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'65 Rubicon Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. Dec 27, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
    Messages:
    1,384
    My dad's 1965 CJ5A has been around as long as I can remember. He bought it used several years after he violently rolled his '66 in 1970. It was a sweetheart, 134 4 cylinder, 60/40 seat, 7.50-16 Extra Grips, overdrive, PTO winch, 3 on the tree. It went everywhere, a lot of desert, the Black Rock, well before burning man, Panamint, Death Valley. Eastern Sierra, Tahoe, Rubicon. He towed it to Bonneville Salt Flats so he could run around the pits every speed week. Eventually it was ready for a motor, so in its second life, it got a Buick 198 V6 and a floor shift T90, along with a coat of paint, the original Sierra Blue. He continued to enjoy it into his retirement, but after several years of great fun, camping, wheeling, it was time again to tear into it. The 198 was done, the frame cracked and a field repair to a spring hanger done in the Rubicon needed attention. So in '05 we again did an update. Newly machined 225 oddfire went in, frame repaired, power steering, tilt column, SM420 4 speed, 4.88's to replace the 4.27's, power locks front and rear. Just after the project was completed, and a few test trips taken, dad passed away. There was an auction and everything was sold. 4 years later, after the death of his heir, we found a key to a storage unit, and once again the tux was back in our lives. It had not sold, it had been stashed, and was just as he left it.
    [​IMG]
    This is when I first got it home in 2012. (The winch was not on it because of the new power steering).
    So our Rubicon Rig build starts. The 4th life for this jeep. It needs to be reliable for my son to accompany me, in my 3B, on the trails practically in our back yard, Rubicon, Barrett Lake, Deer Valley, Slick Rock.
     
  2. Dec 27, 2020
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,169
    Awesome! Welcome, glad it's still in the family.
     
    timsresort likes this.
  3. Dec 27, 2020
    locrwln

    locrwln New Member

    Carson City, NV
    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2020
    Messages:
    21
    Beautiful Jeep. Can’t wait to see the updates.

    Jack
     
    timsresort likes this.
  4. Dec 27, 2020
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    That is so cool you found it again! Looking forward to following along.
     
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  5. Dec 27, 2020
    Jay's WWII Jeeps

    Jay's WWII Jeeps Member

    Napa CA
    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2018
    Messages:
    166
    Tim
    Good to see you and Sam did not loose your Dads jeep.
    Jay
     
  6. Dec 27, 2020
    MP67CJ5

    MP67CJ5 New Member

    Orange County, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2019
    Messages:
    30
    Beautiful rig. Great to see it’s still in the family.
     
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  7. Dec 27, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,384
    Thanks Jay. A side note is that also in that storage unit was my dad's MB, that Sam still has.
     
    bigbendhiker, Rich M. and Fireball like this.
  8. Dec 28, 2020
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
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    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    966
  9. Dec 28, 2020
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2012
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    2,356
    Good looking jeep! Congratulations on finding it.
     
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  10. Dec 28, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
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    5,407
    great story (y)
     
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  11. Dec 28, 2020
    Downs

    Downs Rattlecan All The Things!

    Hunt County Texas
    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2020
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    579
    Looks awesome :)
     
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  12. Dec 28, 2020
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,193
    Hope you don't change a thing visually. Love the white top and wheels.
     
    Hellion, timsresort and Downs like this.
  13. Dec 28, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,384
    I have always been partial to the white wheels. But how about this for a classic look? White walls, blonde driving.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Dec 28, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,384
    All kidding aside, it's time for a little work. And the first thing on my list is the installation of swing pedals. There are a few reasons: I want a hydraulic clutch, disc brakes, dual circuit. all of this points to swing pedals, with the masters on the firewall. And my reason to tackle this now is that I want this job done before I pull the tub, so I don't have to face it at the end. So first is yanking out the stock heater. This will get replaced later with a much more compact and efficient Mojave heater.
    [​IMG]
    This frees up the firewall for the pedals and cylinders.
    [​IMG]
    I removed the vin plate, as it will have to relocate slightly for the mounting plate that will be bolted here.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2020
  15. Dec 29, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Sep 6, 2014
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    3,549
    Is your 3B the yellow one with black checkers on the hood?
     
  16. Dec 29, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    No, different Tim. But we wheel together.
     
  17. Dec 29, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    1,384
    Luckily, I have done the swing pedal geometry a few times before, and have notes, and even a template I made, so locating the brake master and clutch master went pretty quick.
    [​IMG]
    The placement I shoot for puts the pedal pads in the stock location in relation to the floor and side to side, one on each side of the column. I bought a CJ7 assembly cheap on ebay, and will only use the pedals and the axle.
    [​IMG]
    I made a new stand off for the axle on the inner plate, this locates the pivot point.
    [​IMG]
    Here is the heater motor, dampers and duct that came out.
    [​IMG]
    Much more room here now.
     
  18. Dec 29, 2020
    officer_friendly

    officer_friendly Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    May 10, 2020
    Messages:
    86
    Gonna be following this build, I hope we can get you to join us for the 2021 ECJ5 Rubicon trip.
     
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  19. Dec 30, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Sep 6, 2014
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    Well we are gonna need to see some pics of the B..... we like pictures. :contract:
     
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  20. Dec 30, 2020
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    Thanks for following, and yes, I would like to make this years run with you guys.
     
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