Building a $120 CJ7 from the frame up.

[daddyusmaximus]

Then I got to opening my boxes. New brake lines, and a shifter. Hope they fit, and work as planned...

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Awesome thread Max Daddy!

 

[Rookie]

I had that same shifter. First thing I did was cut the gates out. It saved me from going head over heels more than once...

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I had that same shifter. First thing I did was cut the gates out. It saved me from going head over heels more than once...

I was thinking of maybe getting rid of the gate between 3, and R. I don't ever see myself doing serious rock crawling with it, but just in case I find myself climbing some steep hill, and the front end starts coming up on me. I may want to slide up to reverse real quick and blip it rather than lay it back on the lid.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Loving the nice weather. Spent some quality time out in the garage with "two seven" last couple days. Don't have any new parts to slap on real easy, but I did get some stuff done with parts on hand that had been taking way too long to finish. Gas tank for one. I never did finish the process of doing all the chemical treatment required to do the Eastwood Fuel Tank Liner, and couldn't really work with the chemicals out in freezing weather. Here's all the crap required according to the instructions on the bottle.



During the process I'm required to flush the tank out with water, so I took the chance to see how many gallons it holds...





Just over 17, with some spillage between containers.

Then the liner itself.



Now... instructions say to insert an air hose with it set to 2 to 4 psi. it take 48 hrs to fully dry. OK, this is weird, but I'll do it. Don't want any troubles with a gas tank out in BFE some day. I walk out in the garage next morning. OMG the fumes!!

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Next up, paint the newly modified trailer hitch. Rather "Army" looking.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

As long as it was spray painting weather, I hit the seat mount with a coat, and mounted the main seat belt. This is a racing belt that came on the '79 CJ5 I got the engine, and axles out of. It has shoulder straps and a anti-dive belt too. Not sure I'll use them. That other Jeep had plastic seats mounted on the cage.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I started looking at the lines I got not long ago. Some of them are very close to the originals.
Front one probably is too, having a Dana 44 from a full size Dodge truck doesn't help matters. It is, however, close enough that I could modify it to work.
The rear... well that's another story. I can't make heads or tails out of what they labeled as the right and left rear axle lines. even IF I had a stock axle. (and a Chrysler 9.25 is NOT) Furthermore what came with is was just hanging from the frame, and calipers... I'll need to make my own here.
By the way... anyone got tips on the power brake set op on a YJ? Neither the '79 CJ5, or the '80 CJ7 I took apart had power brakes. I want to use the power set up that came with the YJ tub. The CJ5 (I got the axles from) has a manual master cylinder, with a Willwood proportioning valve to adjust for the 4 wheel disc conversion.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Started in on what is without a doubt going to probably be one of the more challenging parts of the entire build. The windshield. Now this doesn't seem like a particular interesting part of a Jeep CJ, but I have a certain idea on this I'm gonna try to implement if I can. When you're in a vehicle, it's the driver's seat where you spend all that time. That's why I didn't think twice about going all out on making an old seat from a Mitsubishi Montero fit. Yeah sure, I already had it... but it's also a much newer, and more comfy, and adjustable seat than is normally found in a CJ. The fact that the color is close to what I need was just a fluke, a bonus, a sign that God loves me. (Just kidding. I knew that already.) This CJ7 will get a tilt wheel too. And just what do you look through all those hrs spent driving your vehicle? The windshield of course.

As mentioned before. I am a military veteran, and this is a military tribute build. Regardless of your job (or even branch) if there's any vehicle anyone ever drove in any military service back in my day, (and 28 years covers a lot of days) it was either a Jeep, or a deuce and a half. Damn near everyone drove one, or both of these at one time, or another. Lots of fond memories behind the wheel of a 151 (Jeep) but the deuce was always my favorite for some reason. Big, noisy, and slow... yeah, but also very fun, and pretty capable for it's size and weight given aired down tires, and a good driver.

One real fond memory is cruising down the interstate in convoys with all the civilians waving at us as they drive past. (I did mention they were kinds slow right?) If it was nice weather, I always had the windshield tilted open. No AC, but with 50 mph wind coming in straight at you from under the windshield, it was almost like being on a bike. And with no cupholders... my canteen sat right out on the hood under the glass, the only flat surface available to me.

I want that windshield tilted up feel (and look) for this build. I want to remember those times as I tool down the road in this thing. "Bla, bla... old man living in the past..." The trick is gonna be to make my NOS deuce & a half windshield, fit into where a CJ windshield used to. It only has to be narrowed a couple inches once you get the extra side brackets off, but once done I'll also need to figure out how to do the same to both driver's, and passenger's windshield sides... PLUS figure out a windshield wiper system that mounts from the top... but isn't a stupid vacuum operated deal. Memories aside, I ain't going through THAT anymore. Of course the doors, and my very hard to find old school aluminum top will need to fit...

If I can manage to pull this off without just ending up buying a new Jeep windshield... I'll truly have a one of a kind CJ7.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Forgot what it was like to work outside in 80 degree temps...
I didn't last long today, but I did finally get the fuel tank in for what I hope is the last time.
One step closet to dropping the tub on in any case.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Nice day. Warm, but not hot. Got a lot of crap cleaned out in the garage. Always leaves blowing in when I'm out there with the door up... and I had about a year or more worth of clutter to clear out of the tub that has been serving as a catch all.



Next was coating the inside of the frame to prevent it from rusting out once I get it all done. Took about a can, and a half.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Gave the frame a final coat, and shot the transmission, and transfer case with high temp engine paint as close to the same color as I could find. Once I get the nasty engine out, cleaned, painted, and back in... I can put the tub on, and start on thing like wiring, and pluming. Plan is to have the tub on within the next couple weeks. (God willing)

 

[Rookie]

I'm sure I'm not the only one saying, "HURRY UP!!!"

 

[actaeon277]

And, when it's done, how much $$$

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Took a nap, went out, and set the tub. Gonna make doing the engine harder, but I got impatient. I didn't bolt it down, do I can always lift an end up to make things easier if need be. Besides, I'm real sick of it being on those rickety old saw horses, plus now I have more room in the garage.

 

[Lee11b]

Luv this thread!!! I had dinner with a 98 year old, Normandy lander and Bastogne survivor, WW2 veteran!!! He walks, with 2 ortho replaced knee implants, mows his yard, still does homemade jam, (gave my wife 4 jars!!) and lives in a 2 story house with basement laundry….and yes he does his laundry!!!!
Keep the faith, daddyusmaximus!!!!

“And the Army goes rolling along….”
He by the way was a chemical mortar man….lobbed 25# of TNT or Willy Pete on the good krauts of Western Europe, up to 3 miles away….was a memorable evening!!!

 

[gregkl]

Nice day. Warm, but not hot. Got a lot of crap cleaned out in the garage. Always leaves blowing in when I'm out there with the door up... and I had about a year or more worth of clutter to clear out of the tub that has been serving as a catch all.

View attachment 197872

Next was coating the inside of the frame to prevent it from rusting out once I get it all done. Took about a can, and a half.

View attachment 197873

I used that on a Miata I did. I'm going to treat the inside of my Cherokee "frame rails" with it also. Did you buy it direct from Eastwood? I see Amazon has it.

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I used that on a Miata I did. I'm going to treat the inside of my Cherokee "frame rails" with it also. Did you buy it direct from Eastwood? I see Amazon has it.

To be honest, I can't remember. It's been in the basement for a year or so waiting to be used... One thing I learned long ago was to keep stuff like spray paints out of the garage so they don't freeze in winter.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Looking great!

 

[BigRed]

This has been a fun thread to read and watch.