75 CJ6 rustbucket resto.

Hi everybody!
Since June last year I've started to restore my 1975 CJ6.
This was an old South African military Jeep with a 106 mm recoiless cannon on the back, and the sparewheel mounted on the bonnet.After that it was privately owned and neglected for many years on a farm.
I've purchased it begining of last year as a restoration project, BUT it turned out to be an complete rebuild!You know....once you've started to strip, you can't stop!R)

I will post some pics of my progress that I have already taken the past 9 months, so please stop me if it gets too much!


When I fetched it in March last year at the South Coast, it was standing under a tree(for about five years), and it was litteraly a chicken coop!
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I suspected a faulty starter solinoid, so I took one with, together with a battery and some fuel.I connected the battery, solinoid, put some fuel in and....of she went!!!
Drove it straight up the trailer, ready for the 200km back home.

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At home I had a closer look at the rust, and I almost got cold feet!The verdict is still out on the tub, but I am going to try to save it.
The rear floor is totaly gone, the bonnet is a mess, and pretty much everything else has holes in it.All the brake lines were rusted through, except the right rear.




The stripping did not take long.I didn't bother to loosen bolts and nuts, just cut them off with a grinder.













What do you guys think about that tub?
More holes than steel??:twisted:

Cheers for now!

 

Way cool!! Drove it up the trailer. I'd restore it. The body is not that bad. But I think you need a new windshield. And I think you need to ship that venting one over here to me. Those are so cool. I'm rebuilding a vented one and it's been a lot of fun. If you got any more detailed picts of the ws, I'd like to see those, especially of the way the rear view mirror has been mounted.

 

SUPER COOL! Right hand drive! i want one!!!! Cant wait to see some more pics

 

I like your CJ6.

But I -really- like your carport. It looks as though you could line-up five or six jeeps in there!

I look forward to reading more about your progress on the jeep.

 

Hey, I just noticed your utilicat -- doubles as a jack stand and security system.

 

aalison.
I managed to find another venting windshield that is in better shape than mine.If I remember correctly the rear view mirror is gone, but the fitting is still there.I'll take some pics and post it.

I also managed to stumble upon some original intermediate seats, but they need a lot of work!

Thanks guys, I must say, this is a very rewarding project up to now.

If the guy doing the bodywork for me pulls through, I plan to have it on the road by November.
Cheers for now!

 

Okkie, looks like a great start. I look forward to your progress reports.

 

Dude! It is going to take some serious work to get the steering wheel back where it belongs..........

Great project!

 

Seriously, and I mean this with all possibly due respect, that ain't enuff rust to fret over.

 

Thanks for the possitive words.

Sometimes all one needs is a bit of encoragement!

They are possitive words aren't they?

I will try to post some more pics tonight!

 

Ahhh!
Now I know what "fret" means!

Sometimes our Afrikaans blokes struggle with the terms, but I'm learning fast!R)

 

Some more pics.

The frame stripped bare, ready for sandblasting.



I stripped the axls, and also had them blasted,then I replaced all the seals and bearings.













The frame had one crack on the front, but not too serious, so some welding and a good coat of paint, and it's as good as new again!





Getting there, slowly but surely!

 

CJ6 bodies deserve an extra measure of effort. Yours doesn't look too bad except the rear deck, which is easy to replace. Nice work on the axles and frame. Once you get the rolling chassis together you'll gain a ton of motivation for the body. Don't need to make it perfect, just sturdy and safe.

Little known fact: SA army used cats as front axle pinion snubbers because rubber was in short supply. Your Jeep looks very original in that regard. Most OEM cat snubbers ended up in the cook-pot.

 

Chilly!!!

 

Some more.

The Warn hubs cleaned up nicely.



Front axl ready for installation.



Rolling chassis again!!!



The Dana20 and T14 was in surprisingly good shape, except for the oil seals.I replaced the bearings anyway, but I think I'll have to replace the "dogs?" on the T14.It was a bit scratchy.I replaced the syncros, but the old ones didn't look bad at all, so mybe something else is wrong.I'm sure to find out in a couple of months time.





I've received my 232 I6 from the machine shop, so it won't be long now before its assembled ready to go back in!!Unfortunately I could not get the AMC blue paint, so the darker coulor will have to do.
I know in the States it is not a popular engine, but in SA that is almost all we've got!It is an complete rebuild, from the main bearings, pistons, valves, oil pump, fuel pump....
Cant wait for the first turn of the key!



Meanwhile, while I'm waiting for the body (going to be a loooong wait!) I make sure that everything is in tip top shape, and that all the paint is where it should be.



That is about where I'm at this stage, so a lot of work to do in 8 months time to make the deadline.

 

I am enjoying watching your build. Your progressing right along.

 

:iagree:

 

how did you clean up your T-Case so well?