My first vehicle was a 1956 CJ. All stock drive train but fully restored. Mustang bucket seats. Dark blue. White steel cab. Except for burning up the valves (twice) we had a lot of fun with it. Took a girl on our first date in it. We’ve now been married 51 years. Great memories. Great life.
i know, old video, but i still hope you read this, i've been going though a tough time recently, and discovered your videos and started bindge watching them, and its actaully made me laugh alot, and i'm learning alot about how to reuse old stuff at the same time. so thank you
Thanks! There were a few times where I had to walk away from it for a bit, but that's why I work on more than on car at a time. Just shift gears for a while and then you can get it back going again!
That makes sense! I had to go out and take a look, there's some remnants of old mounting brackets on the back of it, and it looks like it used to be wider and the outside edges were chopped off. I think you called that one!
Very hard to get me to sit through 43 minutes of a RU-vid video. However watch this one through in one sitting :) Amazing the amount of punishment this CJ had been through. Loved your commentary and your adapt 'n overcome attitude. Look forward to more jeep videos, now subscribed. I have an M201 I brought back from France, learnt a lot more about it today.
Thanks, I really appreciate that! I've got updates in the works on that Jeep, and a new one coming up that I should finish building by the end of the summer.
This is an older video but I gotta say, I've been binging a lot of your stuff the last couple days and it's been very inspirational. I finally got off my ass and did a lot of projects that have been sitting around using your can-do attitude!
I remember that the old J.C.Whitney company used to sell complete fiberglass or steel tubs for these classics, made the job a bit easier to restore but there was not much of a cheap factor to the price of these items.
This was very therapeutic to watch you at work. I especially liked your comment regarding the existence and use of small size wrenches, assuming anyone who hasn't worked on a car less than 50 yrs old would know! Real Jeeps truly are built. Not bought. Imagine going down the road in a '69 Corvette convertible on a beautiful sunny Southern California afternoon with the top down and the complete rear axle of your beloved '60 Willys Utility Wagon propped up in the passenger seat! Not exactly a leggy blonde or brunette, but I couldn't have been more proud or less in love!!
Ah, the old "good enough is perfect". Enjoyed the video. Not nearly as ambitious but I've got a 40 year old riding mower that I've been using for 35 years, patching and keeping running. There's a certain satisfaction there.
That was a very cool video, and it was funny that at the very end I thought, "Hey, that desert looks familiar." And then I saw the mountains. We're basically neighbors. Cool!
@@LowBuckGarage No doubt! From your vids I can tell basically where you're centered and recognize that dirt. (Not to be divulged here in public, obviously) BUT, I can tell you that the chances of seeing you out in the dirt given our proximity and overlapping passion is almost a certainty. We probably will run into each other at some point. I too frequent that general area. Look for a red YJ with white doors and tall antennas on the back, lol.
Interesting build:-) I worked on that stuff since I was a kid my first truck was a 1940 Ford pickup drove it home for 75 bucks from a 88 year-old polish farmer in Wisconsin to our farm about 5 miles away. I bought two Jeeps from an old man in the hills in Arkansas I built the homestead myself it was right in the mountains had no shop so I tied a nylon rope between two oak trees and went and spent my last dollars to get a come-along hand-cranked cable I just rebuilt my 79 CJ7 in bare feet out of the yard in southern Missouri now Ten Years Later with without a shop but it's looking good two coats of Dupli-Color bed line paint
I have a 47 CJ2A that my local high school was going to do in 2019, but Covid killed it... they painted it but that's it. Going to put a Ford 200 inline 6 in it. I'd like to visit with you if possible on the phone or zoom. Thank you! Coach Al...
I have seen a few inline 6 swaps, but they're hard to fit in the short engine bay. Most involve moving the firewall. You're looking at around 6-10" longer, and there's not a whole lot of extra room to spare. Unless you're set on that particular motor, I would consider a V-6 instead. The best way to get to me is email, james@stickshiftzj.com
We must be kindred spirits. I have a '73 CJ5 that I call Humpty Dumpty. It had a huge crack all the way across the side of the block that I stitch repaired. It is back in the jeep after a ring job and running. Im not doing a "frame off" either, but it will get paint. Less then $25.00 of tractor paint on clearance from Cal ranch. Your seat brackets have inspired me, mine are gone too. Thanks for the video and happy salvaging.
Nothing feels like having a sketchy motor you just put back together come to life. (4 a guy anyway) Love your attitude and skill set. I would definitely have gotten bogged down a few times (Fluids, brake, shock) but not sure I would have invested in the new antifreeze. Subscribed.
Thanks! Actually, I'm regretting the antifreeze, because I found out afterward that there's no thermostat. Now I can't bring myself to drain it down...
@@lancekreis3645 Those other two are going to be built separately, so I'm going to baseline those at $500 each also. Not really sure which one was the most (least) valuable, but splitting the cost evenly seemed like the most reasonable way to do it.
Reminds me of my buddy who past away after smashing up a modified vw bug in California..that was Henry Rojle..helped me put the engine in my 61 MINI..1st class Machinery repairman USN
Just discovered your channel. Thank you so much for this video. I love your philosophy. Because of watching this video I’ve learned to add timelines and channels to my own RU-vid channel. I also have the Jeep addiction, and in my low income retirement need to work on them the way you seem to work on yours. I am the proud owner of a 1951 Willys Overland pickup which somebody actually put on to a ‘78 K5 Blazer frame (running), as well as a 1951 Willys Wagon with an odd fire V6 from Buick and no brakes (running in a few months I hope), and then there is a 1975 AM General DJ5-D Postal Supervisor’s Jeep, left hand drive which most closely meets your philosophy of “should I fix it or should I play with it?” Sadly I sold off my 1955 CJ 5 which I had disassembled then left outside in the Pacific Northwest rain to rust. I miss it kind of sort of, but I have enough to work on. Now I have to watch a whole bunch more of your videos. Thanks again for the training.
I had a '71 Willys with an F-head 134 c.i. engine. The #4 cylinder (closest to the firewall) always burned hot, and was the source of MANY problems. Turned out to be an issue with the passageways for coolant in that area being an issue. Wound up getting in there with a Dremel on a long extension, and "ported" the passageways without compromising the wall thickness anywhere. Solved that problem, and from then on a PLEASURE to go off-roading with confidence. Good luck on your project. It's more that just fun in the dirt and turning wrenches, it's HISTORY.
My son is a year and a half away from his first vehicle and wants an older Jeep, probably gonna be a CJ5 but I think I need a CJ-2A. Subscribed, thanks for the inspiration.
Used to use Devcon aboard ship in the Navy. Then they came out with Belzona, there are two grades one like the Devcon, and a second that is actually machinable. We would use the machinable grade to repair damaged gate valve gates. Great Stuff
Should be called “MacGyver Garage.” This is also how I do things. Like you I get a lot of satisfaction from figuring stuff out for myself and just getting things to work. Loved the video and subscribed.
I really like how this guy explains what he is doing and show&tell whats importent to look for on different parts. Thats exactly the stuff you wont read in Books . Also the willingly sharing what went wrong and why! Instead of just not talk about it... Lots to learn here. I really like his channel and Videos! Greetings from Germany
Haha! Great video! I had a 55 CJ5. It was a years long learning experience. The fuel tanks on these things are a hoot. The bottom of mine wore from rust and rubbing on the floor. I discovered this one day as I was motoring and noticed that my feet were all slippery. Gas sloshing on the floor was responsible. Lucky for me the floors were full of rust holes. I got rid of my cigarette in a hurry when I figured out what was going on. That just one of a long list of fun that I had with that. I finally blew it up trying to pull a full sized Ford out of the mud. I miss it.
WOW!!! Now THAT was fun!!! I presume the gas tank leak repair was with a product we'll nick name JB. Since you used screen (a trick I gotta remember) shoulda worked great, except for the paint! I bet If you stripped the paint(say =, using a chemical I KNOW you have - think brakes!) will make that next fix permanent! Used "JB" on a crack on the ihoop section of a motorcycle tank once - Like A Charm!!! Another great, entertaining video!!!
New subscriber here. Great entertainment and tech tips. Brings back memories of when I had two CJ 2As in high school that became one runner and a lot of fun Keep on having fun
95% of us would get to dead end #37 (not to mention that not one of the aftermarket parts worked) and that would be IT!! The thing would set there in the barn for years to come.
Neat mostly rebuilt or restored the old MB Willys and fords, and M38 and M38A1s yeah the last one took 3 jeeps to make one. was neat experience building/rebuilding their wish had done more videos while working on them but only took pictures to document the building work and show how far most of them were in restoration. I build fix so many but still not gotten one of my own to enjoy. Thanks for sharing the video this I enjoyed. Trouble getting one of these ends up bringing it back to near new condition but perfectionist is my fatal flaw
To fix a fuel tank, try using borax on a brazing rod. At the same time having a air hose blowing fresh air in the tank. No fumes in tank. Borax helps the brazing rod flow nicely on to the steel tank. Also many folks didn,t know there is a grease fitting on the inside of each rear wheel. I have a few C. J,s old kickstart
There were two types of Jeep 4 cyl. head gaskets. One was essentially a piece of metal sandwiched between two pieces of asbestos, the other was a piece of asbestos sandwiched between to pieces of metal (such as you purchased). The gasket with the asbestos on the outside was the best because it allowed for some of the surface irregularities in the Jeep blocks and heads (especially when doing field repairs).
I know this video is old but it's the first time I've seen it. As far as the hole in the air filter housing goes I've had luck using a rivet or a nut and bolt and sealer. Great video's
you had me at "well, the proper fix would be this, but I am not go do that" :-D like so many others, i loved this vid and your style. subscribed and will watch more. thanks!
Nice collection of jeeps. I sold my cj3a. And the two willys trucks I’m down to 2 cj jeeps. 77 cj5 and a 78 cj7 The cj7 is getting a diesel and is being turbo charged
Truly low buck car fun! And even if you add a windscreen, left front shock and fix the 4wd you still have a driveable car to play with between the renching. Good prioritys!
For modern cars the ignition wrenches are used for other areas where you need that size in the car. Yes they are still needed to get to some of the parts like the side interior panels off to get to the fuse boxes.
You need to put together an engine swap kit for the little jeeps that uses a cheap motor like the Kia 2.7 v6. Every junk yard is litters with them and all they need is 2 valves and a timing belt. They are compact little v6 engines that put out really good power.
a friend of mine uses one of those boat gastanks in an old black london cab that had a leaky fuel tank, they work great for pretty much everything, and they have a decent capacity
Really enjoyed this video. Anytime you can make something fun out of nothing and have a good time doing.it then have fun using it , this is a good project. I have done this on many a derelict VW . Have always wanted a flat fender , maybe sometime.👍😄🎩
try some fuel tank liner, don't worry, its cheap if you get the right stuff. The northern radiator brand can be re used, the other brands can't. Slosh it around and let it dry, can usually do half dozen tanks per quart. I even used it on a radiator serge tank.
You need to remove all the rust weld in all the holes. Then fill in the pin holes with Bondo. Then send it perfectly smooth, then put primer on it and then paint it. Then it needs three coats of clear coat. Then it needs to be polished and waxed.
My oh my….. just thought what would happen if you tried to get this car street legal in Germany and shuddered. Some of the land of the free seems still to exist,you all should try to keep it like that. If it feels good for you, just go on !
Thanks, I appreciate hearing that. I really debated if it was too long and considered chopping it up into multiple parts. Glad I went with it all in one shot!
@31:27 "This would be a good time to check the fluids though". If a fluid is still running out, there's still some inside. I learned that from radial aircraft engines.
This is great! I love old Jeep’s and just how much abuse they shrug off. But I have to say…. I’m feel like I’m getting a jeep video from Peter Griffin! Please tell me that you have a son named Stew and a dog named Brian. Love the content.