Hot mess, a 1967 CJ-5 restoration

[davide]

Here begins my journey to getting Dad's 1967 CJ-5 back to her glory days...

This saga started nearly 35 years ago, when my Dad bought the CJ. As the story has it, the owner before my Dad owned 2 CJ's and used one to restore or modify the other. Of course the one my Dad bought was the one that got picked through. It ran and that's all that mattered to him until the day the transfer case seized. My Dad removed the case, exchanged it for a rebuilt one and everything sat on his garage floor for the next 20 years.

At Dad's house and the Jeep is barely visible. Junk piled up on all sides, top and underneath. It took all day to remove the clutter and gain some access to her.

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I've managed to locate the various pieces for the transfer case and get ready to load the Jeep on to the trailer. The first thing I notice is that there is no e-brake and the brake pedal goes to the floor. Good thing I grabbed my come-along and tow straps. One click at a time and she is finally loaded.

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2 days drive and I'm back home. Time to unload her and get her ready for some big repairs.

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I drained the remains of 20 year old gas from her. The tank is rusted and I have just bought a new one along with a new sender. Much cheaper than the prices I got for boil, cleaning and seal.

Time to look at the brake issues. It appears as if the owner before my Dad needed the entire e-brake assembly. No drum or backing plate on the transfer case. No cable, brackets or pull handle either. Do I just forego the e-brake, thoughts?? The master cylinder is void of any fluid and the inside looks really bad. New master needs to be ordered and I might as well just get the wheel cylinders while I'm at it.

I turn my attention to the front axle and have pulled everything off the LF down to the knuckle. The wheel bearings have no grease, but a sludgy residue on them. I'm expecting to see the thick grease Bob has described in the knuckle, but there is only the thick sludge at the very base of the knuckle case. The axle looks good and the u-joint is solid (no slop or yoke play). The sludge has the distinct odor of gear oil and I suspect the inner seals leak. I want to replace the u-joints with the sealed style Bob has described as I want to run the knuckle dry. Does this u-joint look like the sealed style? I don't think it is, but would like a second, third, forth opinion.

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This is where I am up to now. The family leaves in a couple days for our Summer vacation and I will return in a couple weeks to continue. Please throw your thoughts and ideas my way. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

-David