69ish (updated Year) Cj5 Drivable Project

Hello ECJ5 world,

Been doing a lot of lurking around these parts and have even made a couple threads to help with identification and other basic questions. I wanted to get more involved and thought it might be time to actually get a build thread going. Hopefully this will help me get past the ECJ5 - Error "You do not have permission to view this page or perform this action." message I keep getting when trying to view other threads.

I am really looking forward to learning and tinkering in my tiny garage here at home in Los Angeles. Its been fun just acquiring tools over the past couple months to take things apart and get myself in trouble. I don't have any real experience working on cars outside of basic maintenance on my Tacoma.

The specifics:
CJ5 most likely 1966-1969 (Hopefully some more evidence turns up. No firewall badging and checking the three spots on the passenger side frame but no VIN found).
Dana 27 front 4.88
Dana 44 rear 4.89
D18 twin stick transfercase with OD
Saginaw steering
Odd fire V6 Dauntless

I'll try and post the progress and inevitably the problems that I run into.

Thanks in advance for all the knowledge and wisdom!

 

Welcome to ECJ5!
Your Jeep looks to have a few changes to it, like most do!
I see chrome windshield hinges. Does the tailgate have 4 holes in the center, which would mount a license plate bracket?

 

Nice jeep. Lots of goodies

 

This Jeep lived on a ranch its whole life, and with that came changes with what was available in the area. Wouldn't have it any other way. As for the tailgate I don't see any holes to mount a license plate bracket.

Thank you! Very much appreciated, and looking forward to learning from the rest of you guys.

A couple things in the works right now...
The wheels were badly rusted and I also needed new tires. Ordered some 31x10.5x15 BF Goodrich KO2's. Wheels were taken to the sandblaster for $20 a pop which seemed reasonable. I also asked about powder coating which is really temping for another $40 per wheel. Any insight into this? I was just going to go with Rustoleum rattle cans but after finding out Home Depot was out of the "canvas white" color maybe thats the world pointing me towards the powder coating.

Outside of that I just purchased some 11inch backing plates off 71 Jeep Commando and he gave me the drums as well. Figured I'd upgrade the brakes on the rear end while the wheels and tires are getting dealt with. I haven't gotten very far though... just need to research the parts I need to purchase. Just high pressure washed the backing plates while I took my pickup to the DIY car wash, followed by a wire wheel and finished it off with some engine enamel paint to hold off the rust.

It looks like the components for the transfer case E brake is still there so I'll deal with that down the line instead of opting to try and install some sort of e brake in the rear.

 

Welcome from Minnesota!

Nice looking Jeep! I see clues of 1969 or early 1970, but things could have been swapped out over the years.

 

Welcome from Concord, NH! Nice looking Jeep!

 

Welcome to the forum! You have a nice looking Jeep there!

Powdercoating will probably be a durable finish for you in California, but I will preface that by asking what your goal with the jeep is? If youre planning on taking it wheeling, the first chip in the paint will create an opening for rust, and it will never be repairable. If youre planning a show jeep to go get ice cream with, by all means it'll look great. Folks who live in the rust belt despise powdercoating, as it sloughs off in sheets at the first chip.

 

I haven't been doing too well on the updates, but recently ran into an issue that has me looking for direction from you all here...

I drive this Jeep around Los Angeles and with me being near the beach its just become too much of a headache to not have a parking brake. All the components at the transfer case are there (although a little oily the brake pads still seem to grip) but after purchasing a new T handle, parking brake cable, and assorted mounting hardware from Hermtheoverdriveguy and installing I have too much slack at the end of the cable to activate the drum brake on the transfer case when I engage the handle.

I've looked for the answers in the various forums and I cannot seem to pinpoint it. At first I thought the emergency brake lever might of been backwards, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I found the below image to reference the different levers and I have the far left one. Do I absolutely need to source the middle one for my 69 CJ5? Can anyone offer any insight to this?

I also noticed with the mounting spot for the end of the parking brake cable the orientation of the steel cable connection would benefit and rub less if the parking brake lever would be facing toward the rear instead of the front which also has me thinking I might be in a swap situation.

My setup as it is now: