'63 CJ5 w/ Tuxedo Park option package and Koenig full metal cab

We have finally begun working on the '63 we bought two years ago from a farm family in eastern Idaho. The plan is to keep it stock, get it straight, safe and reliable, give it a fresh coat of Indian Ceramic paint and enjoy it.

This Jeep spent it's entire life within 20 miles of the dealership where it was purchased new. The dealership building is still there, now an implement store. A local gave me a picture of the dealership with the Jeep sign out front. The original owner was the town druggist. I've spoken to several old timers from the area. They remember seeing it parked outside the drug store or driving around town. It had a total of 4 owners before we bought it. The original owner passed away before we bought the Jeep. But I've been able to locate and talk to owners 2, 3, and 4, so I've been able to gather some history on it.



This next picture shows the Indian Ceramic paint before and after fade. Front cushions have been recovered. Vacuum hose still attached and wipers work.



Notice the original Tuxedo Park wheelhouse cushions in the back. Anybody have a Tux tail light?



The engine number begins with "4FR". We spent some time here on ECJ5 after we got the Jeep trying to figure out what that meant. The best answer we found was that the "4FR" code was put on "new replacement engines" shipped from the Jeep factory. Owner #3 told me that he installed this engine. It was used when he got it out of another Jeep.

Heater still works, but control valve isn't hooked up to dash. Have to open hood and open valve by hand to get hot water into heater.

Small electric fuel pump barely visible over top of horn.



As my signature says, this is "Hers". Also know as the Grandma Lori Jeep.



It is destined to be a grand child hauler on day trips in the forest.

First job was to get rid of all the plate that was welded, bolted, wired and screwed onto the front end. This Jeep spent time pushing snow and this served as part of the bracket system for the plow, plus the tow bar.

I'm a wrench turner, not a welder, so off to Get Some Fabrication in Meridian it went. Not surprisingly, after all that stuff was gone, multiple cracks in the front of the frame were uncovered. The good folks at GSF made quick work of cleaning up the frame and repairing the cracks.

Then they built a new bumper and mount for the tow bar.


The original chrome front bumper is still in pretty good shape. I'll keep it for the future.

Not only was the frame cracked, but also bent on the left front side. Probably the result of some hard snowplowing, or the adventures of owner #2's teenage sons. The Jeep rode with a slight stink bug attitude at passenger side rear.

So, we used the new tow bar set up to tow it to Auto Frame and Suspension in Boise.



They did a good job straightening the frame. Now when I look at it in the mirror behind me when towing, it's level, not tilted to the left. They straightened the rear bumper too.

Next up, springs. I got some great advice last fall from ECJ5 members on springs and was all set to put the BDS 2.5" kit on. Then, my 5'1" wife reminded me that her legs are kinda short and she doesn't want to have to use a ladder to get in.

So, then I considered stock springs from either K-W or Walcks.

But, the springs that are on it are the original stock style springs with the groove in them. The historian in me just won't let me get rid of them without trying to save them. So, despite all the good advice to the contrary, I'm going to have them rearched. I've heard that Boise Spring Works does good work. I spent an hour there recently and I'm convinced it's worth a try. It's a local shop and I like supporting local folks when I can.

So, it goes in next week for the spring work. I'll post more info after the work is done. And, occasionally over the next year or so, I'll post an update on how the rearch is working out.

 

Nice Jeep.

 

Very Nice JEEP!

Can't wait to follow the build thread on it!

 

Excellent project. What is the name of the dealership it came from? I don't know where you are in ID but, my Dad bought a '51 Willys pick up at Gort Smith motors in Grangeville (sp), brand new in '51.

 

Thanks! This project is pretty basic compared to many of the great builds I see here. But, we enjoy doing what we can with limited tools and knowledge.

Stone's Town and Country Motors in St. Anthony about 30 miles north of Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho. They still have a Jeep dealership in Rexburg, 15 miles south.

Grangeville? That's the gateway to the Magruder Corridor, 100 miles of backcountry road that goes between the Selway-Bitteroot and Frank Church Wilderness areas. Here's a couple of links with info on it: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/f...nal%20Forest%20-%20Magruder%20Road%20Corridor

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/magruder-corridor-guide

We haven't driven it yet, but it's on the list!

Is the '51 still around?

 

(Hit the wrong button and this posted twice, how do I delete the second post?

 

Is the '51 still around?[/QUOTE]

Nope. Pop said he hated that truck. Someday, when I get around to it, I'm going to scan and post up some of his pics from way back then. He traded the truck, at some point, on a 51 (?) Ford business coupe. The truck was the last JEEP he ever owned. He made several trips from PA to ID in both the 2A and the truck. The coupe was driven to NM a time or two.

Gort Smith Motors was still around in '01 when we drove Dad back to Idaho for his final visit there. I believe they were selling used cars, then. We didn't actually visit the dealership but, a sign we passed said "used cars."

Beautiful state, Idaho.

 

Gort Smith Motors was still around in '01 when we drove Dad back to Idaho for his final visit there. I believe they were selling used cars, then. We didn't actually visit the dealership but, a sign we passed said "used cars."

Beautiful state, Idaho.[/QUOTE]

Glad to hear you got to make a final trip out here with you dad. Yes, it is a a great place. I'm from NJ, my wife is from PA. We feel pretty lucky to live out here.

 

Thanks for that. The fumes aren't too bad since we put the new exhaust on last year, but a little more O and a little less CO is probably a good idea!

 

Local estimates to recover this back seat are running from $250 - $370

I've suggested duct tape, wife says "no"!

I've looked at cover kits and materials from Bestop and Beechwood.

My wife has offered to try her hand at making the covers. We're going to check into local sources for materials.

Just curious: what year/range of years is this seat from? It came with the Jeep when we bought it, but I'm not sure if it is original to it.

 

Here is some info on rear seats.

http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/RearSeat.html


I believe your wife can do that. If she has some basic sewing skills she will do fine. I have worked with my wife on a few upholstery items including repairing the top. We did a lot of looking, thinking, measuring and stretching. Snaps and rivets are not too difficult. We also added a thin layer of foam over the batting that is in those seats. It really gave some pep back to the seat. You can probably get new batting if the old is too far gone.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the link to the seat info. They identify mine as a CJ-5 seat used from 1955-1981. Our Jeep does not have the mounting straps on the floor. Someone drilled holes in the floor and bolted the seated down. I'll leave it that way. I'll be adding seat belts.

And thanks for the encouragement on the seat covering. She sews well, we just need to find a sewing machine heavy enough for the material.

 

Did some more looking for a shop, found Taylor-Made Upholstery, 3800 Overland, Boise, 284-4840. Husband and wife team, he does vehicles, she does furniture. Nice people, good work, very reasonable price. $140 included cleaning and painting springs and frame, new padding and vinyl.

 

That was a very good deal on that rear seat.

 

Looks very nice.

 

Taking the front end off before starting on the steering, bearings, shocks, brakes, etc. is time well spent. My aging body doesn't bend or crawl like it used to and having clear access is nice!

I'd said earlier that I was going to have the springs rearched, but I've decided to wait on that. The current springs still have some life left in them and that money is better spent on other stuff right now.

Hadn't planned on rebuilding the master cylinder, but p.o. had snapped the square cap off the m/c top. I should have taken it out before trying to get the top off, but, you know . . .I ended up chiseling it into pieces to get it off. Unfortuantely, metal fell into the m/c. I think I got it all, but don't feel like risking it, so the m/c is coming out and getting rebuilt.

The pitman arm was the surprise of the day. When I put the wrench on the nut to turn it, it practically turned itself. And, the pitman arm came off just as easily.

 

Made some progress this week. New shocks, new rubber brake lines, kit in master cylinder, kit in drag link, new pitman arm, new bellcrank with new kit in it. Next up are the wheel bearings, king pin bearings and knuckle seals.

Here's a picture of the old and new pitman arms.

 

I'm done working on the old military trucks for my son-in-law, so it's time to get back on this one. As I mentioned earlier, this is mostly a safety and reliability build.

Started on the front hubs, spindles, etc.



So far, on the passenger side, I've found that the bolts holding the backing plate on were just a bit more than finger tight, whoever worked on the bearings last didn't have the correct wrench for the large nuts so they tightened them with a chisel (big gouge along the edge of the nut), they didn't replace the locking tab washer that goes in between the bearing nuts, the races for the kingpin bearings are hammered, etc. I expect to find similar stuff when I get to the drivers side.

I'd read that John Deere "corn head" grease works well in the knuckles, so I've got some of that to try.

 

It looks like the inner seals might be leaking, so I decided to pull the axle and give it the full treatment. The leaf springs will get new bushings too.