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Build Thread 1983 CJ-7 revival

Build Thread 1983 CJ-7 revival
J

JEEP1983CJ7

Jeeper
Posts
86
Thanks
0
Location
Baton Rouge
Vehicle(s)
1983 CJ-7, 258, T-5, Dana 30 front, AMC 20 rear, Dana 300
Got my first jeep a couple months ago, and plan on tearing it down, restoring what i can, replacing what i cant, and slowly building it back up.

Ive never done this before, and plan on learning as I go so all help/advice is appreciated.

With that said, I've already started tearing it apart, and have it down to the frame.
 
Gook Luck with your 83 CJ7 there is lot's of good people on here with lot's of knowledge. Take lot's of photo's and tag everything, I am glad I did when I did took my 85 CJ7 apart for a restoration. I am still putting it back together after 2 years, so I am glad I bagged and tagged everything and took lot's of photos. Also keep a journal of parts prices to compare when you do your parts shopping online and you can look back where the best deals are. These are all things during my restoration. Have fun and post pics for us to see. Brian
 
JEEP1983CJ7,

Wishing you the best. I am at about the same stage as you are, except yours is in MUCH better shape. You'll do fine.

So far I am averaging about 4 hours of reading forums to each hour of actual work, and it's worth it.

Bob
 
I'll be starting the same type aof build as well. Theres alot of good reading around here. Have fun!
 
Love the dog in the pics !!
Mine loved the CJ - When it was going :D
Good luck with the build !!
Can't wait to see progress.
:chug:
 
As Canadian said, take lots of pics and bag and tag everything. Keeps notes and measurements as needed. You may think "Oh I'll remember where that goes" or "how that fits" but I'm into my build a year and 5 months now and if your memory is anything like mine, you'll need those pics and notes.
You should be able to find 65% of your parts new, 85% used, and the rest you'll have to fabricate. If you can stay away from Crown or Omix-ada parts, do so, especially seals and bearings. But some stuff thats unavoidable. Your tub doesn't look too awful bad (you got the mount bolts out) so the rust demon may have been good to ya!
Good luck and keep 2 things in mind. You can deny these now but not later. 1. It will take you more time than initially planned. 2. It will take you more money than initially planned. :)
 
Your welcome CJ, I appreciate all the help I received here and all the good people here willing to help others with their knowledge. Keep restoring those CJ's :-)
 
JAG811 said:
Love the dog in the pics !!
Mine loved the CJ - When it was going :D
Good luck with the build !!
Can't wait to see progress.
:chug:
Click to expand...


You would have felt pretty silly if he had come back and said...dude..that's my girlfriend. :eek:
 
No fun updates this week, have been scraping rust and degreasing the frame etc.

Next step will be rust converter for what is left of the surface rust, then prime and spray the frame with rubberized undercoating spray.

I have been lucky with rust so far the body bolts came out without too much effort and there are not any cancer spots on the frame just the odd spots of surface rust.

Do most of y'all paint the bell housing, Transmission , axles, etc. too? Or do you leave that bare metal?

Will post some pictures when I get primer and undercoating on the frame!
 
Alright, finally finished with painting the frame, bell housing, etc. Have only done from the approx. the firewall backwards since I still need to remove some stuff from the engine to get some more room.

I spent a few days with a wire brush and degreaser cleaning everything up, then used some rust converter for a few spots with surface rust, then a couple coats of primer and a couple coats of truck undercoating on the frame. Used self etching primer for the bellhousing since it was bare metal and then regular black paint on top of that.

Some before and after pics.
 
Nice work! Looks great. :chug:

I like the color. It looks like a satin black. That's what I want for mine. What paint did you use?

Edit: What do you plan to use on the inside of the frame? My experience has been they rot from the inside outl. I think it is just as important to treat the inside as the outside.


This is what I use on all my vehicles.

http://www.eastwood.com/undercoating-gun-and2-hoses-bottle.html

I spray everything with this gun. Inside doors, tailgates, all the nooks and crannies. And what do I spray?

Chainsaw "Bar and Chain Oil." I heat it in a crock pot till warm and spray it on. When warm it penetrates all the seams and when it cools it is a sticky oil that stays in place. Been using on all my vehicles for years with good results.

Just a suggestion. :)
 
Last edited:
S76, the frame is covered in Rustoleum Truck Undercoating spray, and the bellhousing, Transmission , etc. are painted with some kind of rustoleum satin black spray paint, I do not remember exactly what it is called, but it is satin for sure.
 
I like it!
 
S76, sorry just read your comment about the inside of the frame. Right now Im not planning on doing anything to the inside.

I really appreciate youre advice, and I know I probably should do it just to be safe but I guess I just don't feel like my frame was in the kind of condition where that was necessary.

Thanks again!
 
I would. Five years down the road you'll be kicking yourself for not addressing the inside when you had easy access. I'd recommend Eastwoods Internal Frame paint. It comes with an 18" hose that has a conical spraying tip. You just tape shut all the holes, then insert the tube, spray, and pull slowly back out. Two cans should do it. The paint is thin and runny, so wear gloves.
 
From Bat-ton-roog. Whoooo Hows the craw-fish right now? They just don't have dem here in Panama City Florida. Dey over tree $ a lb. Lost of great people here.
 
rr41mag said:
From Bat-ton-roog. Whoooo Hows the craw-fish right now? They just don't have dem here in Panama City Florida. Dey over tree $ a lb. Lost of great people here.
Click to expand...

Ha the crawfish are just about perfect right now had a crawfish boil last weekend for Easter they don't come cheap tho that's for sure
 
Ok so finally got some more work done. Got the tub flipped over and went to work with the wire wheel again, got the degreaser out and cleaned it up as best I could then hit it with some primer and more truck undercoating spray. Flipped the tub back over and did the same to the inside and outside of the firewall. Really hope this truck undercoating spray holds up for lots of years. It works pretty good right out of the can except for the few times it likes to go turbo mode and you end up with some extra in spots. But since I'm not puttin it anywhere you'll be able to see it all the time shouldn't matter too much.

Pics.

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