Build Thread The '80 FrankenJeep frame off reassembly

[shum8]

Ok - I couldn't stand it - I had to uncover the engine and snap a few pics..... I'm likin' the blacked out engine bay ( good thing, right???) too bad I have to put all the wiring and back in there.

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[venom]

What a beautiful build. Well done! I wish I had the patience to pull that off.

 

[shum8]

What a beautiful build. Well done! I wish I had the patience to pull that off.

Thanks - but it was NOT my initial intent. Danged thing kinda snowballed on me. A most accurate example of "down the rabbit hole". One thing led to another, and here we are 5 years later. Not one of my best decisions, but too late now. NEVER should have painted the donor frame - that's what got me into this mess...... LOL

 

[gr8dain]

So purdy and clean. Agree about the wiring and stuff. It will just messy up that view. But kind of important. Like the brake mc and stuff that is also missing.

 

[shum8]

So purdy and clean. Agree about the wiring and stuff. It will just messy up that view. But kind of important. Like the brake mc and stuff that is also missing.

Yeah - Firewall looks much nicer this way.

 

[Belizean]

Yeah - Firewall looks much nicer this way.

Just get it back together and drive it ! That is really what counts-having fun driving it

 

[mtnwhlr]

Just get it back together and drive it ! That is really what counts-having fun driving it

And then you will hardly ever open the hood any way.

 

[gr8dain]

And then you will hardly ever open the hood any way.

I wish I could say that. I open mine all of the time.

 

[shum8]

I'm tryin, I'm tryin...... And I'm gettin ready to violate Lumpy's Rule if Redundancy.... since I'm stickin an MSD box under the hood, I'm gonna go ahead and remove the old ignition wiring and clean up a little under there. I figure the correlate to hide rule is carry a spare MSD box. I'll just keep my eyes peeled for a cheap used one


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[Posi]

Just get it back together and drive it ! That is really what counts-having fun driving it

I can appreciate shum8 detail work and the time that goes into it. Sometimes those details have to be completed to make the build feel right.

On the other hand, I "will" make a sign from Belizean's quote and hang it somewhere in my shop. I'm ashamed to say how much time I have in bodywork on a rig I'm building mostly for the trail.

 

[shum8]

I needed that sign like 3 years ago LOL. I think I'll go ahead and hang it now -


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[shum8]

Image test...



Alrighty, then.... Closer to getting all my thread pics back....

 

[gert]

Image test...



Alrighty, then.... Closer to getting all my thread pics back....

Man I sure do love those old school rims, they look so good on your Jeep

 

[shum8]

Man I sure do love those old school rims, they look so good on your Jeep

I need to drag it out of the garage again to see how they look now that the Jeep's red.....

 

[shum8]

Ran into a bit of an issue with the wiring a couple weeks back - but I think I've got it squared away now...... Or screwed it up something awful. When I bought the Jeep, it came with a spare chassis harness - an absolutely gorgeous chassis harness. Now that the fenders and grille are in place, and the MSD box showed up, I figured it was time to start getting the engine wiring back in place. That's what I get for thinkin.... the nice harness is the newer, larger style bulkhead, and the one in the Jeep is the older smaller version.

Either needed a newer engine side harness or swap wires to the old bulkhead. After determining the harness around the starter solenoid was trash,

I bought a newer engine side harness. Only bad spot was this

So I got that crimped, soldered, and head shrinked. Shrunk. Shrank. Whatever

Then my better judgement went right out the window. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm about a 3 on electrical stuff, so this will be interesting. I can't wait to see how it turns out LOL.

I went ahead and started removing the stuff I didn't need - manifold heater relay, idle speed switch plug, electric choke stuff, and the ignition module circuits. Don't need em with the MSD box, and I have the old harness and the stuff I removed just in case. Should neaten the wiring up considerably. Wherever there was a splice for unneeded leads, I cleaned then up as well.

All that remains is the headlight harness, and the wiring to the alternator, starter solenoid, and a couple single leads for the heater, horn, temp and oil pressure sending units.

In my head, I did ok - only removed stuff I have nothing to connect to. However, that whole being a 3 on a scale of 1 - 10 thing just might bite me in the butt. We'll see......


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[gert]

looks good, I would say your wiring work looks more like an 8+

 

[shum8]

looks good, I would say your wiring work looks more like an 8+

Thanks - but that’s just the crimping, soldering, and heat shrinking...... that’s the easy part. Knowing what circuit I just killed is the hard part.


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[shum8]

Started messing with the steering column..... cleaned up the outside of the lower part of the shaft, hit it with primer, and shot it with the same stuff I hit the fender flares with - black bumper and trim paint. Looks nice, and it meant I didn't have to go get paint.... LOL.

The upper sleeve gets a cleaning and paint next.......

The thin plastic ring under the horn button is broken...... anyone know it's function? Sorry for the fuzzy pic - just noticed that.

The filler sleeve between the top of the column and underside of the steering wheel needs attention.

It's cracked and faded..... if I can repair the crack, painting should be easy. The signal stem has a little rust on it - hoping that will clean up.....

The main problem is the wheel itself - the grip itself has solidified and feels like a hard plastic - it's so hard and brittle it looks like alligator skin..

I really like the spokes, so I will be doing something to the wheel - just haven't decided what yet. My first thought was the same bedliner as the tub - a smooth roller might give it a nice comfy texture. I may remove the molded stitch line, fill the large cracks, and sew on a leather cover..... or vinyl..... thought about Plasti-dip...... maybe Flex-Seal...... 550 cord....... I'm leaning toward the leather / vinyl sewn on cover. I'll hit the fabric store and see what kinda vinyl they have.

Also replaced the master cylinder.... degreased it well and hit it with clear coat.



I hit the booster with paint as well..... and hung it in the garage by the door opener - so no pics.......


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[gert]

I love your steering wheel, I wish they would reproduce that one the plastic ring is supposed to keep the horn from grounding out til you press it


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[Alec79CJ]

I would recommend you pull the entire column apart and start building from the inside out.

There is a bearing in the upper part of the column that can be replaced or repacked. This is also a good time to get some White lithium grease on the lock mechanism.

I did mine fully so ask away if you have questions.