1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

74 Cj5 Renegade Restoration... Progress & Pics

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Chris'74, Jun 5, 2020.

  1. Sep 11, 2020
    Noah Thomas

    Noah Thomas 1973 Jeep CJ5 in Fairway Green

    Tennessee
    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1
    Gorgeous work man. Hope I can fix up my 73 one day to this level of skill!
     
  2. Sep 11, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Thanks Noah. It's been fun. Almost a year. now, and still a ton to do...but one day hopefully soon it will be done.
     
  3. Sep 16, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    I need to vent...is it three steps forward...two steps back? I had my T-15/20 rebuilt back in Jan/Feb at a local shop. I can't say for sure it needed to be rebuilt. Because I never really got to drive this jeep other then onto a trailer in Texas, and then about 30 feet in my driveway before power steering hoses all broke from dry rot. I doubt it needed a full rebuild based on conversations with owner, and no evidence of a leak on the 45y dust on the case. Well figured I'd drop it off at a transmission shop and have them go through it and replace things as needed since it was a full frame off restoration. They did a full rebuild (Getting my money). Now, 6-months later I filled all my fluids to include the transmission and transfer case. A week later I notice all this 90w on my garage floor UGGHHHH! Seems the shop doesn't exactly know how to seal up a transmission. Have to do some 'looking' to find the spot. But I think it is the seal between the cases. Going tomorrow to talk to them. I can fix it myself... But Hell I paid...I have a warranty...and they will fix. Just hate the fact that I now have to pull the transmission again. Thankfully... I did this before the rolling chassis goes to the body shop and has the body back on it. Much easier to pull the tranny out from the top! Guess I know my weekend plans now.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
  4. Sep 16, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    A '74 Renegade should have a T15. I recall there's only a gasket between the cases - they share oil.
     
  5. Sep 17, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Soooo not the point! But typo corrected.
     
  6. Sep 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Sorry if it seemed picky. Not everybody would understand the difference.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  7. Sep 22, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    So the transmission and T-case had 5 different leaks.... Needless to say I have zero confidence in this transmission shop! Wish I could turn back the clock and never have had them touch it. Probably would have been fine, and would have ran another 100,000 miles! I dropped it off the other day. Both yokes leaked, and three of the covers leaked. Just can't imagine how the hell they sealed this so badly. I asked for updates, but doubt they'll be truthful. Would be nice if they said ... Hey we F' up and installed wrong seals, gaskets. I did get a half *** reason..."yeah we fired the guy who did this a month ago, he wasn't very good". Doubt that is true either. Who knows... Couldn't be worse timing. I was about to get the chassis to the body shop next week or so. Yet another delay.
     
  8. Sep 28, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Getting Close..stopped over to body shop today. Renegade Yellow 510
    8E18B6CB-8944-4FE3-936F-9B406F6B86ED_1_105_c.jpeg
     
  9. Nov 2, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Haven't posted much lately. Been busy though. Work, Jeep, Vacation. The leaking transmission was a big issue. I ended up pulling it out of the frame, dropping back at shop. I didn't like what they told me and felt they were just full of Sh*t. So after picking it back up I resealed everything again myself. I just could not trust the shop that did the rebuild and hope all works! Also added two Speedy Sleeves to the yokes just in case. So far after a week and a half ... no leaks. But unfortunately the delay for the transmission and my planned vacation caused me to miss my body shop window. Back in line for about 3 weeks, then the body will get dropped onto the frame, aligned and gapped. Big thing...I'm still waiting for the other half of my fabric order from SMS. They are backed up. Told November. But who knows, my order was placed in June. I did finish a few small projects.

    Put the Grill together: New lights, copper radiator, authentic welting, fan shroud.
    Restored the Wiper Fluid container and added a new pump.
    Restored the Spartan Turn Signal, wiring, lever, and insides.
    Restored heater/air stuff. Replaced heater motor and core. Note: 3-wire Motor is hard to find...but got it.

    1D2E8146-37B7-4411-A8AE-A5D46F9BF883_1_105_c.jpeg 6A69DEC2-94DA-49E0-9EFB-5D60801D9786_1_105_c.jpeg F37EFE80-85D8-4542-91A9-9B5D24EA4A90_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
    bigbendhiker and givemethewillys like this.
  10. Nov 3, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    One year ago today, Nov 3rd I bought the jeep and got it back home to start the project! 3437C38E-29C4-47F7-8E9C-BC54FD48FAC8_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    melvinm, bigbendhiker and Fireball like this.
  11. Nov 4, 2020
    AKjeff

    AKjeff Member

    Carson Valley, NV
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    Messages:
    162
    Beautiful work Chris.
    I've always liked the show room new look on restored classics, I envy your stick-to-itive-ness.

    I tore down a CJ7 many years ago and never got around to reassembling it, I don't take projects down that far any more.
    I've learned that I need to be able to drive my project occasionally to keep me interested.
     
  12. Nov 4, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Thanks! Be glad when it's done. Hope not another year ;)
     
  13. Dec 7, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Been a bit of a delay on things. The tranny/T-case leaks took just enough time for me to fix, to bump me out of the Body shop's schedule. Had too wait, back on schedule. This week is a big one...They are bringing the Tub too my place and we'll drop it onto the frame in the driveway. Can't wait. Then I can get back to work!

    I do have a question for anyone out there. Back too the Trany/T-case leaks posted above. I ended up re-sealing things myself, even after taking it back to them. I just don't trust anything they did. So tore the seals down again and sealed it up again. I went from 5 big leaks too only 1 small one. The bottom inspection cover is killing me. Lower rear corner. I have now tried two times (3 counting the shop's fail). First gasket and a thin permatex ultra black on both sides, permatex the blind bolts. Bolted to torque to specs (18-20 if I recall). Still leaked. So cleaned hell out of the case and cover, new gasket with permatex gasket sealer this time (that red stuff) both sides. Ultra black on the bolts. Torqued to specs. Still a small leak. I think now the leak may be from the rear cover that has the shims to preload the front shaft bearing. I didn't change this one, since I didn't want to mess with the pre-load.

    The Question: Has anyone ever successfully stopped all leaks from the bottom inspection cover and/or that rear shim cover? If so how??? Or should I give up and embrace the leak for what it is? Trail jeep I wouldn't care. But this is more of a show jeep. So trying to stop all the leaks. And this is my last one.
     
  14. Dec 7, 2020
    AKjeff

    AKjeff Member

    Carson Valley, NV
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    Messages:
    162
    Have you checked the cover gasket surface with a straight edge?

    I think if the issue were with the cast case you would see it, you may not see it on the stamped steel cover.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  15. Dec 7, 2020
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    X2 good idea! The cover bolt holes may need a little bit of hammer work to flatten them.
    I cannot remember where the discussion on here was but someone had used a spray sealant of some kind on the shims just before assembly to seal them. Maybe someone else can remember the details of who and what sealant was used.
     
  16. Dec 8, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    I think if I try this again I will have to look closer at the case/cover. I don't have a true straight edge, but can get one. Can't fix the case. But for sure the cover. I did take the cover and put on flat workbench and smacked those bolt holes and flange a bit. I think they looked straight and as true as I could get after a hammer. Wouldn't the gasket take up any of the small differences that the hammer didn't fix? But maybe that is part of it and I need to do better job on the cover.
    I've never taken that shim cover off. If I do, does the entire assemble fly out at me or drop out? I'd be doing this with it in the jeep. Assume I can pull it off and as long as I keep shims exactly the same, nothing on the pre-load changes. I may have also read that. I think that spray sealant was spray copper by permatex. I read somewhere mix messages on sealing between the shims. And only on the case and cover, not in between shims. Guess it takes up some of the space and you have to redo the pre-load settings.

    Thanks for the ideas!
     
  17. Dec 9, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Body and Frame joined again! Now the fun work begins.
    C8C5FCE2-0F5A-4453-BCF8-C1B72DB7AD06_1_105_c.jpeg B7ED2BE9-599F-44E5-BA3A-B34E97907543_1_105_c.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
    3b a runnin, AKjeff and Fireball like this.
  18. Dec 9, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Does anyone have a picture of their factory Driver Side rear body mount, out on the bumper. I have a space and want to fabricate something. I don't recall what was there, or where that part might have gone. Cut down pipe is what I plan on doing. But would be nice to see a factory one if handy to recreate.
    60BE6555-552A-4F34-AC95-D114F768D151_1_105_c.jpeg
     
  19. Dec 9, 2020
    AKjeff

    AKjeff Member

    Carson Valley, NV
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    Messages:
    162
    Here's what my '73 looks like.

    [​IMG]

    I followed the '74 manual I found here:
    JeepĀ® 1974 TSM online

    It looks like your bracket was re-installed a bit to high. A stack of fender washers or an aluminum puck ought to work for a shim.
     
  20. Dec 9, 2020
    Chris'74

    Chris'74 Member

    Charlotte, North...
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2019
    Messages:
    225
    Very helpful pic. Thank you.
    That is interesting... I am chalking this up to '74 jeep factory guy being drunk on the line. I never took off that bracket, which I think is welded in. But agree 100% it is too high up. I bet they had a spacer in there, and I lost it during the tear down.
     
New Posts