CJ7: Dan's 1984 rebuild project

[dan-cj7]

Okay, so I've been secretly plugging away at all the wiring on my CJ build. It's taking forever and I don't get lots of time to work on it. I am basically using the YJ wiring and installing it into a CJ. I'm using the steering column from the YJ so that my wipers (now with delay) and light dimmers are on the column. I have installed a 4.6 stroker so will now need a check engine light. I thought I would get creative and since the wiring has an up shift light I was thinking how could I add it to the dash to look stock. Well two lights didn't look good together so I've also added the seatbelt warning light. I plan to add the just above the steering column.

With a bit of help from a couple of notebooks with transparent covers I now have the check engine, seatbelt and up shift lights made up. I also made one with the original YJ up shift light and can decide which one looks better.

With the wipers on the steering column I'm trying to think of something to fill the empty hole where the old wiper switch was.






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[jeepben]

any updates mate??

[dan-cj7]

Sorry I haven't been very good at updating this.

Since I've finished (pretty much) all the wiring and everything seems to be working I've been working at getting the mechanical modifications finished.

I've had the radiator recored. I prefered this over an aliminium one. So it looks like new.

Then I had a custom extractor made up at Hiteck headers in Sunshine. They did a good job as I first tried an XJ header but it was way too low on the outlet. It stuck down lower than the belly pan. I gave it back with my old extractors and he made me up a custom fitting one. Nice S/S pipes with 2 1/4" outlet pipe.

I then bought a '99 TJ inlet manifold, had it hot tanked for a few days and just finished painting it up this weekend. I'm not keen on painting but I like it better than the oxidized look.

I'm now thinking about a heat shield to add to the bottom of the inlet manifold to keep the intake temps dowm. I've seen GoJeep's system and Dom's stroker from their websites and I think I like the shield that sticks a bit better.

When I figure that out I will be able to bolt them up for the last time. I've got another throttle body and I'm trying to convince a buddy here at work with access to a lathe to bore it out for me. I'll get a new butterfly valve made to fit.

I always get these setbacks like the fuel lines I had planned on using from my YJ donor but with the exhaust right along the frame on the left side I'm concerned about radiant heat effects on the fuel temp. I'm considering how to run the fuel lines down the drivers side.

I'm also on the hunt for a fan as my origninal CJ one spins the wrong way for a serpentine system on the YJ/TJ. I don't know if the TJ fans are the right size.

Other than that not much to report. Thanks for watching....

[dan-cj7]

Got a new toy this week. It's a 3 in 1 machine. I've been looking around for one for a while and thought I deserved a nice birthday present to myself.


The same day I got my heat shield in the mail and got straight to work making a heat shield to go under the inlet manifold. This should keep the inlet air temps low. For the amount it costs it's a cheap way to improve the performance. Now I can install the headers and the inlet manifold.



With the new welder I think it might be time to tackle some body work!