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Jeep Gregs Willys CJ2a, rusto-mod version

Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
So, some observations after offroading the CJ2a yesterday....

I was running 12 PSI in the tires and it was still pretty rough over the bigger rocks. I think 8-9 PSI would really help the tires conform to the bigger rocks & ledges. I'll try the lower pressure next time out.

Also, the Rochester 2G carb doesn't like much bouncing and climbing at all. There were a couple of times where it would sputter, the carb would load up and stall... only happened to stall it once or twice, but it's not much fun to be climbing a rocky ledge or hill and have the Jeep stall out mid-way. I think a Motorcraft 2100 is in the near future. ;)

Also, I took a Jerry can with 5 gallons of fuel just in case, ratchet-strapped in the back.... and it leaked everywhere! It's an old can I bought at a garage sale. I'm sure the seal was all dried up, so I ordered a new one and well as a proper Jerry-can mount and tie down.

I actually felt pretty comfortable with the addition of the seatbelt, there were a few times where I had the CJ on a pretty steep sidehill and knowing I was belted in was a small comfort. :D
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
mbryson said:
Brennan Metcalf has his little Buick V6 pretty dialed in. I think he had an impressive thread on PBB a few years ago about tuning his carb in his MB? I can't remember if it was a Rochester or MotorCraft?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-willys/1078193-tuning-carburated-old-school-jeeps.html
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Awesome, long thread that looks like a great resource! I'll check out out.

He probably had a Motorcraft, they're the go-to offroad carb.... pretty easy to find and simple to work on. Back in the day, Chris Holley ran a Motorcraft on his UROC EB with a 302 and with a few tweaks it would run amazing offroad.
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
Greg said:
Awesome, long thread that looks like a great resource! I'll check out out.

He probably had a Motorcraft, they're the go-to offroad carb.... pretty easy to find and simple to work on. Back in the day, Chris Holley ran a Motorcraft on his UROC EB with a 302 and with a few tweaks it would run amazing offroad.
Click to expand...


The unusual PBB thread with actual tech. The Willy's forum is actually a decent place. Mostly good folk in there that aren't all that and a bag of ducks
 
smfulle

smfulle

Active Member
Location
Plain City, UT
Greg said:
So, some observations after offroading the CJ2a yesterday....

I actually felt pretty comfortable with the addition of the seatbelt, there were a few times where I had the CJ on a pretty steep sidehill and knowing I was belted in was a small comfort. :D
Click to expand...

Seatbelts... that’s silly. Just hang on to the passenger seat back. It probably won’t flip forward on it’s hinge.

This was my first ever red rock wall.


When you go down you gotta come up. This was before the lockers and the Tera Low gears.

 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Made some progress on some small things, I should be installing the LockRite in preparation for EJS, but these little things will make it look a bit cleaner.

For starters, my shifter boots have been pretty ugly and exposed the transmission to the elements. Also, my gas pedal was broken where the ball & socket connect, every now and again those parts would separate and the pedal would flop around. I ordered new boots for the tranny & t-case, plus the rings that hold them in place and a new gas pedal.... all from Walcks.

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And the finished results.... the gas pedal is in a little better position, too.

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Next up was the windshield blocks.... and the tie down. My hood isn't straight, but rather peaked in the center at the joint. With my windshield down, the blocks wouldn't touch the windshield frame but rest on the high hood joint. Using the idea that Stan ( @smfulle ) mentioned, I added some 7/8" heater hose but mounted the pieces permanently. I drilled a big & small hole thru the hose, then using a washer and screw secured them to the hood blocks. This gave me just enough height for the windshiled frame to rest on the hose and offer some cushion with bouncing around offroad.

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Lastly.... my clutch travel wasn't right. I have needed to adjust it for awhile, the transmission would grind when shifting into gear as the clutch wasn't fully released, even thought the pedal was to the floor. I pulled the rod apart and turned one of the clevis in a handful of turns. While it was apart, I noticed that one of the holes was wallowed out just enough to add a little slop. I put the bolts back in place, added new cotter pins and tested it out.... and it was MUCH better. No longer grinds shifting into gear!

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Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Next up, I needed a solid mount for a 5 gallon gas can. I bought a old, beatup gas can from a neighbor at a yard sale, thinking it would be pretty period-correct for the old Willys. I picked up a used gas can mount on Ebay to match, then went to work bolting it in. I filled the old can and.... it friggin leaks!!! :mad: I ended up using one of my fancy, newer Front Runner NATO gas cans instead... it doesn't look right though. I'll see if I can find another old, used gas can that doesn't leak.

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Next, I needed a place to mount a HiLift Jack... there's not a ton of room in the CJ2a, but with some creative mounts I ended up with a mount of the floor and roll bar. I think it's out of the way enough, and the mounts are SOLID. I have an old, rusty HiLift on the JKU so I'll but the new one on the new Jeep and the old HiLift on the old Jeep. ;)

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Now to install that LockRite.... ;)
 
smfulle

smfulle

Active Member
Location
Plain City, UT
Greg said:
Next up was the windshield blocks.... and the tie down. My hood isn't straight, but rather peaked in the center at the joint. With my windshield down, the blocks wouldn't touch the windshield frame but rest on the high hood joint. Using the idea that Stan ( @smfulle ) mentioned, I added some 7/8" heater hose but mounted the pieces permanently. I drilled a big & small hole thru the hose, then using a washer and screw secured them to the hood blocks. This gave me just enough height for the windshiled frame to rest on the hose and offer some cushion with bouncing around offroad.

20180303_181335-L.jpg


20180303_181616-L.jpg


20180305_174258-L.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice job Greg, taking a simple farmer type fix that I do by just splitting the hose and slipping it over the block and turning it into something elegant and exotic. I like it a lot.

A45D903C-5B63-4096-9AEB-1B73E0CA9FC2.jpeg
 
RustEoldtrux

RustEoldtrux

RustEoldtrux
Location
Evanston, WY
I have some old style gas cans that I'm sure won't leak. I'll bring a couple to ejs for you, free. If I can find them, I also have some twin stick rubber gaskets that I'll bring along, also free. Loving your build report.
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
RustEoldtrux said:
I have some old style gas cans that I'm sure won't leak. I'll bring a couple to ejs for you, free. If I can find them, I also have some twin stick rubber gaskets that I'll bring along, also free. Loving your build report.
Click to expand...

You really don't have to, I'm sure I can find one eventually. But if you have the room and can remember to toss one in, I'd take you up on the offer. Thanks!!
 
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