Build - 1970 CJ5

That is one tough looking jeep . I love the look . Let your wife know the jeep letters look great !

 

This is a fantastic build, and I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I thought the way you got around the tire carrier/tail light issue was clever, putting the back-up lights in the tail light position.

Keep up the great work!

 

Thanks! Here's some close ups.

 

Thanks, I appreciate all the compliments! I wasn't too sure about swapping the tail lights and reverse lights at first but it has grown on me. Had to do some trimming on the now reverse light location, always nerve racking with the paint, all went well though.

 

Whats going on with the paint? Looks like hammered textured paint?

Nice rig though.

 

It was painted by my brother, father, and myself. So what's going on was painting something for the first time. This has been a family project and it meant more to me that the family painted it together than having a perfect paint job. I guess that's the best way to explain it.

 

I agree ! Having family work together is more important than a perfect paint job! Besides it is a jeep , Mud and trails will make you cry with that paint job .LOL

 

Jeep looks great! You did a great job with the entire project! You should be very proud of your accomplishments.

 

Thats a cool idea to get the whole family involved.

 

Awesome! Just found this and couldnt stop reading it all the way through at one sitting. getting started on my project too. Amazing job. I do have one question...I didnt notice any talk about gear ratios since you have bigger tires now. Any changes there or do you know what your ratio is now and how its working with the larger tires?
Amazing job again!

 

The ratio is 3:73. There were actually tags! But with the larger tires, it's no problem to drive. There isn't a problem taking off or any problems with power loss. I don't have much experience with how it would have been with the smaller tires though for a comparison since the transfer case was giving me issues before but like I said, no problems as it is now. Had it up over 70 mph (GPS speedometer), scary but it did it haha.

 

It's been a while since I have posted, been adding a few things here and there, trying to work out some kinks over the last few months. Might be in need of some help at this point as I'm not sure of a couple of things but we will get there.

Shortly after my last post I took the JEEP over to Daytona Beach for Jeep Beach Weekend, it was a good time and a nice hour and a half drive. First my battery went and then the altenator the last day and left me stranded half way home. Luckily it literally broke down in the parking lot of an advance auto parts and I was able to fix it on the road and get home. But anyways, a successful trip for the most part. Got to drive on the Daytona Speedway for the "World Record" jeep parade, a short-lived world record but was still fun.


The next problem was a radiator leak, a pretty significant one. So I did my research, spend a couple hours looking through various threads on the best replacement. I opted for the mustang radiator swap. Bad choice so far, I made the mistake of not checking dimensions and the V6 grille is not the same size...err. Anyways, I made some sheet metal sides and got the radiator mounted and new hoses installed. Lower hose was not easy.. Also had to buy an electric fan as the mustang radiator is too deep for mechanical fan and had to put the fan on the front of the radiator as a "pusher." Installed a mechanical temp gauge, engine was running hot. Changed radiator cap and did some other things and it idles at 190 now.




After a few weeks I took it out again on an adventure in the Ocala National Gorest with a local jeep group. It ran hot all day, 210 was the coolest and it got up to 240 at one point. By no means was I doing anything hard on the jeep either, just putzing down dirt roads and some soft sand.



And of course, the starter broke on the trail.


Very frustrating, did some research and the mustang radiator has its inlet and outlet on the same side... Maybe that's why?

Moving on, being out on the trail was miserable due to the 100+ temps and being in direct sunlight for around 8 hours. So I bit the bullet and got the roll bar powder coated, installed and bought a bikini top. Much better. But does make me sad, love the no rollbar look. Oh and I installed my dash pad.




So again I did a few weeks of tinkering and got the jeep running cooler and felt better about it again. It still doesn't run as cool as it used to and running down the highway temps rise up to 220+... But just cruising around it sits at 208, idles at 190. Just don't feel confident in the radiator. Had a great day on the trail though with a friend. Just when I thought I had a successful outing without any problems.... 5 minutes from home the new lower radiator hose sprung a leak.... Ugh! Of course.

 

Georgeous!

 

Firefighter , Nice Jeep...........and not trying to criticize the beautiful job you have already done , but your shackles are leaning in the wrong direction for that spring to work correctly and can become inverted quite easily at that position......should be pointed out on both ends at about a 20 degree angle........will also make it ride allot nicer.

 

I also removed my mechanical fan and replaced with a electric pusher fan, never ran as cool as it did prior. I made a new mechanical fan spacer (shortened) and put back the mechanical but left the electric. Runs very cool now and on hot days I can turn on the electric for help.

 

Thanks!

 

Not gonna hurt my feelings! I appreciate any input as there are people much smarter than me out there. I have been keeping an eye on the shackle angles.. Further back I actually posted about it. The new springs are still settling I think. The fronts look about right to me and they were angled like the rears a few months ago. The rears used to be directly in line with the springs, now there are more upright... I'm hopeful they will settle after a longer period of time as there isn't as much weight on them. Maybe I'm just hopeful, but I can move the spring mounts one day of need be.. If you think that's incorrect please let me know.

For the record, even with the shackle angles currently, the skyjacker springs ride surprisingly well IMO.

 

Could you give me some more info on the fan spacer? When I mount my fan on the water pump pulley the blades hit the radiator... How far is your fan from your radiator or what is the closest you think it could be?