New guy from AZ, 71 cj5, sbc, reliable trail rig attempt

diponyou · Apr 15, 2012

Hey I just picked up this 71. I got a smoking deal and it was pretty much just what I was looking for.

My goals are to build a mild, stout trail rig for out here in AZ. I won't be doing any crazy crawling or anything of that sort.

This is my first jeep but I have had many vehicles and know how to wrench, the only thing really holding me back is not having a welder. I plan on getting one as soon as a get some extra cash, I don't need anything fancy just a basic gas mig.

It has a sbc 305 with a mild cam, usual bolt-ons, msd distributor, 2 1/2 in lift with 33s, sm420 4 spd, dana 20 transfer case, etc

Here is a list of new stuff that was on the jeep:
-holley carb(not sure the size, I have tried looking the numbers stamped on it but nothing, even on holleys website!!)
-nice aluminum rad with e-fan hooked to a switch
-new clutch,throwout bearing, pp, resurfaced flywheel
-northwest autowire wiring harness(not hooked up)
-new headers
-motor mounts
-water pump,fuel pump, fuel lines,
-brand new best top soft top
-gas tanks were cleaned

I am sure there is more but that is good for now

Anyways here is the jeep

This was right before it went to the shop right near my house for a complete rear end rebuild with 3:73s and a new carrier. When I towed it home the rear end decided it didn't want to go anymore so this happened

The guys at the shop are pretty cool, they came and picked the jeep up gratis and helped get the pinion that decided to fall into the rear end so it would roll at all.

The wiring was everywhere and the stuff that was done was pretty janky, nothing was soldered, it was electrical tape on everything. So I have been just going one by one and redoing everything with solder and heat shrink. I bought some nice 8 prong connectors and other various connectors that I am going to be using on the front half of the harness. I also got some nice 1/8th and 1/2 expandable PET sleeve to make the harness with. It should look really nice when complete. Here are a few pictures of some of the wiring
this is the fuseblock with all the wires just laying out

Here is the alternator and headlight wires

The alternator wasn't mounted/hooked up or wired at all so I had to do that from scratch. Wasn't that bad. Kinda fun actually.

Quick interior shot, I don't plan on making it comfy or modern at all. I will probably do a roll on bedliner to the floor, some new gauges, paint the roll bar and get it mounted correctly and call it a day.

Here is the 305, it has out of frame headers that I am starting to hate, the driver side tires rubs on them making steering impossible.

The oil pan that was on it was not useable, the bolt holes were deformed and couldn't get a decent mating surface so when I got the new gasket it just ****ed everywhere. On top of that when I first got it it poured oil from the front where the timing chain cover meets up to it. Now it is leak free!

you can also see the new clutch from this pic as well.

There was some nice things done to this jeep and then there were some pretty half assed things done. I think the guy who owned it before the guy I bought it from was the one who did the swap and everything else, He did a good job on a lot of the stuff. I think the guy I bought it from had no clue what he was doing and just tried to get it running and on the road so a lot of stuff was just horribly done.
-needle gasket for the carb was bad so he just stuck some cardboard under the screw then tightened it down(leaving the cardboard around it)it leaked gas everywhere.
-new fuel lines but they werent secured to the frame or body, and there wasnt a fuel filter anywhere in the line
-wiring looked like a 4th grader did it
and just a bunch of stuff like this

Here are my first round of goals:
-steering situated so it doesn't rub plugs or headers
-new headers/exhaust
-radiator mounted
-clearance the transfer case bell housing so drive line doesn't rub
-finish up wiring harness
-new tires, preferably something skinnier and more aggressive
-bedliner the tub
-new shocks,ball joints, u-bolts, and clean up the suspension parts.

I think that is a good start and should be fairly easily attained. If anyone can give me some insight into the steering shaft issue, driveline problem and the header issue I will be very thankful.

Thanks for looking and I hope to get some progress started asap.