1981 Cherokee

[cu4whln]

Today I pulled out the remaining seats and scrubbed down the inside with simple green.

It's time to get serious on the patch panels. and rust proofing.

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On the "Rustproofing" comment . . .

The floor rusts a lot due to the dash and windshield leaking.
Then the water sits trapped in the old jute sound pads. Rust loves that!

Also the cowl vents.... Be sure to clean those out.

If at all possible, pull the dash and reseal EVERY seam.

I know, I know.. Total pita to do this.
BUT - I couldn't believe how many leak paths I found in the body. YIKES.
I water tested for days and kept finding leaks. Probably missed a few small ones!
But - I feel the Jeep has a fighting chance now to NOT trap water under the carpets and rust again.

I used Eastwood brushable seam sealer.. and seam "caulk"
Not too expensive at all. The rear wheel wells also let a lot of water in.
Went over every weld seam and repair area.

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[78 WIDETRAC]

__________________________________________________ _____

On the "Rustproofing" comment . . .

The floor rusts a lot due to the dash and windshield leaking.
Then the water sits trapped in the old jute sound pads. Rust loves that!

Also the cowl vents.... Be sure to clean those out.

If at all possible, pull the dash and reseal EVERY seam.

I know, I know.. Total pita to do this.
BUT - I couldn't believe how many leak paths I found in the body. YIKES.
I water tested for days and kept finding leaks. Probably missed a few small ones!
But - I feel the Jeep has a fighting chance now to NOT trap water under the carpets and rust again.

I used Eastwood brushable seam sealer.. and seam "caulk"
Not too expensive at all. The rear wheel wells also let a lot of water in.
Went over every weld seam and repair area.

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I have been watching your build on this and taking notes. Your sealing job looks so professional.

I do have seam sealer in a tube. The brush on sealer is a great idea too.

After I get things welded up, I will seal them up. Pulling the windshield and removing the dash is the only way to do it right. I do want it water tight. It rains a lot in Oregon! Thanks for the tips.

6 of those clips were headed you way as of Monday morning. You should get them soon.

[cu4whln]

I have been watching your build on this and taking notes. Your sealing job looks so professional.

I do have seam sealer in a tube. The brush on sealer is a great idea too.

After I get things welded up, I will seal them up. Pulling the windshield and removing the dash is the only way to do it right. I do want it water tight. It rains a lot in Oregon! Thanks for the tips.

6 of those clips were headed you way as of Monday morning. You should get them soon.

LOL - "Professional"
I am a one man band in my garage. Literally!

Glad you are taking the sealing situation seriously.
Your work will pay off in the long game!

Thanks for those clips!!
That is a lifesaver!!
Can't find those anywhere !

[SJTD]

Take a look at the seams in the cowl too. Mine looked like chimps applied the sealer.

[devildog80]

Yes make sure water does not get in, but think about giving it a way to get out if it does.

My '81 CJ5 has the drain plugs in the floor, and I will make sure to put some in my '84 GW when I get to that part of the build.

I'm sure when I someday get out and going with it, it will be traversing water up past the bottom of the door jamb a time or two, and like the idea if water gets in it can get out

[SOLSAKS]

Eastwood sells great products, in my opinion.

[78 WIDETRAC]

I finally made some progress on the floor pans. Right now they are fitted and down with self tappers. I also was seeing how some non- stock seats would fit and look. That trans hump is an issue of course. I may go with stock seats.

Here are a few pics.

[rang-a-stang]

Awesome! Glad you are starting these floors. I know you have been dreading it for some time.

[SOLSAKS]

i dont know much,...but i do know those aftermarket seats look like RECARO brand
and they are HIGH DOLLAR seats in any condition.
and they sit great.

[78 WIDETRAC]

Thanks for the replies,

Marc. I did enjoy fitting them, I know the bends are crude! Nothing is permanent until it's welded.

Dave, I'm putting those seats back in my basement and will use FSJ power bases under the factory style buckets I have, It allows me to drive it around.

Just replacing the floors took a ton of noise away. I Still need to weld them in but it's progress to some degree. Some day it will be done. I'm enjoying it and that's what matters.

Art- Are you still checking the board on occasion? Check in if you are.

[78 WIDETRAC]

I'm still chipping away at it, I'm currently trying to figure out the clutch linkage.
I have an email into JBfab based on an old post from Zack "44BZ" They built him something.

I also installed a new free flowing catalytic converter and a stainless swap meet SS 3" muffler. Sounds freaking awesome now.

[rang-a-stang]

POST A VIDEO!!!!

[78 WIDETRAC]

I've been watching some light snow fly most of the day waiting on a NOS Bellcrank to arrive from NY.


It seems to be in Idaho on a fedex truck for the last few days,

I'm fortunate that JB Custom fab of the famed twin stick shifters for FSJ is located just south in Salem, Or.

I sent Jon an email inquiring about making me some linkage based on the measurements I gave 44BZ years ago from my other 4 speed Jeep.

Here is their product.


It is here and waiting on the bell crank for install.

I'll need to enlarge the hole on my clutch pedal and bell crank. It's going to be nice to have adjustable linkage and a factory T-18 that is clocked in the stock location again.

The other stuff worked, Just had no adjustment(welded together) , and I think the Bellcrank was from the original t-177. The clutch makes a weird sound described in Arts early threads on here. I think this will take care of that sound.

[78 WIDETRAC]

Good news! The new clutch linkage is a direct bolt in. No need to enlarge any holes in clutch pedal or Bellcrank, It feels smooth, so far no weird gravely sound from the clutch.

My front yoke seal just started leaking on the 208. Bummer!


I was also feeling a what I would describe as a binding or at minimum a fairly noticeable resistance pulling away from a stop sign.

I was thinking brakes or lunch box locker, I did lift the rear of my jeep to check for any problems with sticking drums. It all spins effortlessly.

Would the 208 bind? that seems like a stretch, Maybe the locker?

Any input or ideas?

I have only driven vehicles with factory equipped posi trac or trac lock. never a lunch box locker, It may be normal I just don't know.

[78 WIDETRAC]

I'm still out here. Just waiting for the speeds to pick up on IFSJA, and it seems real fast today. I'm not big on change but this seems to be working out. Thanks BJ's for doing it.