1974 CJ5 Rookie Build

Well I was able to grab a couple of days with the heap since the last update. I stil havent finish off the wiring as I got distracted making the rear frame cap thing (crossmember?) and the rear bumper.
I dont know what his piece is called, but I didnt have one so I made one. I started with a piece of 12ga sheet. Bent it into a channel that would slip exactly over the ends of the frame in the back:

It came out perfect and fits nice and snug over the frame.
Then I did some hacking on it to make it fit nicely around the gas tank, have enough meat where the bolts will go, and have support of the two rear body mounts:

It fits the rear perfectly so I was pretty stoked about that.
Next I pulled out my bumper I had started a while back, got out my sketch I posted on here and got to work getting some measurements.
Cut out the holes for the 3/4" x 2.5" to pass through:

Next I cut, shaped, and drilled the 3/4" material so it will attach nicely to the frame:

Then I mocked it up to see just how my creation will look when mounted:

It sits away from the body a little bit but I am ok with that because this is how far it needs to be out to allow any vertical pieces (tire mount to come) to clear the tailgate.
I also picked up a piece of 3/16" sheet that I will cut some angled supports to tie the 3/4" back into the bumper and really make the rear end solid. So far it came together just like what I drew so I'm happy about that.
Also, it turns out I wil be getting a tax bill instead of a tax refund this year, so that should set the paint back a bit, Oh well, the flat black is growing on me.

 

Well done, Thompology.

 

Nice work.

 

Nice fab work, looks great

 

Good going. Make sure you call me first when you are headed down once you are finished making mine ha.

 

Will do! R)

 

No Pics yet for this update. Spent last night on the wiring. Got the column and rear tails wired up and tested it out:

Running lights: Check
Headlights:Check
Left Turn Front: Check
Left Turn Rear: Check
Right Turn Front: NO
Right Turn Rear: NO
Emergency Flashers: Front left and both rears work, Front Right NO
Brake Lights: NO

So I am thinking that something is up with the front right turn signal and the rear isnt drawing enough juice to run the flasher on its own so that is why there is no right turn only but the rear flasher works.
The brake lights dont work because I am still goofing around with the switch on the pedal.
I also forgot to mention that I took out the old Sparton column switch and strapped on an older (and way better looking IMHO) Signal Stat 900 that I was able to snag out of a 1948 Ford Utility truck at the local PnP for $7.

I will post up some Pics when I get a chance, I know those are way cooler than just reading about this stuff

Also, Posi, I just this afternoon mailed in my $89 registration for the Jeep to take it out of non-op status, which will put me street legal somewhere in the end of Feb

I still have a long list of things to make this thing complete, but at least I will be able to drive it around

Also, I am now in the hunt for a Hard top that fits a '76+ windshield. @'74Renegade what years is the one you have laying around for?

 

I have the more elusive Acme fiberglass top for the '55-'75 style windshield, but don't have the matching doors.

The doors I do have are a set of partially butchered no-name fiberglass doors for the '76+ windshield.

 

I already have a current sticker on my license plate and all my lights work. However, I can't put the key in and start mine! Dang, Thompology. Guess I'll have to buy you a beer. Check your grounds first on those lights. That's often the culprit.

 

Signal Stat Pics



Finally got the wiring figured out:
Running lights: Check
Headlights:Check
Left Turn Front: Check
Left Turn Rear: Check
Right Turn Front: Check
Right Turn Rear: Check
Emergency Flashers: Check
Brake Lights: Check

I tried to wire the crappy old brake switch, one of these:

But it kept rotating on the post and grounding out the + wire
So I headed over to Napa and picked up a hydraulic brake switch which has a 1/8 x 27 threaded end that screwed right into the bottom of the Master cylinder.

It bridges two posts when it sense pressure from 60-120psi. This was a way better option as it got wires out from around my feet and onto the other side of the firewall. Pics of that later too!
The issue with the right turn signals turned out to be a loose bulb in the front. I wiggled it a little and wah-la! It will do for now. Eventually they will be switched for LED versions as well and at that point I will upgrade the flasher to the appropriate LED version.

**Update**
Switch Installed:

 

So Sat. I got a few hours on the pig.
I got the angle pieces welded up the rear bumper (this thing is crazy solid now!)


And then the front got the same bumper treatment:

It attaches with 4 7/16s bolts (only 2 in now)

That is all. Took her out for another couple spins around my hood. I am getting some serious smoke out of the valve covers
I am not sure what could be causing this but I will see how it works out! Yikes!

 

Looking good. Could your valve cover be leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold? Seems odd that smoke would be coming out of the valve cover.

 

Nope, the smoke is coming from inside the valve cover. Im thinking it must be a valve issue that is allowing blowback into the head and resulting in smoke out of the cover... that is my limited knowledge opinion anyway.

 

I could be any number of things, but a few come to mind right off: check the PCV check valve, check for water in the oil and vise versa. If all this checks out, it could be piston blow by. I am by no means an engine expert, but I don't think that even with a stuck exhaust valve(s) and a bad valve guides that you would see visible exhaust or smoke coming from the valve cover. But I may just be a bunny with a pancake

 

How much smoke? A little when you have the oil cap open or have the breather hose off is fine.

Keep up the great work!

 

Well either way, this thing is getting driven until something breaks

Now I am just doing little punchlist stuff. Mounted the rear corner guards finally. (pics of that later this weekend). Also, I went looking for some sort of weatherstripping to go between the hood and the grill. After checking home depot and Napa, I wandered over to Wild Horses 4x4 near my office and found a piece for a '66 bronco I thought I could hack up.

It is weather stripping with built in tabs for mounting:


Took it home and was pleasantly surprised to see that the holes in the grill pretty much lined right up with the tabs on the plastic. The tabs didnt hold very well though so I popped them out and used the old metal tabs that were in my original rope gasket. I trimmed the excess ends off and wha-la

Barely lets the hood latch when I push down because of the thickness.


Anyway, not too exciting of an update but that has been bouncing around the back of my mind for a while, so I am glad its out. Waiting on the new brake cylinders for the rear to replace the leaky one(should be arriving the 15th), then I can take this thing to get exhaust put in.

I am already starting to eye my next power-train options. I am thinking 4.3 Vortec to an sm420 and keep my old D20.

 

Looking good! You must work in Stockton. I like the rubber idea from the Bronco, been looking for some thing like that. Gonna steal your idea.

 

I would suggest an 465 due to the amount of available parts comparted tot he 420. The 420 is a bit smaller and has a deeper first gear of 7.0 compared to the 465 of 6.65 I beleive. Good idea though, 4.3 is one of my favorite engines. I would go with the TBI 4.3. Not as much top end umph as the multi port but has a better bottom end for sure. Jeep is lookin good my man.

 

Photo porn:
Silly little air filter:

Horn wired and working: [Ah-woo-gah]

This and That:

Rear corner guards fitted:

Poser Shot:


More news as events warrant.