Build Thread 1966 CJ 6 build
TroyaCantrell
Old Time Jeeper
- Posts
- 1,455
- Media
- 8
- Thanks
- 0
- Location
- Orangevale, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- 1966 CJ 6, Buick V6 Dauntless,
Dana 44 rear, Dana 27 front
Trans GM SM 420
First Gear ....... 7.05
Second Gear ... 3.57
Third Gear ...... 1.70
Fourth Gear ... Direct
Dana T-case (twin stick)
1970 Glass dune buggy. Short pan 1600
2008 Chevy HHR SS
Well it's mine.
Went to Napa yesterday and crawled all around it and purchased it... Like all good jeep adventures that is where the fun started. I knew / thought it had Transmission issue but as it turns out seems more like a Transfer Case issue since it works in 4 wheel drive but not 2 wheel.
Found out that it also has some steering issues, on the test drive and when I tried to tow it. I Couldn’t get the tires to turn with the tow rig. Oh, that’s after an hour long road trip to get a 7” riser hitch so it would even connect to the tow vehicle. Questions about what to do with the old Ross cam lever steering setup will be posted in the appropriate forum, angles of the tie rods look wrong, too peaked.
Probably best to trailer it home anyway!
I will be having the T-Case looked at by a professional along with the tranny, diff’s, front axle. While I am reasonably competent mechanically I am not confident I could handle the Transmission and Transfer Case repair yet.
I also want an expert opinion on the status / condition of them.
Current setup:
• Buick Dauntless Buick 225 V6 v6 ( starts fine, runs fine)
• Speedometer is broken, 66,000 confirmed, estimate at about 80,000
• Dana 44 rear
• Dana 27 in the front
• Transmission – unknown (replaced with 4speed, granny low, GM-XXX)
• Transfer Case – unknown (Spicer for sure, Twin stick, looks to be an 18)
• Rancho 2.25 lift, new leaf springs and shocks
• Cragar 15 X 10 Wheels on 5 X 5.5 bolt pattern with back spacing (tires are done)
• Ross cam and lever steering (angles look all wrong up front)
• Steering wheel replaced with smaller one (making it even harder to steer)
• Plastic seats (they will have to go)
• Roll bar probably has the most rust of anything.
• Needs wiring harness
• Needs wiper motors
• Warren locking hubs, well I should say hub. Pulled the RT front tire off before we left, it had the hub covered with a center cap, and we found that it was missing.
• Most everything was leaking oil and covered with it to some degree including the front axle, looks like front seals may be bad as there is grease / oil running down the back side of the tin back plate.
So the build thread begins. This will not be a total body off restoration. The frame and body are in fabulous shape, small amounts of surface rust on the underside of the pan. I crawled up and down the underside with a heavy screwdriver poking and japing at anything that looked like it could even be a possible problem and found nothing.
• Mechanical issues first with t-case and steering
• The underside will get totally cleaned and undercoated, looking at the POR 15 system.
• Front clip will come off and the engine compartment will be cleaned and painted white, dressing the firewall up a bit in the process.
• Re-wire entire thing, I am sure there are a few components that will need replaced
• Fix / repair speedo
• Clean and paint (possible rhino) the interior of the tub
• May need new steering column, turn signals broken off and the Wife will need the tilt I think.
• New seats
• New top
• Mirrors
• Etc, etc, etc
Let the games begin!
Went to Napa yesterday and crawled all around it and purchased it... Like all good jeep adventures that is where the fun started. I knew / thought it had Transmission issue but as it turns out seems more like a Transfer Case issue since it works in 4 wheel drive but not 2 wheel.
Found out that it also has some steering issues, on the test drive and when I tried to tow it. I Couldn’t get the tires to turn with the tow rig. Oh, that’s after an hour long road trip to get a 7” riser hitch so it would even connect to the tow vehicle. Questions about what to do with the old Ross cam lever steering setup will be posted in the appropriate forum, angles of the tie rods look wrong, too peaked.
Probably best to trailer it home anyway!
I will be having the T-Case looked at by a professional along with the tranny, diff’s, front axle. While I am reasonably competent mechanically I am not confident I could handle the Transmission and Transfer Case repair yet.
I also want an expert opinion on the status / condition of them.
Current setup:
• Buick Dauntless Buick 225 V6 v6 ( starts fine, runs fine)
• Speedometer is broken, 66,000 confirmed, estimate at about 80,000
• Dana 44 rear
• Dana 27 in the front
• Transmission – unknown (replaced with 4speed, granny low, GM-XXX)
• Transfer Case – unknown (Spicer for sure, Twin stick, looks to be an 18)
• Rancho 2.25 lift, new leaf springs and shocks
• Cragar 15 X 10 Wheels on 5 X 5.5 bolt pattern with back spacing (tires are done)
• Ross cam and lever steering (angles look all wrong up front)
• Steering wheel replaced with smaller one (making it even harder to steer)
• Plastic seats (they will have to go)
• Roll bar probably has the most rust of anything.
• Needs wiring harness
• Needs wiper motors
• Warren locking hubs, well I should say hub. Pulled the RT front tire off before we left, it had the hub covered with a center cap, and we found that it was missing.
• Most everything was leaking oil and covered with it to some degree including the front axle, looks like front seals may be bad as there is grease / oil running down the back side of the tin back plate.
So the build thread begins. This will not be a total body off restoration. The frame and body are in fabulous shape, small amounts of surface rust on the underside of the pan. I crawled up and down the underside with a heavy screwdriver poking and japing at anything that looked like it could even be a possible problem and found nothing.
• Mechanical issues first with t-case and steering
• The underside will get totally cleaned and undercoated, looking at the POR 15 system.
• Front clip will come off and the engine compartment will be cleaned and painted white, dressing the firewall up a bit in the process.
• Re-wire entire thing, I am sure there are a few components that will need replaced
• Fix / repair speedo
• Clean and paint (possible rhino) the interior of the tub
• May need new steering column, turn signals broken off and the Wife will need the tilt I think.
• New seats
• New top
• Mirrors
• Etc, etc, etc
Let the games begin!
.... It will get a little deeper, engine compartment cleanup, under coating, front clip will come off for the engine compartment cleanup. Some work on the motor, body, paint, etc, etc.
off I found it rusted through in places. SOB, this will have to get cut out and replaced this winter. 
