What did you do to or with your CJ today?

[Old Dog]

Changed a bad front axle u-joint that I found while giving the jeep a going over after being parked all winter in preparation for spring.

 

[Hedgehog]

Chased down a couple "here today gone tomorrow" electrical issues. At least it appears that they are finally gone. Time will tell.

 

[IOPort51]

Chased down a couple "here today gone tomorrow" electrical issues. At least it appears that they are finally gone. Time will tell.

When something is broken it can be fixed, when something doesn't work quite right or all the time, it becomes a real PITA.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'm tellin' yeah that is the absolute truth. The problem would be there one minute gone the next. After a month or so it became obvious that part of the problem was in the plug from the turn signal switch. As it turns out most all the tail light wiring goes through that plug. When I lost the left rear lights a squeeze of the plug would restore the lights. I finally got the darned thing apart, cleaned all the terminals, found one that wasn't seated quite right and one that the wire attachment point was questionable. When you find something wrong and fix it, it's a good day. There were also problems with the back of the fuse box. Lots of metal grinding dust in there, didn't know there WAS a gap behind the fuse box. Cleaned and replaced all the terminals back there too. Lights and such are MUCH brighter now. From now on when welding and grindin ing the tub I'll make sure to hit that space with air.

 

[GatorBate]

OK, Here are pictures.

The crowd I was hanging out with.

Granddaughter and Ty waiting to get on the trail again and near the end of the day, removing the broken drive shaft.

looking east from Poison Spider overlook across Moab to the La Sal Mountains

 

[Petescj]

Thanks for the pics. Not often ( anymore ) you see a CJ5 , windshield folded down wheeling pics.

OK, Here are pictures.

The crowd I was hanging out with.

Granddaughter and Ty waiting to get on the trail again and near the end of the day, removing the broken drive shaft.

looking east from Poison Spider overlook across Moab to the La Sal Mountains

 

[Dolamite]

Tested out the Lokka locking differential I installed over the weekend on some snow covered side roads. Very pleased. The boys wanted the doors off for the ride and found out that 25 degrees F is a lot colder at 40 mph.

 

[Posi]

Yup, you'll like the aussie locker.

I see your questing the rear axle gearing in your sig, the "X" is a 3.07 open diff.

 

[SlowPocono]

I drove 29 miles round trip, when the temperature was 27 degrees F. for a $23.20 Pennsylvania state inspection.
I now have now fresh sticker on my windshield.
I could have driven all day.
This thing is SO much warmer than a motorcycle.

 

[bertscj5]

Im so glad I don't have to get mine inspected any more. 35 years or older are exempt in North Carolina.


Sent from my Milestone X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dolamite]

Yup, you'll like the aussie locker.

I see your questing the rear axle gearing in your sig, the "X" is a 3.07 open diff.

Thanks for reminding me I need to update that! I counted the teeth while I was in the rear diff and verified the 3.07.

 

[Dolamite]

Installed a new radiator.

 

[jpeck71]

Packed hub bearings with grease, anticipating putting them in tomorrow or the day after.

 

[Hedgehog]

Went out to do a little rabbit hunting. I don't know why but I've been thinking a lot about cooking up some rabbit lately. So with the Jeep in 4x4ing condition a buddy and I went out. It was hot and dusty. The Jeep actually broke down for a few minutes. She just shut off. The problem was simple enough, one of the few wire connections I haven't changed came loose. 5 minute and we were off again.

Took some pictures, you can't begin to appreciate how steep the grade was to get to this short flat spot in the trail. We are hundreds of feet above the valley with sharp drops on both sides of the Jeep.








The trip was yesterday, I'm cookin' up rabbit as we speak.

It was a great day and the Jeep performed amazingly well on the steep and loose rock roads we were on. She went Up Up Up no complaints, no tire spinning, almost boring, except for the almost constant opportunity for death or at least a LONG walk home.

 

[Petescj]

Looking good Hedge. I like the way you've down sized that CJ5 . Most people look to lift their Jeep including myself , but you have a winner in the "Witch". Now you have me hungry for rabbit as well.

 

[Hedgehog]

Thanks - One odd thing for these days. As you can see in the bottom picture there were absolutely NO ATV tracks on this road/trail. Granted this was a road with long seriously steep climbs with the necessary down hill grades as well, but when has that ever stopped an ATV. An all around good day to be in Arizona and a Jeeper.

 

[Posi]

The CJ5 came from the factory with different parking light assemblies. The early 5’s came with a small glass lens with SS ring, the 68-75 came with a plastic lens with SS ring, and the 76-85 with plastic with a simulated ring.



I don’t like the fake plastic rings and chose to install the 68-75 parking light assembly onto my 76-85 grill.

The later grills have a larger hole then the 68-75 grills so I made a blank to fill in the hole then cut to proper size.

76-85 grill with blank





Cut in a 68-75 hole



I cleaned up the SS rings

 

[74G8R2]

Very nice work Posi. For those of us without your mod skills, are you aware of any aftermarket 76 - 85 lights that have the SS rings?

 

[Posi]

Thanks for the kind words. The 76-85 never came with SS trim rings. The next best thing would be to purchase a loaded 72-75 grill. The center mount on the 72-75 is slightingly different and may need a bit of tweaking to fit properly.

Side note: There is no aftermarket support for the SS rings, buying used is the only way to get them, unless you already own a set. There is aftermarket support for the lamp and lens.

Amazon.com: Crown Automotive J0989852 Front Parking Lamp: Automotive

 

[Hedgehog]

A few months ago I found that my rear axles were bent. Rob at Willys Works had a used set that were straight so I bought them. The axles came with the old hardware installed with good tight bearings, but no races. I was in a hurry to see the old girl on the road so I used my old races fully knowing that it was a temporary thing so I could get the Jeep on the road. So, yesterday I pulled the axles. When I put the axles in the bearings were tight and new looking, yeserday they were loose. So I cut the old bearings off and Rob pressed the new bearings on. Everything went back together in minutes. I'm probably crazy, but the Jeeps seems smoother and in a way tighter all around. I find this to be interesting. Last summer the whole idea of working on a rear axles was daunting. Today it takes longer to set the Jeep on stands than it does to pull the axles out. What once was almost frightening is now a simple matter. It apears that even an old fart like me can learn.

Hey Posi - Now you have me curious. What is the differance between the 72-75 front mount and the 76 -86 mount. Way back when I took the front off my '80 and recently took the front off the '75. Besides the lights being different, I can't recall them being different. Is it something minor?