resto question

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum. Since I am stuck on the couch for the next month, i'm going to be on here a lot. ( major knee surgery) I've already gotten a lot of help from a few of you. So thanks for that. I wanted to know if i'm restoring a 73 bull nose. If i'm going for all original will rhino lineing the interior take away from the value. I see that most of the ones out there people are using for the trail, and stuff. I just want to be the guy that keeps it original. I found the jeep through a friend who found it in some guys yard. He was the original owner had it since new and when his wife died it just sat. It has low miles and all original. I'm just wondering how best to go about this. I would appreicate advice. I'm going to start this when I can walk so I'm trying to amass as much info and parts as possible. Thanks again everyone.

-Eric

 

then keep it original
most folks would think you are trying to cover up or hide something
by lining the interior; rust, panel/floor repairs, holes etc.
If the need is determined by the area in which you live, then that is a different story IMO.

 

Yes, original means original. Rhino lining is a modern phenomenon. Unlike the CJs, these cars had molded rubber mats on top of a painted steel floor as I recall. Don't recall if there was a carpet option - I don't remember there being any. Mats or carpets, if they are in good shape they would be very hard to replace.

What do you want to do with the car? In stock form, they are fine for wheeling (within limits), but you'll smash up the rockers pretty easily. They are tougher and more capable than you'd expect from the looks of them.

 

Tim your a wealth of information. I live on long Island, sadly the biggest rocks this truck will see is on somones designer pond, or driveway. It will see the beach quite a bit tho. The carpeting in it is original, I've seen only one other like that so far. To the best of my knowledge it's original I should say. Tim you would know the answer to this i'm guessing, Is 77,000 miles a lot for an AMC v8?

 

No, I'd say it's just beyond broken in. There are folks on the IFSJA board that claim those engines will go 300K with frequent oil changes. Not everyone is that careful about maintenance, but I'd guess they typically aren't starting to get tired until 150K or so. Things can go wrong, but on balance, they will last a long time. The two main things to check are the oil pressure and compression.

 

Eric, good to see you on here.
You need to decide how "original" you want to keep it. You will find a small percentage of Jeep owners are happy with the "original" condition of most Jeeps or Willys. I think they are a good start to an awesome vehicle. They are also fun and relatively easy to personalize. The one thing I would tell you, is to think about the environment you use it in. I was stationed on the west coast, east coast and now live in Michigan. Can you say salt? When salt from the ocean/beach or from icy roads gets up into your frame and body, they will deteriorate rather quickly. I feel that at least a good undercoating will help immensely. I have a 75
CJ7 and a 51 Willys pickup that are rhinoed fully on the uderside and I really recommend it. Problem being, you pretty much have to take the body off the frame and strip it of all parts on the underside to spray on rhino.
Good Luck,
Get well soon
Tim

 

The main problem with bed liner is also its main virtue - the liner is so tough that it's a permanent application. Make sure it's really what you want... there are lots of alternatives, especially for undercoating.

hth!

 

Thanks Tim K. I'm trying to heal, I'm trying to keep my mind off the pain by comming on here and talking jeep, a lost language my wife doesn't seem to speak. Ok so say I wanted to keep it original I would then paint the frame? Is there a Jeep specific color and paint code used. Did the Jeepster for 73 even have undercoating or as an option?

Tim R. the engine sounds amaizing the comp and oil are good. It has dual cherry bombs on it(came that way) The valve covers are rusted i want to replace them. Apparently it sat in the front yard with the hood proped up for years. Ergo everything underneath rusted nicely. Which is why I have to take the body off the frame anyway.

 

That old Commando will be hard on those knees if you are over five foot tall. That seat sits real close to the wheel Migrating up to the Jeepster Commando from older Willys; I truely believe that you can take whatever ideas you have about going original stock and throw them right out the window. Take that jeepster and do whatever makes you happy, because it doesn't matter how much work you put into it someone will say it is not original for this reason or the other. When it comes right down to it after so many years a vehicle gets modified and repaired and there is really no going back. The AMC Jeeps are just a bunch of parts from different vehicles anyhow. Do what looks and feels right to you and don't worry about anything else.