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'85 CJ-7, 258/4.2L 6cyl. Bought new in 1985. Full cage, Warn 8274 winch, Ford 9" rear, front/rear Detroit Lockers w/4:88 R&P. T-5 tranny and 4:1 t'case. 33X12.50-15 BFG/AT, MSD ign, on board air---
Yeah, they make an edge tape for that. Funny thing is, most of the videos from the professionals don't mention the tape. Once you heAt it to 90-100 degrees, it resets the memory and then it thinks that's the shape it should be in.
'85 CJ-7, 258/4.2L 6cyl. Bought new in 1985. Full cage, Warn 8274 winch, Ford 9" rear, front/rear Detroit Lockers w/4:88 R&P. T-5 tranny and 4:1 t'case. 33X12.50-15 BFG/AT, MSD ign, on board air---
Got a little work done today.... Added a layer of fiberglass mat to the fender patches just add a little thickness and rigididity. LOL. Also, the inner rear corner of the passenger side fender had been trimmed for I assume wheelwell headers. Tried to decide what would be the cheesiest way to rebuild - figured glassing over cardboard patches would do nicely. Here's the first piece cut to fit:
Once I got that one taped in place from the back side, I added another cardboard filler piece in the upper portion of the notch. I tacked it in place with super glue, then coated both pieces with resin, adding a fiberglass fillet.
Now that it will hold its shape, I'll layer both sides with mat and resin, maybe tomorrow.
Later this evening, I got back on the dash - The gauges are in, wiper, headlight, and heater switches are in. All indicators are in. The heater control pull knobs need some help - the chrome has worn off the trim bezels, and since the cables are in good shape, I'll be replacing the chrome. In the plastic model world, there is a product called Bare-Metal foil...... It's similar to the aluminum tape used in the HVAC world, but much thinner. It's intended purpose it to replicate chrome - polish the substrate, apply Bare-Metal foil, and viola! Looks just like chrome. I have some around here somewhere, so that's the plan for those. I was also missing a headlight switch knob and a heater switch knob. Dug thru the spares box, and did find a spare light switch w/ a knob, so now I just need a heater knob. The knob that was on the heater switch is not correct, but appears to be an AMC knob from somewhere. I stuck it on the other light switch shaft to take a comparative pic with the headlight knob. The unknown knob is on the left:
I thought about using it on the signal stem, but the hole in the knob is too small, but identical to the hole in the heater and wiper knobs..... Anyone have any ideas where it goes? Or came from?
I also seem to have been able to lose the grab bar from the dash - I've got in the garage I've been able to keep up with for years, but I just broke the dash down a couple months ago..... I have no idea where I've stashed it. If I break down and buy another one, it'll show up in ten minutes..........
Got a little progress done this afternoon - laid another layer of glass on the notched rear corner of the fender...... and then "rechromed" the bezels on the heater comtrol knobs. Stuff is old but appears to stick ok..... Here is the "before" pic:
'80 CJ7, Just a rolling frame right now... will have Mopar 360, Torqueflite 727, D20, full size D44, Chrysler 9.25 with 4 wheel discs. SOA on Rubicon Express 1.5" YJ springs.
True that - And the stuff I have is old. May not last too long, but I'll use fresher stud next time. I figure where it's gonna live it won't get handled much anyway...... And it scratches pretty easily also.
Got the rest of the fiberglass mat laid down over the cardboard patch..... top and bottom. I always find it interesting how once the mat is saturated with the resin, it's almost transparent. Doesn't take much to entertain me.....
That it is.... And looking at those pics I'm thinkin I shoulda used white cardboard LOL. No worries - once I get the bedliner on there they'll look fine.
Progress has been slow of late...... but have been trying to get pidly stuff done. Now that the tub is ready for primer, the hood and fenders need a couple spots of body glaze to smooth out a few low spots to be ready for sanding, the grille has a dent that needs to be pulled, and the windshield frame needs a bit of glaze as well. The W/S frame that was on the Jeep had one of the threaded holes for the spreader bars stripped. The Jeep came with a spare W/S frame that was in better shape, so that's what I've been working on since the dash is all but done. Removed all the wiper linkage, wiper motor, wiper arms, visors, and mirror. While messing with the linkage, I realized why the defroster didn't work very well...... since the W/S frame is from a YJ it had no porvisions for the defrost to run thru the frame. The lower cutouts were ok - lined up fairly well with the gasket (CJ) but the cutouts for the diffusers was a different story. Here's what allowed the air to exit the frame and pass thru the diffusers:
No wonder hardly any air hit the windshield! The new(er) W/S frame has no upper cutouts, so I'll be cutting larger slots for sure.
I also had a set of Gray visors in the jeep, and over the last couple years they have started to grab a good bit of funk along with the dirt and grime - they were FILTHY. I hit em with diluted Purple Power and a tooth brush and they started to clean up nicely:
They're nice enough to use - figured I'd be replacing em...
Now I need to scrounge up a 4 wire CJ wiper motor, an OEM heater switch knob, and an OEM heater pull,cable (21"). More on the W/S frame later this week.....
Gonna be in the low 70's here today - so yesterday I smeared a little body glaze on the fenders where I patched several holes that were not needed / incorrectly located, and the "notching" of the rear of the passenger side fender... sand em down this afternoon and full any low spots
Today at lunch I media blasted as handful of dash screws to get them painted today
Next up will be pulling a dent / "low spot" in the grille back to flush.
Looks like I lied about the grille - got sidetracked. Got the front fenders filled and sanded smooth. The relief cut smoothed out nicely..... still need to smooth up around the lower "molding" area.
Was nice weather today so I came home and started on a new area - slight addition to the roll bar. I decided a good while back I wanted a pair of Corbeau Moab seats - which have slots for a 4 point harness - which I've wanted since my first CJ years ago. Due to the fact I will rarely ever use a back seat ( gonna carry the dogs in the back rather than a back seat) I'm gonna add a cross bar to the roll bar for a harness attachment point. Now before someone asks why the heck I want 4 point harnesses - Cause it's my Jeep and I can. The original rollbar that came in the Jeep had the feet rotted out, so I picked up a clean one from a wrangler, and cut the top of the old main hoop out for a harness mounting point. Here's the top of the hoop liberated...
Of course it was about two inches too short, so I cut a piece out of one of the rear legs, cut down two small pieces for splicing, got the edges beveled, and this weekend I'll get it all welded up.
Oh, and remember - I have never claimed to be a metal worker.... I've seen what they can do, and this ain't it. But it's all I got LOL. LIke a buddy always said - Beat to fit, paint to match....
Out may just be they pic but I would use a little longer pieces where you're sleving it, 3-4 inches on either side of the cut. Also drill some holes in the outer bar and plug weld along with your but weld.
Fantastic workmanship. 
in the garage I've been able to keep up with for years, but I just broke the dash down a couple months ago..... I have no idea where I've stashed it. If I break down and buy another one, it'll show up in ten minutes..........
