63 CJ5 - my unemployment project

Well, having been recently unemployed, I needed to have something to keep me busy. I've had this Jeep sitting in my garage for about a year now and haven't really done anything with it, so now that I have nothing but free time, and I have some severance funding for the project, I've found myself spending more time than I thought I'd ever have get the chance to spend on it.

I found it on Craigslist. It had everything I was looking for: it was vintage, had a factory hardtop, a winch, a fuel injected V6, and a ton of parts that went with it. I couldn't say no at the time, so I got it, parked it in front of the house, and had the city threaten to tow it unless I covered it. So I moved it to the garage, and it's been there ever since.

Here we go:

http://s674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/Rush4x4/

 

Here's a picture of the engine. I just painted it Hampstead Green. I know it's not a Buick V6, and I know they didn't come in 63's, but I don't care. I think it looks pretty cool. My goal for the Jeep is just to look vintage, and perform reliably. I'm probably going to let my Mom drive it during the winter; she lives in the panhandle of Idaho, and could really use a 4x4. I thought of getting her a newer vehicle, but she got excited when I told her I'd gotten an old Jeep, so... if it works for her, it works for me.

 

By the way, the pictures on Photobucket have some comments on them, but I'll briefly summarize: the plan for the Jeep is to drop in the six, an SM420, and the Dana 18. I've got a York air compressor for underhood air, so ARB's are in the distant future, along with a full floating 44, a Dana 30 front axle, and I'll eventually end up with Saginaw steering. I've got a column out of a postal Jeep to aid in that conversion.

As for paint, I'm leaning toward some sort of piney green, with a white top. I'm planning on taking the body off this week (the weather sucks today - we've had gusts up to 86 MPH, so I don't even want to open the garage doors and I have to push the motorcycles out to get to the Jeep). I've got it pretty much stripped right now, and want to get the chassis cleaned and painted by this weekend, but we'll see. I have a short attention span, and I may end up with an actual job soon, so I may have to put this on hold. We'll see.

Anyway, the front axle has a disc brake conversion on the stock axle (the PO gave me a JP Magazine with the conversion he did outlined in it), so I'll keep that for a while. I just want to get this on the road.

 

Hey Rush, just curious, what kind of top is that?

 

I don't know what brand it is. I think it's an Acme just based on other hardtops that I've seen on the internet that people claim are Acme's.

 

Looks like a nice project you got there...you also have a rare hardtop there!!!

 

Not factory. That's an Acme top for a '76+ CJ5 with converted '76+ windshield. Very desirable. I've seen tops in good condition and complete go for $1000+ without the Jeep attached.

I like your project. Envious of your fuel injection.

 

Thanks! I spent much of the day checking you're Jeep out while the wind was blowing; I was just asking my wife if she thought copper would be a nice color on the Jeep. After seeing yours...yep.

 

I haven't really done much on it lately due to the holidays and all the honey-do's...

So far, the frame is cleaned, painted, and back on four wheels. Got the hydraulic clutch mocked up, and I'm getting ready to start on the drivetrain installation, but I'm waiting on a couple of parts. I need to get a new front bearing retainer for the transmission, install the clutch fork (does anyone know an easy way to do that, by the way?), then I'll bolt all that together and get it lined up in the chassis.

Parts that I ordered are finally here: got a serpentine belt clutch for the York air compressor, got the electric fan and the fuel injection fuel pump, and other than that, I've just been surfing the salvage yards.

Strangely, I've seen numerous big block Chevy's (6 or 7 I think), at least three NV4500's, but I've only seen one SM420 and that was missing the front bearing retainer.

Anyway, I'll try to get some progress pics up shortly.

 

In the beginning...

Axles removed...


In primer...

Painted...

back on four wheels...

And a close up of the hydraulic clutch mocked up. The guy I got it from had it in an early CJ5 (don't remember what year) but I never knew how he did it. This is my best guess. I had some half inch round bar that was a perfect fit for the clutch pushrod hole, so I threaded it, cut a slot in the end so I could screw it in, and drilled and tapped the brake arm. I think it came out pretty good!?

 

I had the inside of the tub blasted today. It sure beat getting all the fiberglass and bondo out by hand. What I don't really know is why it was in there in the first place...the floors are really solid (with only a couple pinholes in the drivers side floorboard). Anyway, I got the tub home, and figured I'd drop it on the frame to measure for the Vortec, and from what I can see, there's no way that thing'll fit in there. I don't want to mess with the firewall, but it looks like the grille and the front cross member will have to be severely modified. Anyone done this? If so, any pics and measurements?

Plus, I spoke to the folks at Novak. Apparently, their most returned item is exhaust headers for Jeep conversions to a Chevy V6...go figure. After looking at what they had, taking measurements, staring at some installed on a Toyota, I think the short blockhuggers will work, but I'd rather use something stock, and cast iron. That's just my preference. Anyone done that, and if so, what'd you use?

On a positive note, the sandblasting cost me way less than I thought (he gave me an on the spot discount due to not having change), and the hydraulic clutch that I installed seems to fit perfectly (but I hope I haven't spoken too soon. Don't want to jinx it!).

 

What alot of people end up doing is cutting the radiator mount which is part of the grill and move the radiator forward. Gives you more room to move the engine forward inorder to clear the distributor. Good luck with it.

 

Looks great so far. I might consider trading you that 86 mph wind for the 23 deg temps I have to deal with here.

 

I don't have pics of my old Jeep (69 CJ5) but I did put a 4.3 Chevy in it, and the exhaust was a PITA. I ended up taking a stock exhaust manifold that dumped between the middle and rear port, cut the flange mount on it where the exhaust pipe bolts on, rotated it 90* and rewelded it back on (nickel rod). I had to do this to clear the steering shaft for the Saginaw swap.

I did also make a new front cross member, but I didn't do it because of clearance issues with the 4.3 if I recall correctly. I did it because of Saginaw box and winch plate mods. I did use a later model CJ grille, which moved the radiator farther forward for clearance.

I'll look to see if I have pics somewhere on disc here, but I doubt it.

Here is a link to my Webshots album that shows some stuff

http://rides.webshots.com/album/412174596aIHeVm

 

JohnyJeep, what is the fuel tank you used in the build???

 

It was in the Jeep when I bought it. It was definitely a homemade unit. I want to try to make one similar to it, but out of stainless for my current build. I will also baffle the inside and make provisions for future fuel injection.

 

I was kinda afraid that might be the case-----didnt look like any tank I had seen before.

Thanks for the reply.