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My 66 CJ5 Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by JeffJ, May 20, 2018.

  1. May 20, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Figured I might as well start a build thread since I'm not actually getting anything done on this Jeep yet.

    [​IMG]

    Current Stats
    1966 CJ-5 Tuxedo Park (per the VIN)
    Engine: F-134
    Engine condition: Running. Lots of blue smoke/effective mosquito repellent.
    Transmission: 3-speed. Seems to work.
    Body condition: Seems solid aside from some genius who welded in new floor pans and just left the rotting old ones underneath. The support floor "channel" has rusted away and dangles freely under the Jeep in places.
    Brakes: Not working. An apparent master cylinder leak. Previous owner "just filled it up and pumped up the brakes" before leaving the house.
    Frame: Not seeing any problems on initial inspection.
    Other oddities: Someone fabricated in a rack & pinion steering assembly somewhere along the way. The gas tank is a plastic jug in the cargo area driven by an electric fuel pump...with the mechanical pump still in-line.

    My Plans

    Undecided? Apparently the tired F-134 is already bored 0.060 over and was rebuilt with questionable effectiveness a few years ago.

    I have a 2000 4.3 Vortec engine + SM465 that I originally had every intention of transplanting, but part of me doesn't want to see the little F-134 give up. I know the 4.3 would be a much better engine from a drive-ability perspective and the little 4-cylinder is clearly showing its age.

    Regardless of engine choice, I'll be pulling the tub and inspecting, repairing (if needed), and rust-proofing the frame as best I can. I'll also be doing all of the restorative body work--mostly fixing the messed up floor pan installation and dealing with the few rusty spots. Obviously it will need a full paint job.

    Not sure about that creatively engineered steering setup. This may be a case where I revert back to a semi-common upgrade for these Jeeps like the Saginaw steering option.

    However, my FIRST plan, before anything else? Finish getting my garage installed so I can move the Jeep indoors for all of this. My garage is currently a dug out hole in my yard pending some concrete work. :D

    More pictures coming tomorrow. Unfortunately, due to the garage situation above, real work won't really begin for a few weeks or so.


    Thanks for reading!
     
    Buildflycrash likes this.
  2. May 20, 2018
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Messages:
    683
    Looks like a good project. :watch:

    How you intend to use the Jeep is always a good way to determine which (if any) mods to make.
     
  3. May 20, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2009
    Messages:
    204,347
    Best year '66...

    But I lean towards stock...

    :watch:
     
    Hônes likes this.
  4. Jul 7, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Hey, where’s those extra photos? :sleep:

    I agree with the good Cap-n; stock is best. Be better to backdate it to a 60’s or 70’s appearance than retaining the previous owner’s efforts to make it look like a modern Jeep and blend in with everyone else... :p

    Greetings from another Tennessean.
     
  5. Jul 7, 2018
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2014
    Messages:
    589
    Oh yea, we need to see pics of the PO rack and pinion setup.
     
  6. Jul 30, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Sorry for the lack of updates. Unfortunately, right after I posted this "real life" got in the way and this CJ5 is now listed for sale. It looks like this project won't be happening for me.
     
  7. Jul 30, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    I’m saddened to hear this. Best of luck to ye. :cry:
     
  8. Jul 31, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
    Messages:
    361
    Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately life does happen sometimes. Better luck next time!
     
  9. Jul 31, 2018
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2007
    Messages:
    5,916
    Sorry to hear Jeffj.
     
  10. Aug 3, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Thanks guys. I'm kinda bummed out about this.
     
  11. Dec 11, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Good news (for me)! I'm back! I had to deal with some financial issues briefly but managed to hang on to the CJ. Now I'm ready to get started on this thing. My garage is also finished so I have a place to work this winter. Looking forward to getting started. Here are those pictures I promised months ago. :D




    IMG_1974.JPG

    IMG_1977.JPG


    IMG_1978.JPG IMG_1980.JPG
     
  12. Dec 11, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2009
    Messages:
    204,347
    Woo Hooo... :beer:

    Now back to work... :D
     
  13. Dec 11, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    YEAH ! ! ! [​IMG] [​IMG]

    I saw your Jeep for sale several times and just a week ago or two. Never thought you'd be back.

    Did you ever get any serious offers?
     
  14. Dec 12, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    No, not really. At least not what I would have considered a serious offer. :D

    I finally got my garage "finished." I'm just finishing up the electrical now. I have all the inside wiring done. Just trying to get a clear day to dig a trench to the house to bury the feed-line from the house. Then it will be time to drag the CJ inside and get to work.
     
    Hellion likes this.
  15. Dec 12, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    Let's see the garage! [​IMG]
     
  16. Dec 14, 2018
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    1,322
    Stoked you got to keep it! I am also rebuilding the same year / model as you (albeit with the V6), and man the pictures sure look like there are some differences. Please feel free to reach out if I can take pics of anything on mine to help you out and I will do the same.

    I'd love to see a close-up pic of the "Jeep" stencil on the glove box - is that original?

    Also my rear seat has the diamond stitch pattern and I've been told that wasn't original...interesting to see it on your front seats.
     
  17. Dec 18, 2018
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Nothing special. 26x24 steel building.

    IMG_2512.JPG
    IMG_2514.JPG
     
  18. Mar 8, 2019
    JeffJ

    JeffJ Sponsor

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7
    Alright, I really am giving up on the 66 CJ build this time--before it ever started. Every time I say "I'm going to start on that thing this weekend..." something else happens. On top of that, another Jeep (less of a project) fell into my possession. So, with three Jeeps taking up space on my property and my inability to move the restoration forward it really is time to let the CJ go. I'd much rather it end up with someone with the time to treat it right.

    I do plan on hanging around here though. There's a wealth of information to be learned! :)
     
  19. Mar 11, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2014
    Messages:
    4,170
    Any chance of getting your serial number, the ones after 8322? I try to keep track of features as the factory changed details. I see top bow sockets on the rear corners, and a snorkel cutout on the hood. These features disappeared sometime in the '66 model year. I do see the remnants of the column shift. You have the unique dash with the cutout above the column for the shift linkage to pass through. Your Jeep is likely a very early '66 build, if not '65.

    -Donny
     
  20. Mar 11, 2019
    Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    Show low az
    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2019
    Messages:
    473
    You still at 5grand? If your planning to sell that is?
     
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