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How to build a Jeep CJ7 bug out vehicle.

Ravenworks said:
Jump on JF, Hoover will tell you how to go about this
Click to expand...
What's "JF"?


this ?:
www.jeepforum.com

Jeep Enthusiast Forums

A forum community dedicated to all jeep owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, engine swaps, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
www.jeepforum.com www.jeepforum.com

Aren't these the Canadian owned douchenozzles who bought Pirate from Lance and then created a "kinder gentler" "safe space" for jeep owners?

verticalscope com

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I was on JF... twice... with 2 different user names. Something screwy going on with that forum. It kept telling me my user name or password was wrong. had to keep resetting it... Finally gave up on it. I do have build threads on JeepCJ.com, and Jeeps.net. Have one on Expedition portal too, but I'm behind on keeping that one up to date. It doesn't get any traffic.
 
Daddyusmaximus said:
I was on JF... twice... with 2 different user names. Something screwy going on with that forum. It kept telling me my user name or password was wrong. had to keep resetting it... Finally gave up on it. I do have build threads on JeepCJ.com, and Jeeps.net. Have one on Expedition portal too, but I'm behind on keeping that one up to date. It doesn't get any traffic.
Click to expand...
Between verticlescrote buying and destroying forums and webmasters getting lazy and wanting to merge into Face*#ck the great tech and helping a brother out sort of got "monetized" out of existence.

I won't even talk about .....
www.chicksonright.com

YouTube Awards YouTube A YouTube Free Speech Award

I know you had to read that title more than once. I'm sorry. I tried to make it make sense, but it really is just as dumb as it sounds. YouTube is that employee who sucks
www.chicksonright.com www.chicksonright.com

That's why forums like the hide are so far and away superior.





anyway, do you think you could get some detailed pics from the seller showing the parts of the top that latch into the missing brackets?
 
Back to the Jeep...

All the pieces of the fuel tank are done, and ready to be stitched together. Loaded them up for the trip to the welder. There will be no skid plate. However... the bottom "U" shaped section of the tank, and the baffles are made of material that's equal to the thickness of the factory skid plate, and thicker than the one from the YJ. Sides, and top will be standard fuel tank sheet metal to save weight. (and money) This will be a general purpose off road/overlanding/daily driver Jeep anyway, not a hard core rock crawler.



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Also got my new calipers in for the 4 wheel disc brakes. Yes, I know they're on the wrong side with the bleeders pointing down... Just slapped them on for test fit. No brake pads yet anyway.

Front.

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Rear.

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Looking ahead to after I get the tub back on, I picked up this baby..

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If that looks like a deuce & a half windshield, where each side opens up... that's because it is. It will need to be cut down in booth height, and width, but plan is to build that into the windshield frame. One of my best memories (fun things) is just cruising in a deuce down the road with the breeze blowing in through the bottom of those windows that are opened several inches. Plenty air, no bugs. A lot of times I would set my canteen (or Pepsi/Gatoraid) right on the hood out in front of the windshield frame just behind the open glass as I cruise down the highway.
 
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Wasn't sure how or when I was ever gonna get down to TX to get that top, but the guy who had it hooked me up. His buddy was coming up to Metropolis, IL (Yes they have a Superman statue) for an archery competition, and would bring it with. Met him down there yesterday. Still spent 10 hrs on the road going down there, and back, but that's a lot less than 17 each way to TX, and with premium $3.75 a gal... I jumped at the chance.

Here it is in Metropolis.

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Truth, Justice, and the American way... Good thing Metropolis is in Southern IL, and not up near commie Shitcago...

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Safe at home this AM.

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This is so racist. Obviously CRT. White = Superman.

Please!Really!

:eek: :ROFLMAO:;)

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Daddyusmaximus said:
Wasn't sure how or when I was ever gonna get down to TX to get that top, but the guy who had it hooked me up. His buddy was coming up to Metropolis, IL (Yes they have a Superman statue) for an archery competition, and would bring it with. Met him down there yesterday. Still spent 10 hrs on the road going down there, and back, but that's a lot less than 17 each way to TX, and with premium $3.75 a gal... I jumped at the chance.

Here it is in Metropolis.

View attachment 7654069View attachment 7654070

Truth, Justice, and the American way... Good thing Metropolis is in Southern IL, and not up near commie Shitcago...

View attachment 7654071

Safe at home this AM.

View attachment 7654073
Click to expand...
That looks awesome!

Score on the transport too.
 
Aussie Joe said:
100Mph missile with that Dee shackle and snatch strap in the pintle hitch
Click to expand...
That d-ring shackle is off an M1009 Cucvee, I think it can handle a CJ5... That is the propper way to put a strap in a pintle hitch... with a d-ring. You don't just put the strap in the hitch. As a matter of fact, prior to this, I used that d-ring many a times on my old F-250 Super Duty, and prior to that, my Suburban Cucvee look alike... to pull out others.... I'm aware it's not a screw type, so I don't side load it... As it is in the photo... That little green CJ5 rescued a Ford Ranger, and a Jeep JK the day after that photo was taken at The Badlands Offroad Park in Attica, IN...


Then I blew the front left hub later that day... lol.

87 Suburban Cammo.JPG
 
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Don’t worry about Aussie Joe. From my perusing of YouTube, it seems that the Aussie overlanding crowd has quite the affinity for imagining safety hazards.
 
hlee said:
Don’t worry about Aussie Joe. From my perusing of YouTube, it seems that the Aussie overlanding crowd has quite the affinity for imagining safety hazards.
Click to expand...
Hey, I'm the first one to laugh my ass off at the Darwin award winners when they come up, but I also don't live my life in fear. Many a time I used to hop on the bike, and take off for a ride without my brain bucket if I was just going across town. Always wore shades though. Never wanted a dragon fly in the peeper. Hurts bad enough in the forehead.
 
To be quite honest, prior to 2020, I never really thought that having to "bug out" would ever be a thing... I just like 4 wheeling... now I'm actually wondering if the damn country will stay together long enough for me to even finish building it.
____________________________________

I have watched many "Bug Out's"... Hurricanes, tornado's, wild fires, etc... Watched people die because they did not want to abandon their Bug Out vehicle or perhaps it's contents. I have witnessed one idiot block a 4 lane highway. I have watched vehicles driven until they run out of gas and the people abandon the vehicle in the middle of the road or bridge.

I envision a Bug Out vehicle more along the lines of a Ford LTD, full sized Chevy station wagon or a short wheel base Dodge van... All of which burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. Keep newer tires on it yet without about 25% of the tread left. Swap the battery out of your daily driver every 3 years and put the old battery in your bug out car. Let the registration, insurance, smog, etc expire.... Keep antifreeze in it and a couple of gallons of water in the trunk. Pick up an old junk set of jumper cables at the Goodwill store to put in the trunk... Strip the interior except for the driver's seat. Park it under a shade tree and let it get a "patina look"... Basically have a vehicle that no one would steal. Keep the fuel tank full with Seafoam Green or similar, radiator full, air in the tires and a couple of rolls of duct tape near the drivers seat. Do what you need to do to have place for a weapon (concealed) within reach of the driver or front passenger (Out of sight, out of mind)... Have some AAA road maps in the glove box covering your route. Arrange your bug out packs for easy access when you exit the vehicle.... That will be a grab and go minute, at most.

Never have anything with you that is worth your life........ If you are forced to give it all up and walk away with your life... that would be a good trade.

Take your best shot... You will only get one.
 
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Hot damn! Been waiting on this forever... Welding guy finally fished stitching together my fuel tank. I'll get it cleaned out this week, then seal it, and get it painted, and ready to go in. I have to do the fuel lines, rear part of the brake lines, and move the rear shock mounts for the YJ tub, and I'll be able to get the tub on it to start the wiring. Probably get somebody started on the front bumper too, but I'm thinking I'll go with someone who doesn't take 2 months...

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As is par for the course... I haven't done anything for a spell on the Jeep. It seems to come in spurts. Small spurts that are all too often, months apart. In any case, the heat of summer, being busy at the VFW, and my arthritis have all combined to keep me out of the garage. With the new fuel tank, I had hoped to get back at it. Come to find out, the fuel take was made incorrectly. The vent, and filler hose hook ups were just low enough to hit the frame... (but of course)

The guy said he'd fix it soon as he can, but a week became two, then three, then I took it elsewhere.

It's fixed.

So, then I go grab my bottle of Eastwood fuel tank sealer I got online to read how to apply it. Guess what? That's not a 1, or 2, or even 3 step process... AND, they want you to start by using their Eastwood Metal Wash #10120.

That you can ONLY get... from them. (but of course)

Back to the online ordering... and corresponding waiting.

In the meantime, I got another e-mail from Summit Racing asking if I wanted to cancel my order for my wheels.

No, not really. Already got 2. Already paid for the other 3 way back in April, and have been getting different (progressively later) ship dates from the manufacturer all summer. Well now they're saying January 2022.

OK, The proverbial straw, has broken this camel's back. I canceled the order, and went with another wheel. I really wanted the old school steelies with the dog dish hub caps, but I can only take so much. American Racing has a wheel that once powder coated should look fairly close to a modern military wheel, so I ordered 5 of them.

Boom, they got here in 3 days from TX.

Fuck California, and their Wheel Vintiques steelies.
 
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I love seeing this update however sporadically it happens.

I love playing spot the dog too. Ever have parts stolen? I had 2 different cocker spaniels steal lug nuts when they were young.

Also seeing all of the hiccups along the way makes me feel better about all of the projects that I work on that I'm not the only one. Keep up the good work.
 
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No missing parts ... yet. Of course, I do have a series 200 on the side door, and the big doors don't go up that easy. Well, only one goes up at all... lol. Add to that the fact I live in a small (very small) rural farming community (population 1,300) so it's not like inner city crime central around here.

That dog, you spot from time to time may be my service dog during the day, but she's still a German Shepherd, and this is still her home, so she still alerts when she senses someone around.
 
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Damn man, I don't work on cars at all but this is a cool build. Good luck with the rest of the build. I'll be checking in to follow along.
 
Wheels are back from powder coat. They look awesome except for one thing... The powder coat is a lighter color than the rattle can. Looked different on the color chart in the brochure. Probably close enough not to worry about. It's not gonna be a show vehicle or anything, but I may try to look for a lighter color or spray paint to match. I'll have to think on it. It's not like our military vehicles always had all matching parts anyhow.


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I started in on the procedure for the cleaning, and sealing of the fuel tank, following the instructions of the Eastwood sealer. Went to take the bolt out of the tank where the sending unit goes. The guy who welded it up stainless screws would be cool given the recess would collect water. Not sure if one was cross threaded, or the dissimilar metals caused it to seize, but this happened...


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Nothing like the fun of drilling out a broken bolt again...
I get out the cutting oil I "borrowed" from the motorpool at Ft Hood back in 1985.

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In order to wash out the tank with the metal wash, muratic acid, rust remover, then put in the liner, I need to be able to plug that big hole in the top. Well, the bolts the new tank is made to use are bigger than the original was designed for... More drilling.


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Then, so many minutes on each side, for each step...

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So with virtually no regrets, I sold my JK Wrangler last month... 10,500 miles on it... sold it for $4k more than I paid for it!

Was going to buy a Gladiator. But those things are pushing $50K plus... and it's just another box of computers and future electronic failures.

Instead, just bought a reprise of my High School Jeep... or at least sort of the version I really wanted. 1976 CJ 7.... but this one has a 401 in it. Which was a swap I always wanted to do. But trying to find a 401 in Vermont was about impossible. And doubt I could have afforded to do it on a high school farm slave labor paycheck anyway.

jeep 401.jpg


My plan is to drive it for the summer next year (winter closing in here) and then probably pull the engine and do a 3/4 race cam and some Edelbrock heads, headers, etc. NO fuel injection. Just a nice big Holley 4Barrel. Figure with some gentle poking and stroking, 400 HP is not going to be hard.

BTW, it's got Dana 44's, a TH-400 three speed. Frame off. Brand new steel tub. Guy who built it got bored with it and is selling to fund his next build.

This is SOOOOO much better than a Gladiator. Thanks for the inspiration, OP!

Sirhr

PS... This vvv seems like it has a nicely done engine in it... We all need goals!

 
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Sweet Lord this is taking too long. Had a little bit of money, so I picked up the first 2 tires today. Word is tires are gonna be hard to get here soon, so I want them while I can get them. Hell, EVERYTHING is hard to get. I got one type of fish out of 4 ordered for my VFW fish fry supplies I picked up today. Two 35x12.50 BFG KO2 tires pretty much take up the entire roof of my little 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Endeavor... that only rides on 31s.


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Mine is still in progress, an Apex TJ, but you are putting in some real work. Looking good.

Screenshot_20211017-160418_Gallery.jpg
 
And then you see these guys.


Of course you know there was no coolant and probably only the fuel in the carb and fuel pump....but hey, still impressive.

BTW, few pages back.
It takes
Fuel
Spark
Compression
And timing
You can have all the spark in the world, but if it's not at the right time it means nothing.
 
n2ishun said:
And then you see these guys.


Of course you know there was no coolant and probably only the fuel in the carb and fuel pump....but hey, still impressive.

BTW, few pages back.
It takes
Fuel
Spark
Compression
And timing
You can have all the spark in the world, but if it's not at the right time it means nothing.
Click to expand...

I want one of those jeeps
 
OK... problem.
No easy movement. Months of dirt, sand, leaves, metal shavings, sawdust, broken bolts, and such debris have collected on the floor (not seen in the above photo) meaning the little rollers, they no roll. This prompted a long overdue cleanup that netted what seemed like somewhere around 6.2 metric tons of trash.

11m.JPG
 
Now having cleaned up some. I felt like doing something... but no more new parts.
I looked around for something I could do with what I had in the garage already, and found a seat. It's one I got for the Montero some time back, but it turned out to be the wrong year, and wouldn't fit, so I had to make a bracket to fix the old seat. AND... it's kinda desert tan looking... hum. It's not gonna fit in the YJ Tub either, but I can try to MAKE it fit. So out came the cut off wheel, and grinder, and off came the mounting tabs.

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Then I got out the custom home fabbed seat bracket that came with the tub. The previous owner made it to fit TJ seats to it. It has a real beefy bottom plate for welding to, so I'll just reuse that. First, the old brackets need to come off. They're about 12.5" apart, and the new seat rails are 16" apart. This is as far as I got before I was too sore to anything else, so that's it for the time being. I can build wings off the very strong front posts, and then build all new rear posts.
Later.
I need a nap.
I have a Treasure Hunt drawing to officiate tonight at the VFW.

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Well, a man can only do so much on one thing before his ADHD kicks in... or his welder craps out. Wire feed problems when I was tacking in the new mounts. That's ok, my welding sucks anyhow. The proverbial phrase "Looks like Ray Charles did it with his feet." comes to mind. So... I took all the pieces for the mounts to a local machine shop to be stitched together. Next, I looked around for something I COULD work on. I found this old hitch from when I had a F-250 Super Duty. It sticks out way too far, and that big adjustable mounting plate has to go, so U started in with the cutting wheel & grinder again.


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