Build Thread The $120 Jeep CJ7 build thread

[daddyusmaximus]

Remember way back when I showed a photo of a NOS deuce-and-a-half windshield, and said I wanted those safari-style windows? Well, I still do. And, a while back, I dropped it off, with the windshield frame from this tub at a local machine shop so they could make it easy for me to relive those memories of driving behind them. I had to stop in with a big sheet of steel for them to sheer for me for the go cart-truck, and they showed me the progress so far. (working in between their big contracts) I wish I had that level of fabrication skills. Man, I'm so stoked...! I probably won't be once I get the bill, but I'll have a one-of-a kind CJ7 for sure.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

First off, hot weather, and I are old enemies, so I limit my exposure.


Secondly, the wife is out of work during the summer (teacher's aid) and I'm on VA disability,

so Limited funds to start, plus now down a check... no new Jeep parts.


To top it all off, I've been sick. No solid poop in last 2 months. (what a pretty picture that was huh?) They're still trying to figure it out, but long story short... been very tired, and weak as of late. If you're the praying type, I could use a mention to the good Lord.


Speaking of being thankful... Got the windshield frame back today! Not sure when I'll be able to go have glass put in it, but I just had to slap it on for a test fit. They messed up one screw on one of the hinges, so looks like I'm hitting scrap yards looking for another M35A1 to scrounge off, but it's otherwise done. Already had the cash to pay the bill, thank God. (had sold a gun) 28 hrs of machine shop work... but it will be the signature piece of the vehicle.

 

[Belizean]

Hope you get some good news about your health.

 

[gert]

Praying for you


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[ShepsCJ7]

Got some prayers going up for you. I've been in the situation you're in. I went though some medical stuff and had to pause the Jeep build for about a year or so. Got diagnosed with with hemochromatosis. That is where your body stores iron. If it was not found (thanks to my wife) I probably would have had organs shutting down from iron overload in the not so nearish future. The way you deal with it is to get bled. Problem was, they were bleeding me to much and I became anemic. It was all I could do to work the day in the heat and come home to shower then not move. But we dug into what I was going through and made some personal medical decisions and I am better now. If I can suggest anything, talk with your doctor and research what your going through. That way you can make educated medical decisions. Even if you and your doctor disagree you can still try things you think might help you. I started refusing to be bled with the intention that if I felt worse like he said I was going to feel, I would come in and get the phlebotomy done. Felt better in a couple weeks and kept an eye on all my numbers. Now I go to him once a year to keep an eye on it and to my regular doctor every 3 months for blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. So don't get to dishearten with medical issues. We prayed for wisdom and healing and God led us through it. So I'm praying the same for you.

As for your Jeep, that is a cool windshield. I can get into custom one off things done to a Jeep build. That will definitely get some attention on the trial or the jeep meet.

 

[Patrick]

God bless.

 

[Masscj7]

Be tough with the help, but damn that windshield is trick and a super cool idea!


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[Masscj7]

Be tough with the help, but damn that windshield is trick and a super cool idea!


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Be tough with the health I meant. We’re persistent Jeepers, you lick the health woes.


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[Armyvet25]

Got some prayers going up for you. I've been in the situation you're in. I went though some medical stuff and had to pause the Jeep build for about a year or so. Got diagnosed with with hemochromatosis. That is where your body stores iron. If it was not found (thanks to my wife) I probably would have had organs shutting down from iron overload in the not so nearish future. The way you deal with it is to get bled. Problem was, they were bleeding me to much and I became anemic. It was all I could do to work the day in the heat and come home to shower then not move. But we dug into what I was going through and made some personal medical decisions and I am better now. If I can suggest anything, talk with your doctor and research what your going through. That way you can make educated medical decisions. Even if you and your doctor disagree you can still try things you think might help you. I started refusing to be bled with the intention that if I felt worse like he said I was going to feel, I would come in and get the phlebotomy done. Felt better in a couple weeks and kept an eye on all my numbers. Now I go to him once a year to keep an eye on it and to my regular doctor every 3 months for blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. So don't get to dishearten with medical issues. We prayed for wisdom and healing and God led us through it. So I'm praying the same for you.

As for your Jeep, that is a cool windshield. I can get into custom one off things done to a Jeep build. That will definitely get some attention on the trial or the jeep meet.

Medieval bastards...they using leeches again???

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Still been feeling weak, and the heat doesn't make things better, but I did finally get back out to the garage. Did some tinkering on a new dash today. The one I ordered online just wasn't gonna work. None of the holes lined up. I mean, they were way off. Wobbling them out wouldn't even have worked. Had to start over. These weren't right either, but they were close enough that wobbling them out will work... Decided to add a glovebox, (from a deuce and a half) so the data plates are gonna have to be adjusted, but as I've stated before, this isn't a reproduction of a military vehicle, it's a tribute to the military, and has touches of more than one vehicle from my service added, as well as off road mods, and a bit of hot-rod flair.

 

[Masscj7]

Looks good. Even my new DD dash had holes that were off and he has some of the best reproductions out there.


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[daddyusmaximus]

Work continues, slowly as usual. I've been working on several parts of the Jeep at once, but that's just because I think I have some form of AFHD, and I always seem to (Oh look, a squirrel) jump on a different thing each time I go out to the garage...

A week or so back, I started in on Brandy's seat.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

A few days later I decided it was time to build me a new battery box. I'm no expert, but I think the metal I'm using is like 14 gage...? Anyhow, whatever it is, looks strong enough. It was strong enough to be an absolute bear to bend with my little Harbor Freight brake. In fact, I started bending the little handles, and even thought I was going to rip a bite out of the front of my workbench. Once I got the big bend done, I went back to the old method of hammer and vice.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Yesterday, and today I was working on the antenna mounts. These will go on the rear corners of the Jeep. Even though the CJ7 more closely resembles an M38A1, I'm going for the kind of mounts with the matching units we had on our M151s. The trick is to make them look like the military ones. (even though it's just for a CB radio) I found surplus ones on eBay out in Pennsylvania, but the seller was charging like $90 (each) just for shipping...! WT actual F?

OK, make by scratch it is. Bend, cut, drill, oh, and make a circle (top plate for the matching unit) by cutting straight lines with a grinder (cut off wheel) then rounding it off with another grinder and regular disc. They're not done yet, they're cut out wrong (I need to trim) and I have some cut-outs to make yet... but I got a good start on them. One will have an antenna, and the other will have a whoppie light like they had us put on our vehicles to help prevent crashes when road marching on the autobahn.

 

[Patrick]

Nice work and moving right along. I wish I had access to a brake. I am about to start with my instrument panel. I’ll have to make do with the edge of the work bench.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Nice work and moving right along. I wish I had access to a brake. I am about to start with my instrument panel. I’ll have to make do with the edge of the work bench.

I wish I had access to one too. That little $50 Harbor Freight POS is next to worthless unless you're bending pop cans into toys.

 

[Belizean]

Like this one made out of pop cans.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Cooler temp prevail, and with it not being ninety eleven degrees out, comes progress on the Jeep. However, one project has fallen by the wayside... I will not be doing the little yard cart build. At least not in the near future. Had a yard sale, and sold a bunch of old army stuff a couple weeks back, so now I have this to run around on...
No need to build something. Run to the post office, go get pizza, go to the hardware store for a bolt for the Jeep...
OMG this is the best thing I've bought in years.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

As far as the Jeep itself... I took the windshield back off. It got painted, and the pop out frames are set to go to the glass shop to have glass put in them. I went ahead, and did the roll bar, and hood while I had the spray cans out seeing as it was nice weather.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Also, I got my new Redhead steering box in, so that got mounted up.
Then I started in on the front fenders. Same as rear, I'm using trailer fenders. Of course the fronts aren't as simple as just plain old round arches... I got flat top ones then made pie cuts in the edges so they could be bent out. Looks like they'll work out pretty well. Went by the local print shop in the next town the other day, and picked up the stickers that will be the flags for the front bumper. They will be rigid, on steel poles at each corner. I've had front mounted flags before on my car and decided against it again, as they sometimes blow sideways at stoplights blocking my view. These will be rigid, (stickers on steel) and always "blowing" towards the rear.