the CJ taking up space in my shop..

this is the fisrt CJ ive ever owned, i went thru a few years of XJs YJs and TJs. but the CJ is where my heart is.. ive been building this for about 1.5 years and documented most of it just never got around to actually posting it anywhere.. it's an 83 i picked up in its current configuration of 'glass tub and fenders, carb'd 5.0L, T-176 and D300. D30 / M20 open diffs with 3.54 gears. i've just been reworking, upgrading and detailing every system at a slow pace. mechanically its 90% done, with only a few things left including shocks, front driveshaft, full-length dual exhaust, clutch linkage and some underhood stuff. the cage still needs to be pulled out and burned together and the body is getting the loudest most obnoxious color i can find this winter.. it WILL be on the road next summer ( i seem to have missed the last 2 "this summer" deadlines since i got it but when it's done it's gona be sweet.. enjoy..

this is basically what i started with..



here are all my pics so far..
http://www.fototime.com/inv/9025544B56717EF

 

looks good... i cant wait to get mine to the point that youre at... i just STARTED with my tear-down.... i'm just glad i dont have to use it for a daily driver and that i finally found a shop to put it in where i can leave it dis-assembled

 

i'm so close to being done with my goals for this summer that i can taste it... but summer's gone now and it's just gonna roll right into the stuff planned for this winter and never see the road ( again) .....

 

itll get there... it will... i KNOW it will...

if theres ONE thing that i have learned in the 5 years i have owned mine (it sat in my driveway under a tarp for the last 4 years and 11 months) its patience...

and i am NOT a patient person... BUT if all i get done today is pulling the fuel tank... then thats all i get done...

have faith and tell her you love her... so far, its worked for me... despite breaking 85% of the bolts i have tried to take out, the blood i have lost, the beer i have consumed, the weight i have gained because of that beer, and the fact that my wallet is almost always empty...

i can SEE the finished prduct, and shes beautiful... rivalled ONLY by my wife and my daughters

i wish you the best of the best of luck

 

yeah i know i'll get it done and i'm refusing to 1/2 a$$ anything i do just to get it on the road so it'll be done when it's done.. i'm thinkin it'll be prime for a "maiden voyage" road trip to Moab in May 2009....

 

sounds good fellow jeeper...

keep us (me) posted...

i'd love to see her before she gets her first ding... and deflowered

 

maybe a parking lot ding.. this isnt a wheeling rig unless it really makes the trip to Moab. carb'd fiberglass V-8 rigs like this have no business in the woods of new england. hell i painted my axles for crying out loud! you think i'm gonna go scrape the over rocks?!?! (well it would be a good excuse to rebuild them again and powdercoat them )
i'll keep the progress posted, i'm kinda in limbo right now with getting ids back to school and such. it's sitting patiently with the top back in place... it knows i'll be back around.

 

ordered my shocks and body lift today...... i've let it sit for several weeks untouched trying to get back into a schedule with the kids at school and some other family issues.. time to get the wrenches spinning again!
and to top it off i was just offered a "46 willys, i think" by a girl at work who's husband doesnt want it anymore... looks like i have a new wheeling rig coming down the pike!! WOO HOO!!!!