Build Thread Deerejeep's '81 CJ7 Iowa

[Airstrike]

Before:


After sandblasting:


Couple coats of primer and coats of rustoleum.



Lots of sandblasting and painting going on here, plus bunch of scrubbing grease away. Got a quote on the engine rebuild. Generally comments on my question thread are that it is high. I'm going to move forward with the shop there will be some changes. Working on a paint quote too. Full speed ahead.

quality work... looks great! You will be happy for it when it is done!

 

[Deerejeep]

quality work... looks great! You will be happy for it when it is done!

Appreciate it. I'm hoping so. I think it looks good and while I'll not win the award for doing all the work on the rebuild myself nor the cheapest restoration cost. I'm trying to manage a budget, my time and learn more skills too.

I'm seeing absolute Red tonight. Purchased a pulley removable kit from HF to remove my PS pulley. I've cleaned it up good but need to blast the pulley and get about 10 lbs. of grease from behind it. Seen a couple videos on "how to."

Could not get it off. I used the threaded stud, and when provoked hammered it with the impact. Bad idea. I did not use any PB blaster so I'll regroup and hope that was the problem.

Frustrated and hope I did not screw up the whole thing.

Regroup tomorrow.

 

[Deerejeep]

Stopped into the engine shop today. Block has been honed. Full speed ahead. I still need to figure out what cam to go with. I'm leaning toward the edelbrock performer.



Also received in some new hardware from totally stainless. I think the 12 point heads will look nice for the motor mounts.



Also finally got the pulley off the powersteerimg pump. Wow! I did not realize it would take that much torque to get that thing off. Lots of wire wheeling and degreaser going on right now.

 

[Deerejeep]

Took the day off to get some work done on the CJ. Epic fail. Rear brakes on the JK, grass cut, help load a trailer for family and now it's time. Maybe some work this weekend. I'd like to finish up some parts, the frame and stat getting my power booster cleaned up and and and and and and a bunch of other stuff.

Ordered my edelbrock Intake and valve cover. O yeah.

 

[Deerejeep]

Well the sandblasting and painting continues. Here's a shot of the original 1979 powersteering pump that came on the 360 engine. I cleaned it up, primed, painted with a metal flake paint. Also found a clear gloss and have begun covering most of my restore bracket with some clear. My fear is that I'll undue a lot of the work I've done during installation, so I'm covering in clear for some protection.

Also, I've begun cleaning up the powerbooster that came as an extra part wiith my CJ purchase. I'm not sure i should have sanblasted but well the wire wheel looks abou as appealing as push mowing when you have a lawn tractor too. The bracket that attaches it to the firewall is in AMC blue. I really like how it looks on brackets. I've got no rhyme or reason to what goes what color. Just trying to alternate from silver, black and AMC Blue.

 

[Deerejeep]

Posting early tonight too tired to put much time in tonight. Do I have a problem if I wake up and put a coat of paint on my parts before going to work? You know just so it's dry by the time I get home.

UPS delivered some parts today! Intake and valve covers.



Also finished up the power booster here is a before and after shot.
Before:


After:

 

[Petescj]

I dont think I have to ask how you like the sandblaster. Nice work. And painting before work isnt crazy. Its down right smart.

 

[Deerejeep]

I dont think I have to ask how you like the sandblaster. Nice work. And painting before work isnt crazy. Its down right smart.

Soon I'll be blasting the change in my drawer just to feed the addiction.

 

[gaspipe]

Great job!

 

[Airstrike]

Soon I'll be blasting the change in my drawer just to feed the addiction.

hahaha awesome. Yeah once you get going it is hard not to get all anal. When my step father was helping me he was like... "damn boy you are anal and a nit pick"... what can I say.. I wanted it to be perfect.

Bad part is you have me wanting to yank my AMC 304 out and clean it up now!

 

[Deerejeep]

Not a productive week at all. But good progress on the engine at the shop. We're waiting on the crank to come back, have the cam kit ordered and we'll be doing the oiling mod. Interesting they looked at replacing the Timing cover and realized the cost $500! We'll be cleaning up the existing and going from there.

Pulled a tire off for the first time. 3 legit lugs but I'm not sure about the other 2. The Mrs has given me 5 hours to work tomorrow. The goal? Finish out the cleaning up of the last 3rd of the frame. Here is a pic.

 

[Airstrike]

Not a productive week at all. But good progress on the engine at the shop. We're waiting on the crank to come back, have the cam kit ordered and we'll be doing the oiling mod. Interesting they looked at replacing the Timing cover and realized the cost $500! We'll be cleaning up the existing and going from there.

Pulled a tire off for the first time. 3 legit lugs but I'm not sure about the other 2. The Mrs has given me 5 hours to work tomorrow. The goal? Finish out the cleaning up of the last 3rd of the frame. Here is a pic.

You know it is amazing how the universal super duper all purpose Block of Wood is not sold in stores as just that. I think I am gonna apply for the patent. I think I needed like 5 or 6 of those Block of Wood to get my jeep done! So never fear Deerejeep... you are on the right path and your work is looking good!

 

[Deerejeep]

You know it is amazing how the universal super duper all purpose Block of Wood is not sold in stores as just that. I think I am gonna apply for the patent. I think I needed like 5 or 6 of those Block of Wood to get my jeep done! So never fear Deerejeep... you are on the right path and your work is looking good!

Hah.. The best tool in the garage!

Finished up the frame today.

Primer:


Paint:

Yeah you can see a reflection in it


I used an angle grinder with a coarse disk, wire wheel. Rustoleum primer and black.

 

[Airstrike]

Hah.. The best tool in the garage!

Finished up the frame today.

Primer:


Paint:

Yeah you can see a reflection in it


I used an angle grinder with a coarse disk, wire wheel. Rustoleum primer and black.

Looks sharp!

 

[gaspipe]

Nice job!!!! Looks great.

 

[Deerejeep]

Need some guidance on steering shaft removal. I'm trying to get prepared for tub removal for hopefully paint someday. Also have a PS box that leaked a lot so I need to get it off and replaced.

See my thread here

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/steering-shaft-removal-pics-included-19851/#post161658

 

[Saint0416]

Nice work man! Are you happy with teh HF Blaster? I have been thinking about buying one, but just have not pulled the cord.

 

[Petescj]

Just rattle can Rustoleum? Looks great.

Hah.. The best tool in the garage!

Finished up the frame today.

Primer:


Paint:

Yeah you can see a reflection in it


I used an angle grinder with a coarse disk, wire wheel. Rustoleum primer and black.

 

[Deerejeep]

Nice work man! Are you happy with teh HF Blaster? I have been thinking about buying one, but just have not pulled the cord.

For the price $427.00 ( I think) for the cabinet, compressor, fittings kit and 40 lbs of aluminum oxide. I would say its been well worth the investment. Just silicone every seam and take time in putting it together. The directions stink but hey if you owns CJ, then your capable. I purchased a 26 gallon, it works fine, usually when it struggles to keep pressure, I need little break too. You also need a better light inside, I've not done it but done even use the one that comes with it.

Just rattle can Rustoleum? Looks great.

Thanks! I've been impressed! Rattle can is much better than what people think. I did a whole dining room table set with it, to avoid the wife buying a new table. Also did an expensive Ethan Allen mirror with it. So why not a CJ frame.

 

[Deerejeep]

Not a lot of progress this weekend. Beat on the steering shaft some and now it's loose up inside the column but not at the two shafts. Hope I did not retry it. I'll just pull the column to get it out. Just running out of places to store stuff!

Ordered up the hedman inside frame headers. Also went by the local pick and pull to check out a possible YJ family cage. Apparently they crushed it the day before.

Hope to get some engine progress updates this week.