Build Thread '81 CJ-7 Laredo build

[Scooter402]

I have the same power steering mount on mine. After getting the death wobble years ago after going SOA and to 40" Ground Hawgs, I thought I was sunk…then I found my stock flimsy (and cracked ) steering box mount was the culprit. The HD unit just like the one that you show here solved my problems!

My my, that's a sexy Jeep! If I ever have mine doing anything more than holding down the garage floor with the jack stands, we'll have to go for a ride!

 

[Petescj]

I have to admit some of the reason I haven't gotten a lot done is cause I am enjoying driving it around.

 

[jdulmer]

I have to admit some of the reason I haven't gotten a lot done is cause I am enjoying driving it around.

I know what you mean.

 

[Petescj]

Alright Finally got the home computer working again. Heres some pics with the hood on and painted.



It does look a little better than the worn Renegade hood.

 

[jdulmer]

Looking good, is that rattle can?

 

[Petescj]

I painted the seat frames with Rustoleum Hammered paint. I cleaned them up with a wire wheel but these were on the Limited in the beginning. I like them cause they both fold forward but they were under carpet that got wet. That left them pretty pitted and I hoped the Hammered paint would help hide it.



Im probably going to give them another coat when I take them out to paint the floor. I just wanted to see what theyd look like against the black. No real prep work as you can see one of Vickis hairs painted to the floor.



I think Im going to go with a lighter gray Hammered paint to add more contrast. This was more or less an experiment to see if I liked it. I think itll work.

 

[Petescj]

Yup just rattle can Rustoleum. Since Im dumping the Limited project I had Im going to be using a boatsided Yj tub for this one later. That one along with some tube fenders will have a real paint job.

Looking good, is that rattle can?

 

[Petescj]

Next up was some rust removal. No not any body work , just the crappy muffler and tailpipe Ive been procrastinating on ... forever.



The replacements for the exhaust are nothing special just stock parts. Im now in the middle of swapping out the front axle U joints. Mine have been binding every once in awhile causing me fits with my steering. Im going to greasable ones and hope this will solve that problem. Unfortunately I had to order them so itll be a bit before I put them in. Heres the beginning of how she'll sit till the job is done. Im afraid I'll be putting the hardtop on as well. Ugg , I hate to have to do it.

 

[Petescj]

So as Im writing this up Vicki comes back with my U joints. She says to me " They look nothing like a "U" they should be called "X" joints or "plus" joints."

God I love her.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Yup just rattle can Rustoleum.

Me too

So as Im writing this up Vicki comes back with my U joints. She says to me " They look nothing like a "U" they should be called "X" joints or "plus" joints."

God I love her.

Pure Awesome!

 

[jdulmer]

Yup just rattle can Rustoleum. Since Im dumping the Limited project I had Im going to be using a boatsided Yj tub for this one later. That one along with some tube fenders will have a real paint job.

Mine's a YJ Tub off of a '95... I'm going with Metalcloak fenders, once I get that far. Awesome build, Pete, I love it so far.

 

[elwood blues]

So as Im writing this up Vicki comes back with my U joints. She says to me " They look nothing like a "U" they should be called "X" joints or "plus" joints."

God I love her.

That's pure awesome It does suck putting the hardtop on, that means that the terrible "s" word is coming...

 

[Petescj]

Boy when I paid the shop to do my brakes they really fell short in customer satisfaction. My driver side caliper (the one they replaced) ended up leaking and bled the master cylinder dry. It was leaking from the banjo bolt at the brake line. When I tried to tighten that bolt I found out why it was leaking. The head was stripped enough that a 9 mm or 10 mm wouldnt work along with the 7/16 it shouldve been from the beginning. They reused the old corroded banjo bolt , most likely tightening it with a needle nose vise grip.

Looks like Every Brake Line Connector: At Your Doorstep has what I need. I tried using one from the Limited but its a smaller size. Go figure. Oh well the new ones will be stainless.

 

[PaRenegade]

Pete, I have a set of new rubber front brake lines if you want them. I bought them then realized I'd need longer ones and ended up getting longer Russell lines.

 

[Petescj]

Thanks for the offer but my lines are good. Also the a across the alley from me heard me cussing the shop. When Vicki walked by later he asked what was wrong. Ends up he had the banjo bolt I needed and it was on the counter by the coffee pot this morning.

Pete, I have a set of new rubber front brake lines if you want them. I bought them then realized I'd need longer ones and ended up getting longer Russell lines.

 

[Petescj]

Let me tell you these axle U joints are kicking my . 1st I had to go get the spindle nut socket after I had barely got started. I finally pull the axle and start to remove the U joint. BANG , one cap out , BANG , BANG BANG there goes another. Within about 5 minutes three are out and the last one is pressed through but bound to the Ujoint itself.

Hammer , Hammer, Hammer , Curse , Yell ,Scream. Repeat this situation for a good hour. Pb blaster... no luck. Small acetylene torch... Yeah right. In a fit of anger out comes the sawzall... Futile. Finally 3 hours into the job my nieghbor Jeff comes over to his shop across the alley.

Me : I just walk over with the stub shaft didnt say a word

Jeff: 4wd stub shaft probably off your Jeep... oh U joint wont come out?

Me : Hammering on it for hours , cant get it out the caps fused to the joint.

Jeff: thats different , you dont need the joint then?

Me: Nope got new ones.

Jeff: I'll get the torch

Me :

No more than a couple minutes later I have a slightly warm stub shaft without that pesky Ujoint. I got the new joint in but honestly my arms are tired from hammering. More progress tomorrow.

With a U joint bound that badly Im pretty sure this replacement will cure the last of my steering issues. I cant think of what would be left anymore anyway. One good thing was I had all new seals and bearings from a prior project that are finally getting used. I'll snap a couple pics tomorrow.

Heres the spindle nut socket I got from Walcks :

http://walcks4wd.com/spindle-nut-wrench.html

 

[Petescj]

Did I ever tell you guys the joke about the Mexican U-joint? Its not very funny... more to come.

 

[Petescj]

Alright there I was with that pesky old Ujoint removed. Should be clean sailing from there. Not so fast my friends. Originally I wanted some spicer replacements but my local Napa had some nice (I thought) greasable ones so I had Vicki grab me 2 of them. So I go about pressing them on with the vise and get them about 1/2 way. No problem , I'll hammer em in the rest of the way. I pound on them a way and get them almost flush. Its been a frustrating day so I say good enough. Alittle muscle gets the C clips in place. I go to install the axle and it gets a little further than this before it bottoms out:

 

[Petescj]

Im a bit perplexed at this point. Its been awhile since I had a axle out so I thought maybe it was keyed to fit in only one position. I slowly rotate the shaft trying about 30 different positions to no avail. Then I try again. Nothing. I pull the axleshaft and a C clip falls to the ground. In my haste and frustration I never got them seated in the recess cause the caps werent pressed in hard enough. I decide to take it to work and press them the next day. They press but very hard and by the time I get the recess in the proper spot the Ujoint is bound again. . Ok somethings gotta be wrong with the Ujoint. I call Napa from work and they say just bring it in. I grab the boxes since I bought one for each side and notice the two are different. Both are Federal Mogul parts but different print. I bet they gave me the wrong part number. Can you spot the difference? I used the top one.

 

[Petescj]

I call Napa back and curse my Mexican part. I tell them I'll use the USA one and see what happens. 10 minutes later I have this result:



atriot: A testament to what out sourcing jobs has done to the quality of parts. This Cj seems to have been run in mud alot. It also seems the front axle hasnt had much preventive maintinence done. Heres the stub shaft oil seal: