Build Thread 1981 CJ5 Renegade Restore

[chodette]

I guess now that I am a little way into my restore of my 81 Renegade I will start a build thread. This was my first car, my Dad bought it for me when I turned 16 (that was 1987). I had it shipped out here to CA from Arkansas a year ago July, and about a month ago my husband asked if I was just going to let it sit on the side of the house and rot or was I going to do something with it. Now he regrets saying that....it has kinda become my new "obsession" It seems if I am not in the garage working on it, I am on the internet looking for parts, reading other peoples threads on builds, educating myself, etc. He has decided he might change his name to "Jeep" so I will pay some attention to him

So this is what I started with. This pic was taken at one of my Dad's project houses in Arkansas where it had been stored in the garage:

$800 and a ride across country on truck it arrived at my doorstep in Cali.

I was originally going to just get her running, which I did, but then I started "getting into it" and decided that if I was going to do it, I may as well do it all and try and do it right. So I bought the TSM and started taking her apart. Now, mind you, I have never really worked on cars, but I am a pretty quick learner and I have a photographic memory and boarderline OCD...a pretty good combo for doing this. My husband, while he has lots of things he is great at, mechanics of any kind is NOT one of them. But....his Dad has done alot of work on cars (he's kinda a fanatic) and my best friends husband is restoring a 76 CJ5 (he is an airline mechanic) and they have been of great help when I get stuck. I had already removed both fenders and all the lights, etc on my own but was going to need some help with the tub. So, a couple weekends ago, I enlisted my father-in-law and one of our friends to help me get the tub off so I could really start the work:
That is the FIL and my friend Jose helping.That is the hubby inspecting the work.
I gave the frame a once over with the power washer and put it back on the side of the house until it is time for stage 2.

So, I got all the body parts sanded and primered with the exception of the tub which is going to need some repair.






I did buy a new dash panel, windshield, and passenger fender because of rust. I just didn't want to mess with them. I have prepped the tub and will finish after I get the replacement panels in and the rust cut out:

I bought replacement floor pans:

And where the roll bar attaches is a mess:

But I had a guy fabricate these for me:


I have sanded and applied POR-15 on the underside (except on the places that are getting cut out)ready for welding and am hoping that will happen today (or at least some of it):

And I also applied it to the back of the tub where there was no rust:

I have also sanded and POR-15'd the firewall then applied a coat of primer:

It looks beautiful!!

 

[chodette]

On the days that it has been raining and I was not able to work outside the garage, I worked on some of the parts that needed attention. ALL of them need attention, but this is what I have gotten to already:


I took everything apart and cleaned it up. I painted it, even if it was going back under the dash:


I applied POR-15 to my master cylinder and brake unit after cleaning it up:

I have finished just about everything that attaches in the engine compartment (jack holder, charcoal canister holder, all the arms, etc) and now have moved on to the steering column and shafts. I am using the POR-15 on everything I can in the engine compartment. I have only finished the intermediate shaft ( I am waiting on a new bell coupling and boot) and will do the steering shaft as soon as my new lower bearing arrives. I LOVE the POR-15...that stuff is great.

So yesterday, I took a break from working on the Jeep and sent the hubby to play golf and I decided I could finally clean up the garage since the majority of the sanding was done...and the garage was a hot mess! I took everything out and hosed it all down and rearranged so now I feel organized again. This is where the OCD kicks in.
Before: Notice the Tonka Truck. That is what I use to roll the tub out into the driveway by myself

After:

Notice the hubby's work-out equiptment has been conviently lumped together out of my way


So now I am all caught up. Like I said earlier, hoping to get the welding done today, so I will post pics later!

 

[73CJ]

All I can say is nice! Real NICE!

Your little guy is going to be asking sooner than you think to start driving it.

Keep up the good job.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Great thread, I wish I still had my first Cj.... I was 16 too (1983?), when I got mine. Never thought about it till now, my current Cj was new the year I got my D/L ! Its the only material posseion I have that is not for sale... at almost any price....

 

[Kane]

Waite a minute here. A woman obesessed with restoring an old CJ? You my dear are the coolest girl on the planet!! Your husband is one lucky man.

My wife loves that fact that I am building a Jeep and she helps me make parts decisions but that is pretty much where it stops. I need to send her your way for a couple weeks to pick up on your Jeep bug.

 

[Tassiecj7]

[/QUOTE]I will do the steering shaft as soon as my new lower bearing arrives. I LOVE the POR-15...that stuff is great.

S. Like I said earlier, hoping to get the welding done today, so I will post pics later![/QUOTE]


you clean ! work on Jeeps ! like jeeps ! your old man is a lucky bugga... what more can a man ask for in a wife ?

next then you'll tell use is that you do the ironing and cooking too!

without sounding creepy....... will you marry me ?



p.s I'm still in shock...... nice jeep too

 

[chodette]

You guys crack me up! I'm sure I am not the only woman who has ever restored a Jeep. My bearings came in yesterday along with some other misc parts so I am going to tackle that today. Didn't work on it yesterday...getting ready for a 2 week vacation starting Saturday. I am trying to get as much done as possible before we leave.

And for the record, I LOVE to cook

 

[IOPort51]

your Dad was very fond of you, that is a major hot rod, what Transmission does it have??

 

[chodette]

It has a T-176 4 Speed. It has been doing nothing but raining here for the past 2 days and I really haven't gotten much done so far this week. My new roll-over valve (not easy to find) just arrived so I set it all up. I LOVE when things look new!


I also managed to get the steering column broken down and Por-15'd. Replaced the key lock cylinder since you could start it without a key before:


Now I am going to go out and replace the intermediate shaft bell coupling and boot (just arrived):


I also ordered a new lower bearing, but it hasn't come yet. Hopefully tomorrow so I can finish up with the steering before I leave.

 

[chodette]

That was messy! All done:

 

[Rescue Diver]

I'm glad you finally started the build thread! Like others have said, your hubby really is a lucky guy. Beware the leg humpers on here! Any thoughts I had of that nature went right out the window when you mentioned the "H" word. Well mostly.

Keep the progress and the pics coming!

And enjoy your vacation! If you're anything like me, when I'm on vacation with a project/obsession sitting at home, I spend too much time wishing I had it there with me. I'll never forget sitting at Mezcalito's in Cozumel back in 2000, just two days after buying my 1969 vette. I was looking up the sand dune hill on the beach wishing I had it right there in a carport overlooking the ocean with my tools. Come to think of it, that sounds a little weird doesn't it?

 

[chodette]

I already have every intention of picking up some parts while I am out there. Hopefully I will be able to find some emission parts that won't cost me an arm and a leg like they do here in Cali...if you can even find them. The funny thing is I really NEED a 2-3 week break to let my arm and wrist heal from all the torture I have been putting it thru for the last month!

 

[Rescue Diver]

Well, any progress after the trip?

 

[chodette]

Well, I got back and had so many other things to do it seems! Just started back working on her yesterday. I am a little frustrated with the tub....I really need someone who knows what they are doing to do the cutting and the welding. A friend of mine had a friend of his come over and give me an estimate and I was not really thrilled about what he came up with. I know there is some work that needs to be done, and he used to work at a body shop so I am pretty sure he would do a great job, but he said it had about 20 hours of work that needed to be done (and I agree) but he wanted $900 to do it...using all MY supplies and welder! That is $45 an hour. Seems a bit high to me in this economy. Anyway, I am kinda stuck right now...needing help, but not with an extra $900 to spend on the tub!

Sometimes I think people try and take advantage because I am a GIRL!

 

[Rescue Diver]

You might be able to find a used tub in good shape for less than $900? Cali cars aren't that prone to rust.

 

[IOPort51]

You have welder and you want to pay someone to work on the tub of your jeep?? Oh yea, I forgot, your a girl!!

You have very little to lose at this point and lots to gain. I say go for it! It may even be fun.

Well, I got back and had so many other things to do it seems! Just started back working on her yesterday. I am a little frustrated with the tub....I really need someone who knows what they are doing to do the cutting and the welding. A friend of mine had a friend of his come over and give me an estimate and I was not really thrilled about what he came up with. I know there is some work that needs to be done, and he used to work at a body shop so I am pretty sure he would do a great job, but he said it had about 20 hours of work that needed to be done (and I agree) but he wanted $900 to do it...using all MY supplies and welder! That is $45 an hour. Seems a bit high to me in this economy. Anyway, I am kinda stuck right now...needing help, but not with an extra $900 to spend on the tub!

Sometimes I think people try and take advantage because I am a GIRL!

 

[chodette]

It's not the welding that I don't want to do...it's the cutting out of the rusty spots. And, I really don't want to get a new tub because this one is actually in good shape except for the floorpans and where the roll bar attaches. Already bought repalcement pans and had pieces fabricated for where the roll bar bolts in. Other than that, just a couple other common places (by the Jeep stamp on the quarter panels). I think no matter what tub I could find locally I would have to do some type of rust-busting.

I did redo my gauges today:

Only a GIRL would think to use orange nail polish for the needles:



The needle on the oil pressure gauge is broken so I either need to get another gauge, or I don't know if I can buy a replacement needle. That thing is tiny!

I also got the steering shaft all put back together, replace the turn signal switch and am just waiting on a new steering wheel.

Anyway, if anyone knows any body locally that would love to come and cut on a Jeep with me......I'm a GREAT assistant!

 

[chodette]

So this is how I spent 6 hours yesterday:

And this is SOME of what I accomplished:


WAY easier than hand sanding or even wire-wheeling! I got so many parts done. Now if it would just stop raining I could get them primered and painted today.

BUT, I do have a really good friend coming over today with his PLASMA CUTTER to help me out. I'm pretty excited about that!

 

[CJ]

Are those safety glasses? If so, I'm inpressed. And your work is impeccable.

 

[chodette]

No, unfortunately those are my for-real glasses. I didn't wear safety glasses while working in the cabinet, but I do wear them all the time when I am working outside of the cabinet

Thanks for the "impeccable" compliment...I try