Build Thread Deerejeep's '81 CJ7 Iowa

[Hedgehog]

This was said in the other thread. I'd wait and put everything together outsid the frame. It's easier to manipulate the Transmission /bellhousing/clutch and bolt her up sitting in the garage than it is under the jeep. The Transfer Case is yet another ackward piece of equipement best handled with a friend or two and lots of room. Go ahead and bolt up the starter, why not do it where it's easy to get too.

The suggestion in the other thread to make sure your picker can handle the load of the entire drivetrain is a good one. Try not to fret too much, gather your helpers, take a deep breath, down a shot of scotch, and have at it. Keep an open mind. Don't be afraid to try something new, there are a lot of ways to skin the drivetrain cat.

 

[BC CJ]

I'm with hedgehog. I pulled and installed my engine/drivetrain for the first time a couple weeks back. I bolted on the clutch and tranny/transfer and lifted it back in together. It was surprisingly easy. I borrowed a beefy engine hoist, clutch alignment tool, and Transmission jack from work.

The Transmission jack can adjust the tilt of the tranny so it slides in to the clutch/engine really strait and smoothly. Then once the whole package is dropped into the engine bay I used the tranny jack to get it sitting strait and get the mounts lined up and installed.

As well as the engine hoist being strong enough for the whole drivetrain you need to make sure it will lift high enough to get the drooping Transfer Case over the bumper and into the engine bay.

You might want to check out the local equipment rental shops as the right lifts and jacks can make it much easier! and safer.

OK I'm kinda rambling on here. Hopefully some of that is helpful. Good luck!

 

[Hedgehog]

I just make sure the engine is high enough and strong arm the Transfer Case over the frame then put it on a furniture roller and roll it into position.

Other than talking about process, this is a moot point, the engine is in place without Transmission .

 

[Deerejeep]

Installation was easy. Once I got everything I needed, hardware, carb studs etc. the installation took about 45-1 hour. I was working under a tight time frame so I snugged up the hardware, left the picker hooked up to hold some of the weight and came back today.

I got the remaining loc-tite on and finished torquing bolts. The only issue I had was I snapped one of the mount to frame bolts. I have 12 point polished hardware from totally stainless for that part. I don't know what happened but snap. Here are some pictures for you.





In regards to bolting up the tranny and Transfer Case . I did not do this as currently both are being rebuilt. The good news is now that I have the engine in I'm going to focus my efforts on removing the body. I should have a few months without the body on to get the drivetrain in, which should be easier.

Next weekend. I should be heading out to get a YJ family style cage.

 

[Hedgehog]

Yes, having the body off will make installing the Transmission easier than having to crawl under the jeep to work. With the engine in the frame the engine will be very stable, so sticking the Transmission should be a piece of cake.

 

[Deerejeep]

Good day today. Pulled all the seats, seatbelts, dash, steering column, pedals and all the roll bar and hardtop hardware. Most of the hardware was new from the PO so easy. Getting a little help to get the hardtop and roll bar off tomorrow. Then on to the body mounts.

 

[Deerejeep]

Well out with the old. I sure wish I had the time and space to hand these off to a fellow Jeeper but I don't. Still pains me to send old parts away.

YJ family cage pickup tomorrow.

 

[Deerejeep]

Picked up the YJ cage and yet agin got side tracked into another direction. I learned from a member here how to remove bedliner. The PO had done a pretty good job but there was a few spots that had chipped. I had notice a small hole in the tunnel and I decided I wanted to make sure any rust was taken care of before sinkin some cash into paint. I also decided I don't like the bedliner look anymore....so I think it's back to paint for this CJ.

Aircraft stripper works great. Hope to finish up the stripping. This week.

 

[Deerejeep]

No pictures tonight. I've been putting time I on the bedliner removal. Ever time I think it's done there's a bunch more to strip scrape and sand.

I'm getting pretty worn out.... But I still keep putting in the time.

Another week or so and body is off and to the shop. Then I can get focused on finishing up the frame and getting the drivetrain done.

this is a lot of work.

 

[Deerejeep]

Well this is about as good as I can do. What do you think? Will the primer cover the imperfections?

 

[gert]

i would coat it with por 15 first to incapsulate the rust spots that are still there so that it wont make bubbles in your bedliner or paint the stuff works great it can be sprayed on or brushed on all that bare metal looks great

 

[Deerejeep]

Working to finish up the bedliner removal. Unfortunately sometimes you just have to break out the ol' fashion sandpaper and do it!

It will be worth it in the long run.

Does anyone know the best source for quality panels? I think we may have to replace the sides of the tub.

Classicent.com. Feedback on this company?

 

[Petescj]

Classicent is who you want. Way better quality than the stuff you get from Quadratec thats the wrong gauge.

 

[Deerejeep]

Classicent is who you want. Way better quality than the stuff you get from Quadratec thats the wrong gauge.

Thanks Pete.

Little more work cleaning out the inside tube yesterday. Today I did not have in me to work on it. Ordered those panels, you know progress while watching football

 

[Deerejeep]

Status update here.

I've finished the bedliner removal(maybe not 100 percent but I'm tired of it) and unbolted the tub from the frame. Just waiting for my body shop to commit to a date to bring it in. Although with all the delays I've started to think hmm, maybe I should learn to weld and do bodywork.... Next time.

Speaking of body work I'm totally changing my mind on colors. Recall I originally wanted a gecko and electric lime green color, bold and bright. The wife has talked to me about a more classic look. Chestnut brown with Renegade 3 color stickers is my top choice now. Thoughts?

Additional progress is an install of 3 4' T-5 high output lights to replace the 3 60 wt. fixtures in my 3 car garage. Wow I can see now. Recommend it.



New focus as I wait on the body shop is to finish up the Dana 300 case to get back out so it can be rebuilt and adapted for the T-18 . After wire wheeling and degreasing like crazy I sprayed a little vht cast iron on it.


Should look awesome once the twin stick goes in.

Oh and I've gotten a couple quotes on heating the garage with a gas heater install, a little more than I want to spend but it would be great to have the additional time this winter to work.

 

[Deerejeep]

Shop upgrades continue but not a whole lot to report on the CJ. Still waiting on the body shop. I think my next task is to re-bolt up the engine mounts. I had over torqued and messed it up on the initial install.

45,000 btu Sterling with digital thermostat. Worked well last night, but it was high 40's overnight. Single digits over the weekend so I'll have to check it out.




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[gert]

jealous

 

[mark23487]

Very Jealous!
I've just read your entire thread.... Very nice work! It makes me want to leave work, go home and get back to my project. I'm doing the same thing to my '79 CJ5 . Money is the issue right now. A wedding next month and one getting ready for college in about a year & 1/2.
I look forward to watching your progress!

 

[Hedgehog]

I do have a suggestion on your lighting. Along with your Florescent light tubes add a couple regular light bulbs (or their equivalent). Florescent lights strobe as does any light. The idea is by mixing lighting types that strobe at different frequencies they cancel each other out. Why? Like a timing light at certain speeds a turning fan or pulley or any other thing that turns looks like it’s standing still. This was a problem in machine shops where machinists were mangling themselves by sticking their hands into running mills.

 

[profire]

Very nice, just read through entire thread and your doing a awesome job.

Your wife is right, go with a classic color, Chestnut Brown would have been my choice too. I think it's one of the best color's to ever go on a CJ. Except for the Sebring Red my CJ is painted