HOWDY from Central Texas

[Customspilot]

That's going to be a awesome CJ7! I'll post pics every few weeks and report on my progress. I hope you'll do the same... if you have time!
Thanks for the reply!

 

[Jim Dandy]

Hey Budro. We're slowly making progress. It's come further along. Coated the inside of the frame, epoxy painted it with Eastwood, powder coated some of the parts and have them on. Rebuilt the transmission and the transfer case. Rebuilding the diffs now as we speak. Next will be to get the rear disc conversion done. Have the wheels I had to really hunt for. Once the rear disc is completed we'll be able to get the rolling chasis much closer to being done. Here's a few more pics.

Little more progress. Have both diffs rebuilt and installed. Now finishing up the axles and on to the rear disc conversion. Have the fuel and brake lines ordered as well.

 

[Customspilot]

Little more progress. Have both diffs rebuilt and installed. Now finishing up the axles and on to the rear disc conversion. Have the fuel and brake lines ordered as well.

Hey Jim
That looks great! I'm liking the gold on black...what color are you going with on the body? I've made some progress on mine this week.
I'm in the middle of mocking up the powertrain while awaiting on parts, before final assembly. The mods that I've chosen for the powertrain has shifted my transfer case back 2.5 inches. The angles are looking good so far but I haven't established my rear mount position yet. Got the steering gearbox mounted and it looks like I will be flipping the control linkage and keeping my dropped pitman arm because of the OME 2.5" lift! Glad to see your progress, what did you put in your pumpkins and what gear ratio did you go with?

 

[Jim Dandy]

I've got the BDS 2.5" lift on mine and I'll get the drive shafts after I get the body weight down on it so I have the right length shafts. I am staying with the 3.54 gears. Going to run the 32x11.5 ko2 on it so I could keep the same bandwidth. Should be good I think

 

[Jim Dandy]

Hey my friend. Have made a lot more progress. Really close to having the rolling chassis complete. The block and head are going to a machine shop next week. Will probably change out the head to a 4.0 but not sure where to find one. Also time to find a really good Painter. Let me know if you know someone. Here's some updated pics.

 

[Jim Dandy]

Yo Customs.. hope you've been okay. Haven't heard from you in a while. Here's the update. Have the block machined. Done a 4.0 head conversion. Have the motor, transmission, and transfer case mounted to the frame. Starter, alternator, PS pump are on too. Looking for steel chrome pulleys and back and forth right now on the intake amd carb to get.

Hope to hear from you soon. Hope you've been working on your project with your brother.

 

[thrash66]

Wow! You're making good progress on that CJ7. I would love to build one in the future.

 

[Jim Dandy]

Wow! You're making good progress on that CJ7. I would love to build one in the future.

Thank you so much. It's taking longer than I wanted but it's moving forward. Now I need to find a painter that knows what he's doing in the Austin, TX area that won't rob me.. we want all the parts painted separately so we don't end up with overstay on the epoxied frame..

 

[Jim Dandy]

Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving. Here's the latest progress. DUI distributor, MSP plugs, valve cover and breathers, polished aluminum pulleys, fan is on, and the bumper. Having trouble finding the right PS pump or figuring out if I need new brackets due to the 4.0 head conversion. If anyone could help or point me in the right direction about that if they've done the 4.0 head conversion on the 258 as well, that would be great. As you can see, good 'ol Mickey is wanting to go for a ride as well. Gotta get it done this year.