neohic

The little CJ got another band aid today to push off serious thought into a drivetrain swap. Right now I’m leaning towards a 4.0 swap as I was way back when this thread started. My goal is still to turn my little CJ into a real driver... overdrive is a part of this equation. I still don’t have the wheelbase for an AX15 and still have a decent amount of room for a rear driveshaft. So much of the time I get into a dire situation and a good solution just presents itself. Fingers crossed that’s the case when the engine decides that enough is enough. Keep juggling changing everything when the time comes or just leaving well enough alone that got it here from 45 years ago. Anyhow... I digress. Pics for clicks.

Had to go back and revisit the “way back” machine. Years ago, two addresses ago, and a few states away from where it was put together... twins! I’ve got more pictures from when it was thrown together should you want them. What are your plans for its next step?

... for now.

I feel as though this little Jeep got yet another extension on its borrowed time with this drivetrain. Lately I’ve been dreading the feel of the clutch and the effort and timing it takes to shift from gear to gear. Assuming that the clutch was on its way out and that was that I’ve just been sour about the CJ. On a whim I crawled under it this morning and had a look at the pushrod adjustment. “Surely it can’t have much left to give!” ... but it had enough. The clutch feels great again! I took about a half inch of slop out of the linkage. Then I rolled over to find a big drip of brake fluid rolling down the front left tire. See, back when I put disk brakes on the front it was just a kit we had on the shelf at the four wheel shop I was working at. Who knows what the brake hoses were for?! I took one off and brought I over to my buddy at the local Napa. We looked up different applications, looked through catalogues, started opening boxes, and we finally found a couple perfect hoses that were about an inch shorter than I had. Low and behold, they turned out being for a late ‘70s CJ5/7/8... go figure. In any case, the brakes feel great and my clutch is functional again. Still waiting for the other shoe to drop for the engine to yard sale on me.

That was a super fun day with Rob. At the time I had a couple long bed trucks around the yard so I pulled measurements from those based on where his frame was already cut. He showed up early and we cranked it out like it was a precision military exercise. Disregard the “extra” leaf spring perches.

I had a great time building that trailer with Rob years back. Glad it went to a good home.

Ugh... feeling sick to my stomach over an all too familiar rattle from the bottom end of the tired 258 today. The clutch has been feeling worse and worse lately and I think I’ve acknowledged that it’s on the way out too. How about we talk about drivetrain swaps again. What are the cool kids running in their CJ5s these days?

I absolutely enjoy watching your attention to detail. How many of us would’ve thought to move the jack to under the hood with such beautiful execution? Tip of the cap, sir.

Anyone else find humor in that?

Two walls of wainscoting done today.

You should be able to open up the slots in the plates with a die grinder to allow the bigger u-bolt. Nothing fancy there. Curious us why you’re dumping the 44 though.

Thanks guys! Hard to believe that I’m creeping up to one year since the concrete forms went up.

Things are moving forward... still slowly. Happy to say that my roof, eaves, and gable ends are totally done! Next on the list is siding on the south side so I can build the carport. I ordered my siding a couple weeks ago and I was surprised to see it delivered yesterday morning at 6:30. The local lumber yard has been great for ordering material from as the delivery guy is willing to take his forklift down the hill and drop off product right in front of the door. The colors I chose to complete the pallet are a tan and kind of a funky patina green. It’ll have a 42” wainscoting all the way around. Feels great to know that I’ll hopefully never have to go on the roof ever again. Not a huge fan of the looks of a steel panel roof but for the cost, ease of install, and typically a lifetime warranty on the product and a 40 year on the finish who can complain? I put the same on my last house and I think it’s just great. This time I’m sort of embracing it more since the siding will match... straight up barn look minus the red paint and white trim.

^Yup I was going to suggest spacers as well. Hate to cut up that beautiful hood of yours.

Voted.

Nice to see some updates on 24, Steve. Thanks for putting this together for us!

Beautiful! Do you have a part number for the sockets?

I walk to work most days so... ... otherwise the ol’ CJ has been taking “daily” status for the last couple years.

I’ve got two... oddly enough. One is complete but rusty. The other was cut off and welded to a push bumper. Years ago I made up new steel parts to restore both of them. Not sure when I could get pictures as they’re a good hour drive away from me in storage. Suppose if if you’re patient I could do the metal work once my shop is done.

Curious about how you mounted the sway bar. Think there’s any future issues with contact between the axle tube and the bar?

Smaller tire and cutting springs?

I dig it.

10/10 helper. Door handle for scale.

*facepalm

I change my vote. 1989.