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1967 CJ-6: First Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by double R, Dec 9, 2007.

  1. Dec 9, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    Hello,

    This is my CJ-6 project which I started in 2001. I bought the jeep for $500. It was an empty shell when I first saw it. It had no motor, transmission, transfercase, and any of the electrical system. It did have the offset flanged dana 44 axle in the rear and a dana 27 axle in the front. I eventually sold the rear and gave the front away. A couple of days after pushing it onto my driveway, I began removing body parts. The plan was to clean and reinforce the frame...In that meantime, I learned how to weld and bought a welder, familiarized myself with shops and suppliers around town, and read some tech articles on the web and in magazines. After removing everything else, I was left with something that hardly resembled a vehicle: the very simple frame laying on the driveway.

    After cleaning the frame, welding brackets to offset the new leaf springs, welding the bumper, and boxing the frame...
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    I bought a beater 1974 3/4 ton truck for $450, took the axles, and sold the rest of the truck. Here are the axles installed with the rims and bald tires they came with...
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    I was surprised I was able to put the tub on by myself...
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    my yj behind
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    The dirty 1989 Chevy 4.3L off of an astro van bought for $500
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    Test fitting the engine/sm465/np205 to locate where to attach the engine mounts...
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    Last edited: Dec 12, 2007
  2. Dec 10, 2007
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929
    THis will be a cool build. Very similar to what I'm about to do. Take lots of picts.

    What size rollers are those? 36 or so? Nice job.
     
  3. Dec 10, 2007
    Extreem

    Extreem Member

    Massachusetts
    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2006
    Messages:
    87
    Very nice, I'd like to build a Monster 6 someday. I'll take it off your hands if you get bored with it....

    Extreem

    R)
     
  4. Dec 10, 2007
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    3,294
    Wow your gonna have quite the crawler when its done. Keep the pics coming as you progress
    Jim S.
     
  5. Dec 10, 2007
    MountainJeep

    MountainJeep Ringmaster, Circus Crew

    Centennial, Colorado
    Joined:
    May 9, 2006
    Messages:
    224
  6. Dec 10, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    yeah, they're 36's...those wheels came with the axles and will sell them later. I'd like to get some narrower wheels with wider backspacing.

    I'll post more pictures later.
     
  7. Dec 10, 2007
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929

    And how much lift? SOA and springs don't appear to be stock. How much lift do those have and what are they? And how high from the ground to the bottom of the frame? Thanks............
     
  8. Dec 10, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    If I remember correctly, the springs I bought were stock late cj-7 springs. It's been years since I bought those and I can't find the receipt to verify. The axles (dana44/14bolt) were SOA from the truck I got them from. The SOA gave about a 6-7 inch lift. It's about 25 inches from the ground to the bottom of the frame rails. It will actually be taller because the tires are semi flat right now.

    There was an article in the November 2001 issue of JP Magazine that showed how to reinforce the frame and set up wrangler springs on an early CJ or flattie frame. I welded the hangers on the frame according to the instructions in the article. At the time I was thinking of using cj axles or ones with narrow spring to spring distance. When I finally decided to go with the dana 44 front, which has the wider spring to spring distance, I had to undo all the hangers and outboard them. I didn't want to deal with chopping the dana 44 to narrow it (though i was tempted to do it myself because JP Magazine had an article that made it look easy)
     
  9. Dec 10, 2007
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    1,381
    About time for some updates :D Glad to see you still have the project going though. :beer:
     
  10. Dec 10, 2007
    fourtrail

    fourtrail Built not Bought

    Carlinville,...
    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2004
    Messages:
    204
    Nice ride. It seems that monster 6's are gaining in popularity.
     
  11. Dec 11, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    how's your swap?...
    yeah, i stopped working on it as soon as my student loan debt entered repayment. lately i've been thinking about the project again...
    here's some old photos with some body work ( i may have posted some of these before)

    motor mounts welded and crossmember installed. Along with the axles from the chevy truck, I also took the np205 and the cross member. I shortened the cross member to match the cj's frame width. I once again removed the tub to do some body repairs
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    the sheet metal behind the spare tire carrier was rusted out. there was a reinforcing plate where the spare tire carrier bolted on and it was trapping water between itself and the body. i cut out the rusted area and replaced with new sheet metal
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    a little wavy...
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    i cut out more of the rusted areas...here's the play by play...
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    driver's and passenger side floors also had large rust holes and underneath what seemed to be in a good, painted condition, were flakes of rust. i bought both floors and the reinforcing channels from classic enterprises. it was a fast delivery from what i remember. i was surprised that the connection between the side panel of the tub and the floor fit nicely. there's a lip there that i thought would be hard to align with the lip on the floor
    passenger side
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    driver's side
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    Last edited: Dec 12, 2007
  12. Dec 11, 2007
    Lieutenant Mike

    Lieutenant Mike Firefighter Mike

    Boaz AL
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    Messages:
    313
    Wow, you have some body work skills. That is looking great.

    Welcome from another 67 CJ 6 owner.
     
  13. Dec 11, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    this is how i made the attachment for the crossmember. the idea was given to me by my carpenter/ex-policeman/car builder neighbor.
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    firefighter mike, i was looking at your pics the other day...your 6 looks brand new with the paint job!...that's one thing i'm going to do before i get into wiring is dismantle the jeep into a rolling chassis and just paint stuff.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2007
  14. Dec 12, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    wagoneer power steering box, earlycj5 member mcruff's spud shaft, and mounting plate based on his drawings...
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    Dropped pitman arm and tie rod ends from Parts Mike. It looks like it would've also worked without the pitman arm being dropped. With it dropped, the steering links area very close to parallel. The threaded tube inserts and the tube i got from poison spyder.
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    Bought my steering shaft and u-joints from borgeson with the DD style to match mcruff's spud shaft...currently, i have the steering links on a mock set up. I've tried steering it once (without the power steering) and i'm getting a lot of flex at the firewall where the steering column end protrudes. it also feels like the steering shaft is twisting a little bit but i'm not sure. plus i have those big tires, which i will be replacing with narrower tires. i've bolted a 1/8 inch steel plate, about 12" x 9" on that area but it looks like i'll need a bigger plate to reinforce a wider area. is there suppose to be two rectangular openings there?. the previous owner had covered them with a piece of aluminum street sign riveted at the boundary.
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    i don't know if i will have problems with that much steering column stickout (btw, steering wheel and column i got at a junkyard from a later model cj). i've seen others have less column protruding. one thing i still have to do is make a column to floor support inside.
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    one thing i bought from the pick a part junkyard is a hydrobooster from an oldsmobile car. this is my frist time ever dealing with these components (and a project this ambitious) so i'm seriously hoping that this hyrdoboost setup, especially, will work...the instructions i got from the web have been clear. I ordered the neccessary hoses and fittings from a local hydraulic shop. the pump will be supplying both the power steering box and the hydrobooster.
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    i have some major work to do with that firewall!...the swinging pedals, from a later model cj also, was purchased with the steering column and steering box.

    going back to steering, i bought a pair of flat top knuckles for the dana 44 front from ebay. Parts Mike sells a hi-steer kit which comes with the arms (with the stud bolts and nuts), tie rods and the dropped pitman arm mentioned earlier. ball joints were from autozone.
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    Last edited: Feb 17, 2008
  15. Dec 12, 2007
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    this is where i am now with this project...last thing i did was mock up the radiator

    i found a place a couple of miles from my house that sells old jeep parts (i don't think i know any other place that specializes in old jeep/parts like that within a 25 mile radius). it's location was close to residentials and not on a major street so it felt like I discovered a secret mine (but not really). like most of those kind of shops, you have to have seeked them out and already know where they are. I came into the shop and asked the guy if he had a stock radiator that would fit a 67 cj...he did...and he knew immediately where to grab it amongst the other parts. i brought the radiator to the local radiator shop and told them that i will be using it with a chevy 4.3L. an hour later i have a re-cored radiator that is freshly painted. the radiator guy and his wife assured me that i can drive it through southern california's "grapevine pass" in the middle of the summer with AC on and the motor will not overheat...he converted it into a 3-row.
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    there's just one problem...
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    the pulley bolts are about 1/2 and inch away from the radiator fins...any suggestions? i was thinking of trimming that grill shroud...maybe cutting and removing a section in the middle then welding it so i can still keep that nice mounting surface for the radiator?...i will take a look at it first thing tomorrow morning...


    this is my attempt at making a transmission tunnel. what do you guys think?...i prefer it to be smaller. one problem with it occurs where the gas pedal will be. it encroaches into the gas pedal's travel: the pedal will not completely hit the floor. and i apologize for chopping and tearing up the passenger side toolbox. i've kept it though and maybe i can piece it back together.
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    one of the things i was working on before i took a long break was the gas tank. the previous owner eliminated the underseat tank and installed two, what seemed to be, custom made tanks underneath the rear floor just behind the step. did some models have gas tanks there?...the space there looks like it's designed to perfectly fit two gas tanks. i bought a later model tank, skidplate, filler neck from a cj7 at a junkyard and straps from jc whitney. i also bought some steel and rubber fuel lines, fuel pump, and filters from Napa auto parts.

    i welded some nuts at the rear bumper for the skidplate mounting bolts
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    oh, and this box along with a brand new combination guage has been stored under my bed for more than 3 years...
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  16. Dec 12, 2007
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    3,294
    your work is looking very good...My PS setup is the same as yours, the column looks to protrude about the same as mine (I used Mcruffs plans as well). I found a tub to column sleeve from an old truck that had a rubber seal that I was able to mod. The hanging pedal for the gas is the same as mine....my only issue w/ it at this point is it keeps my ankle cocked and becomes uncomfortable after awhile. I run a V8 in mine...too clear the fan/rad the metal had to be removed on the grill support almost to the grill itself.
    I'm not far..(per se) I'd like to see your project:beer:
    Jim S.
     
  17. Dec 12, 2007
    fourtrail

    fourtrail Built not Bought

    Carlinville,...
    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2004
    Messages:
    204
  18. Jan 11, 2008
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    Jim, whenever you're around the valley you can have a look at the junk.

    I've finally started bodywork. My neighbor taught me how to apply bondo and let me borrow some of his sanding blocks. Initially, I wanted to spray the paint but I've been told it's illegal to spray in California without the proper booth or a license to spray (but they sell the stuff to to do it to anyone)...I also need to buy a gun and borrow a compressor from my neighbor and somehow make a booth out of my garage, which is packed with things. So I'm going to try the so-called 50 dollar roller method. I've read a good portion of the long moparts thread and a couple of blogs about roller painting and wanted to try it.

    I wasn't too picky about the imperfections on the body, trying to avoid bondo, and was ready to start rolling but my neighbor insisted I smoothen them out with filler. There are still some very minor high spots but I'm satisfied...'cause I can't wait to see color. I'll roll tomorrow. never done it before so we'll so how the first coat goes.

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    so far, I only have the bodywork done on the pass side rocker and the quarter panel. took me two damn days to get prepped. wasted a lot of bondo too since I'm still learning the proper mix and a lot hardened before I could apply them.
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Jan 11, 2008
    Fnord5

    Fnord5 El Jeepo Gigantico!

    Sacramento...
    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2007
    Messages:
    177
    Looking pretty nice man.

    I think you are right about not being too picky about the bodywork, it isn't a resto, and from the looks of things, anything you fix to make smooth will just be undone later when you are out wheeling.

    I have a little experience with bondo, and I found it really fun to work with.
     
  20. Jan 11, 2008
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2003
    Messages:
    332
    I just finished the first coat and it went well. Just a very light breeze outside, clear and sunny...Perfect for drying the paint.

    I made sure the mix was super thin, "like milk". It was close to 50/50 rustoleum and mineral spirits. Stirred the mix gently so I don't produce any bubbles. One thing I read and kept in mind was to make sure the roller was not soaking wet. I slowly rolled it over the paint tray several times to remove most of the paint on the foam rollers. I was in a little bit of panic mode when the roller first hit the body and got a lot of small bubbles. According to the moparts thread, roll over the bubbles lightly without any pressure and that should pop them and level the paint. I did that it worked. the following rolls I did I was a bit more careful and had very few bubbles, and the bubbles that did form from that...self-leved. The last few strokes had no noticeable bubbles, and if there was any, i expected them to self-level also.

    As predicted, the first coat looked patchy and thin. I also made sure that the coat was applied thinly to avoid the dreaded bubbles. It was drippy at some of the edges of the roll. I think those ones had too much paint on the roller. There were also some small drips where I used the touch up brush. Otherwise not too much.

    here are the pics:

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    Last edited: Jan 11, 2008
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