1979 cj5 [Archive] - Fairbanks Offroad Lions

Stumblinman

10-19-2009, 11:02 PM

I'm starting up a build thread for my father's Jeep. I need something to do down here so I'm working on it little by little.
It began it's journey about 10 yrs or more ago with a frame-off resto including a new fiberglass tub, reworked 304 with an Offenhauser manifold + Edelbrock 4 barrel, cam and a bunch of other doodads. The hood is still metal though. He had his stock springs re-arched and it's no lie that you can jump up and down on the front bumper and have maybe 1\8 travel with some effort put into it.
I started a rear bumper for it out of 1\4" 2x4 tube but it's slow work with my wimpy welder. I did get a middle bar put into the rollbar though out of some square we had laying around. It's a full roll cage but missing a few pieces. i.e. bars across door openings and it needs to be tied into the frame in the bottom front. I'll have pics up soon.

drvnmsbessie

10-20-2009, 11:14 AM

Glad to see you let go of the Big Iron! He He.

Stumblinman

10-20-2009, 12:41 PM

Well here's how it looks now:

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/3_79_CJ5_004.jpg

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_100_5140.jpg

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_100_5175.JPG

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_100_5173.JPG
View image in gallery (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/index.php?n=60)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_100_5174.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/index.php?n=61)

Here's the roll bar thing I made.
Yes that is a strap holding on the top 2 points of the harness but it's temporary and is actually rated at 27 KN witch is about 6100 Lbs used to rock climb so it's not retarded :D

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_100_5172.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/index.php?n=59)

The gas tank is now located where the back seat used to rest and we are looking into possiblities for it.
I've ripped everything off the back and am working on the bumper.

Chevyguy1

10-20-2009, 11:39 PM

nice jeep man

Stumblinman

11-03-2009, 01:29 PM

I'm looking at making a winch mount for the front. It's a HF winch that came with a mount. I have some 4"x3" 1/4"thick angle that I was thinking of bolting through the frame on both sides then cutting the mount to fit the frame width and bolting to the angle. I would weld but my welder can't handle the thickness very well. The angle would be about 7" long on both sides. So the question is: Do you all think this setup can handle the winch? It's a #9000 and most likely won't see a huge amount of service...

Chevyguy1

11-03-2009, 08:51 PM

well i thought the jeep lovers out there would be all over this saying oh hecks yeah do it lol , but really you might be ok .... try it out

Stumblinman

11-03-2009, 09:52 PM

I think so too. I ran across an old Warn install instructions page and they have the same type of brackets. The good news is I have the bolt sizes now and confirmed my belief of needing a spacer tube for one part of the frame. I'm gonna try to whip this out tomorrow and see how it looks.

Chevyguy1

11-05-2009, 08:18 PM

Sweet man if you get time toss some pics up here so we can see how it fits up

Stumblinman

11-06-2009, 04:51 PM

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_102_5193.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/index.php?n=68)

New addition to the engine. Still have to get a different power steering belt because it was too close to get the top cap on the distrib.

I have the two brackets on the front of the Jeep right now but am waiting on the batteries to charge to get the mount cut down to size.

Stumblinman

11-07-2009, 06:53 PM

Power steering belt is on and functional now. After ripping all the TFI/HEI junk off the nifty-O digital instrument cluster is tweaking out. Not sure what that is but might be a grounding issue. Installed the winch and it is functional. I don't like the control box. It's on there for now so my father can play with it but I will be dissecting it later. It's fairly simple and I'll have it under the hood and it'll just take 3 little wires to put the hand control hookup on a plate in one of the grill slats.

[/URL][URL="http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_winch.JPG"]http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_winch.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_winch.JPG)

Chevyguy1

11-07-2009, 07:52 PM

Sweet man looking good !!!

Stumblinman

11-08-2009, 07:10 PM

Hmmmmm it seems that no matter where I am I'm tearing apart an engine. :) The HEI distrib we got from 4WD parts didn't have any instructions. I've put in many distribs and had no probs until now. It seems you have to test fit this one kinda like a ring/pinion. So it looks like it was just a little high. I called 4WD and they call the gasket a shim. Well I never had to shim a distrib so we were cruising down the road to go hiking and blap blap bang then nothing. We yank the distrib and the cam gear is gone so we had to tow it. The good news is the cam gear is replaceable and only $21. The bad news is we had to rip the front of the engine apart to get to it.

Stumblinman

11-08-2009, 07:13 PM

Stumblinman

11-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Slow work on the CJ right now. We thought we had everything but the stud that had broken off in the timing cover unveiled a bunch of other crap the PO had done to it. None of the holes really matched up and we ordered another one from BJ's Offroad. They seemed to have the same one as 4WD but a hundred $s cheaper.
So I moved my focus back onto the rear bumper. With the purchase of a new welder things are going a lot smoother. It's not much to look at right now but I have more plans for it. I'm going to work a tow bar and highlift tire mount eventually.

Mocked up with the pintle. After seeing it on it looks huge on the bumper :) 1/4" 2x4 I'm kinda wishing I went with a 3/16" but I suppose it'll take a beating.

[/URL][URL="http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper1.JPG"]http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_bumper1.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper1.JPG)

The reason it's taking so long is I'm going after the no weld bead look thing kinda...

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_bumper2.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper2.JPG)

CoolJeep

11-30-2009, 01:20 PM

Hey you weldin the pintle to the bumber or are you bolt it to it?

CoolJeep

11-30-2009, 01:23 PM

Stumblinman

11-30-2009, 08:48 PM

Yeah wireless is definitly a thought. I still have to move that box under the hood. I looked and it seems I can just switch the battery wires with the winch wires for length and it can mount right no the inner fenderwell.

I have my towbar/tire mount brackets welded on. I should have the top jack plate and bumper mounts on tomorrow if I get some wire.

Stumblinman

12-02-2009, 08:28 PM

OK the rear bumper is just about finished. All I have to do is tap the ball to link the tow bar to the jack and weld up the tire mount to the tow bar.

[/URL][URL="http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_102_5220.JPG"]http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_102_5220.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_102_5220.JPG)

Here's the mock up of what it'll sorta look like..

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_102_5219.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_102_5219.JPG)

Ovalfiend

12-02-2009, 09:42 PM

:DEvery Jeep should have a tow bar.:D

Stumblinman

12-02-2009, 10:18 PM

The funny part is my dad brought out 4 different ones to choose from and he only has one Jeep. :)

CoolJeep

12-03-2009, 06:52 PM

:smilienana:Hey we use the towbar to pull out the broken FORDS!

Stumblinman

12-08-2009, 03:54 PM

I got the bumper hooked on the rear crossmember now. I tapped a ball to attach the tow bar to the jack. I still have to weld on the tire mount to the tow bar and a little painting but pretty much it's done. Hmmm maybe put a gas tank attachment point too.
Pics are a little close but not much room in the garage and can't open the door because of the 30 mph winds and neg temps. :)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_bumper4.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper4.JPG)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_bumper3.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper3.JPG)

Madness

12-08-2009, 11:40 PM

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_engineapart.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_engineapart.JPG)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_camgear.jpg (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_camgear.jpg)

it's kinda hard to see in the pic but it's concave now. The gear on the distributor looks fine but you can see the wear marks are only on the bottom half of it.

beware on some of these aftermarket gears... they will look like the original soon... concave...

I had a same problems with my 304 in my CJ5, i ended up doing an engine swap over to a 360. I shouldn't have sold that jeep! It is probably still on post somewhere in shambles...

Stumblinman

12-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Well new cam/distributor gear is installed with new timing chain cover and mid plate. We would have had most things done but the nearest auto parts store decided to close half an hour early...

Well here's a pic of the modified alt bracketry. Got the idea from some fancy Chevy brackets. The good thing is it moves the alternator up and out of the way especially from all the gunk it can absorb down below.

OH yeah and had to clock the alt 180 to get the wires away from the heads and easily accessible.

[/URL][URL="http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_alt_bracket.JPG"]http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_alt_bracket.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_alt_bracket.JPG)

Stumblinman

12-30-2009, 08:49 AM

The winch box is now rewired and the box located under the hood and the controller socket is now inside on the dash. THere's plenty of cord to reach to the front and it cleans up the front end decently. You can see the box to the left of the alt. There's a ledge there and seems to fit fine. OH yeah that reminds me, I have to make a battery tie down system or somethings...

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_engine_bay.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_engine_bay.JPG)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_frontend.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_frontend.JPG)

Here's bumper with small tire attached. All I have left on this is a little paint work and the rear crossmember needs some tacks.

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_bumper5.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_bumper5.JPG)

Burgessmotors

12-30-2009, 11:50 AM

Very nice, lookin good!

CoolJeep

01-07-2010, 06:52 AM

sure is nice...sure would be nice to have my speedometer but none of the parts stores here carry equus guages. Only O'reilly autoparts.

Stumblinman

01-14-2010, 09:45 PM

Knock, knock

friedtwinky

01-14-2010, 10:02 PM

Who's there?

Stumblinman

01-14-2010, 11:25 PM

Brass/copper looking sparkalies in the oil.........

CoolJeep

01-17-2010, 01:11 PM

eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!

Stumblinman

02-10-2010, 12:17 AM

Just picked up a donor 360 and a builder TF727. Will be starting the transplant soon...

CoolJeep

02-20-2010, 08:45 AM

pics of the engine

Stumblinman

03-24-2010, 11:34 AM

So how long does it normally take for the machine shop to get done with an engine and heads?????

Ovalfiend

03-24-2010, 11:43 AM

It could take months while they are looking for replacement pieces after screwing yours up.:smilienana:

Stumblinman

03-24-2010, 08:29 PM

Ouch SSHHHhhhhh OK I'm gonna stop by tomorrow to see how it's going on it.. Last Fri. they were decking it and ordering up the parts which should have only taken the weekend to get here but the weather was pretty bad yesterday so I guess I'll give them that.

Stumblinman

04-19-2010, 09:06 PM

OK engine is back. bored 20 over, RV cam, conical springs on reworked heads with new valves, crank 10/10, and stuff.... Should be all together tomorrow when the rockers arrive...

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_amc360Green.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_amc360Green.JPG)

OH yeah and new toxic green color.. :)

friedtwinky

04-19-2010, 09:56 PM

That is WICKED! I likey!

Chevyguy1

04-19-2010, 09:58 PM

i second that, the green is sick !

drvnmsbessie

04-19-2010, 11:05 PM

Hey whats with the green booger with the chrome thingy on it? :nutskick::smilienana::yikes:

Stumblinman

04-20-2010, 01:05 AM

No chrome on this one. Only paint and aluminum....

Stumblinman

07-09-2010, 09:02 PM

Redid the rear bumper. Everything was working well but there was no place to put a gas can. After waiting on the side of the road for gas and bungee cording a tank to the bumper a rework was do. The jack will be going on the left side and the gas tank was put back underneath so I made a 'skid' plate for it. (that square thing under the bumper)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_IMG_6453.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_IMG_6453.JPG)

Stumblinman

07-09-2010, 09:15 PM

It Runs !!!!! couple pics 3 wheelin' up Rampart Range Rd. There were enough bumps to see if all the bolts were tight. :)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_IMG_5349.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_IMG_5349.JPG)

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_IMG_5351.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_IMG_5351.JPG)

Chevyguy1

07-09-2010, 10:32 PM

dude thats awesome , glad its running and looking like a straight up B@d A**

Stumblinman

07-14-2010, 12:37 AM

Big *** motor keeps heating up too much. We think it's the tranny cooler right behind the winch that's blocking half the radiator. I relocated it to the fenderwell with an electric fan so we'll see tomorrow if it works. It gets so hot under the hood you can't even touch the grill supports and I guess the gas is vaporizing in the carb because it coughs at red lights but once going again it seems to get better.

Chevyguy1

07-14-2010, 05:39 AM

if no one sits in the back why cant your relocate the radiator and an electric fam to the rear bars ?

Stumblinman

07-14-2010, 09:46 AM

It was a thought but, right now it's still a commuter so that wouldn't be too fun in the cold since we only have a full top.

akeddie

07-14-2010, 11:00 AM

would be great for winter time!

Stumblinman

10-01-2010, 09:38 PM

My incomplete little project right now...

Stumblinman

10-03-2010, 10:12 PM

Took a little trip up Mt. Baldy. Had a couple spouts of dunno maybe vapor lock or something. Just had to stop and clear it's throat out every now and then. And the tcase linkage needs a little tweaking.
Also a little pic of what happens when you get a little too close to edge of Rocky Ledge Rd.

Stumblinman

10-03-2010, 10:15 PM

Or how to get rid of a Toyota quick...

arctic_express

10-03-2010, 10:21 PM

ouch

Puddle Jumper

10-04-2010, 06:12 PM

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/30/medium/1_093.jpg ('http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/30/1_093.jpg') I miss that trail! Did you make it out to Eagle Rock yet? The gulches out between Woodland park and Divide are fairly tame, as well as Rainbow Falls in W.P.:notworthy::smiliecrybaby2::notworthy:

Stumblinman

10-04-2010, 09:38 PM

Nah haven't been able to do the harder trails yet. The Cj5 doesn't have all the bugs worked out of it yet and my waggy is capable but doesn't like to drive on paved roads yet.... I'm really hopin' to hit China Wall!

CoolJeep

10-05-2010, 02:27 PM

man wish I could be out there on those treks with you guys. The fender looks good so far get the other one done man so the jeep matches!!!

:hippo:

Stumblinman

12-06-2010, 05:46 AM

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_fronthill.jpg (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_fronthill.jpg)
http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_right.jpg (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_right.jpg)
there is some thought of running some neons and a disco ball under the hood as well...
http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_front.jpg (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_front.jpg)

outside fenders done, installed a windage tray under manifold and with the extra cool air under the hood it seems to keep good temps and bogging is just about gone.

Storm

02-16-2011, 04:27 PM

Here is a picture of our twin stick modification to the Scout Dana 20

Stumblinman

06-12-2011, 06:54 PM

Update:

well the twinstick has been modified again. :) it's much more stout now and doesn't pop out of 4low. :D

New front bumper out of 1/4" plate that slides over the front rails like a sleeve. Cleaned up the front quite a bit.

Pic may not be very clear but it highlights the CJ5 front bumper of course... :muah:

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_IMG_6776.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_IMG_6776.JPG)

Wrangler X

06-12-2011, 08:47 PM

LoL.....thats pretty awesome :)

Stumblinman

07-31-2011, 08:31 PM

Almost finished with bumper.

http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/medium/1_IMG_6905.JPG (http://www.fairbanksoffroadlions.com/photoplog/images/1/1_IMG_6905.JPG)

Storm

10-28-2011, 08:11 AM

For a detailed description of the build, search Pirate 4x4 forum for AMC disc brakes. Also installed an Aussie Locker and 4.10 gears at the same time.

Wrangler X

10-29-2011, 07:29 PM

Its purple!
Whats the purple part?

Storm

11-02-2011, 05:56 AM

That is the Nissan caliper bracket. The caliper itself is the black part. It's purple because that is the only high temp paint I had at the time.

Stumblinman

11-03-2011, 01:09 AM

That's it's Halloween costume.

Storm

05-08-2012, 04:27 AM

Got rid of the Edelbrock, gone to Holley TBI. Except for the miles of wire, it was a simple install and fired right up. Dialing in the ECU is not the easiest, but overall it should make running at this high altitude (7000+) much better.