Build Thread The slower than :dung: 1979 CJ5 build.

Build Thread The slower than :dung: 1979 CJ5 build.
Just went on a short trip around the back yard and put her back up. Didn't notice on such a short drive. Kinda chilly for a t shirt and no top or doors.
 
Sorry, thought you went for a test drive. I can see why you cut it short. It's ~80* here. To hot even for the desert.
 
Well I finally got that good test drive in. Went wheeling in her Sunday with my 4x4 club. Still gonna be a slow process, but I need to start on some things. Some parts each month, and we'll see... I'm giving myself 2 years start to finish. I will use it this summer and start the real teardown in the fall.

After driving around in her a bit I find she is lacking in the wiring and shifting departments. The PO stripped out everything he didn't need to run in the sand. I've no way to charge my phone, there are light issues, and I am kinda scared to tap into what's left of the rats nest under the dash to put in a CB. Ordering components to build a new wiring harness. Also ordering a twin stick cable shifter for the Dana 20 . Sucks having to crawl under to engage the front axle...
 
Plans have changed. A lot.

I will have to keep the house up to keep the wife happy.
I'll not be putting much money into my car anytime soon. (2003 Mercury Marauder)
I'll not be starting any gun builds for a while.
I'll just drive the Jeep as she is for the summer then start teardown in the fall.

I've decided to go all out. In order to get the ultimate in soft ride (along with a suspension seat), I will be doing a coilover conversion.

I have back and neck issues due to an IED attack in Iraq, so my mangled up spine, neck and right hip will thank me for the soft ride. This will also get me the bonus of great trail flex. So far my research points to using Ruff Stuff brackets, Artec Industries shock towers, and King coilovers. Goal is 2 years, but even if it takes me 5, I'm going to try to make this happen. I want my nimble little CJ5 , but I need a softer ride than leaf springs can provide, or I will have to give up off road driving. Exploring trails through the woods is just too relaxing to give up.
 
My first mod ended up being a center console. I needed a place to keep my stuff, so I bolted in a 20mm ammo can. Hey, Jeeps and ammo cans go way back.

Ammo%20can%20center%20console_zpsvgnrbrmj.png
 
Here's a shot of my constant shadow Brandy and I last week on our first trip off roading in over a year. She is my 98 pound German Shepherd. (more like German Shedder) She is a service dog and is with me 24/7. The passenger seat will be replaced by a custom made platform for Brandy as she's too big to lay down on a bucket seat.

134_zpsoafwp8oy.png
 
Dogs are great. I have a shadow also. Nice looking shepherd!
 
Call them-I'll bet they have worked with service dogs before. Also, if your PD has a K-9 officer. Ask who made the Dogs 'work-harness'.
Best of luck! :chug:
LG(Dog lover!)
 
Brown Santa dropped off my new J B twin stick cable shifter today. If all goes well, that will go on within the next week.
 
daddyusmaximus said:
Brown Santa dropped off my new J B twin stick cable shifter today. If all goes well, that will go on within the next week.
Click to expand...

I sure love it when he shows up
 
Got the shifter off of the Transfer Case but couldn't get the adapter for the new twin stick cable shifter mounted. There is a piece in the way I need to cut off, but my sawzall died. Will have to pick up a new one soon. Probably get a battery powered one.
 
Got the shifter mounted, but Can't get the Transfer Case to move out of neutral in the front drive. Shifter is good, Transfer Case is messed up somehow. Worked 2 weeks ago... ???

Took the front seat out and built Brandy a temporary front seat dog bed. I'll have to re do it later when I get my suspension seat and build the center console for the shifters, but it's good enough for this summer.

Brandys%20front%20seat%20dog%20bed_zpsaxckoupw.png
 
Haven't had much energy or money to put into the project, but I have done a few small things.

New front recovery points are off my old F250.
IMG_0412_zpsg3vuzjro.png

Put in a CB. Not many places to fit a full size radio in a CJ5 . I welded a couple bars between the top runners on the roll cage. I used an old bracket from a military vehicle radio antenna.
CB_zpsjsulc6a8.png

IMG_0408_zps16lmkkri.png

Installed a Blue Sea charging port in the radio hole in the dash. This will get redone with the new dash once I can get rid of that stupid diamond plate.
IMG_0406_zps2ueczisr.png

Steps make it easier to get in and don't cost any ground clearance. Jerry cans go mounted on the side. They can't hit anything as the tires stick out with the full width axles.

Steps%20and%20gas%20cans_zpsj2dpmmop.png

Put the Hi-Lift on the cowl in front of the windshield that I'll probably never put down.
IMG_0424_zpsu4ddt8jr.png
 
interesting idea with the jerry cans, I would reinforce the body on the back side of the steps if you havent yet, I can see the sheet metal bending over time
 
The cables help to distribute some of the rather considerable load, (That means I'm fat) plus it's got a backing plate.
 
Well, my "slower then :dung:" build is sure living up to it's name. She's been sitting in the garage for a month waiting for me to find a new front axle. Can't seem to find one, but I did snag a 1980 CJ7 for $120.

The tub needs quite a bit of work, but could be saved. Not sure if I want to go through all that. Of course it's not running. She has a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , auto on the tilt column with a very nice Lecarra wheel. The interior is so much nicer than my ratty old 5, and the extra 10 inches makes a bigger difference than I thought it would. It had a great hardtop with solid roll up window doors, and a wiper and electric defroster in the back glass. The dash is nice, and complete, the heater is all there. My beater old sand toy CJ5 has nothing under the diamondplate dash. Tailgate is fine as is the tire carrier, but the windshield is a goner. (I can use the CJ5 's)

So do I stay with the 5 or build the 7?

Folks, I'm going with the CJ7 . I'll be using the drivetrain from the 5 as that Dodge 360 is just too strong to give up. Love to hear that thing roar. I had to go out and start it today just to listen to it... If I get a new tub for the 7, it will eat up a big chunk of my budget. (depending on how much I get out of selling parts) I could stay SOA like the CJ5 has and forgo my coilover dreams. Then I could swap in YJ springs to soften things up.

On cools evenings, I'll start the tear down of the CJ5 so I can get the bits I need, and sell the bits I don't. Waiting on a buddy to get back with me now because I know he needs a CJ5 frame, and I already got a guy on facebook wanting the CJ5 tub.
 
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