Build Thread 1979 Cj-7 Let the games begin! Rolling restoration

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

i will be cleaning the rear frame rails down to bare steel so i can weld the repairs in but the rest of it just needs to be cleaned up enough to get paint to stick as for the compressor i wish i could afford a 100 gal 5-10 horse 3 phase but my house has AMC 150 or 200 amp service so 240 volt is about as big as i can go im ok with taking a break to let the compressor build pressure but like you said its the cfm im really lacking . the pressure pot blasters run pretty well between at 10-15 cfm so thats my goal for now . i rented a tow behind compressor to blast some brick and I-beams at an old shoe factory we converted into 4 condos and that bad boy was awesome! it was blasting a 2-3" wide path through 10+ layers of paint really fast so i could just rent it again if i only needed it for a short time but i know i can find future use for the large compressor so im just going to keep looking . i have some wanted ads on craigslist and im getting alot of nice offers in the $500-$1000 range but i cant spend that kind of money right now

if i can get 50+ gal 240v with 10 + cfm it should do just about anything i can throw at it. i found a few "project" compressors that need motors so i might go for one of those and put a gas motor on it . i will build a shed or lean-to on the side of the garage for it but with bad motors i dont know how to test the pumps so that scares me a little bit .

thx brian

FYI compressors are best measured in CFM, cubic feet per minute.

Sand blasting easily use 10 or 15 CFM of air, that is a BIG compressor. more than likely 3 phase.

Are you going to take it down to the bare frame??

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

oh and im not pulling the body off incase thats what you meant by "bare frame" im afraid if i pull the tub i wont get it back together and i will be another one of those guys with jeep parts for sale ! also the rest of the frame and body mounts are solid so i can get it repaired with the tub on!

brian

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

hey guys i smashed up my work truck earlier in the week so im now playing catchup with all my jobs and my wallet took a big hit for the bodyshop but i should be getting rolling again soon. i decided on cutting my own frame repair plates so i will be doing a little tutorial as i go with pics and vids ! im hoping to show that even shade tree mechanics can tackle big projects as long as they take their time and do lots of research! after all restoring a jeep is a huge job but if you break it down into many smaller jobs and take your time we all can build out dream machines! after all i have gone this far wiith less than 16 hours invested!

i know there is still a long road ahead but thats the fun part!
http://www.jeep-cj.com/gallery/files/8/9/2/6/img_2513.jpg

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Free stuff

well my budget took a hit because of my accident in the work truck so im only able to do things that cost little or nothing mostly just wire wheel and grinder work cleaning up the iron. i ran into some wierd rubberized undercoating on the frame rails that is almost impossible to remove the wire wheel just heats it up and it gets sticky and clogs up my wire cup wheel. it actually becomes a liquid again and just gets moved around , i can see the clean iron under it so im not going to get nuts as long as the new undercoating sticks to it! every where i got down to bare metal im hitting it with rust convertor and flat black paint . all the body mounts look good besides the back ones and a few need top plates because the rubber body bushings hold moisture (how did they not know that?). all the bushings will be replaced with poly bushings when i order my spring over kit! i was going to do the spring over with junk yard parts but after lots of reading im going to order the kit from Spring over axle lift for Jeep CJ 5, CJ 6, CJ 7, CJ 8, Scrambler !!!! its under $1000 with all the bells and whistles and that and the 2" body kit will give me close to 6.5 " lift so the 35's will clear fine! CHECK OUT THEIR KIT ITS REALLY NICE AND CAN ALL BE DONE BOLT-ON ! I will probably weld on the spring perches and bump stop mounts when i gusset the rears.

nothing special in the pics just trying to keep good records of the build!

i also got the chiltons , haynes , and the jeep owners bible if anyone needs info or specs let me know!!!

brian

 

[BC CJ]

Re: Free stuff

Your efforts with the wire wheel are really showing results! It's looking good. once you get the back patched up you'll have a great frame to build this Jeep on.

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Re: Free stuff

Your efforts with the wire wheel are really showing results! It's looking good. once you get the back patched up you'll have a great frame to build this Jeep on.

thanks buddy ! its dirty and loud and sometimes painful but the wire wheel is really proving to be the most important tool so far. i ordered a sheet of 3/16" steel cut into assorted sizes to patch up the frame and the tops of a few body mounts. im really pumped about the spring over but that added $1000 to the project but once its swapped and sitting on nice fresh wrangler springs it will be well worth the wait! and i think the body work is up before the susp. since i have all the materials for the bodywork i might as well go for it.

brian

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

need a few opinions about an idea!

one of the stamped jeep logos on my tub has a tiny pinhole in the "p" so i got to thinking..... im thinking about cutting out the letters on both sides and backing them with frosted acrylic ! i can put l.e.d.s in the acrylic so they can be amber running lights and turn signals ! i always liked the front fender blinkers on saabs and range rovers and i have never seen it on a jeep or anything even close. im going to try to make a animated gif. to show it flashing on the computer before i start hacking with the dremel! this is another free mod so i will probably do it soon if i get some good responses!

the font for newer jeeps is "helvicta bold" or something like that here is a link so you guys can download it free!

Download Helvetica Bold Font - Download free fonts from µfonts

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Re: need a few opinions about an idea!

harder than i thought to animate a little jeep cartoon with my blinker idea but i found this cool ad!

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

elbow grease..

hey guys little update , i took the wire wheel to the rims that came on the jeep and they look ok ! i was also able to save the tires , they were really dry ans fadded but they cleaned up great too. i finally got my rear frame support sleeves but i sent them right back because they were really thin and just not sturdy enough to replace my rear sections i guess if you had minor rust they would be ok for backup support but i could squeeze them with my bare hands and they flexed alot! i found a mobile trailer / heavy truck welder that is coming to my house to cut fab and weld the bad sections as well as the rear crossmember for $350! 1/4" plate and 3"x3" angle iron will be way stronger than the sleeves and this guy will also throw in the few bodymounts i need too so its a win win..


will be updating soon when the welding is done .

oh and i started the body filler on the tub! bondo hair on both sides of the rot through then i will put regular filler on top to smooth it out! i got rid of as much rot as i could but i know its a temp job. there is a guy named "jim the jeep guy" who has 15-20 tubs on hand at all times so i will snag one when the budget increases

b

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Re: elbow grease..

hi guys im finally getting ready to get the cj up and running. busy summer meant no time for working on my baby but im slowing down now so im back !! i will start up with the pics and updates as soon as i get into something cool! im also having a problem with my carb. any motorcraft 2100-2150 experts feel free to let me know.

it only gets gas from the accelerator pump there is no gas getting to it at idle so it dies. if you pump the gas petal it runs great very strong and revs out quick and clean.it just wont pull fuel at low rpms. should i be able to see any gas moving in the carb like i do when i pump the throttle. the pump squirts strong and nice and even in both barrels but if i dont keep pumping the venturis go dry and i dont see any gas in the carb throat then it konks out. i know in some carbs you can see the idle gas being sucked out of the bowl or idle circuit but i see nothin!

sorry for rambeling but im getting pumped up again!
brian

 

[JAG811]

Let's roll !!
I got nooooo answers for the carb, but look forward to the updates !!

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Let's roll !!
I got nooooo answers for the carb, but look forward to the updates !!

its on buddy! i am moving things around in the garage so i can get the wood stove fired up and get back to work! i might be able to get the whole jeep in the garage if i move the stove so it will be toasty!

bria

 

[Petescj]

I was wondering where you got to. Great to here your continuing on.

its on buddy! i am moving things around in the garage so i can get the wood stove fired up and get back to work! i might be able to get the whole jeep in the garage if i move the stove so it will be toasty!

bria

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

I was wondering where you got to. Great to here your continuing on.

thanks buddy the day i traded my quads for this jeep i made a promise to myself that i wouldnt become the guy with the jeep parts in the back yard or the guy selling the project jeep on craigslist! thats why i didnt take the body off the frame thats when you turn into " jeep parts for sale guy" haha she has all four sneakers on the ground and i can drive it up and down the driveway to keep myself pumped to get it on the road!

working on my jeep is fun , building my jeep again is work

pics soon-frame repair should be done in the next week or two and im getting my carb kit soon so i will take pics of both jobs!

 

[007]

Don't be afraid of that carb rebuild, they're super easy. I did mine with a YouTube video and a PDF that I downloaded that someone made. I did what I call a "field dress" rebuild, so mine took an hour or so (I didn't soak anything over night).

 

[Petescj]

i made a promise to myself that i wouldnt become the guy with the jeep parts in the back yard or the guy selling the project jeep on craigslist! thats why i didnt take the body off the frame thats when you turn into " jeep parts for sale guy"

I think you just insulted me? Nah heck no. Most of my parts are in the garage. My next project is 83 CJ7 frame off Mid January , beginning of February at the latest.

I like to think Ive learned a bit. Hopefully Im right.

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Don't be afraid of that carb rebuild, they're super easy. I did mine with a YouTube video and a PDF that I downloaded that someone made. I did what I call a "field dress" rebuild,


yup i have done my share of carb work from 20cc weed wackers to dual quads on a big block boat motor so im confident i can get it done without a hitch i just hadent planned on doing it right away. if its not too cold tomorrow im going to yank the carb and get the jeep up on 6x6 cribbing blocks to get the rot finished up and replace a few bodymount tops that disappeared the carb is full of rust from the old tank since someone bypassed one filter and removed the brass stone so im pretty certain there will be a big flake of rust in the idle circuit gumming up the works! i will take pics and post progress alot more now that i have a little time!

thx brian

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

Re: 1979 Cj-7 help with VACCUM LINES

Since i got the jeep i have cleaned up most of the wiring rats nest under the hood and under the dash . I got anything that was aftermarket or cut up cleaned and fixed and that looks good with no excess . Under the hood i have a ton of old vaccum lines with a canister and a vac ball but i want to remove everything i can. Anyone know the bare minimum vaccum lines i can run ? I know vaccum advance needs to stay but im not sure of anything else i need to keep? The vac lines on the carb have all been capped and it still runs well(except for idle) i dont think there are any lines hooked up under the dash for anything (heat ac etc) so let me know if i need anything else to keep her running its a AMC 304 3speed with manual breaks and steering , no cruise control , no air cond. Pretty much lowest base model .

Anybody has any info please share!

 

[CJ BRIAN NJ]

getting back to business

hey guys i think im finally going to get the cj on the road! im using AAA to tow her to the welder so i dont have to do the frame work myself it is still stalling when i rock it back and forth but the carb has not been rebuilt yet so im hoping that will cure that. the guys at "Tops Off 4x4 " are going to fix up the frame for a great price so while that is being done i will rebuild the carb , install new gas tank and that should be all i need to do to get up and running. i did a bit of body work and cleaned up the rest of the frame and suspension and painted it with rust refomer before heavy coat of flat black. also just recieved the denim for the custom seat covers and got a bunch of Levis jeans from goodwill so they can sew the brass buttons , rivets and zippers on for effect . the backs of the seats will have "back pockets" like the ones on old jeans and the buttons will dimple the back rest (sorta like the Levi (Edition) Strauss Ed seats) i will get pics together this weekend and when the welding starts!

thanks , brian

i will catch up on all your jeeps asap

 

[Renegade]

Please post pics of the seats when you get them done! That sound really cool!!! We like Pics!!