1975 Brutally Simple Daily Driver

Hot dog!

 

The amount of trust I have in this little CJ just went way up today. My buddy’s birthday is tomorrow and he wanted to get out for a day of Jeep things. Okay! There wasn’t anything technical at all, but we put on about 30 miles of off pavement enjoyment.






This really would’ve been the first opportunity to see what kind of flex there is in the suspension too. Survey says?…




… some on the rear and almost zero in the front. It’s all a super old setup from Superlift. For how clapped out everything looks, I was surprised at how little the front springs move. Still, had a great day toodling around in the woods.

 

I'ld check available travel on your front shocks.

 

Absolutely. I’ve never dug into anything, but I just always assumed that this was a full suspension kit at one time since there’s Superlift stickers or stamps you can just barely still read. That’s not to say that suspensions kits are always sold with the correct parts to make something work as it should. Something else to put on the list of things to look into.

 

I know right where that big rock is

 

I'll bet it's got more flex than that if you find a bigger lump to drive on. This is the basic BDS 2.5" spring/shock package on my '71 where it's just starting to lift one wheel:

 

I doubt we’re done with snow this year, but the weather was too good to pass up. For a while now I’ve wanted to make up some roll up safari sides for the tin top. I’m sure I’ll get to it at some point… maybe. In the mean time I made up some supports for the top for when the sides come off.




These were more scraps of material plus a couple of exhaust clamps. Not sure if I’ll continue with this route, but I like that I have top-tions.





Why stop there?



This was the perfect time to get back to the trail cover. What I wanted to be able to do was to just leave the bikini top on this year and throw the new cover on when it’s parked. Right up until my bikini top decided that it had enough.



Bummer. Well?… guess I’ll figure a new top that stays with the roll cage and I can put the windshield down. That’ll be another day. As for the trail top…




… it fits surprisingly well for being intended for a YJ. My roll bar sits a but higher than most so it takes up a little material, but the angled rear gets a little weird.






It doesn’t sit quite right and there’s clearly too much material. The sides get wavy and move around with the wind. My plan is to reshape it and to add or move the straps to where they make more sense. Until then, I think it’ll do

 

SEXY!…. Top off window down!

 

You know it's supposed to snow Friday....

 

50s for a while there after! My rule has always been that if it’s over 40° then the doors come off. Maybe anything over 50° and the top comes off?

 

Nothing makes it rain here any better than to have just washed the vehicles.

 

Good thing this has more of a “maintenance free” exterior.

 

28° in my happy place.

 

Well…



… and it makes some gnarly clunking sounds.

Yesterday I was out having a great afternoon in the woods. Once I got back to pavement there was definitely a new vibration. Shame on me for knowing that the pinion bearing was on its way out but I didn’t expect it to go so fast. Five years ago I knew that the gears themselves were very rough but I just put the cover back on and covered my eyes. It has always made noise but I guess enough is enough.




Going with a TrueTrac limited slip while I’m having it gone through.

 

Just got off the phone with the 4x4 shop: "... .130"+ of backlash and a few of the ring gear teeth were missing or chipped."

Yup... it was time.

 

Banana peels!

 

Neohic are you going to join us in Colorado Aug. 14th in Buena Vista? I just love the looks of your jeep. I had a 1974 cj5 and a 1978 cj5. My 1978 cj5 was a straight six and mopar fuel injection added.

 

I'd love to say that I'm absolutely in. Unfortunately I won't know for sure until much closer to the date. I'm juggling a few things right now but I'm hoping to be able to at least make a cameo during the week everyone is here.

 

I've heard pikes peak is hard-core so maybe a pre run on the way west?