What Did You Do To Your Jeep Today?

Took it out for a drive yesterday leading a group from our local Jeep Club on some back roads. Nothing fancy, it's Texas afterall, just gravel and dirt roads between barbed wire fences. About 40 miles at the end of the day when everyone got off work and ended it at a local reservoir to watch the sunset. I also cooked up a steak on my camp grill on the tailgate along with some potatoes.

 

That bus is absolutely cool. There was a small school near where I grew up that used a similar year Suburban for a school bus. It was painted tan with brown fenders.

 

Okay, the Gorilla tape may have helped but the worst of the squeak was still there. After going over very bolt on the fenders, grill and body bolts I believe I found the squeak! Where the hand brake assembly/cable (mounted under the dash) goes through the firewall the grommet was missing. I used a piece of cardboard wrapped around the assembly to prove the issue. The squeak seems to be gone. Grommets have been ordered to replace the cardboard.

 

Productive day with Darling Dorris:

- Replaced the worn-out and sticking choke cable.
- Replaced the sloppy pedal assembly and added a pedal draft grommet (no more cold draft at my throttle foot).
- Added a throttle lock. This allows me to lock the throttle for cruise control and keep the RPM’s up when winching. Win-win!! The foot position was extremely uncomfortable for extended driving.

.....it’s the little things.

 

I modestly improve and add things to my Jeep. I ordered a cigar/USB dash device to use various things, like farmer warning, etc..
When I see that all you experts are doing, it is good, I won't be able to do this. I stay calm.
I made a wood part to fix the cigar system on the dash, and I ordered tools to make holes in the dash.
I had these for wood, for stone, but not for steel. I also ordered small electrical tools for better work.
I always say that I don't want to buy more tools, that I am stop hand work, but some tools are very useful, even if only used once...
Some new tools are a progress... and I don't hesitate to buy when it is obvious.
I remember a drill to make holes in walls, brick... like Hilti. I go through a wall of 30cm in a minute, I can pass electric wire, etc...
A friend of mine, engineer, doesn't want to buy this drill because it is 200 euros. So he stays 1 hour or more to make the same hole.
That's life. I bought it nearly 20 years ago, it is a pro tool, still working perfectly.
So, I made a wood part to put inside the dash, and tomorrow, installation.
Pictures of
the cigar system, 3 holes, a switch with the wood part to block it well
the tools for holes in steel
and... the identity plate of my Jeep

 

I took my '68 for a little drive around the neighborhood!
dne'





forgot my hat!!

 

Looks great

 

Yetti! (or Sasquatch) . Jeep looks great!, now where is that Jurassic Park edition!

 

Hats are Good!

 

Is the Hellcat decal referring to the Jeep or the Driver?

 

me of course!!!!

 

In my never ending war against the Valdez pulled the rear yoke. Yanked the seal. Ordered a new output seal and a speedi sleeve. I'll brakekleen out my new parking brake shoes and self installed undercoating.
In a minor win pulled the front calipers off the brackets ( at GeoffreyL's behest), pointed the bleeder straight up and bled against a 2x4. There was still air in them. Now I have full pedal....

 

As long as the rest of the tub stays attached right there we'll be ok.


"Flexible" hose. I think it was $15 a foot or more?

 

We went out to Lake Havasu this weekend. Havasu Landing on the California side. Usually we go on holiday weekends, so it was great to be out there with hardly anyone on the trails. We followed our buddy in his Ecotec powered buggy, so no need for 4wd. Most of the time he raced off and left us. But we had a lot of fun out there cruising the trails.





And finally, our Dobie and Terrier had a good time jeeping while their buddies, a Boxer and Labradoodle puppy, tolerated the buggy.

 

We finally test fit the 302 into the Willys pickup...tons of room side to side, and good clearance for the front axle. The trans wound up about where I wanted it.. But it is pretty close to the front crossmember....

Son washing the NP435 prior to mating it to the engine-








Here you can see how close the balancer is to the front crossmember. My son wants to remove it entirely, and replace it with a new one at the front of the frame. What do you guys think?

 

Added these gussets on the outriggers. Hopefully, they'll offer some support. I got the other shocks installed and brackets welded on. Added another brace for the steering gear. I couldn't tell if it was the steering gear or if it was the leaf springs moving though? Looked more like the leaf springs moving to me but the extra brace won't hurt.

 

@colojeepguy It doesn't look bad to me, I think I'd leave the cross member to help support the steering gear.
If you're worried about clearance for removing the damper from the engine you could always reshape the cross member.

 

I cut and drilled and added a new fire wall plate to match a new 7" booster and brake master cylinder and clutch master cylinder and got it tack welded in place.

. Then I got started on the swing pedals. I used 3/4" ID tubing with bronze bushings to swing the pedals off of with a 9/16" shaft. I'll drill and install zerk fitting tomorrow and finish the welds as it is just tack welded together. I used cut and angled the levers so they match the floor boards.

 

Looking good. Good choice on engines. I have a 302 in my 63 Wagon, and I'm building another 302 for my 56 CJ5.

 

Looks beautiful to me