Build Thread Found my hot rod (project)

[jasonmark1993]

Well, after driving all over CA and parts of AZ, I found a good starter.

73 CJ5 , AMC 304 , 3spd, Dana 20 , 44 in rear and 30 in front

New 33 BFGs and rims, new Warn M800, new 4" lift kit

and lots of rust.....

Plans are a 408W, 4spd toploader, Dana 20 , 9" in the back and the 30 up front--538 gears. I've looked everywhere for a 401 but everyone wants a lot of money and I dont want to risk all the time and money and end up with a shot block or something. Im going to rework the floor pan and tub as best I can and make this body work for a couple years. The drivetrain is probably going to come close to 15k so thats why Im cutting corners on cosmetics.

Best vehicle purchase Ive ever made...got my first compliment at the gas station less than five minutes after buying it. Drove it home 2.5 hrs after a 5 min. test drive.

My garage is so full of tools and parts I couldnt get a wide angle shot. I'll take a few of the floor pan and body mounts as I go. Its gonna be ugly.

 

[rr41mag]

congrats on your purchase, it has potential

 

[zuba]

Welcome to CJ, Not bad some time and money.

 

[Petescj]

So you looked all over Ca. and Az. until you found a "rusty" Jeep?

I like your style.

 

[mylittlecj5]

Hey, those decals on the right fender and hood look like you may have found a Super Jeep ...Google that term to see what I am talking about...you might not want to tear that body up down the road...

 

[jasonmark1993]

Ya it was the Super Jeep . Still has the decals on it but they spray painted silver over it and the body is wasted...both fenders are rusted in half.

Still has the original rear seat in it to.

 

[Niedhogg]

So you looked all over Ca. and Az. until you found a "rusty" Jeep?

I like your style.

Those were my thoughts exactly!!
Must have been pretty tough to find one that wasn't rust free!!

 

[jasonmark1993]

Those were my thoughts exactly!!
Must have been pretty tough to find one that wasn't rust free!!

Ya kinda silly but believe it or not it was exactly what I was looking for.

Seemed like there were two kinds of jeeps on the market (72-75 mandatory)

--rusted out and needed tons of work for @ 5k (some aftermarket parts)

--rusted out and needed tons of work for @2500 (some aftermarket parts)

This jeep had exactly the aftermarket parts I wanted and the price was right. People were snatching these things up like crazy. I was the first caller so he held it. 5 hr drive but it was worth it.

Got the tank out, cut/torched all the body mounts off, got the tub up on some bricks so I could work, cut the rusted area of floor pan/body mounts off.

Of all the car projects Ive undertaken, Im far more excited about this one than any other; weird because I hate bodywork. I think Im enjoying it because I dont plan on making it pretty. To me, Jeeps look the best with a couple dings and dents and flat paint.

I was going to get the body mount/floor pan stuff taken care of and then drive it for awhile but I removed the Transfer Case shifter so its down for the count until I do the whole drivetrain swap.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Got the tub structurally sound again and back on the frame with all new mounts rubber and the metal part attached to the tub) and floor pans up front. Its nice to be able to yank on the rollbar and not hear a squeak or creak.

Found a great deal on the toploader with the shifter and AA kit I need with a spare Dana 20 !!

Picked out an engine builder for the shortblock. We're using a 94-97 roller 5.8l and putting a forged stroker kit in it. Looking at three weeks before the shortblock is done.

Ordered the 9" today: Yukon Grizzly locker, 5.38, daytona pinion support, nodular iron case, drum brakes, narrow track

I planned on doing the bodywork last but the drivetrain is taking a while so I've got nothing better to do.

More pictures of the bodywork to follow. It should be about the worst bodywork ever. I almost lost my way and spent money on diamond plate rear corners and rocker guards but then I saw the spare sheet metal in the corner and remembered the bodywork is on a budget.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Well, body work is done. Believe it or not the worst day was spray painting. Holy smokes. My fingers and forearms are killing me. I didn't do the best prep work at the end and there are some blotchy areas where I didn't get all the stickers off. Those things were on there good.

Used bluetorch fab fenders. To my door for 200. Best deal I could find.

 

[JR74CJ5]

I like it man! Keep up the good work!

 

[FalconCMH]

Great CJ looks like your in for a ton of fun! I thought my Jeep was rusty love the foot thru the floor pic!

 

[FalconCMH]

Well, body work is done. Believe it or not the worst day was spray painting. Holy smokes. My fingers and forearms are killing me. I didn't do the best prep work at the end and there are some blotchy areas where I didn't get all the stickers off. Those things were on there good.

Used bluetorch fab fenders. To my door for 200. Best deal I could find.

Thats great work looks very nice!

 

[jasonmark1993]

thanks guys. Got the roll bar and a bikini top back on.

Toploader with AA kit and an extra Dana 20 just showed up.

Even better is the 9" that came in today. This thing looks burly!!

 

[jasonmark1993]

Well the piles and piles of parts are growing. Got the entire drivetrain out of the jeep today. Should have it cleaned up and painted and ready for the new stuff to go in this weekend.

Screwed up and installed that road race oil pan before I realized it would be real close to the ft driveshaft. Ive pulled it off and got a 7 qt "off road" pan. Wasted a $50 oil pan gasket in the process. Brilliant.

 

[zuba]

NICE!! really NICE

 

[kickitandholdit]

Good Work!

looks great

 

[kickitandholdit]

There are very few of these super jeeps left because they are constantly being hidden by a coat of paint and tricked out like every other jeep. The funny thing is that nobody cares The people that get old CJ's get them because of what they are and so they can make them their own "Its A Jeep Thing"

Screw rarity and history! Im glad to see another happy jeep owner that made his jeep his own :chug

 

[subaruski]

 

[jasonmark1993]

Thanks for looking guys.

Been taking my time on this one. Ive tried to rush so many projects before and it just takes all the fun out of it.

I got the 9" in and it looks great under there.

Had to have the toploader rebuilt as I found reverse had teeth broken off so we just went through the whole thing.

In the middle of rebuilding the Transfer Case .

Hoping to do a trial fit with the engine in a couple weeks.

Happy new year!!