1974 CJ5 Rookie Build

I'm game. I'm thinking for it's maiden voyage I'll try and drive it up to Tahoe, that way whatever I break, or comes loose/falls off along the way I can get you to help me fix

I know I know, I've been eying the Hobart 187 setup. I have a Lincoln 180 that I bought in 1997 and is now sitting out at my dad's house. It doesn't have the Mig hookups and I think that thing has been abused over the years so I really want to get a new one and take really good care of it. Now I just need to find $1k laying around here... maybe in the couch cushions...

 

Bring it on!

 

Oh I know I was just joshin posi. Im thinkin you both are gonna whoop me purdy good on that race so I'll just sit back and watch as you too battle it out.

 

My list of to-do's:
- Run Brake Lines Front
- Run Brake Lines Rear
- Install MC and run lines
- Fab bracket for new portioning valve and mount
- Fab seat mounts
- Fab rear cross member
- Fab Front and rear bumpers
- Mount rear corner guards
- Finish off rear tail lights
- Procure some sort of air filter
- Have exhaust installed
- Change Tranny fluid
- Change T-case fluid
- Mount thermostat
- Rebuild dash with new gauges
- Add differential fluid
- Tighten all suspension bolts and body mount bolts
- Install a horn

That is all I can think of, that should get me street legal so I pass inspection at DMV. Which reminds me I sent in my DMV paperwork 6 weeks ago and have heard nothing. It's funny because even though I have done all this work, according to the DMV I dont even own this jeep. HA!

 

Better shift into 2nd Tom, posi is running with a full head of steam. I may start betting here in a minute...start a poll in off topic haha. Anything to add??

 

It's never too late to join the race, '72CJ5.

 

Ha I dont know posi, you both are seeming to get a jump on me. I tell you what, I will go ahead and run with you two. Having a set date to be done by will hopfully light a fire under me and keep me going on her.

 

Well I had to help the GF move this weekend so that ate up a most of my time off. I did get in a couple hours Sunday. Got the seat mounts started. Finished for driver side but I am still thinking of some trick way to mount the passenger side so I can still access the tool box. I didnt notch the wheelhouse yet but this design will allow for me to bolt some sliders on the driver side when the time comes. I need to try and get some time in on this thing this week.

 

On my passenger seat, it is mounted on that front bar on a pivot and the rear has a little leg on each side with a rubber boot on them. So if you need to get into the tool box, you just pull the seat forward towards the dash and it pivots on the front hinge so you can get into the box. I think its the way it came stock, not sure. I can take a picture of it if you want and post if for you to give you an idea.

 

Sure I'd love some pics. I need to play with the seat some more in the space and see how it folds etc. Right now I am thinking it would be cool to make a setup where the seat lifts from right to left and rolls toward the driver seat. not suer if there is enough room for that though. I will probably end up hard mounting it or leaving it out for the time being to make my Nov. 10th deadline.

 

That's the factory setup.

 

I was thinking that it was but I like how it works. Im going to mock up the same idea in the rear (since I am removing the fold and tumble) and putting another low back right in the center of the jeep pushed forward between the front two seats. That was I can pop it out when my boy isn't with me.

 

Ahhh, I have the bracket for the factory setup on the driver side, but not the passenger side. The PO had welded it to the seats that were in this heap when I bought it, and those got tossed about a month ago. I'm pretty busy this week and wont have time to get anything done on this until this weekend, but then I will make some progress.

 

We shall be waiting. You could always re-do the factory set up but beef it up a little. Like maybe using a solid mount instead of the open mount like the stock ones are and use pins to keep it in place and still pivot up. Only problem i found with the stock set up is that it tends to pop out when you move it up and down up and down. Have even had it pop out while wheeling.

 

I had the same problem with my pass. seat. I added a little weld material to the opening (notch) until I could just get the bracket to let it go, but notcome out unless the seat was tilted forward. It didn't take much. I think they just wear on the ends over time.

 

Continuing on the seat work...
I though about it and rolled the seats around in the cab a bit and finally decided on a tilt back setup for the passenger side seat. This way when you pull the release lever, the base of the seat folds up and I can access the toolbox from the front.
I didnt want to reverse the toolbox lid now that it is lined (Apparently I did this all out of order) and selfishly I thought I will be using the toolbox more than I will be sticking people in the back seat (that doesn't even exist yet).
Started out simple, Cut a piece of the square tubing in half to make some angle iron. Then made tabs to tack in place as the pivot point for the seat rails:


Next I had to round the back of the seat rails so they would pivot without binding. I added a piece of tube to the end so I could seal it up nicely.

You get the idea.

Next I made the same tabs for the front but they needed a piece to strike when they came down so I took some scrap and made these plates for the fronts: (this is a shot from the bottom of the tabs)

Not a great shot but gives an idea what the finished product looks like:


Then I bolted up the seats. I dont have my sliders yet but this application should allow them and they will come in handy when I finally notch the wheel house.


Still waiting on those brakes and exhaust, Im hoping I can get the brake lines in for a couple hundred and the exhaust for maybe 3 hundred, anyone have any suggestions for shops around sac? Also I really need to find someone I can just hire for a day to knock out all the body work, I guess I will keep looking on craigslist. Also, I am pretty set on not putting the original cage back in. It just kills the entry leg room.
Got my corner panels all trimmed up and ready to mount as well, but it is kind of pointless until the body work is done. I am leaning more and more towards spraying this thing myself when it is ready for paint. That way I can scratch up the paint job and fix it myself.
More news as events warrant.

 

Well done, Thompology! I redid all my brake hardlines for about $30 plus the cost of a double flare tool. Maybe another $30 for that. I didn't even use a tubing bender for the 3/16" lines. Just my thumbs. Once you get the hang of making the dbl flare ends, you just buy brake lines close to what you need, cut them and make them fit. I don't rember if you boxed the frame, but if you did you can use line clamps from here: http://northeastxt.com/ProductCategories.html Just a thought.

 

Good job Thomplogy! Looking really good. As for a back seat, PM me if you need one. I got the fold and tumble out of my '72 that I will not be needing. It purdy good shape too just dont have all the hardward to mount it. Just the bottom pivots. How far can your passenger seat pull backwards untill it hits the wheel well?

 

Lookin' good. You can use my flare tool if you want.