User Panel
By the way I'm calling her "Two Seven."
She will be done up to resemble a military vehicle. As a tribute to the guy who most influenced me in my 28 years in the U.S. Army, I'm using the bumper number of the first tank I was ever assigned. In 1981, after I left basic training for West Germany, I ended up assigned to 2nd plt L troop 3/2 ACR in Amberg. I was on SFC Gary (Lucifer) Anderson's tank. He was our Plt Sgt. His tank number... L-27. He was a Nam vet, the cold war was still on, we were on the Czech border, and were taking the soviet threat very seriously. I learned a lot from that guy in those first two years that served me well in the 26 after I left that unit. Other units never measured up to L Trp. Those guys took their job seriously. Oh we cut up and screwed around, but when we were on mission, we kicked butt like no other unit. For the rest of my career I was searching for more of this. I missed Desert Storm because I was a Drill Sgt at the time, and I did not see actual combat until 2000 in Macedonia, but it was those first two that had prepared me the most. I was also inspired by the very last unit I ever deployed with the 1438th Trans Co. We were attached to 1st Coscom. and were a unit made up of volunteers from other units. I had come from the 1638th. This unit did not in any way work together well. There was always petty infighting, the head shed had a few favorite pets, and the rest of us were cannon fodder, but we somehow managed to function and get the job done. This, was my 3rd deployment, and the one that ended my career, but I was gonna call it quits at 30 anyway. So instead of old school OD green or cammo, the CJ7 will be desert sand like the vehicles we had in Iraq, and like those my brothers and sisters are using in the Stan today... I've seen the best the Army had to offer and the worst. In both cases the job got done, and America had the might to change the world... as long as our leaders had the political will. |
|
|
Spent the last 3 days cleaning out the shed and garage, moving crap around so I'll have plenty of work space. Almost there. I hate being a cripple. Had to get my nephews over to help. Tough to keep them focused, my sister-in-law doesn't really make them toe the line like their dad does, and he's always at work.
I have plenty of counter/workbench space now, I think. I have 1 plastic and 2 steel shelves to put all the parts on. Haven't gone through my containers of nuts, bolts, screws, nails... in years, but hell, I'm just about good enough. Got 2 of my 3 work lights going. Both floor jacks up. One was low on oil and does leak down, but it will lift. Yes, I have 4 jack stands. Cherry picker works. Engine stand works. However, my garage stereo took a dump. I had to take my living room stereo out there. I hardly ever get to listen to it in the house anyway with the wife watching tv. No... I can NOT spend a lot of time out there working and not listen to my oldies. Got a few loose ends to tighten up, some household chores to catch up on, then I can start in on teardown. Hopefully within the week. It will still be slow, everything with me is (except my temper) but it will feel nice to get out there even if it's only for a shot time every couple days. The CJ5 that I'm using the powertrain out of is already in the garage, and I've been having to work around it as it's already got it's front axle partially dissassembled. I was going to repair it, prior to finding the CJ7 to build. This will make teardown rather difficult as the roll cage is just about touching the rafters as she sits. I can't roll her around on 3 wheels, so she ain't coming out on the driveway to get the body off. I may have to get a set of those car dollies, take the remaining 3 tires off, then set the axles down on the dollies. |
|
|
I've been having a hit or miss kinda deal on posting photos lately with photobucket going crazy demanding high fees. I signed up for Imgur. One minute I got it figured out, the next, I can't do it. Beside my mobility issues, I also have big time memory problems thanks to a TBI. All part of the same IED attack. That's one reason why I'm worried about starting a project this involved. I'll be taking a lot of photos and videos to help me remember how things go. That gave me the idea to do a youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bXS0yYAgy0&t=61s |
|
|
Here is the engine running just prior to the tear down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk26EMvifNM&feature=youtu.be |
|
|
After a long spell of being too sore to do anything on the Jeep I'm back at the tear down again. Got the exhaust off today. Fun getting very rusty header bolts off when they are right behind where the header tube come out and turns out covering the bolt... Got the fuel tank out as well, that I had topped off right before the breakdown that prompted the tear down, so probably had 18 gal in the 20 gal tank. Must have ended up with at least a half gallon on the garage floor... The tank is a big aluminium one, in perfect shape, and will go in the CJ7. Wish I knew who made it, but it worked well in the CJ5.
|
|
|
Got the engine, trans, T-case, and front axle out. Rear axle will come out tomorrow and the carcass of the CJ5 can be hauled out of the garage to make room for the CJ7 that will be built using this engine, and these axles. Looking forward to getting the CJ7 in the garage before snow hits.
|
|
|
|
Spent some time yesterday taking (breaking) off the body mount bolts on the old tub. Three of them broke. I'm going to position the Jeep so I can take the old tub off and set it on saw horses next to the "new" tub 'til I get it ready to mount. With my memory it will be easier to just remove parts from the old tub and directly mount them onto the new tub without delay. There is some work to do to it. The tailgate bolts are broke off in it, and some body mount bolts broke off in it... Sucks buying crap on the internet, but the sides aren't rusting away from the fender wells and the cowl isn't rusted away.
There will be some changes as the "new" tub is an "older" (unknown year) tub. It did come with a different under dash vent to mate to the heater box, but the gas filler is also different... it's round. No room for the big rectangle plastic insert of the 1980 one from my tub... The roll bar won't mount in either, but I'm planing a custom cage, so that's no biggie. The frame will be taking shape on the other side of the garage as the powertrain and suspension gets swapped out. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ook off the front spring front shackle mounts yesterday. Did some cutting and grinding to get the rear spring mounts for the front springs off the frame too., One easy, one a PITA. Got the I-6 motor mounts off.
Started to take off the steering box off and one of the bolts snapped off in the frame. This is gonna be a real PITA. These bolts go right into the boxed frame. Any ideas on how to deal with this? The steering box will get replaced with a fresh unit, and I could just weld a short bead at that last bolt hole location (it's the rear hole) but I want to keep so it can be removed again if need be. I hate wrenching on a bare frame. These rusty bolts are on so tight, and the frame has no weight, so it just wobbles around on the jack stands... __________________ |
|
|
Awesome thread!
I've always wanted to do something like this, but don't have the funds or place to do it. |
|
Drugs kicked in now, need sleep, radiation tastes funny at 7 am every day... a bit like victory. - Ginger
|
Originally Posted By Bumblebee_Bob:
Awesome thread! I've always wanted to do something like this, but don't have the funds or place to do it. View Quote The wife isn't happy giving up the garage either, but she was supportive when I was away deployed, and she still is now. Jodie didn't get this one. |
|
|
Good looking project.
In for the long haul. |
|
Wanted: Cool sig line. Apply within.
Call sign: Cinderblock |
though they were blue and not camo, there were cj7s used by the air force.
may have been in other branches as well. probably the navy. good luck on the build! that sounds like something i would like to do. |
|
|
Tag.
|
|
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why, then, this parting was well made".
|
Nice job. Looks like you're taking the time to do things properly. I'm going to be doing the same on my truck in the hopefully near future.
|
|
|
Great work so far!
|
|
No Profound Signature Here!
|
Nice! Off to try and grab a Dana 44 later today!
|
|
|
Nice!
My old 76 with a 304 Attached File My current 84 with 4.0 HO from a Cherokee Attached File Attached File |
|
“No sympathy for the devil, Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion"
|
Great thread and Im looking forward to seeing all the daily updates!!!
Question though; why not do a front shackle reversal while you had it all torn apart? Please, don't think I'm questioning your re-build, I'm just wondering. I know for ride quality, a shackle reversal on a Jeep does wonders. I can't wait to see the rest man! Great thread! |
|
|
Ost. I love these builds
|
|
|
Outstanding project and outstanding thread, OP
|
|
|
Originally Posted By matt58:
Great thread and Im looking forward to seeing all the daily updates!!! Question though; why not do a front shackle reversal while you had it all torn apart? Please, don't think I'm questioning your re-build, I'm just wondering. I know for ride quality, a shackle reversal on a Jeep does wonders. I can't wait to see the rest man! Great thread! View Quote |
|
|
Very cool thread! I know nothing about all of this, but I'm really jealous!!
|
|
|
Subscribed!
Looks great! I'd love to do a project like this when my son gets a little older. |
|
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.