73 CJ5 Restoration

I posted on the 'Introduction' forum just a month ago saying that I was an old member that hadn't been here in years, and that I was looking to get another CJ5 since my first project wasn't successful. Thanks to a member here, a friend I knew from way back when, as of today I have my CJ5 project.

The tub seems relatively solid except for the passenger floorboard which will need to be replaced. The inside lip of the windshield frame is suspect but I won't know until I strip the paint. The passenger front fender is dented and cracked to the point where I will just replace it. From what I can see of the frame, it looks really good. Once I get rid of that fugly grill guard and the plate it is on, I'll be able to see if the front crossmember needs any attention. There is no bondo anywhere that I can tell, it's pretty much a what you see is what you get situation.

The motor runs, I've seen fairly recent video of it running, but the fuel tank or something is clogged keeping it from running right now. I don't have a good battery but from what I understand it turns over at least. Before I start tearing everything down, I am considering trying to get the motor running decent so I can determine to what degree if any it needs rebuilt. I'm hoping I can drop the tank and clean it, clean the carb, etc and get it running without a lot of effort. EDIT: Oh yeah and the clutch is bad but the tranny is ok and 4wd works ok from what I'm told.

My plan is a restoration, not really a build. I am not worried about everything being original or correct, but I will be going for as much of an original look as possible. I want it to end up an in-town daily driver that I can take camping and to the beach, etc. I'll be going down to the frame and going over everything possible. I will probably keep the axles stock, can't see a reason to upgrade them for what I'm doing with the Jeep. I will be adding power steering, replacing the wiring harness, and whatever else it needs to make it reliable and solid. I don't have a budget, but I'll spend what I need to without cutting corners to make it a long time reliable vehicle.

I am fairly mechanically inclined (I hate that term), and have worked on my own motorcycles and cars, but I haven't completed anything like this so it will be a challenge. With my first attempt that I referred to, a 71 CJ5 :v6: , I really didn't get much further than complete disassembly, which of course is the easy part. Still, I at least know how these things are put together and that will help some. I will need to learn how to weld and I may sign up for a class at the community college very soon since I don't really know anyone around here that I can learn from.

Sorry to be so long-winded but that's about it for now. This project may start a little slow but I'm hoping to keep at it and get done sometime later next year, maybe by the Fall or sooner if I am able. Here are a few pics, I will also post a link to my Photobucket album for some more.

















Link to album- http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n244/darrenkern/73 CJ5 Restoration/

 

I like that wood battery box.

 

Nice touch, eh?

 

Affirmative and thanks!

 

Yeah that's gotta go before the weekend is over, for sure!

 

Yup I figured I'd let it go to someone that had the time to work on it and make it a nice DD. Plus I needed some more tools for the shop and that meant getting rid of a toy in order to do it.

 

Jason, I wish I had gotten you to cut that cow catcher off, that junk is thick and it is slow going with a grinder cutoff wheel

 

SAW ZAW!!! i went through the same type of cutting this weekend.

 

Really? I've got one but never used it on anything that heavy. Cool, I'll try it.

 

Apparently I have been underestimating the ability of my... reciprocating saw It made quick work of that ugly grill guard. I've got some things tying up my time for the next few weeks, I'll be able to get to work at a decent pace after that. For today this is all I had time to do

 

the jeep even looks happier now!

 

I have a question... Does the fact that it's a 73 with a factory 304 automatically mean it's a Renegade? Just curious.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

No necessarily.

Looks like a real jeep now

 

Yep. Sure does.

 

it doesnt have that RODEO CLOWN look anymore.

 

I got a little time for some disassembly today- roll cage, one front fender, rear fender flares, etc. I am finding that there is some more tub issues than I originally thought, but not enough to surprise me. The hat channel has issues which I hadn't seen before. Much of the tub is really good though, and the more I see of the frame, the more I think it seems ok.

Here are a few more pics- yes, that's a rifle shell casing in the first pic, I found it under the roll cage Let me know what you think of the windshield frame with it flipped down on the hood- I can't tell yet if I'll need to replace it or not.