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What? Another Jeep?

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jun 20, 2022.

  1. Aug 9, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    Only one thing tonight. Fixed the horn. Popped the old button out and found corrosion on the middle button, the disk, and the cup. I sanded the middle button and cup with 600 grit and replaced the disk along with a new rubber button.

    Works great now:
    [​IMG]

    Next project is getting the Spartan to cancel. The on one the Jeep works but has too much slop in the mechanism to cancel properly. I have another Spartan that has a bad switch but a good mechanism. I'll switch 'n swap parts to see if I can get one fully functioning unit out of the two.
     
    73 cj5, Stakebed, Ol Fogie and 3 others like this.
  2. Aug 9, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    I use those same rubber mats in the bed of my tacoma - the OEM plastic bed is slick and everything slides around otherwise. I also like that I can put my skis on it and the rubber ensures the metal edges stay tuned, and any snow melts off and drains through keeping the edges from rusting. They also are a nice baselayer under my paco pad for when I sleep in the bed... Haven't decided if I will do the same in the F150 - it came from factory with a sprayed in bedliner - grippy, but still not the best for skis. I might repurpose the tacoma mats for the jeep in some way since they don't fit in the F150 as is. Sorry - the pic is more for the rack rail - but shows the mats...
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Aug 9, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    I love those mats for all the reasons you've mentioned.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  4. Aug 9, 2022
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Messages:
    2,115

    I know what it is....always the same...
     
    Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  5. Aug 10, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    I was testing the radio yesterday and, like an idiot, left the ignition on overnight. Amazingly, it started right up tonight. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned the key off but it kept running. :confused:

    I had to pull the alternator exciter wire to shut it off. After a bunch of wire tracing, I realized that even though it's been converted to a 10SI, the Motorola voltage regulator on the fender still had wires attached to it. I unplugged that and every thing works as expected again. It must have developed an internal short when I left the ignition on.

    The wiring on this thing really needs a cleanup. It's on the list of projects but probably won't happen until winter.

    A couple easier projects for tonight though.

    I tore two Spartan turn signals apart to mix and match parts:
    [​IMG]

    Finally after parts swapping, adjusting, and bending a bracket, I have a turn signal that cancels like it should :bananatool::
    [​IMG]

    Then I addressed these windshield standoffs:
    [​IMG]

    That's a little beyond the patina phase.

    I put some nice reproduction standoffs from Walcks on the '69:
    [​IMG]

    And put the foam wrapped ones from the '69 on the '68. Definitely looks better than it did:
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Aug 15, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    Here's a project that took all of 3 minutes.

    Removed the old useless 4" round mirror that was dark with failing mirroring. It was useless. I replaced it with an Amazon special 5x7 mirror for $13.00:
    [​IMG]

    All these little things add up to make a decent usable Jeep:
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Sep 26, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    Did a few things with the blue Jeep today.

    First, it was a beautiful so we took it for an hour drive. Then we ran to dogs on the hills when we got home. Some photos from running around the hills:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Then I decided it was time to fix some of my own screw ups. When I had the pedals apart a few months ago, I was obviously in a hurry to get it running again. The clutch pedal was crooked and I screwed the brake pedal pad on too far. The end of the rod was pushing into the back of the rubber pad making it bulge out and uncomfortable to push on:
    [​IMG]

    Much better:
    [​IMG]

    The fuel guage hasn't worked on this thing since I got it. It has a VDO gauge to the left of the colum and the one in the speedometer cluster is disconnected. It moves some between 0 and 1/4 tank but doesn't really track the level. It's just guesswork.

    When I was using a flashlight down the filler to see how much gas we had for our trip, I noticed this:
    [​IMG]

    That's not supposed to be full of liquid!

    Pulled the sending unit out to have a look. Yep, a little tiny pinhole. Just enough to let some gas in:
    [​IMG]

    I snagged the float of the old sending unit from the '71 but didn't like the sharp end on this loop. This might be what caused the fisure in the first place:
    [​IMG]

    It may not matter but I feel better after some bending with pliers:
    [​IMG]

    To make sure it stays, I added some safety wire:
    [​IMG]

    I took the Jeep for a short spin so the jiggling can help the float move and my hopes were crushed. The guage still acted the same.

    I used a welding rod through the filler to move the float through it's travel and check the resistance. The sending unit seems to work and be in spec.

    I'm suspecting VDO gauge is the wrong type. It's working in the wrong direction when I move the float and only moves between 0 and /14 tank:
    [​IMG]

    I think I have an extra gauge in a bin somewhere from the CJ-2. I'll dig that out and see if it fixes the problem. I'll have to test the gauge in the speedometer to see if it still works. Maybe I'll just revert to that and put some other gauge in this spot.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2022
    73 cj5, Ol Fogie, 68BuickV6 and 4 others like this.
  8. Nov 6, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    Well a month later after working on shop insulation, traveling, and cleaning up from storms, I had time to work on a Jeep. I swapped out the fuel gauge for one that's expecting the proper resistances and it looks like it's reading about right:
    [​IMG]

    I wasn't fond of the non-hooked up ammeter either so I found a volt meter to replace it:
    [​IMG]

    Now all the gauges work. Well, except the factory fuel gauge in the cluster. If I fixed that, I'm not sure what I would put in the extra hole to the left of the steering column. Vacuum gauge maybe?

    While I was working on it I had assistance from Colton the new cat:
    [​IMG]

    He's a huge help when you're pulling wires:
    [​IMG]
     
    Danefraz, 73 cj5, blalp! and 15 others like this.
  9. Nov 6, 2022
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Very dapper. :beer:
     
  10. Nov 7, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    I had more time to work on a Jeep again. Amazing.

    Another annoyance with the '68 was this 90s cassette deck radio:
    [​IMG]

    It completely clashed with the styling of the rest of the Jeep.

    Also the wiring looked like this:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I'm not real big on stereos in old Jeeps, but there is already a big rectangular hole in the dash and speakers bolted to the kick panels. Time for a change.

    Yanked the passenger seat so I could lay on my back under the dash and pull wires:
    [​IMG]

    What the hell cat??? Had to re-plug in the windshield washer switch after that excursion. I think everything else is still working:
    [​IMG]

    New radio connectors spliced in with heat-shrink crimps:
    [​IMG]

    And here's the new radio. It's a $20.00 something from Amazon that's AM/FM, bluetooth, SD card, and USB key cabable with a more vintage appearance:
    [​IMG]

    It seems to work fine. Sadly, the tabs for the DIN chassis expect a thicker mounting surface than a sheet metal dash. I need to make some sort of spacer to add some thickness. That's where I gave up for the night. That will be tomorrow's project.

    The wiring, while not amazing is much better now:
    [​IMG]

    Not much inside the new radio. A brain circuit board behind the face and an amplifier section at the back:
    [​IMG]

    It comes with helpful troubleshooting instructions for dealing with things like "Unreasonable Power":
    [​IMG]
     
    73 cj5, blalp!, Ol Fogie and 10 others like this.
  11. Nov 7, 2022
    68BuickV6

    68BuickV6 Well-Known Member

    Hesperia, CA.
    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    Messages:
    2,160
    Re:gas cap. I used to put mine on the rear tire when getting gas, until one day I forgot to put it back and ran it over. I suspect they did the same.
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2022
    Fireball likes this.
  12. Nov 7, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    I bet you're right. I don't know how else you would dent it like that.
     
  13. Nov 7, 2022
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2022
    Messages:
    656
    I recently had a mech-less head unit installed in the Yellowjacket.
     
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  14. Nov 7, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,460
    Is that English???
     
    Ol Fogie, Stakebed and Fireball like this.
  15. Nov 7, 2022
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    Messages:
    971

    In an Oriental sort of way.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  16. Nov 7, 2022
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2022
    Messages:
    656
    Chinish?
    or Englese?
     
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  17. Nov 8, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    Finished up the radio tonight.

    Found a scrap piece of Masonite I could cut a spacer from. Side note: I inherited the saber saw from my Grandpa and use the crap out of it. It's older than I am and I'm not young:
    [​IMG]

    With the spacer behind the dash, the tabs are now locking in tight:
    [​IMG]

    Permanently mounted. It looks a little modern for the Jeep when powered up:
    [​IMG]

    But it looks decently period when powered off:
    [​IMG]

    AM/FM seems to work well. Bluetooth seems to work well. I haven't tried a USB key/SSD card yet. All in all it's a nice upgrade in style and usefulness for $29.00 and a few hours of work. Better than the 90's cassette deck or a hole in the dash. We'll see how long it lasts.
     
    73 cj5, blalp!, Ol Fogie and 4 others like this.
  18. Jun 18, 2023
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,626
    I never bought this Jeep for the long haul. It was for some cheap short term entertainment. Now that I bought a TJ (Picked Up A Traitor Jeep (tj)), I'll be finishing up a few odds and ends on this Jeep and selling it.

    I know none of the stuff I'm doing adds any resale value, but I like to sell a solid rig. I've been working through a punch list to get it ready to list.

    Removed the hard top door hinges to keep them with the hardtop. It may or may not sell with the Jeep. Used rubber plugs in the holes:
    [​IMG]

    Also put rubber plugs in the factory windshield holes:
    [​IMG]

    The gas cap was dented and leaked when the Jeep even thought about leaning to the left:
    [​IMG]

    So it got an Omix replacement:
    [​IMG]

    It annoyed me the oil pressure idiot light wasn't working. This mess of stuff was on the engine. There is a copper feed line to a mechanical oil pressure guage near the block, then a tee and two different electric sending units. The 3 prong must have been for an elecric pressure gauge? The single prong sending unit on the bottom had an open circuit with no pressure so it's the wong sending unit or it's broken:
    [​IMG]

    I removed the tee, installed the proper sending unit, and hooked up the wire:
    [​IMG]

    Now the idiot light works. Ignition on, not running:
    [​IMG]

    And it goes out when the pressure comes up.

    I also removed the non-used Motorola voltage regulator from the fender:
    [​IMG]

    More stuff still coming.
     
  19. Jun 20, 2023
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,626
    More sale prep on the blue Jeep.

    It was covered with gravel road dust:
    [​IMG]

    So it got the first wash in probably 15 years:
    [​IMG]

    Then I hit it with some Vice Grip Garage "Shine Juice". I hadn't used it before. Smells and looks like Danish Oil. The Jeep is looking pretty good for what it is:
    [​IMG]

    Another Shine Juice test:
    [​IMG]

    Not bad:
    [​IMG]

    I noticed this while I had the air cleaner off. The air cleaner stud was sticking down below the top housing in the carb and blocking the choke plate from closing. That's a little surprising since it's never had any issues starting, even in cold weather:
    [​IMG]

    A little cutoff wheel action and the choke works:
    [​IMG]

    Next is cleaning up some of the mess under the hood. An inventory:

    The windshield washer hose and wires had fallen onto the exhaust manifold and melted through:
    [​IMG]

    Some of the messing wiring powering the MSD box:
    [​IMG]

    Extra wire zip-tied to the firewall:
    [​IMG]

    Missing grommets and broken harness clips:
    [​IMG]

    I'm about halfway done with that project. Should finish it up tonight and have some pictures.
     
  20. Jun 20, 2023
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    Yes but now the jeep won't start :D
     
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