79 CJ5 restore

I've just completed the tear down on my 79 CJ5. During the process I've discovered it has been rehabed once before, some new body panels, junk yard numbers on the transmission and leaf spring plates on the top of the rear axle even though the springs are under the axle now. I think it had quite a lift at on point and then was lowered back down, the tranny skid plate still had 1 1/2'' spacers on it. The current springs have an arch of 7 1/4", any guess about how much of a lift that would be? I'm returning it to all stock but the springs are pretty new and still in great shape so I may reuse them.

Progress so far:

The day I brought it home





The tear down starts



Ready to lift the body off



Body off



Tear down complete!



Only one trip to the ER for 12 stitches so far!

Mike

 

what were the 12 stitches for?

 

oh yea good job so far... thats alot of work

 

Frame looks to be in good shape

Good progress

 

Two thumbs up for putting it back to stock!

 

The frames not in bad shape, just 4 spots that need repair.








I've welded new caps from Safe T Cap on the tails and a new rear crossmember. I patched the other holes with angle iron and flat stock.

I caught the back of my hand on the clutch housing, rented an engine lift for 1/2 day then spent it in the ER.

 

Just scrubbed down the frame and I'm getting ready to fix the body mounts. I plan on welding an 1/8 inch plate on the bottom of the mounts to reinforce the holes but it appears the front mount for the grill is smaller than the rest of the holes. Would anybody happen to know the diameter of the front mount hole and what would be the best way to locate the plate in the right spot. The hole in front is not to bad, but I don't have any clean edge to locate the hole.



This is the worst of the side mounts.



Thanks again.
Mike

 

The front hole on mine is 1 1/16" and the leading edge is about 6" from the front.

I measured mine from the top front to the leading edge of the hole.

 

Thanks Norm, thats exactly what I needed. The hole is centered in the frame but I needed that measurement from the front.
Thanks again

 

I am getting ready to weld 1/8 plate on the bottom of the body mount supports. Before I do I wanted to make sure this won't cause any clearence issues. I don't have the new mounts yet to test fit and the old ones were to far shot to be of any help.







I can't imagine an 1/8" would cause any problem, I putting them on the bottom and not the top so I don't have to shim the new mounts on the rear cross member, think it will be OK?

Thanks.