Build Thread 1986 CJ7 Rebuild - Chasing my youth

[Petescj]

Wow. Havent checked in on this in a bit. Beautiful work and nice progress.

 

[Masscj7]

It’s funny you say that. When I first joined the forum, I went post for post through Shum and Gert’s build logs and saw the big gaps. I wondered, if I’d have them same, and sure enough life happens.


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[Petescj]

It’s funny you say that. When I first joined the forum, I went post for post through Shum and Gert’s build logs and saw the big gaps. I wondered, if I’d have them same, and sure enough life happens.


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Its a beautiful project thats taken longer than originally thought? You should be proud of it .

 

[Masscj7]

Alright, alright, alright!

Figured out the headlight buckets! Had a plug that was acting up. Had turn signals when I put rear lights in, well when adding the front lights lost them. Must have been too much for the flasher. New installed and got front and rear turn signals.



Next, new Fairchild tailgate gasket, fits pretty good. Way better than the too fat crown one. And most important, new registration sticker, dang, getting close with a plate now hung.



Also scored some OEM visors. New flares installed.




New front seat belts from Seatbelts Plus




Got some OE rear belts. They were a little faded and covered in gundge. So some simple green and then some masking, hit with some SEM plastic trim paint and love the results.





Getting super close. Trying to get my state inspection this week.

I am having a problem with mounting the front bump. The front shackles are impeding a bolt passing all the way thru the lower mounting holes. Not sure how to remedy at the moment. Any thoughts by peanut gallery?





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[Petescj]

That looks like a tricky one. Only thing I can tjink of that may work is a shorter carriage style bolt run up from the bottom with the nut on top. Probably still have to remove the shackle to install.

 

[gert]

It’s funny you say that. When I first joined the forum, I went post for post through Shum and Gert’s build logs and saw the big gaps. I wondered, if I’d have them same, and sure enough life happens.


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Life really likes getting in the way of finishing projects, lol and im currently working on mine again


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[gert]

Chrome bumper bolts

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019XDYOOW?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US

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[Petescj]

Chrome bumper bolts

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019XDYOOW?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US

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Exactly what I was talking about. Thanks for the link.

 

[Masscj7]

I like the carriage bolt idea. And since the bumper is going to get rechromed in the winter, just on for getting an inspection and get through maybe finally a around the block drive, I can close the holes up with some weld and then do carriage.

I’ll check out the chrome bolts.


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[Masscj7]

In the last couple of months, been doing a bunch of little odds and ends, hinges and small things, not really worthy of pics.
But this was. I spent quite some time doing research and determined the issue with the front bumper fitment was the conversion to the longer YJ springs.
BDS said their hangers were designed to accommodate the longer springs and bumper mount. But I didn’t see it.
Digging around the Jeep forum I found a gentleman who seemed to be making the mounts I needed. Well, found out he had retired last year, but he still was on the forums and he gave me a lead to who bought his remaining inventory. It was OK4WD out of NJ. And bam, they had them! And they are shweet!




Back from powder coat



And they work perfect for the carriage bolt.

Tears also fixed the hack washer stack I had done.

Before
After

This is one of the last pieces needed before going for the dreaded state inspection.

But still have some more small things to go.


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[CJ]

In the last couple of months, been doing a bunch of little odds and ends, hinges and small things, not really worthy of pics.
But this was. I spent quite some time doing research and determined the issue with the front bumper fitment was the conversion to the longer YJ springs.
BDS said their hangers were designed to accommodate the longer springs and bumper mount. But I didn’t see it.
Digging around the Jeep forum I found a gentleman who seemed to be making the mounts I needed. Well, found out he had retired last year, but he still was on the forums and he gave me a lead to who bought his remaining inventory. It was OK4WD out of NJ. And bam, they had them! And they are shweet!




Back from powder coat



And they work perfect for the carriage bolt.

Tears also fixed the hack washer stack I had done.

Before
After

This is one of the last pieces needed before going for the dreaded state inspection.

But still have some more small things to go.


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That's some beautiful machine work. That's pride.

 

[Masscj7]

Yeah, those pieces were works of art, bummed that he retired. I’m sure there’s a cad file for a price, or I
would hope.

So why doing the spring hangers, also attacked that I was having a fuel delivery problem. And SOB if it wasn’t
Out of gas again!!! I only put a little in so that if any more kinks, I don’t have a full tank. The first time out of gas, gauge was hanging between 1/2 and 1/4, this time it was at 1/4.
I won’t go down the rabbit hole of all the Sniper troubleshooting, replacing fuel pressure regulators, finding peeling powder coat in the pressure regulator housing on the Sniper


But that really wasn’t the issue as when I dropped the tank, it was just out of fuel again. Double checked my sending and it’s 10 and 73 ohms, so it must be my gauge.

Well when I looked in this now, 2nd gas tank, that I welded the retro fit fuel pump mounting ring in and used Eastwood brake fluid resistant paint to touch up the spot welds, the paint was all soft and peeling after 6 months (and to be fair, I did my hubs and calipers in this paint, spilled plenty of brake fluid and it really was resistant) but todays gas is just junk.

So said screw it and bought a poly tank and moved everything to that.



And of course, when I dropped the tank, looking at exhaust clearance I see the results of my exhaust guy driving a giant 7/16 self tapper into the frame for an exhaust hanger.




Damn, another step back. Tell you what, I can’t remember the under coat epoxy I used, but that stuff was tough as nails, holy hell trying to dig and brush that out. But not bad for a shade tree welder with maybe 5 hrs behind the tip. There’s one or two dimes in there.





So buttoned all back up. She’s running again. The Sniper tune is way off and I’m struggling to wrap my head around it. But time to hang a bumper and then the most anticipated of the whole build, mounting the final wheels so we can go for an alignment.




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[Patrick]

Mass, I really like the bolt fitment on your shackles and bushings but I am afraid they are going to rust on you. I used those. I looked all over for oem style silver finish and flanged hex head without success.

 

[CJ]

@Masscj7 and @Patrick , great posts, I'm gonna tell a crazy time where I rescued my friend TFH... Gas tank,,,

 

[CJ]

So, I'm not making this up but you have a great tank...
I get a call from a pay phone (this is how long ago this happened) and TFH is stuck in front of the store and he cannot move his F350 with dual tanks. I drive all the way from Orlando to Lk Mary to help and the knuckle heads truck wasn't broken, his tanks were full! (both tank senders inop) He thought the fill hose was collapsed. Dumb arse had too much petrol!

 

[Masscj7]

So it’s been a busy summer, but productive. So after getting the shackles straightened out, I wanted a virgin front bumper and found a guy on EBay making really nice new bumpers, excellent quality. It was only $110 and seller was 401-machine. Quick ship and great packaging.
I got one without any slots or additional holes and was able to put in factory reproduction holes and slots with the help of my machinist buddy. Then got it nicely textured powder coated.




Then I got to probably one of my favorite moments of the build. Getting the original wheels on. Man, what a difference

Before

After





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[Masscj7]

Some of the smallest items made me happiest, some badging.







Then was able to find this OEM score locally. A week soak in ATF and she was ready to go.


And no pics, but after that she was to the dreaded MA state inspection station. They are now photographed by locally and remotely during it, so was pretty nervous. But the guy was such an aficionado of it, it was the quickest and easiest inspection ever!!

She was ready to cruise!!

Just in time for the holiday and I got her dressed up




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[Masscj7]

Been a bit, been finishing up some winter mods. Mostly crafting my stereo system, which I’ll do a more detailed write up, but got my center console, cleaned up and installed and modified for the stereo. Besides SEM black, new lock, and new seal.

And then got my spring detail done and well, I needed to soak it in. My fingers are chapped, but I had to message my painter again to thank him for his work as well.

 

[CJ]

That is a beautiful CJ.

 

[CJ]

BTW, got your reflection.