Build Thread Aussie CJ7 - 78

[gp4play]

Cool build Bud. I had to go back and read it from the 1'st post lol

 

[JAG811]

Cool build Bud. I had to go back and read it from the 1'st post lol

Thanks mate !! I only wish I had the time and money to look at a complete frame off ... This is just an over the top "Road Worthy" rebuild

 

[JAG811]

Here are the latest photos with just the first coat on the front diff.
You"ll see I've replaced the front pinion seal, so that makes front and rear pinion seals done ... a couple less standard CJ leaks ....

 

[JAG811]

Ok so the front springs are back in.
Thought I'd post this up, it's pretty simple but may just assist anyone thinking of replacing old springs or so on.
So it's lubing up the bushing into the spring.
Then it's lubing up the sleeve for the bushing.
I put some anti-seize on the bolt as when I took out the old bolts one of them was rusted to the sleeve and I had to cut it all out
Last photo is of the steering box. I originally thought the sector bush was leaking but closer inspection it seems fine. That may be a different story when under pressure from the pump ...
Either way she's primed and here is the first coat.

 

[JAG811]

Well I thought I'd play Blacksmith for the day while I painfully wait for paint to dry ...
So from what I can gather 80 CJ's and up mount their steering damper bracket under the spring (Picture 1) - Where as 79 back seem to have the bolt on bracket that fastens to the diff tube ....
Well I don't like the diff fastening bracket (if only for aesthetics) and so I set out to make a bracket for under the springs, that still uses the same 79 down damper ...
Almost made it home but I don't have a 16mm hole saw ... so it will have to wait for tomorrow ..
You'll see the shims in the last photo that were under the pass side spring which my guess is for the camber of driving on left hand side of the road ... either way the bracket measures the same thickness as the shims.
.... Back to waiting for paint to dry ....

 

[JAG811]

Weekend is over ... It's back to work tomorrow ...
Hot tip for bolting your power steering box back to the frame - Bolt up the all the brackets FIRST .. Then you can bolt the brackets to the frame.
So steering box back in.
Then I got a lift with the diff.
So I'm just waiting for the u-bolts to dry and it's bolt up the springs and re-suspend the vehicle off the spring plates and not the frame.

Oh ... and how about the damper bracket !!

 

[IOPort51]

you messed up!!

you got the steering box on the wrong side!

Weekend is over ... It's back to work tomorrow ...
Hot tip for bolting your power steering box back to the frame - Bolt up the all the brackets FIRST .. Then you can bolt the brackets to the frame.
So steering box back in.
Then I got a lift with the diff.
So I'm just waiting for the u-bolts to dry and it's bolt up the springs and re-suspend the vehicle off the spring plates and not the frame.

Oh ... and how about the damper bracket !!

 

[tarry99]

Weekend is over ... It's back to work tomorrow ...
Hot tip for bolting your power steering box back to the frame - Bolt up the all the brackets FIRST .. Then you can bolt the brackets to the frame.
So steering box back in.
Then I got a lift with the diff.
So I'm just waiting for the u-bolts to dry and it's bolt up the springs and re-suspend the vehicle off the spring plates and not the frame.

Oh ... and how about the damper bracket !!

Jag,
Nice Job...........Lookin Good.

 

[TroyaCantrell]

Jag, looking awesome. Wish I had the room and time and the money, and the etc to do full body off.

Looking very good, but the steering thing is all jacked up, did you hold the camera upside down? )

 

[JAG811]

Right-o, right-o, there's a reoccurring theme here

Yessss,

Driving - We drive on the left, you drive on the right.
Measuring - We talk centimeters, you talk inches.
Money - We use plastic, you use paper.
Football - We pass backwards, you pass forwards.

... and we never use the word fanny around our mother !!

That's why we're called "Down Under" ..

 

[gp4play]

Jag, looking awesome. Wish I had the room and time and the money, and the etc to do full body off. )

x2 space I have, I wish I had the time and money. I'm going to get a old Flat Fender someday and go at it

 

[JAG811]

x2 space I have, I wish I had the time and money. I'm going to get a old Flat Fender someday and go at it

Yeah I often look at the flat fenders and think the same ... only I'd have to look at an "original" restoration.
I DO LIKE 6's !! Love the longer wheel base so maybe someday an 8 cause I love the bobbed 8's the most !! Only I don't like the way you have no roof options once you shorten them ..
Dream Jeep is a throttle down custom frame allowing you to sit an 8 on top of TJ coil spring suspension ..... ONE DAY !!!

 

[JAG811]

For anyone who'd like to amuse my curiosity ....
I've just hung the front diff so a little excited ..


If anyone has a 76-81 CJ7 (there for should be short shock towers)
can you measure the distance from centre to centre of the shock bolts to give a "compression measurement" of the springs under the weight of the vehicle.

My new springs are supposed to be 2.5 inches lift so it will be interesting to see if anyone can measure the distance and state if you have any lift ?? AND STATE IF YOU HAVE SHACKLE LIFT !!

This should eliminate any tire height, ect ... and give a resting compression height of the springs ...



Mine -
- 17 1/2 inches on mine from bolt centre to bolt centre, while under normal load (weight) of the vehicle.
- 3/4 shackle lift.
- Advertised 2.5 inch lift on springs.

Hope this makes sense ??

 

[JAG811]

Got some bits and pieces done today which included pulling out the petrol tank and got right into the back half of the frame .... COVERED IN by the end of it !!!

 

[JAG811]

Ok so after cracking a tanty and deciding to do a better job as stated I pulled out the tank and I've spent the weekend REALLY cleaning the back of the frame.
Figured I'll get the rear diff back in and re-jack it up under the springs like the front. Then I'll drop the Transmission guard to finish the middle of the frame ...

.."Cause this is the job that never ends, and it goes on an on my friend" ..

Picture 1 is Jeep Ninja !!
Picture 2 back of the frame after RIGEROUS cleaning and then etch primer ....

 

[Gunner Actual]

Great job with the pics and write up. The jeep looks great! You've done it right, that's for sure

 

[DHugg]

Picture 2 back of the frame after RIGEROUS cleaning and then etch primer ....

JAG811, was peering at your lights (mine are the same) and I was reminded that I just put in a rear axle grounding buss. Quick as a bunny, I went out and took a photo. The cross member is 1 inch copper water pipe, two inches longer than the width of the frame. I hacksawed a double slot into each end an inch deep, so as to force the pipe into the holes at frame wheel well top.

The twin black 14ga. goes to the steel backing plate inside each taillight. I nipped a small slot into the weather cover of each taillight connector, forced the 14ga grounding wire through the same passage as the other wires, then closed the wound with Plumber's Goop ( a rather tough form of silicone putty ).

I can actually solder a good joint, now using silver-bearing solder and a heat-shrink boot, but this was item 00001 as I started this work 2yrs ago. The 2GA multistrand copper wire runs forward to the battery negative pole.

Making such an add at the stage of your work would be a piece of cake.

bonne chance (Louisiana Cajun for "Hope the project terminates in a way that exceeds your expectations")

 

[JAG811]

JAG811, was peering at your lights (mine are the same) and I was reminded that I just put in a rear axle grounding buss. Quick as a bunny, I went out and took a photo.

Looks good !!
I know I'm going to regret asking this but what does a rear axle grounding buss do ?? If it's something really obvious I'm going to feel really stoopid

 

[DHugg]

Looks good !!
what does a rear axle grounding buss do ??

The Girl I'm Currently Dating (for the past 55 years) followed me home when I bought this Jeep; said she could hardly see the tail lights. Once I saw the difference in headlight coverage and distance, tail light and turn signal brightness with a good grounding system, and the sound that I'd not heard before until I grounded the horn, I looked up this link

engine grounds - JeepForum.com

and this

Been reading the good book of JeepHammer! - JeepForum.com

Now I have short runs to rewire the grounds on back lights to that buss above the rear axle, and a good grounding point for the boat trailer lights and signals. I intend installing a small 12V winch in the back of the Jeep, to yank the boat onto the trailer when I have it heavy-full of fish. One can dream.

Oil, road salt, rust, dirt from two PO's who were mudders, have made the frame almost an insulator. A good ground system gets me better ignition, better lights, good trailer lighting, and possibly longer life to the behind-dash electric stuff, all of which is a PITA to get to.

I read this stuff at night while listening to coyotes howling. I assume dingoes make similar rackets?

 

[JAG811]

Very useful information !!

I had plans to look at the electrical after she was back on the road .... but you've sent me off on an electrical system tangent all week !!

I'd love to say I get to listen to dingos, but we just get bucket loads of snakes where I am !!