Newbie Intro and questions

[es335]

Very excited to join this site. I looked at quite a few and found this one fits my needs the best. I have owned a number of offroad vehicles over the past 30 years. I have wanted a CJ forever, and, finally found one I could not pass up. I bought a 1974 CJ5 that had been taken down to the frame, repainted, and outfitted with a fiberglass body. Not the best job I have seen, but, with 56K original miles, a rebuilt AMC 304 with a mild cam and Holly 600, running and inspected until 11/2012.....for $2500 I couldn't pass it up!!!! I just bought a a cage kit from Extreme Fabricators. I plan to fab my own ties that will bolt to the bottom of the cage and to the frame. I was wondering if anyone could help me understand how the bushings are to be installed? Do the bolts from the floor plates run inside the bushings which I assume would the thickness of the Fiberglass? Also, what about the Roll bar that is currently bolted to the rear fender wells? How would you "bush" that section? Looks like the factory roll bar with the plate that runs under the bar and bolts to the tub. I attached pics of my rig-day one, and after 3 hours of scrubbing!!!

 

[mtnwhlr]

:ww: nice looking jeep

 

[es335]

Thanks-lots of plans!!!!

 

[ken98k]

You should be ashamed for stealing that rig
Seriously, nice looking jeep. I've never seen a blue top but I like it.

 

[rr41mag]

Ashamed? He needs to be arrested! Nice looking jeep dude! We like pictures on this site.

 

[es335]

Thinks guys. To make up for blatent disregard for the sanctity of the Jeep family (ie stealing this one)....I have made a donation to the home for abused Jeeps! Will post pictures soon. Working on Seats, Front Cage, straightening the front clip, wiring...

 

[PaRenegade]

Welcome aboard. Nice find on the Jeep.
When it comes to fiberglass bodies and roll cages you would need to use bushing anywhere you penetrate the body, unlike a steel tub where you sandwich the tub with an isolation joint. The steel will flex some but the fiberglass will crack, should you have an impact or with the twisting you get on the trail. You can still use poly or rubber at the joints, just keep the fiberglass independent. You can always use a flexible sealant to fill in any gaps between the bushings and the body.

 

[es335]

PA Renegade , Thank you-I follow everything but the poly bushings? Where do they go? Around the bolt shank?

 

[PaRenegade]

It sounds like you may have some kind of bushing already since your specifically referring to a "poly bushing". Do you have a picture? I don't want to mislead you. I'm speaking in general, and yes generally the bolts go thru the bushings. Are you planning on a smaller bushing at each bolt or just one square one with 4 holes thru it? The later would be more durable.

 

[es335]

PaRenegade,
I did some research after I posted the question. I get it now-Looked at quite a few different mounts. I am thinking bushings on each Bolt Hole-there would be four on my roll bar kit and, a hard rubber pad on the bottom and top plate. Are most welding the bushings on, or, just "sandwiching " them between the 2 plates?

 

[PaRenegade]

I don't think it would matter but it would make less pieces if they were welded to one of the plates. Your just talking about thick washers basically, slightly thicker than the fiberglass shell it's passing thru. I haven't seen many done with fiberglass tubs but typically what I've found (and how I plan on doing mine) is the plate welded to the bar above with a hole in each corner. A hard rubber or poly (some have used a cutting board) cut to the same size as the plate, put under the body. Then another similar sized plate under that and 4 bolts tightening that sandwich. Then of course the connection to the frame.

 

[tonkatrucksryan]

I want to do this to mine and I hope one of the two of you post pics and how you did your project when it is finished. Thanks

 

[es335]

PA Renegade -yep got it!!!! Hope to pick the jeep up next weekend (having some other work done on it), and start weekend after. Will definitely post some pics!!! Just got confirmation the Roll Bar Kit was delivered, so, should be good to go. Thank you for the help/direction!!!