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My 66 Cj5

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Rush4x4, Aug 3, 2017.

  1. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
    I haven't quite finished this Jeep, but it's to the point where I can cruise it through the neighborhood (it's rural) and it'll get me relatively safely to the gas station and back, so I thought I'd share what I've done so far.

    It's a 66 CJ5, 225 Dauntless, T90, single-stick Dana 18 with a Meyers hardtop. I discovered it's not on the original frame. I believe it's on an M38 frame as it's painted mostly olive drab and it has a machine gun mount under the bed. It came with a pto driven winch, I forgot what make, and a pto that I later discover had broken in half and been welded back together.

    First order of business was to get the 800 lbs. of steel cut from the front of the frame. The previous owner had some work done that involved welding on nearly a half ton of steel plate to the front of the Jeep to accomodate the winch and a gacked power steering conversion. I guess they didn't own a drill and wrenches, but they had a torch and a welder...

    It quickly became evident that I wasn't going to be able to remove just the stuff that they'd welded on without damage to the frame, so I just borrowed a plasma cutter and cut it all off and started over, fabricating the frame extensions just ahead of the original upper shock mount location.

    Pics to follow.
     
  2. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
    The day I picked it up.

    20170128_114501_36241336016_o-1328x747.jpg
    20170129_160712_35447949134_o-2124x1195.jpg 20170129_160720_35447943184_o-2124x1195.jpg 20170129_160754_35447937644_o-2124x1195.jpg 20170129_160818_36114576392_o-2124x1195.jpg 20170129_160806_35447935774_o-2124x1195.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 3, 2017
  3. Aug 3, 2017
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2017
    Messages:
    683
    Looks and sounds like a nice project, looking forward to following along. You aren't exaggerating about the nose weight! Had to surgically remove a bunch of cobbled-on bumper stuff from mine too in order to get it back to stock.

    I think as these things aged and were relegated to farms, hunting leases, etc., people just made utility changes and quick field repairs. It is our job it seems to undo the past and give them new life...very rewarding.

    Hopefully some day down the road, a new owner looks at our work and says, "Some PO sure did a nice job of this!"
     
    Rush4x4 likes this.
  4. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
    20170410_150952-2124x1195.jpg 20170511_120809-01-800x450.jpeg

    The first pic shows where I started to cut the 1/2 inch plate with the plasma cutter to get the winch off. Metal was welded on bottom to mount the steering box and a carrier bearing for the winch driveshaft, then the 1/2 inch plate was welded over top of that rendering any maintenance impossible. The upright portions of the bumper are actually 3/4 inch plate. It was ridiculous. The roller fairleads are also welded in, again, unserviceable.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  5. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
  6. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
    So, out came the handy-dandy sawzall and a little cut here and a little cut there...voila! 20170511_141035-2124x1195.jpg 20170511_141020-2124x1195.jpg 20170511_160447-2124x1195.jpg 20170511_160600-2124x1195.jpg
     
    Beach66Bum likes this.
  7. Aug 3, 2017
    Rush4x4

    Rush4x4 New Member

    Texas
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    47
    New frame extensions and spring perches. Not in order. 20170515_161351-2124x1195.jpg 20170518_144312-2124x1195.jpg 20170515_161429-2124x1195.jpg
     
    Rich M. and commanlerwrangdo like this.
  8. Aug 3, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    From the looks of all that Iron the prior owner was planning on some HD recovery work........................No Problem , looks like the Jeep found a good home.............cut all that garbage off and start fresh.
     
  9. Aug 3, 2017
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2015
    Messages:
    1,598
    Great post! and welcome :)
     
  10. Aug 3, 2017
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    Wow! Great project and very nice work so far. You could probably fix a rear flat without a jack the way it was setup. A 1/2 pound burrito on the front bumper might get rear tires off the ground :D
     
    75 DJ and Rush4x4 like this.
  11. Aug 4, 2017
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    1,188
    Nice. Looks similar to the frame fix we did on my CJ-6.
     
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