Build Thread 79 Silver restoration

[Hairball29]

To celebrate owning my first garage, and because I only have 2 kids under 4, a house that needs renovating and a full time day job, I figured i'd best get a project to fill those last few spare minutes of the day, and what better than an old Jeep, thought I! So I bought a 1979 Silver edition with a AMC 304 , power brakes and power steering

Since there aren't that many of these special editions left, I pledged to make it original and give it the full restoration treatment. I'd thought about upgrading the carb, exhaust, cam any a few other resto-mod tweaks, but i decided instead to go for original first. There's plenty of Jeeps out there next time if I want a little more of a Jeep-rod next time.

It was mostly complete, but for sway bar the original seats (sadly since they're rarer than hens' teeth), the hood and sticks, windshield, air cleaner, exhaust, dash pad and a few little bits and bobs.

The frame was in good shape, but for one body mount point rusted through.

The body was less pretty. It had holes in the floor, behind the seats at the roll bar mounts, the rear inner arches are rough, there's a hole in the rear fender and those overlapping panels on the front fenders, surely designed to rust have rusted.

I plan to save the front fenders and replace the bad panels with new repairs. I'm trying to keep as much original as i can, and i get the impression that the new fenders are not a great fit, so we'll see if that decision was wise.

Since getting the thing in november, i've stripped it all the way down, had the chassis blasted and i painted it with epoxy primer, then 2 part polyurethane satin (it isn't) top coat which has turned out well. Everythign else has been blasted, cleaned, rust treated and painted with chassis saver, in the case of the skid plates, or POR15.

It's had, so far, new brakes, brake lines, fuel lines, fuel tank, steering box, shocks, seals in the diffs, new wheel bearings, springs, shackles, all new and shiny nuts and bolts, front UJs, roller bearings and seals in the front axle, tie rod, steering rod, poly suspension and sway bar mounts.


Pictures to follow when i've figured out how! None of the format or insert buttons are working for me, but I'll add more as i can.

 

[Posi]

Welcome from a fellow Silver Anniversary owner. I've owned 3, still have 2.
Most dealerships in the day received 1 or 2 to sell.
A friend bought one off the dealership lot (Milbrook Motors) next town over. Held on to it for 30 years or so then offered it to me. The time wasn't right for me so my other friend bought it and still has it.

I was lucky enough to own a 71 Renegade II as well, only made 600 of those.

Good luck with your build.


Edit: Some help with your sig AMC 304 /T-150 Transmission , Dana 20 Transfer Case , 30/20 axle

 

[gert]

sweet dude im looking forward to watching your progress

 

[Hairball29]

Thanks, all

I'm having security token problems posting my images, but when I get that fixed, I'll show you what's going on

 

[Hairball29]

Shortly after I got the Jeep with the front stripped.





Stripped down to the chassis. The body was surprisingly easy to move which is good since I'm doing this thing solo



After the chassis was blasted and rebuilding was happening. I used TCP global products - epoxy primer and a polyurethane top coat. I ordered satin though it came out a big glossier than expected, but I like it. I've seen other fully restored jeeps of the same era, and the chassis finish is a bit more gloss which also looks good as the front cross member that bears the steering box is exposed.

By this photo we had springs, shocks, fasteners, new discs, calipers, pads, pipes, hoses, brake shoes, springs, axle seals, checked the condition of the axles, new wheel and spindle bearings and seals and a few other items.



Here's a comparison shot to the above. Looking a lot prettier.

Right now I'm into the engine. It's completely stripped and I'm discovering a few problems, but I'll post again about that