Strode 1982 Cherokee Laredo Build

[Strode]

My gas tank coffin was in pretty good shape. I used POR-15 on it, and it's ready to go.

[Strode]

I started on some interior stuff, because I don't have money to do big stuff. I did the voltmeter conversion, and started painting the pods. I bought about 3 different gauge clusters over time, trying to put together 1 nice set with 4 nice plastic lenses.





I used my trusty little SpeedyBlaster filled with soda to blast old paint of the gauge pods.

[Strode]

My interior was all black. I like the "Palomino" look of 2 tone browns & tans. I used interior vinyl paint after a really good cleaning to change the color on all the interior trim pieces.

[Strode]

The finished door panels....



My 30 year old dash pad was still in great shape, thank goodness, and it took the darker color brown. "Bluebird Brown" I think it is.

[Strode]

The rustiest part of my Cherokee is the rear fender flare bottoms. I got some flares off of a J10 from BostonBob in Conifer.

On the flares I got from him, the pass side flare was perfect, but the drivers side was solid, but mangled good. I didn't think I could save it, but it was better than what I had. I managed to straighten it out fairly well.

[Strode]

I also got a patch panel from BJs.

[Strode]

I'm the world's worst welder. I need to take a class. I just can't get nice clean spot welds.
So, when I got this one pretty close, I used lead to fill all the pinholes. It's not finish smooth, I'll obviously still need some filler, but there aren't any pinholes in it.

[Strode]

Once I ground down the welds, and filled the seam with lead....

[nc wagoneer]

Wow, an fsj when new cost the same in fuel per year as a small economy car with today's prices that window sticker and fuel mileage sheet aw SWEET so according to that we are helping the environment by driving economy cars, hmm wonder how far we'll get with that one

[Strode]

I had to make the inner fender piece. I used cardboard, made templates, then pounded out a round shape. Sure would love to have an english wheel, and planishing hammer, etc, etc.....







I painted the inside with POR-15, and painted the backside of the filler piece I made with POR-15.

[Strode]

I pulled the engine and the trans. It's the only way to go, with no body on it. It comes out real nice that way. The trans looks good as far as I can tell, so don't know what I'll be doing to that other than trying to reseal it so it doesn't leak.

The engine had all kinds of bearing metal in the pan. I don't know if I'll even mess with this one. I'd rather find a 360 or 401 that's never been apart.

I made a thread about the weird damage to the timing cover. The washer somehow came loose and skidded across the timing cover. I don't know why the bolt wouldn't be the 1st thing to hit the timing cover.......It's a mystery to me.



Looking down on this piston, I could actually see a ring. The picture didn't show it, but that can't be good.

[Strode]

Cleaning fuel lines and brake lines with a wire brush. Not fun.







....then spraying clear on them.

[Strode]

I didn't have the time/inclination/facilities to sandblast my frame, so I cleaned it really good with a steam cleaner about 5 times.

I used my spray gun, and sprayed 1 quart of Rustoleum Severe Rust Primer (or something like that).

[Strode]

I then used 2 quarts of Rustoleum Semi-Gloss Black for a top coat....





The frame had paint drips on all the rear facing surfaces. I think they dipped these frames in a vat of paint in the assembly line, and the paint all dripped off the back end surfaces.

[Strode]

I started painting the axles. I used POR-15 Semi-Gloss on these, but they came out splotchy for some reason. So I went back over it with the Rustoleum. I'll paint the ends of the axles when I replace all the bearings, ball joints, brakes, etc.









Those gears look like I painted them. I did not paint my gears.