Before

After

Current

• Remove old body
• Remove old fuel system
  • Tank
  • Lines
• Remove brake lines
• Remove engine
• Clean frame
• Wash frame
• Replace front U joints
• Repair frame
  • Body Mounts
  • Left & Right Rear Frame Members
  • Gas Tank Cross Member
  • Secondary Cross Member
  • Driver Side frame by transmission
  • Rider Side front by front end
• Sandblast frame
• Rustproof frame
• Reinstall front end axel and hardware
• Reinstall rear axel
• Reinstall front and rear bumpers
• New brake lines
• New gas tank
• New fuel lines
• Reinstall engine
• Body
  • Fix body dents
  • Paint body
  • Install body
  • Install Fenders
  • Install Grill
  • Install Windshield
  • Install Tailgate
• Interior
  • Break/clutch pedals
  • Dashboard
  • Steering wheel
  • Seats
  • Center console
  • Rollbar
  • Canvas Top
• Electrical system
• Repair Wreck Damage
  • Straighten Frame
  • Replace Leaf Springs
  • Replace front shocks
  • Straighten tie rod
  • Straighten & Paint Front Fender
  • Replace side marker light
  • Get Comprehensive Insurance Coverage
• Winter 2004 Upgrade
  • Two Barrel Carb
  • Herculiner on floor
  • Paint Roll Bar
  • Replace starter
  • Replace front u-joints
  • Reorient air compressor
• Winter 2005 Upgrade
  • Two new axels w/ 3.4 gears
• Spring 2006 Upgrade
  • New (old) engine!
• Spring 2008 Upgrade
  • Roll Cage!

And finally, the cross member/body mount piece that sits just forward of the gas tank. It's still fairly stable but the body mount holes are rusted through pretty well and I might as well replace this piece while I'm at it.

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This is the rider's side frame member. As you can see, it's in about the same shape as the other one.

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Here are left, right and straight on views of the rear frame member on the driver's side. As you can see, it's pretty badly chewed up. If it were just holding on the bumper I wouldn't be too worried but this also holds up the rear leaf spring. Needless to say it need to be shorn up pretty well. I'm guessing plates on all three sides are a good idea.

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Here are some pictures of the actual body mounts. Of all six (not counting the two on the cross member by the gas tank) only one is useable. (The third picture actually.) I believe I've found a place that will make me new mounts so we just can cut off the old ones and weld on new ones.

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Here's the spot by the transmission. The plate at the bottom of the picture is the transfer case skid plate. I think this will be the easiest to fix. Just a large plate welded on the frame over top of this. Maybe one on the bottom for good measure.

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I thought I would post a few pictures of the actual frame-rot problem. There are really three main areas that need work. A spot on the driver's side frame. Both ends of the frame back by the rear bumber and finally, the cross member right above the gas tank.
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Saturday, February 24, 2001

Interesting thing I've noticed, where the transmission threw grease and oil over the frame, it didn't rust. Imagine that!
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Don't have the pictures uploaded yet, but I've got the gas tank and fuel lines off. Boy, the last 12 inches of the frame is going to need some major reconstruction. Also, found a small patch in the driver's side frame member beside the transmission that will need some reinforcing. Also, 7 of the 8 body mounts are going to need reconstruction. Hey, I never thought it was going to be a walk in the park.
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Friday, February 23, 2001

My neighbor came over and said it looks like a turkey carcass after Thanksgiving dinner. Now my work is really cut out for me. Next I'm going to take off the gas tank, fuel lines and break lines. Then I start with the wire brush and grinding wheel cleaning up the frame. I am trying to decide weather or not to invest in getting the whole thing sand blasted. (Anyone had any experience with such?)

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Eeek! Don't look! She's naked! That's right, I finally got a couple of friends over last night (Thanks Rod and Karl!) to help me lift off the old body.

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Thursday, February 22, 2001

So it finally comes down to this, a desperate plea for help. I've got the body completely disconnected from the frame and only need a couple of strong people to help me lift it off and carry it away. I'll be calling some of you real soon, so stay close to the phone.

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With the tub basically empty I started on the body mounts. Not too bad actually, there are only 6 (and 2 of them were rusted off). Looks like I'm going to have to get a welder in here (and someone who can weld) to replace a couple of the mounts that are pretty much gone. Anyone out there have a portable welder and some spare time?


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There's all the stuff from behind the dash board. More than one might think.

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With everything removed, it started to look a little like a toboggan. (But with a shift lever and lots of rust.)

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Then came the dashboard. Talk about a tangle of wires and stuff. I think the thing that took me the longest was labeling all the wires so I would know how to put the darn thing back together.

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I finally got back into the project last night and made a lot of progress. First off was the seats and steering wheel.

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Monday, February 19, 2001

I'm back from Denver now and will probably be working on the Jeep sometime in the next day or two. Stay tuned for more pictures!
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Monday, February 12, 2001

Funny, after a while the back end of the Jeep started to look a lot like the front.

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In the process of taking the roll bar off I discovered that the previous owner had decided to weld the roll bar onto the body behind the driver's seat. (Mumble frotz...) So, if I figured that if I can't get it free of the body, I would just take part of the body off with it. (I'm going to have to weld a new plate on that side anyway. The old one has pretty much rusted through.) Namely the left rear fender.

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Like I always, a real Jeep is one that you can clean out with a hose. So, when you do that, you have to have somewhere to let the water drain out. (grin)

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All the previous stuff happened last week but I finally got around to creating this page tonight. So, tonight I started in on the rest of the tailgate hardware and then the roll bar.

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Next off were the left and right fenders. Then the radiator and front grill. At this point it's really starting to look like a rail buggy or maybe just an abandoned car frame that I should just park in the back yard.

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Didn't notice that the windshield hinges had seized up and when I laid it over one of the hinges snapped off. Guess I'll have to go buy those stainless steel replacement hinges from 4WD Hardware.
Drat!
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Next was the spare tire, tail gate and break lights.

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I had to start somewhere so off came the hood, and windshield.

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This whole thing started when I got a new steel body courtesy of Willys Overland by way of Roadway Express' damaged freight outlet, Rex's. Somebody caught it the wrong way with a fork lift and from that moment it was destined to end up in my garage waiting to be laid on the frame of my trusty (and rusty) '81 Jeep CJ-7.
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Sunday, February 11, 2001

Welcome to the 'db' Jeep Chronicles! As most of you know, I'm putting a new body on my trusty '81 Jeep CJ-7. I thought I would try to take pictures as it goes and keep everyone updated on the progress.

It also keeps a little pressure on me to keep going on the project and not let it turn into one of those never ending car rebuilds that I've seen happen. So everyone, keep asking me how its going!
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