Build Thread The $120 Jeep CJ7 build thread

Patrick · Sep 25, 2022

daddyusmaximus said:
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.

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How cool that is. Can you get around on public roads with it? Maybe you live in rural area.

Belizean · Sep 26, 2022

And take care of those batteries. We have a bunch of those Pargo Ezgo rides. When you buy 6-8 batteries you start to feel the pain.

daddyusmaximus · Sep 26, 2022

Patrick said:
How cool that is. Can you get around on public roads with it? Maybe you live in rural area.

Small rural farming town of 1300... Just put an orange triangle on it....

daddyusmaximus · Sep 26, 2022

Belizean said:
And take care of those batteries. We have a bunch of those Pargo Ezgo rides. When you buy 6-8 batteries you start to feel the pain.

Only got one battery, it's a gas cart.

daddyusmaximus · Feb 20, 2023

Been a while, but I finally got back out in the garage for a bit here a week ago, then again today.

Had to redo the brackets for the stacks. Figured I'd need some thicker steel once the mufflers came in.

daddyusmaximus · Feb 20, 2023

Got the windshield frame on. It will most likely need to come back off at least once more, but it fits, and looks good with the glass in it.
Also note there are now roof rack brackets on the hinges. I picked up a used rack from a JK. Just need to cut it down to size.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 4, 2023

Did a bit of work on the winch plate today. Wanted the winch low, between the frame rails, behind the front bumper. On an old CJ... that means pushing out the front bumper a few inches. There will be another mount on top for the hole in the top of the frame rail, and another one of those big 3/4" through bolts (each side) where I'm pinching the frame.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 22, 2023

Mounted the finished front bumper yesterday. Still have a couple more holes to drill, and paint of course, but it's starting to look like something. The flags are removable, and I'll only run them occasionally. I have reflective stickers made for each. An American flag for one, and an L Troop 3/2 Cav guidon for the other to match up with the bumper numbers I'm using. (VII 2-CAV L-27) This is to represent the very first tank I was ever assigned to at the very first unit I was ever assigned to way back in 1981...

Yeah, that's me in the driver's hatch... lol.

This will be my "27" now.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 22, 2023

Also did some work on the windshield wipers. The 5 ton wipers are WAY too long for the narrowed and chopped deuce windshield, and had to be shortened, so I used the ends of the CJ7 wipers to do it. This also gets me the ability to use somewhat modern wiper blades.

Patrick · Mar 22, 2023

Your windshield reminds me of the barracks during my boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood.

Great progress.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 28, 2023

On tonight's instalment of build a CJ7 in your garage... we install the running boards.
Wait... They don't make running boards for CJ7s, just body armor.
Well, if you're a fat old retired cripple, you're gonna need a way to get up in the thing.

Measure twice... cut (or drill) once. As you can see by the markings, I caught myself just in time.
As you can see, I also didn't make sure to have enough of the right size bolts before starting.
Then I waited til the hardware store was closed before figuring that out...

Underneath, they go to the body mounts like the ones you can buy.
Oh, that "Measure twice... cut once" thing? Yeah I wasn't thinking about that when I had the welder fab these up for me. I have to move 2 of the body mounts for the YJ tub, so those 2 are off... lol. More welding to follow I guess. Well, they have to come back off for paint anyhow.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 31, 2023

I'm gonna be needing a bit more to make this a user friendly vehicle as a daily driver for an old cripple, so I took a folding step and mounted it to the driver's side running board. It fold down, and pins in place for me to climb in, then up and out of the way when not needed. Normally these are found on the front bumper of an M54 5 ton truck to allow troops to climb up and perform engine maintenance. Also fabbed up a mount for the 20mm ammo can center console.

gert · Apr 2, 2023

Lol, it’s looking more and more like a mini deuce

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daddyusmaximus · Apr 8, 2023

I've managed to get a few things done over the last week. I know, it seems to jump around like I'm working with out a plan. That's only because I'm not. I go out to the garage, and it's what can I do (or do I feel like doing) today?

I managed to change over from the JY strikers to the CJ ones, and check to make sure the doors will work. They do. The fit isn't 100% perfect, but they open, and close. The fun part will be making everything work with the top...

Also painted the inside of the tub then mounted the 20mm ammo can that will serve as the center console. 2 bolts to a bracket I made, and 2 more at the rear through the floor. I can still cram stuff under it if I want, and I most likely will.

daddyusmaximus · Apr 8, 2023

Then I decided to jump into the wiring harness. Just tired of looking at the box sitting there on the shelf I guess.
Sure hope I don't run out of Amazon zip-ties... lol. Need a new grommet for the rear of the tub though Tried to use the firewall one Painless includes for the older model Jeeps... different size.

daddyusmaximus · Apr 16, 2023

Since I started in on the wiring harness, I figured it was time to get the dash done. Still had some holes to drill for switches, mount the data plates for that military look, and figure out fan / heat controls & the defrost ducts. Still working on how to control the flappers for the heater, but I used CAD (carboard aided design) to make some ducts for where the YJ style defrosters come through the dash. Then they will go to some 900 series 5 ton splitters and (hopefully) onto the windshield good enough to do the job. Not done with the whole dash yet... but a few steps closer.

daddyusmaximus · Apr 16, 2023

Then I got sidetracked, and decided to fix the front fenders where the spot welds were off on the back edges of both inner fenders. You can see from the boogers that my novice welding with my little old 110v flux core welder looks like Ray Charles did it with his feet, but I did manage to stick the metal together. (at least for now) This is why I have enlisted the services of an actual welder for those things when it counts.

Petescj · Apr 16, 2023

"Looks like Ray Charles did it woth his feet".

Oh man did I laugh at that one. Thats classic.

daddyusmaximus · May 15, 2023

Decided it was time to fit the roof rack on. It will require adjusting because it came off a modern Jeep, and light mounting tabs welded on as well. The wife (teacher) had some high school kids over to weld the tabs on the front bar to the roof rack, and grill. I have 3 sets of Rigid pod lights for the roof rack, and a set that will shine out from the where factory turn signals where. Also made up some tabs to go on the front bumper for military turn signals. These kids are just learning, so there boogers aren't any better than mine, but it's practice, and they earned some of their required "government hours" by helping a disabled veteran do some work around the house. Also, it's light mounting tabs, so it's not like there's gonna be any high stress to them. Two helped me on the Jeep, and two more did garden work for the wife. Used the golf cart to take the back section to a local machine shop to be shortened. That welding has to be strong. Lights go on the outside edges, and I kept the center of the rack open so I can carry a canoe.