Questions from New Owner of 78' CJ5

Hey guys,
I recently purchased a 1978 CJ5 and I have some (hopefully) little problems that I would like to address and I'm looking for some insight from the experts... I ordered a Chilton's manual, but I'm looking for some other insights too.

Here is some info to start:

Straight 6 cylinder engine
4 speed manual transmission
33"x12.5" BFG Mud Tires
American Racing Rims
3 Inch Suspension Lift
3 Inch Body Lift
Fiberglass Tub (no rust)
Reinforced frame (no rust)
1 year old ring and pinion in front and rear
1 piece axles in rear
4 11 gears with lockright lockers
9000lbs winch

She also came with a soft top and bikini top and an extra engine and tranny.

Here are some pics

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee117/steveshra/


Now, for the problems that I am having:

1. There is a squealing that happens only while I am driving it. I think that it might be something with a pulley or a belt, but the noise stops when the clutch is in or when it is idling not in neutral. This makes me think (without much mechanical background) that it could be a transmission issue.

2. The headlights and brake lights don't always work. Currently, one of the 4 headlights is working and none of the tail lights, but all directionals work. The jeep sat outside with out a top on for a while, so I'm concerned some of the electrical might be damaged. Any tips or ideas? Do I need to pull the radiator to access the headlights? Will I need to replace all wiring?

 

Second Mikes take. Throwout bearing would be my first guess on the squeek. To chagne it requires that you pull the transmission. Not as big a task as it sounds but it helps to have extra hands.

Also I would suspect a bad or non existant ground as Mike said. With the glass tub the ground wires have to run down to the frame. If that does not fix the problem, get a manual that has a wiring diagram and start following wires until you trace the problem. A multimeter comes in really handy to trace electrical issues.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses.

How would I ground the lights to the frame? I don't know too much about electrical work, so if you know of any good diagrams or descriptions avaiable that would be great. Would this be covered in the Chiltons manual? I am expecting mine soon via mail.

About the throwout bearing, what does it do and why might it be squeeking? Is this something that could cause additional problems if it is not fixed? Are there any good sources showing how to do this repair?

Thanks!

Steve

 

in theory, the t-o bearing should not be turning when the clutch pedal is out all the way. It should only turn when the pedal is depressed. You state it is quiet.
I would look for a crack in the frame in or around the clutch linkage area of the frame; as well as the trans/t-case mounting bolts on the skid/crossmember.
The glass body could also be rubbing on something somewhere while you're driving.

 

Excuse my ignorance, I am new to working on jeeps... and all cars for that matter, but how would I identify the clutch linkage area of the frame? Does this mean to basically track the connection from the clutch pedal to transmission and look for any cracks in the frame? Are there any good diagrams that would identify the clutch linkage area as well as the transfer case?

Also, I'm confused how the body rubbing could cause a squeeling noise and why it would stop when the clutch pedal was depressed. Do you mean that the body may be rubbing on some part of the transmission/clutch/drivetrain?

Again, sorry for my ignorance, I am learning slowly but surely.

Thanks!

 

sorry to confuse
go with your ears to the noise

 

Well that is actually the problem, I would have done that already, but I don't get the noise while idleing, I only get it while in gear and moving... and I'm not willing hang on to the bottom of the jeep while moving R)

 

Ok, so I tried to ground some of the lights but didn't have much luck. One of the lower front headlights was working and one came on after a little while, but grounding the two main headlights to the frame didn't fix the problem... Also the grill is metal so I believe they are already grounded. Might I need to replace fuses? If so, where are they?

Also, with the rear lights, they work as turn signals but not as brake lights... so it makes me think that grounding is not a problems for them either, but that there is a problem wherever it is that the brakes make the brakelights work. Does this sound right? And if so, where would I check for the problem? Could this be fuses too?

Thanks again!

 

In regards to the lights, do you have a hot wire tester? This is a screw driver looking thing with a pointer and a wire. The handle has a light in it. When the pointer comes in contact with a hot wire, the handle will light up.

I would take that hot wire detector and point it at the positive connecting to your headlight while they are on. If the handle lights up and the headlight does not, then you probably have a burnt bulb. These things can happen when a headlight has been in use for 30+ years. Remember KIS- Keep It Simple.

If the handle of the detector does not light up, then it is probably a ground issue, or even something not connected altogether. It turns out that some 4X4'ing can knock certing things loose over time......I know, sounds crazy.

 

Check that High beam switch in the floor. If the top was off, Dirt, leaves and water are prone to find their way into the wiring of that switch. Could be a cause of the Headlights going out.

 

There is a high beam switch on the floor?! Shows how much I know..... give me time though, its my first jeep

Is the floor highbeam switch the little medal button you can step on in the upper left corner of the driverside floor? I've been wondering what that was...

 

Stop it, man. You're making me feel too old. And I just turned 37 yesterday.

 

Happy birthday, but seriously... is that the button for the brights? I've never seen such a thing... but this is also the first car I've driven that was made before 1990.

 

I checked the frame and I found a crack... it is about 6 inches long on the inside of the frame on the drivers side near what I think is a skid plate to protect the transmission and/or transfer case. The plate is a large metal piece that connects one side of the frame to the other and is maybe 18 inches wide. Is this a serious problem? Does it need to be fixed? Is it a fixable problem? If so, what will it take to fix it? Could we just weld over/fill the crack to reinforce it or weld an L-shaped support over it? Is this likely to be the cause of the squealing? If so how? vibrations maybe?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just a bit worried. I had checked the frame pretty well before buying it, but unfortunately I didn't look on the top inside center.

The pictures show the crack, but the frame isn't as rusty as it looks in the pic. There definitely is some rust but it has mud caked on it that makes it the frame look worse than it is.

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee117/steveshra/

 

Wait, 4 headlights?

The lower lights are your turn signal/park lamps, not headlights. They should have amber bulbs. They should come on at the first stop of the headlight switch when you pull it out, the headlights should come on with the headlight switch is pulled all the way out. They should blink when your turn signal is on to indicate direction.

 

I know that the lower two lights function as signal lamps, but they have white bulbs on my jeep. (See pictures in link below) The signal lamps on the fenders are colored though. All signal lights work, 2 sets from and 1 set back, but neither the brake lights nor the headlights work. Are there fuses to check?

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee117/steveshra/

 

pretty nasty crack
need to thoroughly clean that undercarriage up and do a real good inspection in and around that cracked area...you may find something else