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Well, now that it is getting warmer and I can actually go outside and do stuff, I figured that I'd start a thread on my 76 Cherokee.
A little background:
I've been around NAXJA for years and have a Very well equipped XJ. I wheeled the snot out of it all over the country, but it was built for Northwest wheeling. I was transferred from Ft Lewis WA to Ft Dix last year and because of my schedule and life, have only wheeled ONCE since moving.
Enter the J-10. My first FSJ. I loved this thing, but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, it ended up being donated to CRAWL magazine right before its demise. It didn't make it to the rebirth.
I've always loved FSJ's but there was always something going on, too many vehicles, or not enough room so it went to the back burner.
After wheeling the 'Con last August, I started looking for a new ride. I'd always wanted a Cherokee, but the ones up here are usually rusted to hell and worthless. I found one from VA that was for sale by another Servicemember and headed down.
AMC 360, T-18 4 speed, Dana 20 TC, HD44/Dana 60 geared to 4.11, 8 lug axles. The guy threw in a set of H2 wheels too.
The body was rust free, the engine needed work, and the interior was mostly there but I was ready to pay a premium for a rust free body. I dragged her home behind the diesel. Before I even picked it up, I had plans for this thing.
Original plans:
Freshen up the 360
4bbl carb and aftermarket intake
headers
flowmaster
Hydroboost
6" lift (springover front/shackle flip rear)
Crossover/hi-steer
HEI ignition
Modern interior upgrades (yet to be determined)
As the weather grew colder I started collecting parts here and there.
Holley Street Dominator 300-31z manifold and TT SOA/SF
Hydroboost from a 2002 Chevy silverado (Elliott)
New steering components, ball joints, TRE's brakes, brake lines (I LOVE rock auto)
I found a Holley 4160 in a local JY for 35.00 and rebuilt it (lets hope it works!)
I also fell into a great deal on an AMC 360 from Hammered (member), and snatched it up. (Thanks again Brad!) before the winter of 2010. Nothing happened over the winter except wishful thinking.
On to better weather.
I cleaned up the replacement motor in preparation to just swap it with the original. (the original was knocking and backfiring) On a sunny day a few weeks ago I pulled the motor with my dad. (sorry no pics) After I got into the motor, I noticed that the pushrod on the #2 Cylinder was broken in two places and it looked like it was severely neglected over the last 34 years
The new(er) motor however looked wonderful, so after slapping the intake, carb, and some paint on I was ready to tackle the engine bay.
Old and new(er)
Engine out, Hydroboost in, and a bunch of work to do....
There was some really NASTY goop all over this Jeep. Time to go in....
I ended up using some 3M "Professional Grade" undercoating and made everything all one color. At some time in the Jeeps life, it was literally dipped in undercoating; the only thing that wasn't sprayed was the engine bay. This stuff went on great, and is not tacky at all.
Looking a little better now, I'll update with pics later.
So thanks for looking; I plan to have this ready for the Jeff Daniels Jeep show this year.
If anyone has an idea for a name for this build, please chime in.
John
A little background:
I've been around NAXJA for years and have a Very well equipped XJ. I wheeled the snot out of it all over the country, but it was built for Northwest wheeling. I was transferred from Ft Lewis WA to Ft Dix last year and because of my schedule and life, have only wheeled ONCE since moving.
Enter the J-10. My first FSJ. I loved this thing, but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, it ended up being donated to CRAWL magazine right before its demise. It didn't make it to the rebirth.
I've always loved FSJ's but there was always something going on, too many vehicles, or not enough room so it went to the back burner.
After wheeling the 'Con last August, I started looking for a new ride. I'd always wanted a Cherokee, but the ones up here are usually rusted to hell and worthless. I found one from VA that was for sale by another Servicemember and headed down.
AMC 360, T-18 4 speed, Dana 20 TC, HD44/Dana 60 geared to 4.11, 8 lug axles. The guy threw in a set of H2 wheels too.
The body was rust free, the engine needed work, and the interior was mostly there but I was ready to pay a premium for a rust free body. I dragged her home behind the diesel. Before I even picked it up, I had plans for this thing.
Original plans:
Freshen up the 360
4bbl carb and aftermarket intake
headers
flowmaster
Hydroboost
6" lift (springover front/shackle flip rear)
Crossover/hi-steer
HEI ignition
Modern interior upgrades (yet to be determined)
As the weather grew colder I started collecting parts here and there.
Holley Street Dominator 300-31z manifold and TT SOA/SF
Hydroboost from a 2002 Chevy silverado (Elliott)
New steering components, ball joints, TRE's brakes, brake lines (I LOVE rock auto)
I found a Holley 4160 in a local JY for 35.00 and rebuilt it (lets hope it works!)
I also fell into a great deal on an AMC 360 from Hammered (member), and snatched it up. (Thanks again Brad!) before the winter of 2010. Nothing happened over the winter except wishful thinking.
On to better weather.
I cleaned up the replacement motor in preparation to just swap it with the original. (the original was knocking and backfiring) On a sunny day a few weeks ago I pulled the motor with my dad. (sorry no pics) After I got into the motor, I noticed that the pushrod on the #2 Cylinder was broken in two places and it looked like it was severely neglected over the last 34 years
The new(er) motor however looked wonderful, so after slapping the intake, carb, and some paint on I was ready to tackle the engine bay.
Old and new(er)
Engine out, Hydroboost in, and a bunch of work to do....
There was some really NASTY goop all over this Jeep. Time to go in....
I ended up using some 3M "Professional Grade" undercoating and made everything all one color. At some time in the Jeeps life, it was literally dipped in undercoating; the only thing that wasn't sprayed was the engine bay. This stuff went on great, and is not tacky at all.
Looking a little better now, I'll update with pics later.
So thanks for looking; I plan to have this ready for the Jeff Daniels Jeep show this year.
If anyone has an idea for a name for this build, please chime in.
John
Looks like J20 axles under it. Thanks for sharing. How about Ole Green Teeth? 
Took lots of screws and rods to fix it
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