What Did You Do To Your Jeep Today?

Got the transmission cover, gas pedal/linkage, and rear driveshaft blasted for the 3b.

 

I just got started on a 61 cj5 project. Collecting parts and cleaning rust. I got the tub and finders off. Long way to go!! This is where I started.

 

Well, what I thought was a bearing noise was not. The bottom stud on my transfer case adapter must’ve just been in a bit too far, causing contact with the bottom shaft of the transmission! I turned it in by hand then backed it out a bit but must’ve been not quite enough when the shaft got hot. The stud must have barely touched it and caused a noise. Nothing looked scored when peeking though the hole and the end of the stud was slightly polished. I installed a bolt in that hole so I couldn’t do that again. Nice simple fix!

 

My buddy presented me with this jewel today. We'll see if I can't work something out for it.

 

I gutted the interior of my XJ in prep for doing a hybrid cage this weekend




And today I said goodbye to the drum brakes and hello to rear disc brakes from a ZJ


I also replaced the stock front driveshaft I was using on the rear after my SYE install with a HD 2" x.120 wall one


The CJ had to get put on dollies and pushed against the fence for now. I'm having the house repainted and really need to get cracking on preparing the XJ for the 35th Anniversary Event in Moab this October.

 

Well, I spoke too soon. I thought I got the noise, I know the end of the stud looked polished up. The bearing was quiet almost all the way to work, and with the new single exhaust and cannon sized muffler it was so quiet I could just hear the BFG all terrains and the fan. Everything else was silent. All of a sudden.......whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (softly, as usual) from the trans area. I should've just trusted my hunch and pulled the case down. Timken bearing here I come.

 

I’m picking up some leaf springs for the 3b. I haven’t decided if I’ll be going power or manual steering but that’ll be the next thing to figure out.

 

Started cleaning up the frame and looking for cracks. Bubba did a number on the old cross member and did some fancy welding on the pitman arm. I belive the box and column is from a Hudson?
I think these are the serial numbers for the jeep?

 

If that "S" is on the steering box then I think it is off a Studebaker. That looks just like the Studebaker "S" cast into many of their parts. I have my brother's 1948 M15 pickup sitting here and that exact "S" is cast into the rear differential. The steering box on his truck is ensconced in about 3 inches of grease so God only knows if it has one as well but the shape of the box looks similar.

 

More work done on the uni-body Jeep
Master cylinder swap

And working on the cage

 

Is that an XO Fab hybrid kit? Curious on the fit and where it ties in towards the cowl.

Yours looks to be the same color as my old XJ! Really takes me back.

 

It is their kit. It fits pretty well, although I’ve changed a few things too. They have it on sale for 550$ of so, for a full dom kit it was hard to pass up.

 

Engine hoist does work great for tub removal. I used the old fuel cell straps that were tied into the rear floor. Speaking of tow bars, the one here isn't such a bad design except you can't remove it without cutting it off.

 

More progress on the cage today. I added in the center bars and fully welded everything. Now I just need to get the big x onto the roof.

 

Notching is a slow and painful process for me, but some tools help a lot.

 

More notches


Only 1 more tube left

 

Last tube is in, tomorrow I can spend my day off painting. Should have it back on the Jeep and start figuring out where to trim my fenders, headliner, and carpet on Saturday.

 

Victory lap or at least 4 of them around the parking lot.

First drive.JPG

Still a long way to go, but it has awaken from a 15+ year slumber!

 

Very nice. Love how the headers look!

I had to move the PU project to the new storage place. The person who I (and two others) sub-leased from decided back in July to throw everyone out. So I've been buzy moving stuff out when I get a chance. Guess he thinks he's going to have a hot rod TV show and everyone was holding him back from doing that. I say good luck with that, he's not mechanically inclined enough nor has enough people skills to ever accomplish that.

The PU project looks like it will happy on hold in the new place, I'm trying to get the Sedan Delivery together anyway.



Also moved one half of what's left of the 62 PU's frame to salvage miscellaneous good pieces like this frame gusset:




All together I pulled a few odds and ends:



Still need to remove the front springs and hopefully save a main leaf to fix the spring on the 63 wagon chassis so it can go under the 50 Sedan Delivery. Then salvage the E-brake bracket/pivot which I freed up.

 

Scored a few garage hours.
Hmm. Wasn't thinking battery when I jammed the commando radiator in. Oops looks like I'll work on my fiberglass skills. Cad work today.