1974 CJ5 Rookie Build

@Posimoto, @'72CJ5, @'74Renegade - Thanks guys, I am really happy with the way they came out!

@Posimoto - I didnt box the frame because I didnt have a welder at the time Maybe on my next project I am thinking about ordering THIS for the line, what do you think? Can I just run all 1/4"? and then I am just assuming I can buy all the fittings at Kragen or Napa or something?

@'72CJ5 PM Inbound! I have about 1/4" between the seat and the wheel well. Once I mount the sliders I will probably go with the wheel well notch but I don't want to notch those things until I get this thing out and flex it around a bit to see where the tires end up. (I'd hate to put in a 2" notch if 1 3/4" would clear perfectly)

@'74Renegade I am going to take you up on that if I can figure out what fittings and tube to buy!

I dont know enough about this to know sizes of tubes or fittings so the more help the better guys! Thanks for everything so far!

 

I am not sure what size you will need but you could check with Capitol Clutch & Brake in West Sac (916) 371-5970. I am not sure what they have as far as fittings go, but they are a clutch and brake parts house. Otherwise take all your parts (front calipers, proportioning valve and rear wheel cylinders) over to Tognotti's and match up the fittings you need. They have a decent selection of pre-made braided lines in various lengths and the different fittings.

You will need one flex line in the rear and two in the front. The rest is all hard line.

 

Small updates.
While there has been no major progress on the jeep. I was able to get a couple of things checked off the list.
I bartered with '72CJ5 and was able to trade some liquid crank and a box of coffin nails for this:

I think with about a gallon of Armor All and a bit of sewing with my stitch kit it should look good and hold up for a bit.

Next I located where I wanted the rear lights:

Cut em out and mounted em:

I am not super happy with the location, I think I would have liked them up higher but the fill nozzle was in the way so this is where they go for now. At some point when I change the rear corner guards out from the aluminum ones I have now, I may locate the nozzle to the side and move these up but this is where they stay for the time being.
Also I got started on the main body of the front bumper.
2"x4" tubing. 45'd the corners so they didnt look so boxy.

Here is how I capped the ends (2" x 1/8")

Mocked up the finished main piece:

And decided I liked it so much I would build one for the rear as well:

I haven't exactly figured out how I want to mount these things but I am thinking something like this for the rear:

Black is the existing frame, red is the gas tank. I would bolt through the existing frame and I think the 45's going out would give the entire rear the structure it would need to keep from flexing all around when I am later pulling a trailer.

Also, as this thing gets closer to finished I have to start thinking about paint... and that means my least favorite thing, body work:

 

Roger that on the bodywork. I bought a gallon of Bondo, ended up with maybe a pint actually on the body and the rest I turned into dust on the floor. I did learn though. Put a LOT on with a BIG spreader, before it gets really hard, cut off the excess with a sureform, sand and finish with spot putty. After I was already done I found a really long sanding block at the auto paint store that would have been great for the big flat parts of the body. It was probably 14 to 16" long. I used a block of plywood with a 24" belt sander belt on it for the flat parts, but that only really gives you about 10" of flat to work with.

 

Lookin good! I like those bumpers you made. I need to get off my rear and start making one for the rear of the jeep. Already have my crap front bumper I will just mock up and use for now. Keep her rollin!

 

howdy:
I am new to this forum as well
I am restoring a 74 cj5 as well and did the same dam thing you did
oooopppps
i bought a new balancer through a online store and even though the description was accurate for a 74 i6 it was not the correct balancer, the profile was off and the belt would not line up.
long story short found the exact one on an old block in a local jeep only junk yard. here in LA.
dave

 

Awesome, it's hard to beat a good set of bumpers. I build my front bumper similar to BKD's rear bumper. Tabs slide into the frame rails and each side is bolted with 4 - 1/2" grade 8 bolts. This is also the anchor point for the tow hooks. I am eventually going to add the d-ring and shackles.

 

I tried the junk yard route, no dice out here.

Yes I have been following your suuuuuuper long build thread. I really like how yours came out and I think once I spray the color on mine we could have very similar looking rigs. My rear fram has tabs on the end bent inward that would block a rail from sliding inside, did you have these too and just cut them off? Also, the second reason I was thinking about exterior mounted rails is to stick the 45's in there. The rear of my frame is weak, I can push it around with my hand even with the weight of the jeep sitting on the axles

I will figure something neat out but it will have to wait until I can buy the materials. I have already spent this pay period's allocated jeep funds on my brake lines and a '76-'86 style front windshield frame and wiper hardware. In the mean time now I will continue the body work...
It is coming along nicely:

 

That's a sweet hard top

 

Love the new top! keep up the...ummmm.....good work???

 

2 more days. tick, tock, tick, tock...

 

I've easily got a month to go. Thompology?

 

Sorry about the no updates, bad news is the my grandpa passed away and the last couple weeks have been spent with family and making arrangements etc.
Pretty much am going to miss the 10th deadline but I will update anything that may get done.

 

Sorry to hear that, RIP grandpa.......

 

Sorry to hear the sad news, many condolences.

 

Sorry to hear .

 

Very sorry to hear about your Grandpa.