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1961 Cj5 Rookie Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by xKraKeNx, Aug 22, 2018.

  1. Aug 22, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    Aug 2, 2018
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    Here you will find much comic relief watching me struggle through my first build. I've worked with metal for 15 years but not on automobiles. So my experience is limited. I have only been involved in a couple good size mechanic projects (more like shade tree stuff like transmission replacement and other minor things). I'm here to learn the proper way to go about this build. [​IMG]
    This was pick up day. I had put an add on Craigslist asking to trade a pontoon boat for a Jeep project. Well I got a hit so I went for it. The pontoon was just sitting at the family ranch broke down for 4 years.
    I Didn't know I hated pontoon boats till I bought one. I had been used to zooming around in a skeeter bass boat. So it was time to get rid of it. And this even trade went down. [​IMG]
    So back story on the Jeep. It's a 1961 CJ5 from the San Antonio Texas region. F134/t90/Dana 18 t case/dana27 in front and Dana 44 in back. The thing was turned into a deer lease rig around 2009. The PO had stick welded a
    steel deer stand to the frame for hunting out of the back of the Jeep. As much as I like the idea of hunting out of the back of a Jeep i had to cut it off. [​IMG]
    More to come soon.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2018
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  2. Aug 22, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    [​IMG]
    The PO had said the motor ran recently so I started with the electrical system. After cleaning the post and charging the battery it would not turn over. After some cleaning and tinkering I found out the solenoid on the starter was bad. I ordered a new one from kaiserwillys.com. [​IMG] I also ordered some gaskets and motor mounts and fly wheel. I'll be rebuilding the starter next.
     
  3. Aug 22, 2018
    55_Willys_CJ5

    55_Willys_CJ5 Nephews Visit 2017 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Southern California
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    From the pictures so far, it appears you have yourself a jeep in decent shape. Lots of information to be had here on this site along with very helpful and knowledgeable folks on all matters related to our jeeps. Best of luck with your project.
     
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  4. Aug 22, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    Thanks much, just more reassurance I'm in the right place. Many questions will be arising. I like the early cj5 community here I've been reading a lot of different sites forums and feel that I can gain a lot here.
    The PO had put a lot of time and effort in it but I see a lot of short cuts. But hey it was a deer camp rig. What do you expect? Wait till you see the floor framing I'm cutting out to redo. I'm playing catch up to where I'm at currently so I have a back log of pics to catch up on. Cheers
     
  5. Aug 23, 2018
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    Looking good. It will be nice to see it get back to more original. Looks like Mutt wheels on there. I believe those have less offset (which narrows the track and likely impacts turning radius a bit).

    I'm sure you'll get it making steam soon, that's always exciting :watch:
     
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  6. Aug 23, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    Yes the wheels are definitely Mutts. They had to cut the hub holes bigger just to get them to fit.
     
  7. Aug 24, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    The starter is off. Inside looked good except the shaft bearings were in bad shape. I bench tested it and it's still spinning strong .
    This master cylinder came with the Jeep in a box but I may order a 2 cylinder master. It depends on how much money I have to sink into the rest of the brake system.

    Any one know where to find these shaft bearings? Also does the f134 suposed to have a bracket on the back of the starter to mount to the motor?[​IMG][​IMG] These were the only numbers I could find on the starter.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
  8. Aug 24, 2018
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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  9. Aug 24, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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  10. Aug 24, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    I scored these seats and gas tank!! Not original I know but I got a incredible deal off a swap page. I think the Seats are off a cj7 or cj7s I should say. I plan to wheel this Jeep so I'm not going to worry about getting everything to original. The tub is pretty far gone.

    The driver side seat has the slider rails attached. But the passenger side was just the seat. I'll be fabing mounts for both seats. Cleaned the starter up put it back on to test it. Boom the Motor turned over till the gas got to the spark plugs and it started up.

    Things didn't sound to well so I checked firing order and 2 and 4 cylinder were crossed. Things sounded good after that. I let it run a minute or so then I turned it off because I don't have any gauges working. No smoke out of the tail pipe. Me and my neighbor were high fiving in the front yard.



    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Aug 24, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    Great first start here. Definitely do more pics to document every little thing, especially if it's greasy and grimy. :lol:

    Are those differential seals in the box?
    And the round disc--what's the name of the part?

    Good to see what you traded for the Jeep too--that's a great part of the story. (y)
     
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  12. Aug 24, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    Yes those are seals for the front Dana 27 and the rear Dana 44. The round disc is the cover plate that bolts to the driver side floor. It is the one used for acces to the master cylinder. That's if you still have floor boards. :worry:

    There was a 3/16"steel plate floor laid over this 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" tube. It really wasn't attached to the floor framing expect for where it butted up against the floor riser.

    This was bad news for the tub because the way the tube framing had been installed. It really needed to be welded to the floor plate and side panels. [​IMG] [​IMG] This is what happens to the tub when it's not supported properly. The bondo was thick. There was a galvanized plate pop riveted to either side with a thick bondo bandaid. And yes those are plywood body mounts.:rofl:
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2018
  13. Aug 25, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    I ordered the fuel filler neck housing from Kaiser Willys. It fit like a glove. After sanding all the bondo off the surrounding area first. I'm really not trying to do body work right now.
    But I need to check the fuel tank placement and mock up seats and get measurements before I take the tub off. I want to map out floor framing and fuel lines ahead of time.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2018
  14. Aug 25, 2018
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    If you are pulling the tub you could weld temporary bracing across the top and save some alignment issues later. Plus if you locate them kind of near the mounting points you can use them as reference points later.
     
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  15. Aug 26, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    Got some tear down work done. I also scored some 1x3 tube for the floor framing and custome rocker guard.
     
  16. Aug 28, 2018
    chris423

    chris423 Sponsor

    greeneville tn
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    i went with the toyota starter i love it 82 i think . i went round and round with my original and i still have it but the toyota was cheaper and more reliable .
     
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  17. Aug 28, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    That's great. It's such a huge cost difference. Do you have any pics? I will definitely be giving this a go. Thanks for the info.
     
  18. Aug 29, 2018
    chris423

    chris423 Sponsor

    greeneville tn
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  19. Aug 29, 2018
    chris423

    chris423 Sponsor

    greeneville tn
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    1962 CJ5 Michaels Project
     
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  20. Aug 30, 2018
    xKraKeNx

    xKraKeNx New Member

    Ft Worth
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    nothing special here just more pics from the tear down work. I did manage to brace the tub from finder to finder. Tub alignment will be tricky down the road for sure. After about 20 broken bolts and some that had to be ground off I got the tub off.
     
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