Engine/Tranny/XFer Rebuild

Howdy,

I'm looking to have someone rebuild my 1959 Hurricane 4 cylinder engine, plus 3 speed transmission and transfer case. I'm towing my 59 CJ5 to Virginia from Texas in July.

Does anybody know a good shop or person who will rebuild my engine/tranny/xfer?

I'm also looking for references to a body shop in Virginia. I've got some body work that needs to be done.

I'm looking forward to hanging out on these forums and working the jeep this summer!

List of things I have to do:

Rebuild engine/tranny/xfer
Install gas tank
Install radiator
Replace brake lines and possibly drums
Repack the axles
Get some body work done
Redo the seat (mounts/belts/etc)
Fix up the gas/brake/clutch pedals
Redo the gauges
Clean up the frame and axles
I'd like to put fuel injection on the engine too.

It's going to be fun! Any advice and thoughts are appreciated.

Pics of the jeeps are here: http://www.jasonthomasfrance.com/photos/vehicles/cj_1959/

 

Just checked out your photos, nice lookin' Jeep! Or is it "Jeeps"? Looks like there's photos of two red Jeeps, two distinctly different engines anyway.

If the Jeep you're wanting to rebuild is still driveable, I personally would recommend working on it a little at a time. Keep it as close to driveable as you can, so you can still enjoy it between wrenching sessions.

I tore my Jeep apart for a frame-up restoration as soon as I got it home, and I've regretted it ever since. I really wish I'd concentrated on getting it running and stoppable, and just worked it over a little at a time. I think it would have worked better that way, plus buying parts and stashing them, and putting away money too. When I reached the point where I had all the parts and money I needed, I could have torn it down over the winter and did a quick restoration, with a lot of the component work already done.

That's just how I see it, now that warm weather is here and my garage is so full of frame, axles, springs, tub, wheels and etc. that you can hardly walk through, and I see no Jeeping in my near future.

 

I'm 180 degrees from Ron, take the thing apart to every last nut and bolt if you want to. I don't regret one bit taking mine completely apart for restification. I also don't regret trying (and succeeding) my hand at rebuilding the transfer case and transmission, or at doing the body/paint work myself. (I did send the engine out though, I just didn't want to screw it up.) There is plenty of info on rebuilding the tranny/xfer case, and with a few websites and the FSM, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it really is. (Though the sound of the needle bearings hitting the bottom of the case is such a sickening sound. You pretty much have follow through after that.)

Do what feels good to you. But with a caveat.... it's VERY easy to get the thing all apart and never get it back together. You really do need to be the tenacious/stubborn type, and very good at managing projects and staying somewhat organized. If you tend to lose steam part way through a project, then I'd definately do it like Ron suggests.

 

Oh, I don't regret taking it all apart for restoration and trying to do as much myself as possible, I wouldn't have it any other way. I just regret that I didn't get to drive it around any at all. I haven't driven it since 1976 or so.

I did come up with an idea today for renting some storage for cheap or even free. We know a young couple that's renting a house with a huge backyard and an empty 3-car garage that they only use to keep their bicycles in. Nice new garage, not even 5 yrs. old, but no electric in it. Nice dry place to store my tub, wheels, axles, spare engines, frame, etc.

 

I bought it from a junk yard with a ford rear axle and a ford 4 cylinder in it. I got the F134 shipped down from a guy in Canada, and put it in with a friend.

I'd like to get it driveable a work on it. But I don't think I've got time to do the engine/tranny/xfer myself. Work has already had me around the country 4-5 times this year. Summer and fall are looking busy too.

I want to get the engine, brakes, clutch, gauges working this summer. After that, I can work on it piece by piece.

I just need to find someone to help me with the engine.