74 Cj5 Renegade Restoration... Progress & Pics

Hey Chris74, that looks extremely nice. You have done a terrific job. What Bimini top is that. Also, can you snap a few pics of your rear tire carrier, I am going to build one. I don't have a hitch or anything on the back yet, but was going to fab up a 2" receiver and figure out how I can make the spare tire carrier utilize that. I don't plan on towing, just a rack for cooler and day trip stuff.

 

The top is just a new Best Top bikini top for a 74. My tire carrier and hitch are stock. If looking for stock, I recently saw on FB market place a guy selling the OEM hitches. Must have had 5 all in a stack. And I saw recently on Ebay the OEM tire carrier. Here are pics. Don't have any pics of the hitch. If using OEM, you're limited. that is a 31x10" on mine and it has a 1.5 wheel spacer so it doesn't hit the tub. Jeeps out getting the wiring corrected. I can take other pics if you need when it's back.

 

Loved reading through your posts. Awesome work!

 

It's a WHITCO ! I found one. It needs a full restoration, but hell it's a great find for being so old. Paid $280. But shipping cost me a $100. My plan is to give it a really good cleaning, and seeing then what is needed. For sure all new windows on the top and two small tears on both doors in same spot. Still have to find the frame/brackets/rods. If anyone has an original frame/bracket/rod for '72-75 could you take pics. I don't actually know what I'm looking for, and not sure if 76+ frames/brackets/rods are interchangeable to us intermediates. I've only seen 78-79 hardware.

 

isn't that the same as a 55-71?

i've seen tops listed for 55-75, so i assume they're the same?

 

That is a great question. I thought the 50's to 60s windshield was almost straight up, where intermediates were slightly angled. So not sure an intermediate would fit the early jeeps due to the length. But if someone knows, that could help me look for all the hardware in a larger year range. Right now I'm thinking the range for these tops are limited to 72-75 and that includes the hardware.

 

the angle changed in '76. look at mine

 

Intermediates are the same angle and shape as the earlier CJ-5s. Certainly the tops offered to fit those Jeeps did not change. No change until you reach 1976, when everything changes.

 

I've been looking for the Air Cleaner Sticker for a year for my 1972. Pretty similar, but differs with the Air filter number used - "USE JC 999103 FILTER"

I've spent a year looking for that decal for my 1972. Pretty close, other than mine says "USE JC 999103 FILTER".

Thank for the help!!!

 

Not much happening on the jeep. Shoulder getting better but long way off from full use. Getting the wiring finished up taking longer then hoped. Still in line for upholsterer for all the seats, visor, and pad. But I did score an awesome find. Number matching 8274 with date code of 1974. Never thought I would find the actual right year for my jeep so had to jump on it. Now I've got two 8274s ('74 & '77) and the original Belleview that I still can't find NOS cables for. Think I'm leaning now to rebuilding the '74 -8274 at this point. Plan on stripping it down sandblasting case and polishing it up, new decals and then a coat of clear coat. I also found factory roll bar pads, only 4 of the 5 set. I'll keep looking for the 5th.

 

I got back from an incredible road trip! Was schooled on some history on 60/70 jeeps. And got to see a CJ5-Camper ...among several CJ5, 7, 6s and a horde of hard to find parts. Sam in KY was a great host and historian. And....found another one of my white whales ... Been searching for the Belleview cables and face plate for a year. My cables were cut, and face plate faded to just metal. Well thanks to Sam. Got it all (and another Belleview). Now I have a what I need to restore the winch that was original to the jeep. Time to sell some winches too. Have two Belleviews, and two 8274s.

 

I think this is my favorite part of the restoration. I just absolutely love the in-cab winch controls of the Belleview. I know they are not practical at all. But they just look so Cool...Old School cool! Glad I found them and the cables so I could put the Belleview back on the jeep! Spent some time this weekend on the winch. Posted in the winch forum a few questions, but want to put this here for my build page. Mounted the control plate, cables, broke down part of the winch and cleaned and polished some on the case. Still have to get the drum and motor painted up nice, and get the mount sandblasted and powder coated. Bad news too. Upholsterer pushed me back to September. He can't get foam for the seats...Shortage and all. Foam is hard to get, fire in chemical plant earlier in Texas caused problems for the industry. Who knew... This is getting frustrated with the seats. Will be more than 2yrs waiting for either the fabric or now foam. Temp seats from Summit will do for now.

 

I enjoyed reading your thread. I'm in the process of putting back together my (restored?) '74 CJ6 and your photos are a great in helping me to remember/know how things go back together and are supposed to be. Thanks.

 

Hey Dave. Glad the pics can help you out on your project! Good luck on things.

 

I have an original style frame/rods,doors, most brackets. I would like to find a good home for them. Let me know if you're interested.

 

Beautiful!

 

Just wondering, did you ever get that white whitco top installed?

 

Nope. It is on the to do list. But I need to first find a few more of the hardware that I'm missing, then need to restore both the top and the hardware. So it will probably be at least a year off before I start that top. Right now I'm about to drop off the seats finally (2yr saga on seats) to have them re-foamed and upholstered. Same guy will also fix a few tears in the top, and replace the windows when I get around to that. For now working on the few odd and end things left to do. Hoping by the end of Spring the jeep will finally be done.

Forgot to post this...the other week. Tad bit over 2yrs now.

 

Hi. Yes I'd be interested. Could you DM me some pics of what you have. I have some of the hardware. But missing what I think are the period correct bows.

 

It's been awhile... Not too much going on with the jeep. But I did want to post up a pic of my AM radio after it got back from the restoration shop. They rebuilt all the guts inside to make it work again and redid the face, pointer, numbers... Looks great. So sometime soon I'll have to cut a big hole for this in my nice new dash.