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Build Thread Renegade Resurrection!

Build Thread Renegade Resurrection!
Renegade

Renegade

Jeeper
Posts
176
Media
22
Thanks
0
Location
Missouri
Vehicle(s)
82 CJ-7 258 Inline 6 with 4.0 head Offenhauser Intake and Holley Carb, the rest stock
I purchased my 82 CJ about 2 years ago, I have made a bunch of changes since I purchased it new tires and wheels, 2.5 lift, head swap with Offenhauser intake and 4 bbl carb, new seats and much more. Well I have been saving for over a year to give the body some attention, and restore the CJ back to its original color of black. I had it all planned out, I had a retired body guy willing to patch up the and replace metal where needed and paint it all for $2000.00, so I thought that was pretty good. I asked if I brought him the tub only and all the pieces if that would be any cheaper and he said sure it would help a bunch. So my daughter and I stripped the Jeep last weekend marking, bagging and tagging everything. Called the painter and he stopped by to check it all out, his story changed after viewing it, he was up over $1800.00 just in metal work and that was with me supplying to panels. So after he basically ran out of my garage I was faced with a dilemma, buy a new tub? Complete a wrangler tub swap or buy the rest of the panels for about $600.00 and learn the hard way. So I got up early yesterday got on you-tube and watched about 2 hours of Jeep projects and welding video's. Well I made my decision I am going to do the work myself, so I started working on it yesterday, I will post pictures of my progress. If you have any helpful Ideas please feel free to share!!!!
 
Here are some more photos, I have ordered all the replacement panels, they should be here by then end of the week! I hope! I will post more pics when I make some more progress.
 
:popcorn: just take your time. when you rush it bad thing happen.
 
Take plenty of pictures, especially those tubes that come down from the firewall to the fenders. I forgot how mine went back on.
 
Bag and tag almost everything. Take pictures even of things you think you'll never use, it costs nothing. Keep a list of the order you removed things as a guide for reassembly. Replace any screws or bolts with stainless, when feasible. Use plenty of anti-sieze for reassembly. Plan on it costing more than you planned. Plan on it taking longer than you thought. Use seam sealer on your body joints (of the Jeep:D). And don't remove too much of the old body at one time or you risk twisting and mis-alignment. (oops, too late for that one:eek:)
 
PaRenegade Thank You for the encouragement! I checked on the replacement parts it looks like they should be delivered on Thursday. I hear what you are saying about removing to much metal to fast, I was wondering that also. I pulled the side off because I thought I was just going to replace the sides. The more I removed the more of the rust was exposed. I stopped for exactly the reason you said, I really am not sure where I should start. My thoughts where to start with the rear floor and the step up? Then I was going to move to the passenger floor board to try to keep things solid. If you guys have any suggestions please feel free to chime in. For right now that is my plan for this weekend.
 
Made some good progress today. Taking my time trying to save the body mounts, it has been some work but I think I will have to replace the two outer brackets. Not sure if I want to spend $80.00 or if I should just make them from stock metal? I haven't made up my mind yet. Well I hope to post more pics tomorrow.
 
You have removed quite a bit of sheetmetal at one time. Be real careful to get it all back together and lined up right. Thats some nice work your doing. :popcorn:
 
Today made a bunch of progress, but I do see the challenges of cutting too much at a time. In my case I think it will be better, the PO had so many patches with much thicker metal that it was making it impossible to try to squeeze the new metal in. So I said it was time to drop the back half off, so I tightened down the front body mounts, I also removed the rest of the front floor pans being careful not to cut through the supports. I was able to save the main cross member and the inside support, again the outside one was trashed. I have ordered two of them, and hope they come in by next week. I did remove the back half of the Jeep!:drool: I will be leaving it in tack for a while so I can use it as a template for the new supports and floor. I thought I would throw the sides on and just clamp them on to see how they fit and how they looked. I still have some grinding to do at the front cowl on both sides to get them flush, I am afraid to grind too much yet because I think I am going to have to purchase a new cowl. The one on my Jeep was the main source for a major part of the rust. The drip channel is rusted all the way through and the water just drained into the front floor pans. Other than that the cowl is in good shape, if anyone has an idea on how to repair the drip channel, please yell!:eek: I am waiting on some more part this week, we will see what next week brings.
 
Keep up the nice work; I opted to do the YJ tub swap instead of panels and pieces. When it's done the gas fill with be on the "right" side. Looking good so far, keeping on grinding it out.
 
And i thought i have a lot of sheet metal work to do. Looks good!!!
 
Spent a lot of time working on the Jeep. You guys were right it is a real challenge lining everything up just right. One good thing I am teaching myself to weld, this is my first time on a real project, I hope I can improve before I get to the side panels!:) Well it went pretty good, I got the front 4 panels in and lined up real good, I ask my wife to grab the other end of the roll bar and hold it for a half hour or so(at least it sounded like that):D She was a real trooper! We were able to get everything lined up perfect using the roll bar as the guide, it seemed to draw everything together. I spent some time welding all the backing nuts for the roll bar and the rear support body mounts. Towards the end of the day I ripped out the front passenger body mount bracket again, and welded some new metal to the firewall because it was destroyed when I pulled the original side panel off. Well I have some work to do to clean up the front passenger body mount, I just really want to make sure everything lines back up real nice. Anybody know where to get the best replacement cowl? I think mine is beyond repair, I really don't think I can fix the rain channel, mine is rusted through about 50%, it was the real cause of all my rot. Let me know if you know of a good place to buy a replacement cowl.
 
Looking good. I like those replacement panels. I probably should have gone that route. nice job...
 
I swear, ever since I started this project it has been perfect Jeep Top Off Weather here in Missouri Mid 70's low 80's for 3 weeks now! It is driving me nuts all my neighbors are running around with there Jeeps Topless!!!

Well I got a bunch done today, I would have got more done but Quadratec sent me 2 passenger wheel housings! Replacement should be here Monday! So I kind of had to work around it, like you guys said I have had to do a bunch of lining things up, good thing I have a ton of clamps! Everything is lined up good, I am having trouble with the grey metal, it really doesn't seem to like to take the weld very good, so I am having to get things hotter than I want. Any hints or tricks would be appreciated.

I will post more picks tomorrow if I get time to work on it.
 
Here are some more photos from today! My dad finally got back from Florida and came over to help give me a hand.:chug: I also had a neighbor come over and check out my welds. hhhmmm?:confused: I said what? Neighbor said well I think the first pot hole you hit you are going to pop welds!!!:rolleyes: He then said his son is a welder by trade. He called him up the street and he put on a demo for me, and showed me what I was doing wrong. What a difference it made, I have been welding all day!!! I think it is great!! He came back by tonight and said they all look great. We then pulled the tub and I am going to hit the rest from the bottom. Had a Great Day with my Dad! It was nice to get some extra help! We have double checked every measurement and things are coming out great. Well here are the pics!!
 
Dang! How much of the original body do you still have? That looks like fun. You'll be an ace welder when you get done!
 
I got lucky and picked up the side panels off CL for $100.00, I caught a guy who decided to use a Wrangler tub instead. I also picked up another hood and grill on CL cheep. Found a couple of fenders on CL under the free section! WOOO HOOOO, I am not sure which ones I will be using? but I got such a deal on them I couldn't pass them up. I will for sure keep my tailgate and the cowling, the PO had already put a new CJ frame under it, he just ran out of time and money. I am getting excited about it all coming together. I still cant decide what I want to do with painting the floor and the undercoating? I really want to make it last! If you have any suggestions please share. :chug:
 
Looking good Renegade . Do you have any more pics of how you did the rear mount boxes or your outer supports? It looks like some fab work was used there. I will soon be venturing down that road and I always like to see how others walked it.
 
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