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Build Thread 1983 cj 5-bought with blinders on!

Build Thread 1983 cj 5-bought with blinders on!
do you think if maybe you put some reverse pressure on that drain plug it would grab a thread? like maybe a chisel point wedged in there, or a screwdriver?
 
I love the comment of $100 a month, how old are you? lol.
I just bought a '85 CJ7 total stock even under the hood, was amazed.
oh, the tire size was upgraded to 31x10.5 on stock rims. Paid the same as
your Red Beast. Im in Arizona, trying to figure out why its overheating?
Changed out the Thermostat now gonna check clutch fan then mabe rod out the radiator...

I'm 33...but when you have 6 kids and are adopting #7...and you have a car payment on a 15 passenger van, and a house...private school..etc...I don't have a lot of money to be throwing away on a vehicle that's un-necessary. The up-side to this is that $100/month means that I have to stay focused on what I want to buy...and when I buy something ...it is truly something needed for the project, not just something that looks cool. The CJ I had before overheated in traffic a lot, so I replaced the thermostat, put on a "be kool" high efficiency water pump and it worked great.
 
do you think if maybe you put some reverse pressure on that drain plug it would grab a thread? like maybe a chisel point wedged in there, or a screwdriver?

You know...I tried that in the beginning...but I couldn't get anything under it...so I decided that I would drill a small hole, use a nut(w/built in washer), a bolt, and a plastic washer to fill the hole, until I had the time to pull the pan. Well, while drilling I snapped off the bit, which is stuck in the drain pan...lol. I got so mad that I grabbed the vise grips, clamped them on the drain plug...put my feet on the front axle and pulled like hell. I pulled so hard that my hands were sore for an hour, but somehow the drain plug grabbed a thread and I was able to get it out...HOLY :dung:!....sometimes being pissed helps. So...now, I’ve replaced the drain plug for $2.99 @ Oreilly's...but I've got a bit stuck in the wall of the drain pan that is sticking out...but not far enough to grab it...but in there good enough to keep it from going all the way inside. For now...the plan is to JB weld it, so that it stops the leak and to keep the bit from going anywhere...lol.

On a different note...the lug nuts were so pitted and rusted, that I don't feel like they will actually hold like they are supposed to. I have purchased 17 of the 20 needed (cause they only had 17) from Oreilly's (89 cents each), but I'll get the rest later. The problem is this....from what I can tell, I'm going to have to replace 3 studs....2 on the driver's side, rear wheel, and 1 on the passenger side, front.

1.) Do I need to remove the hub on the rear, or can I just soak the studs in PB blaster and pound them out?

2.) Is there anything special I have to do in the front, or does that one just pound out also?

BTW...I know that this thread is particularly slow and low budget, but I appreciate all the comments and help...really.
 
Ok....so I JB welded the hole in the drain pan, but obviously I didn't fill in the hole enough, because I still have a small drip (or at least I did yesterday). I guess I'll drain the pan, grind it off and start over. I put the 17 new lug nuts on..wouldn't matter if I had the other 3 or not...cause 3 of the studs still need to be replaced. Got the drivers seat back in, but after further inspection, all 3 seats are scrap...the seat brackets for the front are usable (ordering summit poly high backs today), but the only metal in the entire back seat is the mounts..the entire seat frame is non-existent. I had to jump start it, because it's been sitting so long, but this morning when I tried to start it...I got 4 cranks and then a dead battery. Will put it on the trickle charger tonight and see if I can save the battery. Downloaded every available vacuum diagram on this site, but not one of them looks anything like what's in the jeep, so I just looked for places that looked like they needed one. Of the 3 lines that are hanging loose, only 1 pulled a vacuum. I know that it is not supposed to connect from one side of the carburetor to the other, but when I hooked it up...the jeep ran smoother. It will stay for now, till I figure out where it goes. Sometimes it seems as though I bit off more than I can chew, once I started going over it with a fine tooth comb (especially on my budget), but I'll go at it, just like I did with the other one: One issue at a time, as money allows.
 
Well....there goes 1 month's worth of budget....good thing I saved up for 2...lol

NEW SEATS ON THE WAY!
 
Well...the seats got here...less than 33 hrs from the Summit warehouse to my front door (standard shipping)...freakin' awesome! The plan now is to pick up some of the galvanized square tubing with the holes already in it, and pick up some bolts from Tractor Supply. Also gotta figure out what size bolts to get for the freakin' exhaust...need gaskets too.
 
I'm 33...but when you have 6 kids and are adopting #7...and you have a car payment on a 15 passenger van, and a house...private school..etc...I don't have a lot of money to be throwing away on a vehicle that's un-necessary. The up-side to this is that $100/month means that I have to stay focused on what I want to buy...and when I buy something ...it is truly something needed for the project, not just something that looks cool. The CJ I had before overheated in traffic a lot, so I replaced the thermostat, put on a "be kool" high efficiency water pump and it worked great.
Thanks for the overheating tips! Rodded the Radiator and installed new
thermostat,water pump, upper & lower hoses and a cap, wheww now shes running cool, lol next question: I have the 4 banger with 31x10.5x15 on stock rims - how do I get her to scoot down the road a lil faster than 50MPH? should I go to an Aluminum rim and get a 30x9.5 mud tire?
 
Thanks for the overheating tips! Rodded the Radiator and installed new
thermostat,water pump, upper & lower hoses and a cap, wheww now shes running cool, lol next question: I have the 4 banger with 31x10.5x15 on stock rims - how do I get her to scoot down the road a lil faster than 50MPH? should I go to an Aluminum rim and get a 30x9.5 mud tire?

Lighter rims and lighter tires will help the power to weight ratio and should help you some. Also...If you get JP magazine, there was an article a month or two ago about how to get more power out of your "4 banger" without spending a ton of money. If you don't have it, or can't find it, let me know...I can probably find the time to scan the article and send it to you.
 
so where you at on your restoration project? last I heard you bought seats?
gotta live thru u at the moment, just had neck surgery so I have to take it easy for a few weeks...
I bought tires for mine 31x10.5r15 Falken Tires, hybrid tread (street/offroad)
I think she actually rolls better now. The Guy at Discount Tire talked me out of the BFG tires, said the military guys were using these Falken tires and were loving them.
For my next project I would like to pull the seats out and Rhino line the tub. Expensive though wish there was a product you could apply yourself that was just as strong.
 
so where you at on your restoration project? last I heard you bought seats?
gotta live thru u at the moment, just had neck surgery so I have to take it easy for a few weeks...
I bought tires for mine 31x10.5r15 Falken Tires, hybrid tread (street/offroad)
I think she actually rolls better now. The Guy at Discount Tire talked me out of the BFG tires, said the military guys were using these Falken tires and were loving them.
For my next project I would like to pull the seats out and Rhino line the tub. Expensive though wish there was a product you could apply yourself that was just as strong.

I have had to put it on the back burner, since I've had family projects take control for now...and the metal I bought for the seats had to be used on running boards for the fam van...lol...but I should be back up and running soon. In my experience, "Hurculiner" is just as good as "rhino liner" and you can get it a Walmart for I believe $79/gallon.
 
WOW...has it really been that long since I posted?...sorry guys...no offense intended...i've been really busy...with work, adoption stuff, family projects, wife's surgery, etc. I've put the seats in and tightened up a thing or two, and I promise...I'll post pics later. I need some help though...the manual steering box on my jeep is shot. I've adjusted it as much as possible, but it's gone. I have the option of receiving a free steering box from a 95 yj, but I would like to know if it will fit, before I start pulling apart what accidentally became my daily driver..lol...please advise.
 
Today is the first day I went back and looked at the pics from page 1. :D

Im thoroughly impressed. I thought I was the only one who bought Jeeps like this. Your my hero :laugh:!

Look forward to following this more closely. :cool:
 
Today is the first day I went back and looked at the pics from page 1. :D

Im thoroughly impressed. I thought I was the only one who bought Jeeps like this. Your my hero :laugh:!

Look forward to following this more closely. :cool:


lol..should be fun...small budget and big problems..I just have to remind myself that for me, it really is more about the work than the finished project.
 

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