Matt’s 68 Build

Hello everyone, my name is Matt. I have been a lurker here for a while but I figured it’s time to show off my latest project. I have done a decent amount of work to it already so I will get this thread up to speed where I am at now.
Last year I picked up this 1968 Canadian built CJ5 in hopes to drive it as it is. It ran and drove but not great. Well, after taking apart everything I wanted to fix, those hopes turned into a complete restoration! It has been a Northeast Jeep its whole life so it has it’s fair share of rust mostly in the tub and front fenders. Having been a plow Jeep didn’t help either. Frame, windshield, tailgate, grill and hood are all solid. It is complete with the original V6, T-86 and D18 single stick transfer case. The Jeep is in pretty original condition for the most part. Only has one coat of paint over the original Empire Blue and the original upholstery was still hiding under the seat covers. My plan is to completely go through everything and make it as close to factory as possible with a few exceptions. Don’t worry I’ll post plenty of pictures!

Here it is just the way I picked it up





After removing the half cab..



Still had half of the original “Jeep” floor mat on the passenger side










I drove it around the yard a little but got sick of the obnoxiously loud headers/glasspacks the previous owner installed so I backed it in the garage and the disassembly began!



















Disassembly took about two weeks from a running driving jeep to a bare frame. This was working as much as my Job allowed me to. This is pretty much the point where I am at now. I have been busy acquiring parts and pieces from all over the country and the materials necessary for sandblasting and painting. Next step will be sandblasting the frame and getting that fixed up to the point where I am ready to start the reassembly. Of course this step is weather dependent and the weather here in Connecticut has been nonstop cold and rain.As soon as there is a nice stretch of warm sunny days I will be able to make some good progress. Stay tuned!

 

Great write up! Looking forward to see your progress.

 

Wow!!! You are not messing around, looking forwards to the build

 

Finally had time off to make some progress. Perfect weather for sandblasting. Got the majority of the frame sandblasted and in a coat of epoxy primer. Next will be installing the new front bumper and rear crossmember and getting a couple more coats of primer on before the gloss black goes on.

 

The other projects you have in the back ground are interesting as well. The banana, boom and saw? Nice start. Ron