Beginning a family Jeep restoration

[Brad Y.]

It has been a while. I am slowly progressing...time is quickly eaten up by work and family. I worked on the trailer most of the fall and had to put on hold due to weather (working outside). I have had a few hours here or there pulling parts off of the CJ though. Here are some pictures from the last few months.

Now that I am to this point I am wondering where to start and how far to go...Does anyone have a list of items that should be replaced no matter what, a list of items that would be good to replace, and a list of if you have the chance/money (money and time are my limiting factors...)?

I am planning to pull the engine (not stock, swapped to f-head) as I have to in order to get to my brake master cylinder. I would like to get down to the frame since I am as close as I already am.

Here is what I am going to do for sure at this point:
 - Update Brakes
� �� - new master cylinder
� �� - disc brakes and calipers
� �� - new hoses
- Change engine gaskets
- new rotor, points, spark plugs etc.
- New thermostat
- new wheel hub seals/gaskets

Any info on other items I should/you would get would be appreciated...

(Also, trying to save as much money as possible by using what I have when possible...)

[athawk11]

I like your list.  The only thing I wouldn't do is the disc brake conversion.  I'm not saying that you shouldn't do the disc conversion.  I personally have found the original setup to be more than adequate.   Plus, the disc conversion is a chunk of money that could be used for other needs.

[Brad Y.]

I like your list.� The only thing I wouldn't do is the disc brake conversion.� I'm not saying that you shouldn't do the disc conversion.� I personally have found the original setup to be more than adequate.� �Plus, the disc conversion is a chunk of money that could be used for other needs.

Really? It seems like everything I read says that the original 9" drums are a little undersized/not great for stopping. I have personally never drove the Jeep so don't know what to expect one way or another.

My plan was to do the tracker break conversion as it seems like parts are available (my hope is to source from local junkyard). When I do the price estimates the disc conversion only higher for the most part due to the adapter plates. Everything else is close with the disc brake parts slightly higher cost than drum wheel cylinders, pads, hoses, etc. Then again I guess the wheel cylinders would be new and the disc parts would be used based on my estimates.

Thanks for the feedback. I will think about it more now...

[PercyUK]

Hello, I was looking at your photos of the Jeep and realised that your doors were cut down and instead of being the classic shape were now squared off. Presumably this was done so that doors could be fitted to the hard top. My own Jeep also has similar cut outs that I thought at the time were done by the previous owner for some bizarre reason. What can anyone tell me about this practice, was it factory done or fabricated by the owner after purchasing a hard cab ? I am trying to decide whether to re-instate that original Jeep door look but I might consider leaving them if it is something rare .

[mtnman37879]

You can leave the 9" brakes in the rear and put disc up front, you'll have all the stopping power you need. I have to ask, what is that straight axle from?

[Brad Y.]

Hello, I was looking at your photos of the Jeep and realised that your doors were cut down and instead of being the classic shape were now squared off. Presumably this was done so that doors could be fitted to the hard top. My own Jeep also has similar cut outs that I thought at the time were done by the previous owner for some bizarre reason. What can anyone tell me about this practice, was it factory done or fabricated by the owner after purchasing a hard cab ? I am trying to decide whether to re-instate that original Jeep door look but I might consider leaving them if it is something rare .

I don't know that I can provide much more input than what you already know. I do know the cut out is for the doors of the hardtop cab. The cutouts allow for the windows to be lower in the door and roll all the way down. I do not know who made the hardtop/doors at this point (couldn't find any marking in my quick look over the cab). Maybe once I pull more apart I will find something...

[Brad Y.]

You can leave the 9" brakes in the rear and put disc up front, you'll have all the stopping power you need. I have to ask, what is that straight axle from?

From what I have read I will need to go all 4 one way or another unless I go with a specific brake master cylinder setup for disc/drum brakes. Am I missing something?

The pictures are showing both the Jeep and the Bantam trailer. The axle is off of the trailer.

[PercyUK]

RE: Body Door Cut outs.

Hi Brad, thanks that's interesting. I have not seen another Jeep modified in the same way except my own, and I thought it was a farm yard conversion for some reason.
Does anyone else out there know anything about these particular hardtops or have any other info ?

[squidtone]

The hardtop on Brad Y's Jeep looks like a Koenig "Supercab" #550.
These tops were the top of the line version and had "full doors" with full roll down windows. This was accomplished by having the doors fold against the body; so the door didn't go into the door opening. The doors have a little notch in the corner....I guess it's kind of stylized as it doesn't match the contour of the rear wheel arch, and it's too small to allow you to open the gas fill without opening the door. So not sure why Koenig put the notch there. And I'm not sure why your Jeep's tub door opening was modified because it didn't need to be to fit that Koenig top. But I'm sure it makes it a little easier to get in and out of.

It's a little hard to tell since I can't see some of the details, but I think that's what it is. It looks like the top might be slightly modified/customized.

I'm (hopefully successfully) attaching a picture of the Half hardtop version of the very same type of Koenig top: (it's a Supercab #555)

[squidtone]

Brochure

[Brad Y.]

Squid,

I looked at all the documentation I could find and I found the same thing you have pointed out. I guess my main problem is the cutout as you mention. I don't know if they had an earlier version that required a cutout portion of the body to fit the door perhaps? I also have not found any markings at all so will have to look closer.

It would be cool to know what the top really is and this is probably the closest for sure.

The picture you show is interesting where did you find that one? It's door looks almost identical to the one I have, with the cutout closer to the gas tank than the brochure shows. I would love to see what the door looks like open.

[squidtone]

Brad,
That's my Jeep as received in 2006. I still have the top in my wood shed...if you'd like I can take a picture of the inside of the door. I remember it having tempered Masonite as a door panel, but mine was mostly rotted off.

[Brad Y.]

Squid,
My top definitely was not designed to be installed without modification so I would love to also see yours from the inside if you have a chance to post pictures. I will try to post my photos this weekend. Just more curiosity than anything at this point. 

[Brad Y.]

Here are some pictures of my doors.

[squidtone]

Wow it looks cool. That does look like Koenig hardware on the inside of the door.
My weekend is really jammed up, but I'll try to get some pix of my doors sometime this weekend.