelf. But I bought a repo, that I just sent to get reduced from 17" to 15"...give me a bit room between my belly. Yeah I know I can do the notch, and raise the column, and even switch columns/wheel. I'm trying to keep this as much as a '74 stock looking jeep as I can...
    08B464BB-712E-47E5-BFC8-B1FFF75F3BF4_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2021
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  14. Jul 2, 2020
    joltes

    joltes Member

    Wheeling, WV
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2019
    Messages:
    74
    That is looking great. I am jealous of that body! Keep up the solid work.
     
  15. Jul 4, 2020
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,513
    So how does one go about reducing the diameter of the steering wheel ?
    Did a shop do this for you ?
    Just curious about the process and cost.
     
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  16. Jul 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    There are a few shops that do this for "Classic Cars". I spent months googling, and calling them all. Talked to half a dozen across the US. None were interested in my CJ's, since they did not have molds already for the CJ. But one guy who just retired and closed up his shop in New Jersey, I talked with him before, then he volunteered to come out of retirement for one last job. His wife may be made at me! He has done this, and wheel restorations for 20+ years. The process is to cut the outer circle off, shorten the three 'spokes', then using a 15" outer blank circle, tig weld back to the spokes. Restore the three weld areas, and then full restoration of the wheel. He has a jig for all this to keep the wheel true. The only thing I am losing will be the top outer wheel groves. Which usually are worn smooth over the years. The new 15" blanks he uses only have the bottom-side finger molds, but smooth on top. I should get the wheel back in about 2 weeks or so. The cost... well.... it isn't cheap at ALL. But I'm going all in on this frame off restoration. I just don't want to lose the look of the factory wheel, cut the tub, or use new column/wheel. One thing I did do...I used a Repo Crown wheel for this. So I still have my stock wheel which is in very rough shape. I plan on restoring the original as a 17" and keeping on the shelf. Maybe throw it on if I go to a cruise and show since it is rather easy too swap out wheels.
     
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  17. Jul 5, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Spent time working on the seats during the Covid 4th Holiday~! I had another posting on my seat dilemma but consolidating things here. Briefly, all three of my original seat's frames were in very rough shape, more rust than steal. Each one had 3 layers of reupholstered vinyl. The first layer was original Buff Wellington, VIN correct. Few calls over to SMS and they have the Buff Wellington. They even will put in the molded lines (not stitched, forgot what they called the molding part). The frames of Pass and Rear of my seats were rusted dust. Beyond repair. Foam smelled like death. Spent a month finding replacement frames. Only could find correct years for the Passenger and Rear. Couldn't find the correct Driver so decided to fix what I have. Put all three into a burn off oven, then sandblasted so I could repair all the busted bolts, and Driver side. Check out the Pass...actually folds down! I now have to repair the Driver, where the hog ring holes are gone. Then all three will go back to get sandblasted again and powder coated. I'll add new Zig Zag Springs, and off to the upholsterer for new foam and the Buff Wellington from SMS. Will use my old Pass/Rear seats and foam as 'template' for upholsterer to match the shape and contours.
    76EBD2A2-3A69-4094-BE52-75E97B8BC82C_1_105_c.jpeg A3EE02D6-E282-43AA-8EED-021D78FA91E9_1_105_c.jpeg 7A7C184E-27D5-4655-A9EC-5123DB7A0CB4_1_105_c.jpeg 6B1F5BA1-457C-49FE-931B-BAB182FF38CE_1_105_c.jpeg 57542C15-642D-44C1-92AC-308EF698341D_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
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  18. Jul 9, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Two hour round trip drive. $30. Factory 1970's Wire Looms! It's all in the details right. Is it stupid to be excited to find these? My friends thought I was crazy to drive for old plastic parts. I have the brackets too. Two for the Valve covers, one off the coil, and seems one extra that was mounted on a tab/bracket off Driver side second valve cover bolt.
    C4ADB076-3FE7-427B-BD41-4765C4AEF867_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
  19. Jul 21, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    I got a few things checked off my list.

    I fixed the driver's seat, and I resprung all three seats with new zig zags. Dropped the frames off for sandblasting and powder coating. Now I'm waiting for the SMS vinyl (buff wellington w/ embossed lines) to come in. They are 2-months behind! When I get that vinyl it's off to the upholsterer.

    Also my resized steering wheel came back. Bob at Bob's Steering wheel did it. He retired, for only 2wks, then decided at 80 he isn't ready for retirement. Recommend him if looking for resizing or restoring. I wanted to keep the stock wheel look, but reduce it to 15" for belly room. Couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The wheel is slightly thicker diameter outer ring (1/8") but looks great.

    And the Wheels. Polished one up to get the right amount of shine. Which is just below full mirror but above a matte finish. You can see a reflection, but not the details in the reflection. Which I think is period correct. Used a mechanical vibration method. Put a pic of the old next to the polished... I think I'm going to put a ceramic coating on them to help keep them looking good. Heard good things about ceramic vrs clear coating.

    Next up....I have to rebuild the turn signal, I'll tear it apart this weekend. Not sure how to rebuild it, but I'll tackle it after I open it all up and see what needs to be done. Hope just a good cleaning and repaint the case. But heard these are a usually a problem to get working again. Mine feels super "Loose".

    Forgot to add.. since I included the pic of the M/C and Booster. I sent the factory one off to Indiana to a shop there that rebuilds M/Cs and Boosters. Got it back looking like new. But that is really a 46yr old Booster!
    CD089C62-FB95-4035-83F1-DAC6D843955B_1_105_c.jpeg E43DD803-755D-43FE-9D4D-BFB54313B650_1_105_c.jpeg 69036DA5-81B1-475B-BD68-BD6FD2142007_1_105_c.jpeg 397C0C36-62BD-4646-9984-74BDF61DCA50_1_105_c.jpeg F18C7D78-6521-4A9C-A3F4-A12E5E67B49B_1_105_c.jpeg 8E883E33-3333-4CDD-AB10-E506A5B2B51A_1_105_c.jpeg 15065C0B-D52B-45C1-A81C-E0B2CDF491C6_1_105_c.jpeg 1A69009D-D5F5-477D-9C8D-4E5BE0DBE8BA_1_105_c.jpeg 2E6BDC4F-D913-4BA2-A64C-736308C9BBD6_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
  20. Jul 21, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    The steering wheel turned out fantastic. The polished wheel looks great too.
     
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