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71 Wheeling Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. Jun 7, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    Haven't worked on the Jeep in several days. I've just been driving it around enjoying it.

    Tonight I got back at it. When I bought the thing it had late 80's S10 seats in it. They are really comfortable and both my wife and I like them a lot. The bad part is that they were cloth:
    [​IMG]

    That just won't do around here with dust, mud, and dogs. To get by, I bought some generic waterproof seat covers (in gray because black was backordered). They are baggy, ill fitting, and I hate them:
    [​IMG]

    Looking for options, it turns out LMC Truck has re-upholstery kits in black vinyl for these seats. They were back-ordered from last Fall until a couple weeks ago (due to Covid shortages I'm guessing). Once they were back in stock, I ordered a set.

    I did the passenger seat tonight. They are a little tricky because they have tension rods to hold the upholstery tight between the bolsters. This is the end of one of the rods in the seat back. Hog rings hold it to the frame:
    [​IMG]

    Removing the hog rings lets you pull the tensioning rod out:
    [​IMG]

    While I had the seat back apart, I put the frame in the press to smash the tube that interferes with the fenderwell:
    [​IMG]

    This gains me about 3/8" more clearance which is quite a bit a moveent at the top of the seat. You can see the left side is now thinner than the right:
    [​IMG]

    The seat back with the new cover slid on and attached. The fit is a touch loose, but it's pretty good and worlds better than the cheap seat covers:
    [​IMG]

    The bottom has hog rings holding the cover to the tension rods:
    [​IMG]

    Bottom cover removed:
    [​IMG]

    Bottom cover installed and seat reassembled. I love it! I looks so much better :bananatool::
    [​IMG]

    Hoping to get the driver's seat done tomorrow night.
     
  2. Jun 7, 2021
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2012
    Messages:
    2,356
    That's looks like a great improvement for the seats. My seats came out of a '78 chevette, but they look like the same design. Thanks for posting this.
     
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  3. Jun 7, 2021
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

    Tacoma, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2013
    Messages:
    354
    Looks nice! I bet some of those little wrinkles come out with a few hot/cold cycles and some use.
     
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  4. Jun 8, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    Did the driver's seat tonight, so here's a bunch of boring pictures.

    Getting ready to do the seat back:
    [​IMG]

    Apparently my seats are from a 1992 S10:
    [​IMG]

    Pulling the frame out of the cushion so I can smash the tube:
    [​IMG]

    Tube smashed for more fender well clearance:
    [​IMG]

    There's a strip of *really* strong Velcro to hold the bottom of the head rest in place:
    [​IMG]

    This is the worst part. You have to really smash the foam to get the new upholstery of the widest part. I nabbed my wife to help on this one:
    [​IMG]

    More hog rings to pull:
    [​IMG]

    Finding bolt holes by feel and cutting X's:
    [​IMG]

    Testing fitting bolts before trying to attach things:
    [​IMG]

    Hardware installed:
    [​IMG]

    Covers installed:
    [​IMG]

    This is another thing I wanted to fix while the seat was out. Some previous owner installed the seat with the right side bolts only half overlapping the seat mount:
    [​IMG]

    That's more sketchy than I like. I didn't have the right thickness material and didn't want to wast a lot of time on it so I welded on a couple pieces of scrap. I made it flush on the top side and built up the back side with a weld bead:
    [​IMG]

    Then I cut/ground them to a better shape and ground/filed both sides flat:
    [​IMG]

    Not pretty, but it's plenty strong and you can't see it:
    [​IMG]

    Painted and installed. I feel much better about the seat attachement now:
    [​IMG]

    And done. Sooooo much better than the cloth seats and the crappy covers:
    [​IMG]

    I did another quick vanity project after the seats. I only had plated hex bolts when I put in the tie-down anchors and didn't like the look:
    [​IMG]

    I ordered a bag of black oxide button head screws from Amazon and they showed up today. Much better:
    [​IMG]

    I fiddled a little more with the tire tie-down strap. If I swap out the ratcheting end with a longer strap I can rotate everything forward and keep the mechanisms from rubbing the seat and the back window:
    [​IMG]

    That seems like it will work well.
     
  5. Jun 8, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    It’s amazing the difference seats can make. Well done.
     
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  6. Jun 18, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    Been doing a whole lot of nothing to the Jeep lately. Went to see the parents for the 1st time since Covid over the weekend and have been playing catchup on everything else since.

    I also don't want to start any large projects before the Tillamook trip next weekend. I've just been driving it around to make sure it's reliable.

    Heading out for an evening trip with the wife and dogs:
    [​IMG]

    I did change the air filter and lengthened the hold down screw so it's not holding on by 1 thread:
    [​IMG]

    I still need to change the oil and trim the U-bolts. I wouldn't mind fabbing a water bottle/coffee mug holder this weekend. We'll see if I have time.
     
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  7. Jun 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    Bought this Edelbrock mini external electric fuel pump to throw in the spares kit:
    [​IMG]

    And changed the oil in the Jeep:
    [​IMG]

    I'm glad we took the Super Duty to Home Depot for a lumber run today. Two things happened that would have really sucked on the Tillamook trip.

    Item number one:

    This showed up on the drivers side floor board:
    [​IMG]

    I know what that is. It's one of the bushings for the clutch pedal pivot. It means the e-clip has fallen off and the pivot shaft is working it's way out of the hinge. When the shaft works it's way out of one side of the hinge, the pedal goes to the floor and will not release the clutch. Then you're on your back under the dash with the tire iron trying to pry the pin back in while fighting the clutch return spring. This happened twice several years ago, once when my wife was driving the truck on a 100 degree day 2 hours from home. Not a great day that one.

    The truck had about 230,000 miles on it at the time. Not wanting to ever deal with that again, I bought a brand new OEM pedal assembly to replace the whole thing thinking I would get another 200,000 miles out of it. Nope. 30,000 miles later, here we are with a missing e-clip again. At least I caught it before the pin worked it's way out. I drove all the way home using the clutch at stops only and floating the gears otherwise.

    Yep, no clip and no bushing:
    [​IMG]

    In the past, I always found the clip on the floor. Nothing this time. I even pulled up the flooring looking for it. I did find this:
    [​IMG]

    But no clip, so an hour round trip to the hardware store.

    Back together after working the bushing back into place and spare clips in the glove box:
    [​IMG]

    Item number two:

    I noticed the canopy hatch was open when I glanced in the rear view mirror. I figured we just didn't latch it and pulled over to shut it. The right side latch bracket had fatigue cracked into two pieces:
    [​IMG]

    Luckily, the left side latch got us home with a closed canopy.

    Since the bracket is epoxied to the glass, I couldn't weld it back together or drill new holes on the hatch side of the bracket. JB Weld to the rescue! I custom fit some angle iron for for both sides of the bracket to get the most surface area for gluing. After the fab work, sanding, and degreasing with acetone, I mixed up the JB Weld and got creative with the clamps:
    [​IMG]

    I figured if the right side had a fatigue failure the left side cant be far behind and I glued the same braces on the other side too:
    [​IMG]

    We'll see how they look tomorrow when the JB Weld cures. This screwed up all our house work plans for the afternoon, but I'm glad both issues got caught before the trip on Thursday.
     
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  8. Jun 22, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    Truck canopy L-bracket post gluing with the new angle iron brace:
    [​IMG]

    And a smaller brace on the back side. Quite a bit of total surface area for the epoxy:
    [​IMG]

    Painted:
    [​IMG]

    Then I spent another half our putting it back together and adjusting the latches. It's all working well now. We'll see how the JB weld holds up.

    Then I spent some time putting the tools and spares together and into the truck for the trip:
    [​IMG]

    Since we're into hot weather for the foreseeable future, I put the ugly covers over the beautiful black vinyl seats so I won't burn myself when I get in the Jeep:
    [​IMG]

    Amazingly, the knife I found under the flooring of the truck cleaned up nice. It's real brass and stainless. A little sanding with 1000 grit, some polishing, and it turned out like this:
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Jun 22, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    1,322

    Score! That looks like my first knife, a Buck, that my Dad gave me back when I was a kid going on fishing trips with him. Brings back memories!
     
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  10. Jun 22, 2021
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,460
    I think I would have just drilled that pedal pivot shaft and put a washer/cotter key in it after the second time. I doubt it is hardened.
     
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  11. Jun 22, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    So Roy....you want to start a cottage upholestery business...I came across some seats you might recognize - would look good in the wagon with some covers! don't think they are in as good a shape as yours...
    Log in to Facebook
     
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  12. Jun 22, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Hah! Those are the exact seats. Sadly, the upholstery kits are not cheap: Vinyl and Velour Bucket Seat Reupholstery Kits ... For Comfort and Style

    I figured the seats are known comfortable and it would cost me at least $300 to find replacements in black vinyl so it was worth it to me.
     
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  13. Jun 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Haven't done anything for days. The heat bubble made me drop out of the Tillamook trip and it's been 100 degrees in the shop.

    One of the reasons I was worried about the trip was the cooling system on the Jeep (the other is my own lack of heat tolerance). When I got the Jeep it would overheat at low speed in cold weather even with the assistance of an electric pusher fan. I've been nervous about it ever since even though I've done the following:
    • Installed larger radiator
    • Installed larger engine driven fan
    • Made custom fan shroud
    • Fixed the timing issues. It was 15-20 degrees retarded and the centrifugal advance was seized.
    I removed the electric pusher fan in the process, but have a larger one I can add if needed. I think the timing was 50% of the overheating problem and the small fan/radiator was the rest.

    It's had no issues since all the work over the winter but It hadn't been tested it in hot weather yet. Towing it 8 hours to Tillamook only to have it overheat wasn't very appealing.

    Today, we were at an even 100 degrees so it was testing time. I drove it to the end of the driveway and crawled back up all 3700' and 200' elevation gain in 1st-low. It took about 25 minutes and the temp never went above 195:
    [​IMG]

    I feel really good about that. I on the other hand I nearly died. Ugh I hate the heat.

    We're supposed to hit 107 tomorrow and I'll try it again. If it survives that, I can stop worrying about the cooling system. I can be comfortable it will handle more heat than I can.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2021
  14. Jun 30, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,627
    It was 105 today so I soaked my shirt and head with water to stay cool and did it again.

    This time I lugged it up the driveway at about 400rpm. 105 degrees, low vehicle speed, lower than idle engine speed. It doesn't get much worse than that for cooling.

    About 25 minutes later at the top of the driveway, the temp had climbed to 219 or so, but with the 14 lb cap it did not boil over and seemed stable having been at 219 for a good 5 minutes without climbing:
    [​IMG]

    As soon as I stopped being stupid and brought the RPM up it cooled right back down to 195 again:
    [​IMG]

    I'm declaring that good enough. It deals with the heat better than I do and there is no reason to add the pusher fan. At 99 degrees it has no issues. At 105 it gets warm in the worst case, but you can easily work around it. One less thing to worry about.

    I on the other hand, went through half a bottle of water and had a miserable time. All in the name of science.
     
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  15. Jun 30, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    5,407

    good job :D in the name of science :rofl:
     
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  16. Jun 30, 2021
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    Got to remember the phrase "All in the name of science" for the next time I do too much comparison of Single Malt vs Single Pot Irish Whiskey (y)
     
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  17. Jul 1, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    Today in 102 degree weather I did NOT drive the Jeep up the driveway as slow as possible and it was great! Much more enjoyable than the last two days,

    Once the temp got down to the low 90's we did go for a drive and gas up:
    [​IMG]

    It's pretty comfortable going down the road in the low 90s (degrees not mph!). The only complaint is warm feet from the floorboards. I may have to throw some dynamat down there but the heat is nice in the winter.
     
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  18. Jul 1, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    3,549
    I made my floor mats out of conveyor belting. I pull them out in the winter time for more heat.
     
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  19. Jul 1, 2021
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
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    2,137
    Wait, you guys have floorboards? :confused:
     
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  20. Jul 1, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
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    If I wheeled with you I would cut my floorboards out so the mud wouldn’t build up. :rofl:
     
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