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Overhaul of the
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Mo and Zaphro's '86 Jeeps parked side-by-side. |
The links: In the beginning there was rust updated 8/24/07 Removing the body updated 8/24/07 Engine, Drive Train & Stuff updated 2/11/08 Axles and Suspension Removal updated 2/12/08 Electrolytic Rust Removal updated 1/12/08 The Frame Refurbishment updated 3/31/08 Rebuilding the Axles updated 11/19/08 Home "Jeeps don't leak, they mark their territory" - unknown "Hell yeah it will go through there backwards" - Mo "You're a hard-core Jeeper when the only factory original part on your Jeep is the shifter knob... and even that isn't from your Jeep" - Dean Shirley "If you have a sticker on your Jeep that says "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand", you don't understand. -Todd "If you're going to drive through the hedges, remember... do it when you leave not when you get there" - Todd
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Here he is parked at the new house presently.
My CJ hanging with Tony's TJ at the beach a few years ago.
Tony's Jeep TJ with the lift new rims and tires.
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First off, Jeeps should only be referred to using male pronouns unlike boats which have curved beautiful lines and require a delicate touch, anyone who would refer to tough ass, rugged, manly machine with a history like a Jeep as a she or a her, should be bitch slapped like Nick when he's passed out. The time has finally come, I've struggled with the idea of selling the Jeep, I've dreamed of upgrading, I've tried ignoring it... The bottom line is, I love my Jeep and would rather lose a limb than the Jeep. I've had this Jeep CJ-7 for about 10 years, it's never let me down, disappointed me, or betrayed me, unlike the House Dragon who made a habit of doing all of the above. This old friend is in dire need of attention. After my divorce from the House Dragon, I was without a garage in which to work on it, then bought a sailboat to live on, which, spent the better part of two years sucking up my resources while I made it livable and sea worthy. Follow that with gas prices that made it a bit difficult to use the ol' boy as a daily driver considering he only gets about 5 miles per gallon in town and 8 on the highway. (aerodynamics of a small barn and geared like a farm tractor) So, he hasn't received nearly the attention that he needs over the last four years, but I'm finally back in a house. I had the home built with an over sized garage to help accommodate Jeep and sailboat projects simultaneously. I spent plenty of time and money on him back in the day, but he's showing all of his 20 years now. It's a 1986 Jeep CJ-7 that rolled off the production line in Toledo, Ohio the same year I joined the Navy. I've added a drive train salvaged from a 1979 Jeep that had a rotted frame. It originally came with a 4 speed, 4 cylinder engine. I have upgraded to a 304ci with a TH400 automatic transmission. I prefer manual transmissions but a skate boarding accident in 2001 left me an ankle which isn't a big fan of clutches. The transmission has a B&M shifter, and is mated to a Dana 300 transfer case. I've also completely rewired the electrical system from headlights to tail lights. I've added a 2" body lift and 2" shackle lift. I've pretty much been over all the mechanical, electrical systems, made it look beefy and run well. Now it's time to make it pretty, toughen it up, and make it functional. I'm going to build it the way I want and make it as tough as it needs to be. I live in Florida and will not be doing any rock climbing. It will see the beach on occasion, but the worse it's ever going to be put through is maybe a trail ride in the Ocala National Forest or a local mud pit. There's no need for me to build a bullet proof ride that can drive up mountains and off cliffs. So the plan is to make a reasonably capable 4X4 that looks good and can go out and play if I feel like it. Here's where it stands now: Yeah, it's a rebuilt engine, but no cosmetics, not even paint; time to make it look good, without making it look like a painted whore. Chrome will be kept to a minimum. The body is rusting away and needs to be replaced; I'm thinking fiber glass. The frame is sound, but the rear cross member needs to be replaced. The springs are tired and there are some bent up parts in the suspension; sounds like a perfect excuse to install a suspension lift. The AMC 20 rear end is the weak spot in the drive train with it's two part axles; one piece axles are on the way unless I find a sweet deal on a Dana 44. The brakes need a major overhaul beyond pads, rotors, and drums which have been replaced; hello stainless lines, new metering valve, new master cylinder, and power booster. There are a few major problems and many minor issues that need to be addressed and will be. I'm sure there are problems I haven't even thought about yet that need to be discovered. This is going to be fun. This project is basically the result me needing a hobby and my love of toying with all things mechanical. Since retiring from the Navy and falling over backwards into a second career I've been tied to a desk. It's fulfilling work which I'm good at doing and enjoy, but I spend a lot of time on the phone or screwing with computers, nay a wrench to be found. There is no projected completion date for this project. If this takes two years it will take two years, if it takes ten it will take ten, like I said it's a hobby. There is no hurry; whatever I feel like doing whenever I feel like doing it, when the budget allows. I'll post pictures with narratives as I progress, but don't count on seeing weekly or monthly progress reports. When something of interest happens I'll post it with pictures in the update portion of my home page and throw a permanent link on this page. |
Nick passed out waiting for a bitch slapping |
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Tearing stuff up... In the beginning there was rust Puttin' Stuff Back together... Until it's done I'm going to have to entertain myself with this inspirational video and dreams of logging trails in the Ocala National Forest. |
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