Build Thread First Jeep 1984 CJ7 Laredo, Midland, TX
robandhooch
Jeeper
Picked up my first Jeep on a whim, maybe midlife crisis my wife thinks, I think I now how a big version of the one I played eith as a kid...
Its obviously far from its days as a proud Laredo , almost all package markings are no longer visible including me booking the horn switch cover. I wasnt able to get it started to drive it, but luckily it came with a tow bar on front which has been fantastic over towing it around. The last time it was attempted to start it fried the previous owners battery jumper, so I figured I would start with some basic electrical diag, and check to see how it barred over.
Engine barred over nicely with no hiccups or sticky spots past the usual signs of decent compression, as well as finding a direct short to ground through the starter. My eldest son(8) is absolutely enamored with the thing and it is the only discussion on our daily trips home from daycare. This has been worth the most value out of the expense of making this vehicle alive.
Electrical- "Painless"
We have stripped all wiring from the vehicle due to age and obvious signs of field fixes, I dont know about you guys but I cannot abide by butt slices and loose cut wires. A painless 10150 harness along with a painless ignition harness are in process of installation. To note, anybody hoping that that is plug and play would ve wrong, at best it seems 50% is plug and play. While a welcome deal, it does leave some to the imagination and frustration when my me panics have managed to walk off with my good electrical crimpers... love them but dammit
Winch- 8274
So it looks like one previous owner really wanted to keep up with the Jones', and installed a Warn 8274 on the front. It was pretty rough looking, so we pulled and tore it down. Warn believes it is a 75 model based on sn and build date code. A friend in town who does Nickel plating helped me disassemble, strip,and rebuild. Check out METAL EFX for all your coating needs if youre in the Permian basin. We took that 8274 from nada to Estrada! Going back together with are marine grade solenoids, proper new wiring, and a synthetic cable.
Shade- very up in the air
This had a soft top of some sort but I cannot seem to place the brand. Im going yo meet up with past owner to pick up all the doors and cover soon. We have a few pieces broken as far as the frame, and due to lack of being able to identify the manufacturer I may just have to model and 3d print replacement bits and bobs.
Body- nip tuck
I wish I had looked it over better, but have since found a driver floor pan rotted out, as well as a cracked out seat mounting position, and clean rotted out passenger rear tub rail... luckily Classic offers new stamped forms for these repairs so I will be cutting them out and welding in new. Still dont know ow what kind of a coating I want to use, so any comme is there would be great.
Well here goes nothing, wishing myself luck, and hopefully I can produce a dependable, fun, weekend breeze catcher.
Its obviously far from its days as a proud Laredo , almost all package markings are no longer visible including me booking the horn switch cover. I wasnt able to get it started to drive it, but luckily it came with a tow bar on front which has been fantastic over towing it around. The last time it was attempted to start it fried the previous owners battery jumper, so I figured I would start with some basic electrical diag, and check to see how it barred over.
Engine barred over nicely with no hiccups or sticky spots past the usual signs of decent compression, as well as finding a direct short to ground through the starter. My eldest son(8) is absolutely enamored with the thing and it is the only discussion on our daily trips home from daycare. This has been worth the most value out of the expense of making this vehicle alive.
Electrical- "Painless"
We have stripped all wiring from the vehicle due to age and obvious signs of field fixes, I dont know about you guys but I cannot abide by butt slices and loose cut wires. A painless 10150 harness along with a painless ignition harness are in process of installation. To note, anybody hoping that that is plug and play would ve wrong, at best it seems 50% is plug and play. While a welcome deal, it does leave some to the imagination and frustration when my me panics have managed to walk off with my good electrical crimpers... love them but dammit
Winch- 8274
So it looks like one previous owner really wanted to keep up with the Jones', and installed a Warn 8274 on the front. It was pretty rough looking, so we pulled and tore it down. Warn believes it is a 75 model based on sn and build date code. A friend in town who does Nickel plating helped me disassemble, strip,and rebuild. Check out METAL EFX for all your coating needs if youre in the Permian basin. We took that 8274 from nada to Estrada! Going back together with are marine grade solenoids, proper new wiring, and a synthetic cable.
Shade- very up in the air
This had a soft top of some sort but I cannot seem to place the brand. Im going yo meet up with past owner to pick up all the doors and cover soon. We have a few pieces broken as far as the frame, and due to lack of being able to identify the manufacturer I may just have to model and 3d print replacement bits and bobs.
Body- nip tuck
I wish I had looked it over better, but have since found a driver floor pan rotted out, as well as a cracked out seat mounting position, and clean rotted out passenger rear tub rail... luckily Classic offers new stamped forms for these repairs so I will be cutting them out and welding in new. Still dont know ow what kind of a coating I want to use, so any comme is there would be great.
Well here goes nothing, wishing myself luck, and hopefully I can produce a dependable, fun, weekend breeze catcher.
