JB's 1970 CJ5 Intro and Hopefully Future Build thread

Well, This just gets more fun and exciting everyday! So I grabbed the shop vac from my house this morning thinking I would have some corn kernels to vacuum out....... uhhhhh.... they are gone! I had already rigged up some 1" pvc I had laying around to attach to the shop vac hose to get in the small holes. So I climb up in the jeep with the shop vac in my hand and lean over to see this


I'm not even kidding. All I can think is a stinking mouse came to reclaim the corn!?!?!?? It was all gone! Clean as can be down there. So I went ahead and shop vac'd it anyway. Which I must admit my tape and 1" pvc pipe worked and fit perfectly in there, but there was nothing there to vacuum up. Here is my awesome shop vac rigged up!


Sorry guys, already got the patent on it! <please insert extreme sarcasm>

So anyway, now what the heck am I supposed to do??? Now I have a lingering question in the back of my head about what is down there? Anything? Maybe the mouse cleaned up the mess for me or maybe I have a family of mice living down there now. When I removed the carb yesterday I thru a tupperware bowl over it to try and prevent anything else falling in with the corn kernels, but obviously that wouldn't stop the mice. Also had the hood closed over night.

Who needs a midday soap opera, when you can have your own real life soap opera buying an old Jeep.

 

Well.......... corn is gone, where did it go ? Something got it. That means something was down there to get it. You can set some traps and see what happens, but I think you need to pull the manifold and take a look. Also take a good look all over the Jeep. Something could be hiding almost anywhere. Is funny though.

 

FWIW, you, DON'T have to remove the Dist. to remove the intake on this engine.

 

Learn something new every day!!! I have not personally worked on this motor, i was just giving basic advise. If you dont have to pull the distributor, then your job is alot easier. I would buy you a gasket kit for the engine, pull the valve covers and intake manifold, inspect and clean everything that you need (as stated, them mice may have a little nest or whatever down in there) and then put all new fresh gaskets on everything.

 

Yup, looks like the manifold and valve covers will be coming off..... I don't feel comfortable leaving it the way it is. Hopefully when I pull the manifold there won't be more fun surprises. As far as mice hiding, I pulled a nice nest out of the tool box under the passengers seat. It was nasty!

Thank you Dan D! I got worried for a minute that there was something more complicated in removing the manifold. But speaking of distributors! I was thinking about replacing the distributor on it, and also getting new plugs and wires while I'm at it. Anyone have any upgrade recommendations if I'm replacing the distributor???

Yep, I know I'm learning a lot everyday thanks to all you fellas! As I wrote above, I guess the new plan is to remove the manifold and valve covers and hopefully I won't uncover more little gremlins hiding in there. And replacing the gaskets is hopefully all I will have to do

If time allows I'm gonna try to work on her a little tomorrow....
Any tips or upgrade info on distributor upgrade etc would be appreciated! Thanks guys

 

I am still running my delco distributor, but I too have been considering an upgrade. The next step is an HEI, but I haven't researched part numbers etc yet. You can be the guinea pig for that one!

It probably will make you feel better pulling off the manifold, its not too hard of a job. I don't remember what you said about the condition of the engine, but maybe you want to pop the heads an get them serviced anyway while you are at it. If they have never been serviced, then the valve seats have never been hardened for unleaded gas.

 

Joel,I gonna tell ya ONE thing...........SLOW DOWN.

Just me reading your posts.Take one thing at a time.And you'll get there.

 

Thanks Grant. Yeah, I'm thinking I will feel a WHOLE lot better once I pull the manifold. I honestly don't know anything about the condition of the engine. All I know is the PO said it ran before he parked it in the barn for 3+ years. And it had been sitting in a barn for who knows how long before he bought it. He did say he thought it may need some distributor work.... Heck, the previous owner thought the engine was a 231 V6, so I really have no idea what to expect from this engine. I really don't want to get into this engine money wise too much, until I can actually crank her to see what she will do. But at the same time, I don't want to do anything half way while I'm taking things apart. Somebody please slap me if you think I'm crazy.
As far as the HEI, that will have to wait until after I know she will run. Maybe someone else can be the guinea pig on that!

 

dan d - Thank you for that punch on the shoulder... I really needed that. I am in no hurry on this build and next thing you know I'm taking things apart left and right. I need to stay focused on one thing at a time. Seriously, thank you.

So my plans:

1. finish the rebuild on the carb - waiting on the new float to get here. I will start cleaning up all the parts and get it ready to rebuild.
2. The old gas tank is removed and dead. So current plan and #1 goal is to get the engine cranked. So to keep cost down I will just use a plastic gas tank for the test start up once that day comes around. If she fires up, then time to buy a nice replacement tank and sender unit.
3. removing the manifold and whatever other shenanigans that could lead to

 

Just worry about getting it running which INCLUDES pulling that manifold. Also, if you are going to keep the jeep wether this motor is good or not, then I would go ahead and buy your tank and sender.

 

Yeah Mark, I totally agree with you. I am planning on keeping her, but I am currently building 2 Jeep money pits at once. My goal is to buy a new tank and sender unit as soon as money allows, but right now I want to focus on getting the engine prepped and put whatever necessary money towards getting the engine running before buying a new tank, etc,which should be easy to install.

I just dropped $275 on some odds and end parts for my 84 project today that is nearing the end of a MAJOR restoration - tub swap, suspension lift, body work, new paint job etc etc. In case anyone might like to know. I ordered from Quadratec and they give free shipping to forum members.... err, at least to jeepforum members. Saved me about $40 in shipping! All you have to do is call in your order and tell them you are a forum member and they will hook you up with free shipping.

So all that to say, "Abbe" - My name for this old Jeep - is going to be the neglected step child in the family until I get the 84 cj7 finished(back on the road). So all the work I do on her will be on the cheap for right now. She will get her time to shine in the future though..... I hope!

 

sounds like a winning plan to me. Expecially if you say that the '7 will be your DD and is this close to being completed. Also, lets see some pics of that 7 of yours that you have talked about during this entire thread thus far.

 

x2

 

Yes, that's kind of my plan for now. My idea is the 7 will be more of a DD / light off roading / Family friendly for my twin girls that are 3yrs old. I will get some pics of my 7 up later today. I have about a million pics on my old digital camera of when I was taking everything apart. Back before my iphone. Needless to say I haven't transferred any of those pics over from the digital camera to my new computer. That will give me some motivation on getting them loaded on the computer.

As far as where the 7 stands now.... It is completely torn down to the frame. The I6, trans, brakes, etc actually were all running good before I tore into it so I'm not really doing any upgrades on the drivetrain, axles etc and they are still on the frame. The main thing I'm doing to the engine is I am replacing the cheap plastic valve cover with a nice aluminum valve cover(part of my order from quadratec). The main focus on this build was the tub looked like swiss cheese because of all the rot so I got a used replacement tub to swap on it. The frame is solid. So where we stand now, my buddy is helping me out and we are bartering out some work. He is awesome at body work/sandblasting/paint - that's what he does for a living. So he currently has all my body parts at the moment. He is helping me out and I'm helping him out with some other stuff. He is doing this on the side, so I'm not sure when I will get the parts back, but I know it will be quality work which is most important AND I'm getting an awesome deal on the work he is doing.

These are the pics the PO sent me before I picked it up. As you can see the original tub was toasted. I got a good deal on the Jeep when I bought it 3 1/2 to 4 years ago. I bought it right before we had the twins, so there was about a year and a half it just sat in the garage starring at me hoping I would start working on it again. So finally after about 3 years she is getting close to the finish line. I CANNOT WAIT to start driving this thing! These are the only pics I have of her on my computer. I'm gonna try to upload some pics off that old digital camera if I haven't lost the darn thing.






This is not my Jeep below but is similar to the color I'm going for on her - minus the white stripes and chrome. Similar custom roll cage and lift as this one pictured below. I am going to go with black rims, black mirrors, hinges, and roll cage. Cannot wait to get her finished!


I've decided to go with the new Camaro Cyber Grey Metallic paint on it like this below

 

Just a little hint...remove that carpet out of that 7 and leave it out for good!!! That is unless you plan to keep the hard top on at all times and stay out of the mud. I heard horror stories about tube condition under the carpet in jeeps. My jeep was no exception...pulled up carpet and low and behold...solid surface rust everywhere the carpet was touching. Great looking color choice for the jeep. Will look super sharp!

 

Thanks about the color. I am excited about the color and think it will look pretty sharp. And I couldn't agree more. Having carpet is a terrible idea. It just holds moisture and junk and begins to stink after being exposed to the elements. That was the first thing I trashed. For some reason I cannot find any pics of my solid replacement tub - I believe it came off a 81 CJ7 - but I completely herculined the inside of the tub. Hopefully that will do a nice job of keeping the rust and wear and tear off the floors for a while.

Is this what you mean by surface rust hidden by carpet......???R)


Just Kidding! But now you can see why I replaced the tub. The only solid spot on the tub was the firewall and the back floor. The rest was/is toast.

I did find one SD memory card with some pics. This was near the beginning of the tear down. Got body, etc moved from chasis.






Oh and here is a picture of one of my old leaf springs next to the new Rough Country leaf springs - I think it will make a little difference in ride height


And last but not least! I found a picture of one of my dogs. This is Bella. Not the best picture of her 'cause her eyes are kind of half shut.

 

You must have a very understanding wife to have all these jeep projects going. Beautiful dog by the way. heres mine, Molly, pointing out a squirrel

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Awe man, I love German Short haired pointers. Those darn dogs can be stubborn though! I've had a couple mutt pointers that were awesome dogs in the past. BTW, Molly is a beauty. German Short Haired pointers are in the top 3 in my book when it comes to dog breeds. In no specific order - Pit Bull terrier without cropped ears and all that junk, Pointers, and German Shepherds. Bella is a Blue Pit Bull I rescued. She is as strong as an OX!
I also have Hilton - Another rescue - I think he is a Great Pyrenees or st bernard mix. He weighs a ton, not exactly sure - 120+lbs. Also in the picture is jacob. He was our pointer mix that we had for 6 years and unfortunately had to find a new home for. Dad-gum must stubborn dog I've ever met! He is out in the country now enjoying life. And YES, 3 dogs is TOO much!


AND most importantly! Yes, my wife is unbelievably supportive and understanding of me having 2 Jeeps. The main reason I think she is so supportive is that I am keeping all my CJ5 stuff out of our house/garage and it's all at my office and out of her sight for the most part. No chance she would have let me bring another rust bucket back to our house.

 

oh and joel, I hope you haven't put too much into your 7, they sell cheap around here. The wranglers have taken over in tulsa, so this is a pretty common site. Well, maybe you shouldn't look if you have spent a bunch!

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/ctd/3079704959.html