1963 Cj5

Looking good. I'm using a grill like that CJ7 one you've got there. I think I'm still going to have to trim the backside in order to fit a radiator. I've got the motor all the way back to the firewall and the water pump hub is still where the radiator needs to be. I'm also using those bolt-in factory mounts although mine came from the 72 Jeepster that donated the motor and trans. Thanks for posting photos!

 

Fenderwell headers.
This is what they are designed for

 

I’ve opted to hang the exhaust manifold upside down on the driver’s side… time to mock up the grill, and fenders to see what pile of mods I have to do next.

I sliced off the radiator support as close to the grill as possible while still protecting the headlight buckets ( I mocked the buckets up to get the best fit).


While I was researching header options and different exhaust manifold configurations, I played chemist with a custom mix of paint… seems pretty close to the color it is now. If the body were in better condition, I’d take it back to Amber Poly in a heartbeat.

 

I like that color a lot! What's your vision for the exhaust? Monster truck style out the hood?? I ordered a set of fenderwell headers for mine and I'm going to have to modify them. The pipes are too long so they interfere with the fenders and makes the collector hang weirdly low. I'm hoping i can just cut a few inches out of the long tubes and weld them back together. With the nice weather moving in for the foreseeable future I'm hoping to get my engine set permanently in the frame soon.

 

I thought I posted the above info last night, but I am back at it today.

I removed the winch, trimmed the lower d side of the grill to accommodate the PS box, and cut up my spare CJ hood. I had originally thought the spare hood was the longer version, but it was actually about an inch or so shorter (if that’s even possible).

At any rate, I’m stretching the hood and fenders to allow radiator clearance.



There’s roughly a 5/8” rake in the grill from the top to the bottom.

I can slice and dice the inner brackets on the patina’d metal hood I am grafting onto the cj5 to take the rake/lean out of the grill, but part of me likes the mild forward slant.

The slight lean also means additional mods to the front fenders (which will have to be modded anyway).

Sounds like I need to subscribe to your build thread! And I definitely need to browse the forum more, too!
I couldn’t fork over the cash for fender dump headers to just modify them. It would hurt the checkbook if I somehow messed that up!

Well, right now the plan is to get one of two things planned. Either a U style bend, or do the unthinkable:

But only because I’ve had it sitting on the shelf leftover from a now defunct long gone J10 Sportside build.

I cut up some 1970 DJ5a fenders that were bound for the scrap heap to see what the best slices would be:


The gap isn’t too bad. So this is like the front clip off an 80’s era Jeep, but cheaper, and way more work. Now comes unlimited mock ups, measurements and put that on repeat until I’m satisfied, or exhausted.

 

I can't believe you're stretching the sheetmetal! This is awesome and I can't wait to see the progress, but makes me nervous for mine...

 

I would be stretching the the front sheetmetal at the firewall end like was done by AMC for the intermediates, only by an inch or two at a maximum. Then you have to look at extending the front axle forward!
-Donny

 

I got my motor in with about 1/4" gap to the firewall. I won't have room for the mechanical fan and I'm pretty much gonna have to gut the grill in order to fit the radiator, meaning the front panel of the grill is all that will be left. Hopefully that leaves enough room. I went with ebay headers, which fit pretty well with copious fender trimming.

 

Haha, I'm a glutton for the punishment of a never ending series of mods!?

 

That would be good, too! Moving the front axle is an option, but as a last resort.

 

DUDE! NSFW with that Jeep P@RN! That looks sweet!

 

Glad you replied. I was hoping my post would prompt an update on yours

 

I pulled the trigger on a hard top with doors…
Off a cj6.

It needs some work for sure and the price was reasonable. The top unbolts from the side panels and the CJ6 extension panels unbolt from everything, too. So it shouldn’t be too much work to whittle it down to the correct length. Or “just” add 20 inches to the rear, eh?!

 

Wow that top is in great shape!

 

Did it come with the windshield fillers and the body half of the door hinges?

 

Fillers no, hinges yes. I didn’t have the heart to make the guy take all those miscellaneous fillers pieces off his stock pristine six. I figure I’ll be able to bend something up that will be comparable to the stock filler pieces.

 

In-between laying down crushed gravel for road base at the property, detailing the car hauling trailer for a trip to the Puget Sound, and dodging torrential rains, I mocked up the top and the driver side door:






The driver’s side window wouldn’t roll down, but I was able to fix it after some minor disassembly innards alignment and reassembly of the door. I did not climb in to the drivers seat and do a “how claustrophobic is this now” check. I’ll wait on adjusting the caddy tilt telescoping steering column for that.

 

Time marches fast, and I march slow. I finally got back onto the hood work and taking the cj6 side panels off.


Now it’s a question of how to trim the top to balance not totally destroying a cj6 top while lightening it up ALOT!

Once the top part is whittled down accordingly, I can make sure she fits all the way around.

Edit:

I’m glad I am mocking everything up before I weld the roof together. I had to scoot the top back 1/4” or so to accommodate the door latch that keeps the door closed! Now onto the other door.

 

I’ve got both doors on, open, close, stay shut! lol. The top has been whittled down and tack welded into place.

Before I finalize the engine placement, I need to tackle the wonky steering column so it is permanent and does not interfere with the motor location, so I unhooked the wiring mounted to the clutch assembly and pulled it out to inspect.



It’s been sliced and diced and the mounting tabs to the dash are cracked. As of now, it doesn’t seem to fully connect to the dash?

I’m going to clean it up, and then double check the fit. Then research possible clutch/brake pedal assemblies. CJ/TJ/YJ, or whatever?

 

Can't wait to see a profile shot of the jeep. I was going to do thru the floor pedals in mine for simplicity, but the frame mounted MC bracket interferes with the clutch arm. So I'm looking at hanging pedals. I have a clutch/brake pedal combo that came out of a jeep, but I'm not sure which. It looks similar to the setup in my Jtruck. It fits almost perfectly between the dash and firewall, but will need a little trimming to get it there.