1955 CJ5 Build

Hello all! I thought I'd finally share my disorganized and haphazard build (not the build itself but the documentation!)

The day I got her:

http://s76.photobucket.com/user/stljmfreeman/media/003_zpsqvgd85vw.jpg.html?sort=2&o=0
http://s76.photobucket.com/user/stl...man/media/005_zps1zhflffs.jpg.html?sort=2&o=2
http://s76.photobucket.com/user/stljmfreeman/media/006_zpsnjp5j3x0.jpg.html?sort=2&o=3



1955 with a Chevy 327, Saginaw 4 speed, Dana 18, Warn OD, Dana 44 front, Ford 9" rear (full float), 4.86 gears, TJ wrangler seats (ugh).

 

Can someone explain how to post pictures directly to the thread and not just links?

 

copy the bottom link and paste it right into your post from photo bucket

 

Thanks! Let's try this again.



A couple pics with my buddy's 67 Commando:

 

Beautiful! Both of 'em!

 

When I test drove it I made the decision that it was good enough for a 60 mile trip home. About 30 miles into the trip it developed a god awful howl. I couldn't get it towed or trailered so I chanced it. I thought it might me the transfer case so I bought a rebuild kit and tore it down (no pics). The front output shaft was sheared off where it pilots into the rear output. Replaced bearings, seals, front shaft, reinstalled. Noise still there. Then I yanked the rear diff to find it was smoked!

 

The guy I bought it from was a farmer and we all know they won't let anything go to waste. I guess he had some latex house paint leftover from a bathroom renovation and figured if it was good enough for a wall inside his house, then it was good enough for the Willy's! Waste not, want not!

I found out it was latex after gumming up a lot of sanding discs. I guess I should've mentioned that this was my first project. I was a mechanic at a Jaguar dealership, now I work at Caterpillar building the drivetrain simulators for R&D. I figured I needed a summer project since I work 2nd shift.

I finally got the paint off using aircraft stripper and a pressure washer for a few weeks everyday before work.

 

I ended up going with desert tan camo with flat black on the hinges, hood latches and headlight bezels. I really like the look and I know it's been done before, but no one around here has done it. In fact, you really don't see any CJ's around here anymore. My grandpa had one when I was little and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world! I'm replacing the seats this spring with some low backs and getting a new steering wheel. The plan is to just enjoy it, no more modifications but we all know how that goes!

 

Thanks! The Commando was a real find! His uncle had it on the property for decades, no rust, runs like a champ, only mechanical it needed was a trans rebuild. Other than that, just paint!

Mine looked good in pictures but up close that paint was absurd. PO had put rainbow metal flake in the previously mentioned latex house paint. My CJ5 was embarassed!

 

Nice.