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1975 Brutally Simple Daily Driver

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by neohic, Apr 28, 2018.

  1. Jan 31, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Got home, rearranged the shop so I could play “musical engines”, swapped the oil pan, got the new engine off the stand, and measured the outside diameter for the pilot bushing.

    I need 1.055” outside and .673” inside. That’s a bone stock bushing for a 1976 CJ from the parts store. $4 instead of Novak’s $18. :rolleyes:
     
  2. Feb 3, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    [​IMG]

    Okay… moving forward.
     
  3. Feb 6, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    … and we’ve stopped again. I got so caught up in the pilot bushing that I completely overlooked the throwout bearing. In hindsight, I should’ve just returned the clutch kit and got one for a ‘76. Now I’m waiting on that before I can toss the engine in.

    Why not do small things like drop in the distributor?

    [​IMG]

    … nope. The camshaft gear has the same amount of teeth as a stock 4.0 distributor but the gear on the aftermarket distributor is different enough that it won’t drop in. The distributor shaft is slightly smaller in diameter too so I can’t just swap them.

    Motor mounts?

    [​IMG]

    … close but also a negative. Anybody know the thread size for my empty hole on the driver side of the engine? It’s the same in a 4.0 as in a 4.2. That hole had a 7/16-20 bolt in the 4.2 but it wasn’t tight. That same bolt in the 4.2 barely engages the threads in the same hole in the 4.0. Must be metric?
     
    melvinm and ITLKSEZ like this.
  4. Feb 7, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    … let’s try this again. Yesterday must’ve been an off day since I went out to the shop this morning and just dropped the distributor right in.

    [​IMG]

    I swear that distributor just wouldn’t go in regardless of the number attempts or by rotating the oil pump. Who knows… [​IMG]
     
  5. Feb 13, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Time to make this thing a runner again. My truck was sneering at me the other morning.

    [​IMG]

    Between yesterday and today I got nearly everything wrapped up. Still have a good size list of things that I found along the way and some loose ends.

    [​IMG]

    Finally with all the right parts sorted out, the engine slid right in. Almost everything went right back where it was except for the power steering pump. I went back and forth on running the later model serpentine belt, alternator, and power steering setup. I like the simplicity of how it was so on went the v-belt accessories… almost

    [​IMG]

    The power steering pump mount wanted to share space with the exhaust manifold. Being I already gave the middle two runners a small dimple to fit the intake, I figured cylinder #1 wouldn’t mind either.

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    Then came the two bolts into the intake that I knew wouldn’t line up.

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    The throttle linkage came up short too so I made it adjustable to dial everything in nicely. I wrapped up the exhaust and got everything ready to fire.

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    … and it did! Prior though, this fuel injection kit really wants to see a full 12 volts that mildly bit me when I went to start it after just rolling it over to get some oil pressure. In the mean time of letting it sit on the charger, I took apart the heater box and changed out the heater core.

    [​IMG]

    Of course I found a mouse nest. Who doesn’t find evidence of mice at some point in their CJ? After the charger did its thing, the key got turned, it fired rightup, and I set the timing and gave it another once over.

    [​IMG]

    The throttle response is awesome! I still wouldn’t call this thing a hot rod or anything, but the seat-of-the-pants dyno told me that the new engine has a few more horses still in the stable. The Jeep is at a good point to put it back outside for now to get my truck off my back. I’ll get back to it soon to finish up the little stuff.

    [​IMG]
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    Anybody need a used 4.2?

    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, Lockman, 1947cj2a and 9 others like this.
  6. Feb 15, 2023
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Messages:
    2,115
    Been there before on my 360....sometime it goes in on first trial...sometime on after 50 try...
     
  7. Feb 26, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Back in the shop today to finish tidying up some things. The under hood wiring needed a once over along with some interior bits. Mainly getting the heater box and dash cleaned up.

    [​IMG]

    The heater box got simplified since the cables to move the internal baffles were falling apart. Now it’s fixed for full heat and a split between defrost and floor. The switch will be in the panel I made a little while back.

    [​IMG]

    New switches and a USB port were ordered today since these mismatching finicky ones haven’t fixed themselves yet. There will be an on/off switch for the USB and rear light along with an on/off/on for the two speed blower fan. As for the rear light…

    [​IMG]
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    … it’s a super basic tractor light that used to live on the roof of my old Cherokee. It’s probably a place holder since it’s in pretty rough shape. I like the simple utilitarian look of it though.

    [​IMG]

    Good to have everything functional again. Haven’t run the new engine much yet. I should probably put some miles on it.
     
  8. Feb 28, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Glad I picked a short drive to venture out of the neighborhood. :rolleyes:

    I drove into work this morning. Came to an intersection to hear an odd sound, no power steering, and my volt gauge reading way low. I had just a block to go so I just went for it. Turns out it threw off both v-belts, chewed up the power steering belt, and wrapped the alternator belt up in the front driveshaft. [​IMG]

    Glad I put the old belts in the ammo box for just in case
     
  9. Feb 28, 2023
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2022
    Messages:
    656
    :shock:
     
  10. Mar 6, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Got the CJ in the shop this morning to give the accessory mounts a once over. Things look okay… not perfect… but no worse than when everything came off the 4.2. I’m thinking that the issue might’ve been my wallet and a cheap belt being too tight. The new power steering belt is a much better quality than its predecessor. I drove it around a bit today and kind of hot-rodded it. Seems fine now?… stay tuned.

    My switches came in this last week so I got that wrapped up too.

    [​IMG]

    When I originally made the switch panel I left room for future additions. Maybe I’ll add a compressor some day? There’s enough space in the middle for a pressure gauge or more switches.

    USB on:

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    Rear light:

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    Hi/low heater fan:

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    I got a couple of momentary switches also that might end up being for washer fluid and a horn. My factory horn button worked two times while I’ve had the Jeep. Once might’ve been a fluke. The second was after I rebuilt the contacts in the steering wheel.

    Anyhow, it’s time to get some miles on this thing. I still have a good list of things it needs before really using it, but it’s good enough get out a little.
     
  11. Mar 6, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2006
    Messages:
    1,430
    Momentary fuel pump relay bypass switch?
     
  12. Mar 13, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    There’s no way this is happening. [​IMG] With starting the new job and a laundry list still to go on this rig, it just isn’t feasible. Most of what it needs is long overdue maintenance items. So?… obviously reworking the front bumper will make everything all better, right?

    [​IMG]
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    This bumper has always looked terrible to me. It has some lines going for it, but really it has more in common with a park bench than what I had in my head. It’s made of 3/16”x2”x4” so it has that going for it. The problem is that there’s just too much of it.

    [​IMG]
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    I started with taking 8” off of each side. From there I cut triangles and folded up the material to make the new ends. Something else that has always bugged me is that giant winch mount.

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    The 8274 mount got trimmed down and I just relocated the existing gussets. I like that the marker lights are much more visible and there’s potential to get more air to the radiator. This was all a very quick and dirty project and I couldn’t really decide where to put the front plate. I like where it ended up and hopefully I’ll remember to take it off if things ever get rad off road. Overall, very happy with it.

    [​IMG]
     
    SKT, 73 cj5, 3b a runnin and 8 others like this.
  13. Mar 13, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2006
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    Round the corners off the top plate for safety and a finished look. Put a stinger on it. :rofl:
     
  14. Mar 13, 2023
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,110
    But I bet you could make Buena Vista in August :whistle:
     
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  15. Mar 13, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    Perhaps.
     
  16. Mar 20, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    New engine has been running great. Trying to make a plan for when to tear into the axles and transfer case now. The other day when I was reworking the front bumper I noticed some gear oil leaking out at the inner C. I think the order of operations will be going through the rear axle, then the transfer case output, then the front axle. Time to start getting bearings and seals coming.

    In the mean time, I started picking at making up a rear tow point. There’ll be a plate with the actual shackle mount, but also an inner support to beef up the frame.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Something else I picked up recently is a trail cover. The company is called Rain Gear and they make covers for just about every Jeep except for ‘75 and older. For a while I’ve been considering rattling the dice on a ‘76 and newer cover, but this YJ cover came up for sale locally. I know that it’ll need to be cut up to make it fit right, but it was also cheaper that a good canvas tarp.

    [​IMG]

    More on that when the weather gets nicer.
     
    SKT, 73 cj5, givemethewillys and 6 others like this.
  17. Mar 20, 2023
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,169
    neohic said:
    … Truth be told, I've got a bit of a deadline in my head… the universe wants me out in Moab sometime in October...


    Ftfy
    Looking good!
     
  18. Mar 27, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    I’m ready to get stuck now.

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    Of course I threw a shackle on there so I can fit in with the rest of the Jeeps around here but I used some rubber bushings to keep it from rattling around. On another note, I wanted to see how close I was starting with for the rain cover. While I didn’t want to take the top off today, the cover is shockingly close to fitting.

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    I was told that this cover was made for a YJ with the family cage. What I was expecting was the length to be way too long for the tub. It’s nearly perfect! The hard top is too bulky for the stars to completely align though. I was briefly thinking about pursuing making up roll up safari sides to the roof panel, but that won’t be happening this year with how the rain cover fits over the whole works. Oh, well!!… looks like I’ll be cutting down the rain cover to fit nicely over just the roll cage and I’ll just be rockin’ the bikini top this year.
     
    SKT, colojeepguy, Fireball and 4 others like this.
  19. Mar 27, 2023
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    Did you fabricate your shackle hangers from scratch, or purchase them somewhere? They look great!
     
  20. Mar 27, 2023
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
    Messages:
    500
    Thanks! I’ve made everything on this Jeep. The cage would’ve been while I was working at a 4x4 shop, but everything else has been out of my personal shop.
     
    Frogfarm and vtxtasy like this.
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