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Goin Postal! start of a build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by iagmc, Aug 17, 2009.

  1. Aug 17, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    181
    Well just wanted to start a build thread from the start. My 74' CJ5 Renegade was not documented from the start. This project I promise will be! Well here goes. Searching for no better reason, I found a listing for a 69' DJ5A Postal RHD. Thinking like every jeeper should "this must be rusted out, no frame left, doors frozen, etc." Mind you the guy was asking 600 OBO, and e-bay "buy now" 600. This jeep was also only 40 miles north of me. RUST BELT central! I talked with the wife and she also not to keen on it, (we have a baby on the way) she is also very aware of the jeep trouble spots. Called a close friend of mine and we went to look at it (with a trailer of course.) When I first started to talk with the guy, I knew from the start he had no idea what he had, nor did he know much of the mechanics of the jeep. The unit only has surface rust, frame is amazing! I think with a scuff pad most of the rust would disappear. Doors slide easy, top vent needs little TLC, dash is perfect, floor is GREAT, rear door is great. I told my self "you will never find anther jeep of this age in this great of condition, let alone a RHD postal." At this point I tried my hardest to keep the poker face. I was too excited to call my wife and tell her of the find. I tried to keep my cool when I asked if he was dead set on the 600. When he said "what do you think?" I offered five bills, and he did not even hesitate. For which I informed him, I did not say which 5 bills I meant. He laughed and we loaded the unit. When I got home I was concerned my wife might not see the beauty I saw. And to my surprise she saw more! It just made me want to melt inside! Well now the fun work.
     
  2. Aug 17, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
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    [​IMG]

    Forgot to add a picture!
     
  3. Aug 17, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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  4. Aug 17, 2009
    1970CJ6

    1970CJ6 new mexico air

    rio rancho, new...
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    Nov 29, 2005
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    630
    Nice hall

    Andrew
     
  5. Aug 17, 2009
    USMC_LB

    USMC_LB Member

    Tipton Co, TN
    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
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    129
    Very nice! Finds like that are getting harder to find every day.

    Tim in TN
     
  6. Aug 17, 2009
    Colorado_Baja

    Colorado_Baja JEEPS!!

    Fort...
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2006
    Messages:
    304
    Good to see another postal build, I updated my thread to answer your question about the steering.

    What are your plans for it?

    Greg
     
  7. Aug 17, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
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    With the condition of the unit. I feel there is only one way to go, back to O.E. This unit is so close to o.e. that I feel it needs done. One of the PO decided that it was a good upgrade to "molest" and change to a import engine. I think the trans is also import but not sure. (toyota I have been told, they called it a 1.9L) other than the engine and possibly the trans it is all stock. I will have to find o.e. style seats but everything else is the same. After I get running good we plan on painting the postal color scheme also. My wife is pretty excited about it. I hope to have it done in time for the baby, I think it would be alsome to pick her up in the hospital in the postal jeep! Next post will have updates on the "getting fired up"
     
  8. Aug 18, 2009
    Gwillys

    Gwillys 1953 CJ3B

    Southington, Ct
    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2006
    Messages:
    235
    Question what was the original engine in those postal jeeps? I located one near my house and it could be a future project:p

    Never mind. I just found postal-jeep.com
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2009
  9. Aug 18, 2009
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
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    2,871
    Perfect candidate for a 151 and a turbo 350. Both can be bulletproof for pretty cheap. I have been trying to decide what to go with for my 48 sedan delivery. It is also two wheel drive and mostly original. I think it would also be a good one for build write-up.
     
  10. Aug 18, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    Jun 30, 2009
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    I am honestly thinking of going that route. Tinkered a little last night and found engine that is in it, is in great shape. 180 psi plus on compression test. Plugs and carb would not hurt to be replaced/rebuilt.
     
  11. Aug 18, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
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    I found a small write up on the engine that is in the unit.

    "The 1970 Hi-Lux got a new 1.8-liter, SOHC engine ("8RC" within Toyota) that was both more powerful (about 97 hp) and much more refined than the previous year's engine, but the rest of the truck was very much a carryover."

    Not that far off from what would have came stock. They only used it 2 years or so. If this engine is this old with no work done to it, this is going to be a even bigger find. A 1970 stock with over 180psi.

    Sunday nights tinkering. Found many problems. Hooked up battery, nothing.. Replaced cables, nothing... Took off starter and bench tested, nothing... Took starter apart and clean and free spun. Put unit back together and bench tested. Worked good, load tested with a soft pine board, worked great. Put back on, nothing... Removed and cleaned mounts and grounds. Started to turn over good. Checked spark, nothing... Removed cap and found very burnt points. (expected) cleaned and adjusted. Turned over again, nothing but has spark. Checked fuel, nothing Checked pump clicking away (electric aftermarket) Put 5 gallons in and pushed up with air to carb. Fired finally!!!! Died right away. left for evening...........

    Monday nights tinkering. Thought about timing issue all day. looked at plugs and seen fouled very badly. while they were out figured I would check compression. (1) 183 (2) 180) (3)181 (4)185 Great news to me! checked timing on TDC, no where near on cap. marked flywheel and adjusted. The problem I see is two marks, no degrees. No fire, looked in bottom on carb a found a nice puddle. cleaned out and no fire, Fouled plugs. Note to self buy new plugs! spent rest of night getting GMC Typhoon ready to sell.

    Note to public. I need 4 seats. I would be interested in a split bench also.
     
  12. Aug 20, 2009
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    Update for 8/20/09

    The beast runs. After buying new champion plugs (not my first choice, only thing they had on the self that would work) checking point gap, and adjusting the carb it ran. It took a little bit if fussiness but after it worked out its own aggression it ran great. I would like to let everyone know the PO never got it to run and I think the PO before that also had problems with it. It is the best feeling in the world when you get something running that one plus people have wrote off as dead. And when it does run it acts like a raped ape. (this could be because there is only a header for exhaust) here are the goods:great oil pressure, runs at proper temp, pops right off, new plugs,(Soon to be) points and condenser, cap and rotor, new battery. Here are the bad parts so far: no quite exhaust, org gauge cluster not hooked up to engine, carb could use a kit (hesitates on acceleration), heater parts not hooked up at all, tires, brakes need looked at, steering needs a new doughnut. And of course it will need a postal paint job! All in due time, after I get the doughnut I get to take it on its madden trip!
     
  13. Apr 27, 2013
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    Jun 30, 2009
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    Update 4/27/13

    Its been a few years and now my son is 3. decided it was time to get paint and do something with this rig. I am now self employed so something to take the edge off is good and the vices are just now getting me ahead. pulled the hood off and fenders off, sand blasted the hood. I will need to chem strip the under side of the fenders. the po thought the bed liner would be great under the wheel wells and in the floors of the cab. He also must have been a farmer because the clip was put on with bin bolts. But the hood right now has been blasted and now has eched and sealer on it. later today it will be painted the 68/69 amc frost white. I am going with amc colors because that seems to be where i feel at home. I have decided to drag race as a "hobby" so it will get a mild 360 and auto. Nothing will happen to the body out side of stock. I don't want racing to become a passion, mainly a hobby, but i know hopes may not be a reality. But heres to a project getting off the ground and mainy hours invested in anther jeep.
     
  14. Jul 19, 2013
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    Update: My wife is the picture taker, I am the labor
    I have the body stripped down, body off the frame. today i worked on stripping the "bed liner" off the floor boards and will work on sanding the body Saturday. I found that stripper works the best if you give it time to work and keep it thick. the liner came up like sliced cheese. it has been fun and a ton more to go. I think the next step is to build a dolly for the body.
    I will post pics later this w
     
  15. Jul 20, 2013
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    chem stripper covered with thick plastic(like a industrial trash bag) will work better than stripper left to the air, it keeps the chemical goodness from evaporating too fast....
     
  16. Jul 20, 2013
    tomatolane

    tomatolane Lane

    Chattanooga...
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    Cool cool score , looks clean as hell.
     
  17. Jul 20, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
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    386
    They come with a Chevy engine and a Powerglide to begin with not to mention positrac. I would leave it as is and just rebuild anything that needs it

    I have a lot of postal Jeep stuff on my Cj5.
     
  18. Jul 20, 2013
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Just wanted to show the frame in perfect shape.
     
  19. Jul 20, 2013
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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  20. Jul 21, 2013
    iagmc

    iagmc Member

    SE Iowa
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    Not much happen today, Built a dolly to move tub around, worked on a little more of the floors bed liner.
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
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