62 CJ5 - let the fun begin

Digging into the jeep. As usual, things are worse off then I was hoping. So Far took off front sheet metal, removed cylinder head to see how bad the cylinders are, then ripped out most of the floor. The rear section had diamond plate bolted to the cross members and also had extra supports welded between the other frame x-members. It took some persuading, but it's off. The frame rails has 2 bad areas - both sided near upper rear shock mount. From there forward, it's pretty nice. I will also need to fix or replace the middle x-members. Next is getting the body off. I'm going to weld in plenty of supports now that most of the floor is gone. Lousy pics due to poor garage lighting.

When I bought it


Front Removed


Floor Removed

 

Off to a good start. I'm froze out of my garage, so I cant do much with mine right now.

 

We have no snow yet!!! South of Buffalo was hit hard, but north was spared. It's still cold. I just broke out the propane heater. Removed the steering wheel (not fun) and box. Body is loose and ready to come off. Going to rig up a way to lift it with the cherry picker.

 

Sweet!! I have a Willys the same year. It has been a HUGE learning expierince but a ton of fun (so farR)).
good luck

 

I like working on stuff - I always have at least 1 project going. Body is off and sitting on 2x4s now. Next the drive train will come out and frame will go for sandblasting.

 

Some progress. I found another 62 CJ5 with a good L-Head motor, drive-train, sand blasted frame, and all the parts to make another CJ5 - except for one big problem is the body was completely shot. I'm using the sandblasted frame and the L-Head. I figure this way I can get it driving and rebuild the F-Head later. I painted the frame with POR15. Now it's time to get it rolling again with new leaf spring bushings, u-bolts, etc.

 

Looks like an ex- dirt track worker?

 

what's a dirt track worker?

 

The push bar on the front could have been used to push around race cars on a dirt or paved track. The Mobile gas sticker on the side might indicate the same thing. Maybe not...

 

check the front mounting plate on the engines; the mounting pads/feet are different; you most likley will have to change the mounting plate, unless you fab something else up.

 

Yeah, bkap, said what I was thinking. An individual Jeep's personal history can be interesting. They could be used for so many things.

 

ahh - now I get it. As much as I wold like it to have history at Eldoro, Lernerville, etc pushing the Outlaw sprint and late model cars, it was actually bought new by a gas station in New Jersey as the lot plow truck, pusher, jump starter, etc. It was a Gulf station originally and that's where the paint job came from. In the late 80s, they changed to a Mobil station. The owner eventually retired and bought a place up in the country of NY where I ended up buying it. I have the original paperwork.

As for the engine mounts, it was a running and driving jeep with the L=Head. I'll check my other frame and see what's up.

 

Front and rear ends back in with new busings. L-head in the frame and RUNNING I mounted the solenoid to the frame in 2 existing holes and used the ignition switch. I used the Napa coil that doesn't need the external resistor. After a minor issue with bad ground cable, it fired right up and idles nice - but LOUD with no exhaust. Next will be securing the tranny, re-building and installing drive shafst, temporary mounting of radiator and test driving Want to make sure tranny/transfer case work good before getting to far.

 

Almost done with chassis!! I installed all new engine/tranny mounts, put the pedals/linkage back in, brake master cylinder, steering, and some other little things. Have to run the new brake lines, and install the rebuilt drive shafts after the new seals for the tranny output shafts and the pinion seals arrive. Then it's out of the garage so I can get the body in and patch it up.