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1948 CJ2A Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by DanStew, Feb 13, 2016.

  1. Sep 24, 2016
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    Nov 5, 2014
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    589
    That thing is looking good! Will be fun to run around town for sure. What's the plan for the seats?
     
  2. Sep 24, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I am back and forth between new pads and upholstery, and Some Rugged Ridge low back seats. I like how the rugged ridge seats feel and honestly they are cheaper to buy than new pads and cushions. I will have to make new seat brackets, but I am ok with that and I do not want to mess up a good set of CJ2a seat frames.
     
  3. Sep 24, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Dan, I think I just read something about the holes for the wooden blocks being asymmetrical on some hoods. Can't remember where. I'll see if I can find it.
     
  4. Sep 24, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    the rugged ridge seats are fine, but they are pretty thick over the top of the underseat tank and pushes you into the steering wheel.
     
  5. Sep 25, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I had the Ruggeds in my old CJ5, loved them but i did have the smaller wheel. i had a set of Bestop low backs in my old CJ3a and they fit real nice. maybe i will have to just consider those. They were comfy but just not as good as the rugged ridge.


    I found other pics online with jeep and hood block and it looks like they are supposed to be like that with one over farther on the hood. i guess it is to make room for the windshield wiper arm, i guess there maybe interference.
     
  6. Sep 30, 2016
    53Flattie

    53Flattie Intigator

    Easley, SC
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    Sep 23, 2002
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    Dan - amazing progress! I really like the gray/red color scheme, and the new MT's COMPLETELY changed the looks of it.

    Keep up the good work.
     
  7. Nov 16, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    Bring it back up. I have the Jeep wired up and changed the oil. Looks like tomorrow I will steal the battery from the Wrangler and then crank up the Jeep.
    I ended up ordering seat pads and canvas to keep the original seats. Just impatiently waiting for them, they are on back order. So i will have to get a porch cushion to drive the jeep around the block :)
     
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  8. Nov 17, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I tried to get it to fire up tonight, but had a setback.
    I scavenged the battery from my Wrangler and connected everything up. Added fuel.
    First i cranked it over without spark to get the oil pressure flowing. Good news is the gauge showed pressure in the motor.
    I noticed a squealing sound while cranking, after investigating i found the mechanical fan was hitting my lower radiator hose :( I couldnt do anything about that tonight, so i just removed the fan to continue on.
    I reconnected the coil and cranked it up after putting some gas down the throat. I cranked and cranked (which it did crank real nice) and still not fire. I looked back at the carb and notice gas everywhere. There is fuel in the filter right before the carb so the fuel pump is functioning. The fuel is coming from a port in the front of the Solex carb. It looks like there was a plug there at sometime and it was removed. I had some threaded plugs but none fit. I need to find out what was there

    the gaping hole right above the mounting stud
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    So i am stuck there with carb, no firing it up tonight.


    On the bright side my bottom cushions and covers came in. I put them on the wood pan, will staple them home after i contour the pan. Doesnt look that much mismatched from the backseat I picked up. I still need to mount the backseat. Next month i hope to order the upper cushions for the front seats
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Nov 17, 2016
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    8,360
    Ugh, ditch the Solex and put a WO back on it..;)
     
  10. Nov 17, 2016
    masscj2a

    masscj2a Member 2023 Sponsor

    Ware, Mass
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    Dec 27, 2013
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    Its coming along nicely. I also traded a AR15 for my 47.
     
  11. Nov 23, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I was excited to come home from work tonight and my Solex rebuild kit was sitting on the counter. It was a rather simple carb to rebuild. There was not much crud inside so it was not in bad shape, just not sure why the previous owner removed the main jet. The important item, the main jet, was in the rebuild kit so i have no more gaping holes in the carb. It is rebuilt and put back on the motor, but i did not try to start it yet. I am going to give it a try again after thanksgiving.

    I did finish up my air filter project. I did not want to use the oil bath, but wanted the housing. So i gutted the housing and installed a dry filter element. That was not that hard of a project.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I know it maybe blasphemy for gutting it, but i did not want to deal with the mess.. my jeeps seem to tip over at times ;)
     
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  12. Nov 23, 2016
    47v6

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    Engine bay looks nice.
     
  13. Nov 24, 2016
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    Nov 5, 2014
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    Looks good. Is there room to drop the filter out the bottom? What filter did you use?
     
  14. Nov 25, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Dan, those Solex carbs usually require a fuel pressure regulator to keep them running right and not flooding all the time. I used one on my truck. The Solex likes something in the neighborhood of 2-4 psi. I bought a cheap from FLAPS. Purolator brand I think. It's kind of junk but got me running. I will switch to a better one if and when I get back to working on the truck........if I keep the Solex.

    A little research on the Solex, maybe on the 2A page will give more definite info on the Solex and it's peculiarities.
     
  15. Nov 25, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    It lives another day!!!!
    Video
    [​IMG]
    After changing out the cruddy 6v coil
    [​IMG]
    and figuring out the plug wires were all out of order I got it to start up. Ran a little rough, and it doesnt idle worth a dang, but it does live and i got something to work with now.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    I dont think it was the best choice to start it up in the garage, especially with the cylinders had oil put in it prior to me turning it over. Lets hope it is just oil and other junk burning off from sitting for a long time.
     
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  16. Nov 25, 2016
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I used Purolator #A14347

    1993 Buick Century 2.2L
     
  17. Nov 30, 2016
    53Flattie

    53Flattie Intigator

    Easley, SC
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    Dan - it looks great. Good job on the progress!
     
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  18. Dec 8, 2016
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

    moorestown, nj
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    What size air filter did you use? I like that idea! The oil bath can be a real mess.
     
  19. Jan 19, 2017
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Well i had shoulder surgery the 29th of November. Finally i have been getting back into the garage to get back to work on the Jeep.
    I tried to start it a few weeks ago and it would not really idle and it would real hard to keep it running. I decided to do a compression check. #1 -75, #2 - 0, #3 - 85, #4 - 95. And i noticed that the carb horn was soaked with gas and oil. I had a stuck valve or broken valve spring and all the mixture was getting sent back into the carb.

    I pulled the valve cover and found one stuck valve and antifreeze on one of the valve stems. So i hope it is a bad head gasket ad not a cracked block :(
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    I soaked all the bolts to the head and manifolds and got out the torch and heated the nuts and bolts up to remove everything. Luckily everything was able to be removed except for 2 bolts that broke but they were the exhaust bolts. so it is easy to deal with.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Everything is removed, just need to pop the head off the block, and then have to decide what needs to be done next with the valves.
     
  20. Jan 20, 2017
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
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    So i got the head off the block tonight.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I tapped the stuck valve with the bottom of my flashlight into place. Looking at everything it seems to be in rather good shape. Valves looks good, everything is just dirty. I am going to try the ATF/Acetone mixture and put it through the valve guides to clean them up and just scrub everything. Drop the oil pan to clean out the pan when i am done and replace the front crank seal. Assemble it and then see if it will run for me.

    I did not find a bad head gasket, other than me tearing it up with the chisels trying to pry off the gasket. The second to last valve you will see it is really gunky. This is the valve that has some anti freeze on the tappet. Where should i look for the antifreeze intrusion? I did not see any dressing on the studs, wasnt there supposed to be pipe dope or RTV to prevent leakage?
     
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