Build Thread Rocky Mountain 85 CJ7

[alpha6]

Well, I plan to chronicle my CJ7 from when I got it to finish...however, I didn't find this site until I had already started...so to bring you up to date this is what I have done.

When I got the jeep it ran rough as it had sat for 2 years in a barn. I am the third owner and everyone before me keep good records. It is stock (but that will change). I first cleaned the carb and that helped. Changed out all radiator hoses, replaced the oil pan seal, pulled out the carpet, and when I went to drain the radiator, it was so clogged it wouldn't drain, so I replaced it with a new one.

That at least got it running fairly well so it was time before the weather gets too cold to start on the body and I will begin the next post with that.

 

[alpha6]

This was one of the first times we had the jeep out...my boys and I. That is my son...I wish I was 16 again.

 

[alpha6]

Next, I got with my buddy who is a body guy and we took a good look at the condition of the jeep...body wise. Not too bad as you can see. Crawling under it, the frame was in excellent condition so that was a plus. It has the original paint, pretty faded, but the guy that sold it for the PO did a little bond-o work and used some gray spray to cover the worst areas. You can see that great body work in the photos.

 

[alpha6]

My bud who actually restores antique vehicles (some of the early models he does have a 2x4 frame that is covered in stainless steel ) lives a couple of towns over, so we loaded it up on his trailer and hauled it to his shop. What is it with body guys and their little hammers. He starts to punch out all the rust holes. "Oh yeah, this is worse than we thought." "Wow, look at the size of that hole." "Man, I am going to have to think about this...there may be nothing to weld to." Great...but then he laughs and tells me this is going to be awesome!! Body guys.

 

[gert]

that looks familiar must of used the same body shop my PO used

 

[alpha6]

Cutting and patching!

 

[alpha6]

that looks familiar must of used the same body shop my PO used

I am no body guy but really? At least try and smooth out the bond-o before you paint it.

 

[alpha6]

So at the end of this week this is where we are at. Patch work done, sanded, light bond-o to bring it all smooth and down to bare metal. We will get to the inside this next week and then it's paint time.

 

[alpha6]

Oh, I almost forgot. So Matt says...since I have to take the tube off to paint the frame why don't you put a lift kit on it. It will be easy. So I do some checking on this site (thank you Jeep-CJ forums) and find that I can do the 1.25 lift without having to make any changes to linkage, etc. So I order a ROKMEN 1.25 lift kit. (Part number JKS9902-JKS 1976-86' Jeep - in case any of you wanted it.) I also ordered new bushings from Morris 4x4. Check out the pics as to the difference between old and new. Any hoot, so now we will be about 1 3/4 in taller as the old bushings were so flattened with the lift kit and new bushings it brings it up nicely...but not crazy.

 

[alpha6]

Ok...body work is done!! Got the first coat of primer on today and started cutting the rust out of the doors. Next will be sand, primer again then lift the tub and paint the frame. Moving along.

 

[mtnwhlr]

Looks good just one note I didn't see any tape over your headlight plugs I hope you didn't primer in them could be a pain to clean them out.

 

[alpha6]

Yeah, saw that after the fact and checked...they looked clean.

 

[72rtchallenger]

looks good

 

[alpha6]

getting there. Lines are very clean...all new metal where rust was and down to metal everywhere else. My bud Matt is doing the majority of the work. He is very good.

 

[JAG811]

Mate that is a stellar transformation on those photos with all of the rust and holes - Well done !!

 

[alpha6]

Ok...finally got the finishing sanding done and applied the paint.

It is a textured metallic shale green. I know, it looks black in the garage, but it isn't. As a matter of fact, it changes color depending on the light. It's my new stealth jeep.

 

[alpha6]

More pics. What you think?

 

[gaspipe]

Looks great!!!!

 

[mtnwhlr]

Boy is it textured it looks like bedliner. Should hold up well very nice. Take some pics of it in the sun tomorrow should look cool. Was the paint really thick when you sprayed it?

 

[alpha6]

Paint was thick, but Matt, the guy who is actually painting and who's garage we are using has a special gun and nozzle to handle it. Here are more pics from last night.