My 76 CJ5 restoration
Hello everyone.
This is my first post here and since I am going to finally try and finish
my CJ5 project, this seems like a good place to be.
About 5 years ago, I decided to restore my '76 CJ5.
I removed everything from the frame except the motor, tranny & tranfercase. I scraped
& painted the frame and was glad that it was a boxed frame with no rust.
I replaced the spring bushings, and shackles, and did an SOA conversion w/ a new 4"drop pitman, spring
perches and u bolts, and lowered the Transfer Case 1". The rear driveshaft was shortened, and
new heavy duty Ujoints were installed.
I replaced the brakes, wheel cylinders and lines, and relocated the rear shocks. I then installed
new inframe headers w/ new flowmasters and exhaust, and also replaced the tie rods and ends.
The body was badly rusted in the front floors so I cut out all the rust and welded a 1" square tubing
frame for both sides and used some aluminum interstate signs to re-skin the floor. I then fabricated a
steel seat frame and welded it to the 1" sq. tubing, and rhinolined the tub.
After mounting the tub (which was alot heavier from the reinforcing) I painted it Matrix Gloss Black w/ clear.
I installed the racing buckets, 5 point harnesses, and the 6 point rollcage.
After I got everything installed and was ready to start the motor, I was amazed to hear it running again. I got in
and did a test drive down the road and it handled great! My rear pinion angle was good,
and the front end adjustments were right on.
Later that day, the motor started to act up. It wouldnt idle, and it started backfiring and wasnt running right. So I
decided to replace the distributor, coil, wires, plugs and re-time the ignition. (Its a Prestolite ign.)
It was Still acting up, so I replaced the fuel pump and the carburetor.
Well, I decided to ask around and was told that quite possibly when I re installed the wiring, I might have inadvertantly shortened the resistive wire and burned up the ignition control module.
Since the only thing that hadn't been replaced on the jeep was the wiring harness, I ordered a new Painless harness, and it had a ceramic firewall type resistor. I installed it and have everything hooked up, and all the LED's are working
but I havent changed the ignition control mod yet. I really need a better ignition, but right now I want to get the crappy prestolite working.
I havent done anything to the jeep in almost 2 years now, but after washing all the dust off the jeep and seeing her shine again,
I have decided to resurrect the restoration and finally finish this project.
This is my first post here and since I am going to finally try and finish
my CJ5 project, this seems like a good place to be.
About 5 years ago, I decided to restore my '76 CJ5.
I removed everything from the frame except the motor, tranny & tranfercase. I scraped
& painted the frame and was glad that it was a boxed frame with no rust.
I replaced the spring bushings, and shackles, and did an SOA conversion w/ a new 4"drop pitman, spring
perches and u bolts, and lowered the Transfer Case 1". The rear driveshaft was shortened, and
new heavy duty Ujoints were installed.
I replaced the brakes, wheel cylinders and lines, and relocated the rear shocks. I then installed
new inframe headers w/ new flowmasters and exhaust, and also replaced the tie rods and ends.
The body was badly rusted in the front floors so I cut out all the rust and welded a 1" square tubing
frame for both sides and used some aluminum interstate signs to re-skin the floor. I then fabricated a
steel seat frame and welded it to the 1" sq. tubing, and rhinolined the tub.
After mounting the tub (which was alot heavier from the reinforcing) I painted it Matrix Gloss Black w/ clear.
I installed the racing buckets, 5 point harnesses, and the 6 point rollcage.
After I got everything installed and was ready to start the motor, I was amazed to hear it running again. I got in
and did a test drive down the road and it handled great! My rear pinion angle was good,
and the front end adjustments were right on.
Later that day, the motor started to act up. It wouldnt idle, and it started backfiring and wasnt running right. So I
decided to replace the distributor, coil, wires, plugs and re-time the ignition. (Its a Prestolite ign.)
It was Still acting up, so I replaced the fuel pump and the carburetor.
Well, I decided to ask around and was told that quite possibly when I re installed the wiring, I might have inadvertantly shortened the resistive wire and burned up the ignition control module.
Since the only thing that hadn't been replaced on the jeep was the wiring harness, I ordered a new Painless harness, and it had a ceramic firewall type resistor. I installed it and have everything hooked up, and all the LED's are working
but I havent changed the ignition control mod yet. I really need a better ignition, but right now I want to get the crappy prestolite working.
I havent done anything to the jeep in almost 2 years now, but after washing all the dust off the jeep and seeing her shine again,
I have decided to resurrect the restoration and finally finish this project.
.
PM sent.
