74 Chief Restore

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  • bkilby
    350 Buick
    • Jan 10, 2016
    • 1083

    74 Chief Restore

    Hi folks. I bought this Cherokee Chief on 1-7-2016 as a project vehicle. The PO had the engine rebuilt, put it in the Jeep and stopped. The trans and tcase were out of the vehicle when I bought it. I decided to pull the engine back out, go through it a little and clean it up (paint). I got to a point that I needed to order a couple of parts so I decided it was a good idea to pull the body and get the frame sand blasted and that's where I'm at now. I just got it back from sand blast today. What started off as a "put it together quickly" plan turned into a frame off project. Lol! Anyways, just thought I'd share some pics and info of our progress.

















    Last edited by bkilby; 10-23-2022, 02:38 PM.
    1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!
  • bkilby
    350 Buick
    • Jan 10, 2016
    • 1083

    #2










    Last edited by bkilby; 10-23-2022, 02:28 PM.
    1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

    Comment

    • bkilby
      350 Buick
      • Jan 10, 2016
      • 1083

      #3
      The frame as it came back from sand blast. I chose a self etching primer, just happened to be green. Looks cool now but will be satin black when done.
      I found a crack in the frame just behind the DS front spring hanger that will get fixed tomorrow. All in all, besides the previous owner snot welds, the frame is in great shape.







      Last edited by bkilby; 10-23-2022, 02:31 PM.
      1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

      Comment

      • Auburnmark
        232 I6
        • Jan 03, 2015
        • 110

        #4
        Nice shop.. nice lift.. no reason not to do frame off Looks good so far, great progress. I'll be watching. Smog exempt 401?? Lucky guy!
        Mark

        Stock '77 J10 Pioneer LWB
        360 V8, 2bl (49 state)
        T-18 4 speed
        Dana 44's
        31x10.50x15

        Comment

        • Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81
          Cherokee Outlaw
          • Jan 10, 2006
          • 7292

          #5
          Looking great! Wish I had the resources to do mine like this.
          Originally posted by bkilby
          I found a crack in the frame just behind the DS front spring hanger that will get fixed tomorrow.
          Pretty common on these FSJs, my frame has cracks all over it as well. I just bought a welder to repair them.
          Originally posted by bkilby
          All in all, besides the previous owner snot welds, the frame is in great shape.
          Funny, but those booger welds are more than likely factory. Quality control at AMC was pretty terrible. The welds that are supposed to hold the seam together on the front passenger section of my frame don't even cover the seam so it's literally just loosely held together by the front shackle mount.
          -Jonny B.
          1979 Cherokee Golden Eagle - UNDER CONSTRUCTION
          7" Alcan springs, BJ's HD shackles - 35x12.5x15 BFG Mud Terrains
          AMC 401 - Pro-Flo 4 EFI
          NV4500/NWF BB/NP205 - Triple Stick'd
          F D44 - 4.10, Eaton E-Locker
          R M23 - 4.10, Detroit Locker

          1979 Cherokee Chief - Parts
          1979 Cherokee Chief - Parts
          1979 Wagoneer - Sold
          1981 Cherokee Chief - Cubed

          Comment

          • Strode
            1st Chair, Cowbell
            • Nov 08, 2011
            • 2292

            #6
            Nice !
            Brad
            (*Allowed to post while failed 'I am not a Bot' test results are under appeal)

            My build thread: 1982 Cherokee Laredo

            Ristow's Bunker

            Member, FSJ Prissy Restoration Association

            Comment

            • bkilby
              350 Buick
              • Jan 10, 2016
              • 1083

              #7
              Originally posted by Auburnmark
              Nice shop.. nice lift.. no reason not to do frame off Looks good so far, great progress. I'll be watching. Smog exempt 401?? Lucky guy!
              No such luck here. It is an original 401 Jeep but the 401 is gone and a 360 took its place. I have no idea where the original engine is.
              1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

              Comment

              • bkilby
                350 Buick
                • Jan 10, 2016
                • 1083

                #8
                Originally posted by Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81
                Funny, but those booger welds are more than likely factory. Quality control at AMC was pretty terrible. The welds that are supposed to hold the seam together on the front passenger section of my frame don't even cover the seam so it's literally just loosely held together by the front shackle mount.
                I was wondering if some of that was factory welds. They (or someone) used a real splatter box. Lol! I know things like the shackles, spring hangers etc are not only riveted but welded too. Some not so good. I'll be fixing that up soon.

                So, I need new bushings for the springs and shackles. Anyone know where to get Urethane? It seems the rear springs are a bit funky on their size of bushings.
                1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

                Comment

                • Auburnmark
                  232 I6
                  • Jan 03, 2015
                  • 110

                  #9
                  Originally posted by bkilby
                  No such luck here. It is an original 401 Jeep but the 401 is gone and a 360 took its place. I have no idea where the original engine is.
                  Ahh.. oh well nice rig anyway. Surprised to see the stress crack in frame. Now I know why they beefed up these frames around year 77 (I think).
                  BJ's should have the bushings you need.
                  Mark

                  Stock '77 J10 Pioneer LWB
                  360 V8, 2bl (49 state)
                  T-18 4 speed
                  Dana 44's
                  31x10.50x15

                  Comment

                  • bkilby
                    350 Buick
                    • Jan 10, 2016
                    • 1083

                    #10
                    Thanks for the link! I'll have to call them to see if it's the correct size. If the pic is accurate, i don't think it'll work.
                    1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

                    Comment

                    • bkilby
                      350 Buick
                      • Jan 10, 2016
                      • 1083

                      #11
                      So as it turns out, BJ's doesn't have the Urethane bushing I want. Seems nobody does. Looks like I might have to buy the stock rubber replacements. I have the Prothane body bushings ordered but it looks like they're going to be wrong too. Oh the joy. Frame has been painted, just waiting to figure out the bushings so we can put the body back on the frame.


                      Last edited by bkilby; 10-23-2022, 03:00 PM.
                      1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

                      Comment

                      • cu4whln
                        304 AMC
                        • May 16, 2008
                        • 1699

                        #12
                        Stop slacking off Brad!

                        Get to work !!
                        It's not yours 'til ya bleed on it . . . https://forums.ifsja.org/core/images...s/rolleyes.png

                        1977 "401" 'Da Chief
                        1979 Chero: "Madness" [Sold]
                        1972 J4000
                        1985 CJ : Renegade -locked and loaded
                        2005 Unlimited Rubicon - Built
                        2012 Artic JK 4 door, 2016 JK 2 door

                        'Da Chief here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...ighlight=chief

                        Round 2- LT Swap: 'Da Chief:
                        http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=188457

                        "Madness" build here:
                        http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=89280

                        Comment

                        • bkilby
                          350 Buick
                          • Jan 10, 2016
                          • 1083

                          #13
                          Originally posted by cu4whln
                          Stop slacking off Brad!

                          Get to work !!
                          Yeah yeah. Am I not moving fast enough for you? Lol!
                          1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

                          Comment

                          • bkilby
                            350 Buick
                            • Jan 10, 2016
                            • 1083

                            #14
                            Great news for me. I found a local shop that ordered all the suspension bushings that I need. I should see them in a couple of days. As I was on the phone, I'm Googling part numbers and came across a thread on this site where someone already posted all the part numbers with dimensions that I need! Doh! Lol! Oh well, I book marked the thread for future reference although I've solved the problem already. Buying suspension and body bushings for a '74 is not easy.
                            1974 Cherokee S. It's driving but needs more work. As usual!

                            Comment

                            • SJTD
                              304 AMC
                              • Apr 26, 2012
                              • 1945

                              #15
                              Doesn't BJ's have the body mounts?

                              I thought the only difference was the number of mounts and the kit came with enough for the earlier bodies.
                              Last edited by SJTD; 01-27-2016, 07:27 AM.
                              Sic friatur crustulum

                              '84 GW with Nissan SD33T, early Chev NV4500, 300, narrowed Ford reverse 44, narrowed Ford 60, SOA/reversed shackle in fornt, lowered mount/flipped shackle in rear.

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