My Jeep's Restoration Notes

Also see Pictures of the restoration


March 17th, 2002
I made it home from the long trip with CJ8 in tow from PA & backed the Jeep into the garage, the 1st time it was in a (home) garage in it's 17 year life!

March 19th, 2002
I took off the Hard Top, much to the amazement of my 7 year old. Removed & charged the battery & emptied the 'stuff' out of the Jeep.

March 20th, until April fools day I didn't do much. Online I spent too much time with www.greatcj8.com Plus We had company over Spring Break & such.

April 2nd,
I began to get antsy so I removed the bulkhead, or cabdivider & found out that some CJ8 drivers leave this piece off. I am undecided. Too many other things to think of. Also I made the 'Seat Belts' Page for someone online converting an older '8' to shoulder belts. The pictures were a great help to him he said.

April 3rd, 2002
I went over to my buddies house to borrow some Vise Grips to remove the broken Windshield knobs, had a beer with him.. Got home & they worked good on them.
Weird, both broke off with the bare hand... Got back to work. Removed the Windshield Visors & Passenger seat. In doing this 2 bolt heads were twisted off..
I lowered the windshield to prep for removal due to a big crack plus rust around the frame. This was the 1st time since before it was sidelined in the 90's that the windshield was down. Lastly for this HumpDay, I tore off the damaged right rear fender flair. This was tough to do but with a grinder, hacksaw & those Vise Grips to pull I made it..

April 4th, 2002
Today I got off right @ 4pm (rare) so I rushed home 7 started in. 1st I cleaned up from yesterday, then I had a beer- hey it was nice out give me a break already!
OK, after the music was turned on I temporarily put the battery back in & started it up-
Just to remind the neighbors that I have a Jeep, LOL
Then I swept out the inside of the Jeep & then under it. There is a lot of rust- my gas mileage should be great after getting rid of all this weight!! LMBO
Finally, I removed the rear stock chrome step bumper (for good) & almost got the tailgate off, darn!

April 5th, 2002
Finished taking off the tailgate with a BFH on the last remaining Torx. Then I started cleaning the interior. Sounds lame but my hands get black from the fine mold- as a result of the Poconos & no garage for years as it sat.
I also removed & tagged all of the stuff attached to the windshield. Now all I need is the reverse drill bit to get all of those Torx holding the w.shield on. I'll get that & another can of PB blaster 2morrow @ "The Depot".

April 14th, 2002
Boy I hate those Torx! I am STILL trying to get the windshield off! I am either going to buy a sawz all, a torch or a REALLY BFH..
I am slowly removing elements of the dash to help get at the driver side windshield Torx.
On the passenger side there was some rust that actually helped me get at the Torx rather easily, see what I mean -'Here'-

April 23rd, 2002:
The windshield is off & thrown away to be replaced with a new frame & new glass.
I found a roll cage today for sale in Tenn. It's for a CJ8 & will be able to be used with the hardtop on too, just what I wanted. This cage was built by the fabricator that builds Bobby Hamiltons NASCAR Truck chassis!
-Update- I wound up bying a CJ8 cage from EOR (www.essentiallyoffroad.com) through a group buy on www.Jeepsunlimited.com
Work is grinding (a lot of that too, LOL) to a halt as I wait for all of the parts I ordered (2k worth!) I will be doing a lot of little things, but will not update again for a week or 2 until the parts start arriving. What does Tom Petty sing?? "The waiting is the har-dest part..."

1st Week of May:
Lots of parts came in & now I'm really gettin down to business!

Alot has transpired as today is June 11th, 2002

I will catch up on this section while I recoup from surgery scheduled for the end of June.
If not for the knee operation, I would not have an oppertunity to do updates as I am frantically trying to finish while there is SOME Summer left!


1st week of July '02:
I guess I didn't do too many updates, I was back in the garage piddling around on krutches in days!

End of July '02:
Well knee therapy is done & I'll start my vacation in Maine in a few days.

Just got back but have to go back, Grampa died :(, at least my daughter was able to fish from the dock with him days prior.


Middle of August '02:
OK da##it! I gotta get to work!
I recently had a locker & 4.10 ring & pinion installed in the rear axle.
Just got it back dry, all new seals were done too. I slapped a new gasket on & filled it up with Synthetic Mobil 1 gear oil.
So I said to myself; my friend Greg offered me a 4" lift for $150 used,
he said it sits about 3" which is better then a 2.5" lift...
the axle is still off- so what the hey; I bought it off him along with steel braided brake line extensions. This is all 1/2 way installed right now (Aug 27th)

Other things I have done recently:
I made my own quick disconnects from a set of hitch pins, ~$19 bucks
I restored, rustproofed & painted the stock swing away tire carrier + changed all the nuts & bolts to SS.
Sent my ratty tailgate away to be color matched so my windshield frame will be the same shade of 17 year old nutmeg in stead of like when it was new. (Plus the t.gate will be repainted).
I bought some used visors off eBay- $18 like the new ones. They have the bent corners-
I also bought a GM rear view mirror for $17. This one has lights under it for driver & passenger; a Great CJ upgrade!
Other goodies I bought include metal Scrambler tags (thanks Ted) & used TJ flares for $60!
I have new black 15x8 rims but am still looking for the right deal on 33" or 35" MT's

August 27th:
Last night I changed the oil after warming it up, added 40W oil back in & that helped the oil pressure a little (maybe 5lbs worth). Then I added 1 qt of Dexron ATF, warmed it for 10 mins to get the sludge loose & drained it again.
Then I took the oil pan off & tonight I will change the oil pump to a new one- a high volume Melling pump.
I'll be stopping @ the depot again to get hardware so that I can mount my Hi-Lift (my dad just gave me an old used one- but it works & adds sentimental value to my Jeep) to the rollbar where the holes for the roll bar tire carrier go. I'll add a page about that once done.
1 month to go & then it's time for the VA4WDA & CJ-8.org Fall Scramble @ Oakridge, VA-

Feb 9th, 2003:
I somehow lost a few months of updates.. >:(

Basically, all I did since the last update was install a CJ tach & clock, finish the TJ flares, decide to get a new motor- scrapping the attempt at saving the old tired powermill, finished body work & rocker panels (home made), removed the front end & motor, found & put on "RENEGADE" hood decals, got the windshield frame painted & put back on- to include hinge mounts for lights & a zillion little things...

These updates had been done here up until about Christmas, oh well more to catch up on later.
For now, I'll update today's work;
I just got a bunch 0f new parts in & finally got to work on the front axle. The parts are new 4.10 ring & pinion for the front, new U joints, new power steering hoses, bearings, steering knuckles, rotors (and new drums for the rear) & a complete tie rod assembly.
This kept me busy most of the day, luckily it was nice enough to have the garage door open!
I got the passenger side about off - tie rod ends, leaf pack, knuckles, etc..
An 18 year old CJ will test your patience if you don't have the right tools .
To counter this I used a band saw to cut off the old rusty junk since it was being replaced with all new anyway :)
..Tomorrow comes the driver's side..

OK, so It's March 1st!

It is finally getting a little warmer out. I have removed driver & passenger leaf packs, front axle, front brake lines but still can't get the rotors off!!? I need a male torx T45 I think..
I finished wiring the CJ Clock, cut away a little body in the left rear wheel well.
It sticks out - under the TJ flare & may cut a tire on extreme compression & just looks a lot better.
The other day I had Harmon Glass come & install my windshield with a new seal to boot.
It looks nice & even has a slight olive-green tint. Since then I completed putting ALL the windshield related 'stuff' back on: wipers & arms, wiper motor, access covers, visors, side view mirror arms & rear-view mirror .
That rear view has driver & passenger map lights! Sweeet:D

Today I changed the speedometer gear so my 33" tires & 4.10 gearing will be accurate,
-here's the write-up .

March 10th, 2003:
The new remanufactured motor was delivered. I got my used oilpan, timing cover & valve cover put on, installed my distributor with the Ford setup, put in new plugs, found the crush sleeves that need to be welded to the headers & started cleaning the frame. Lets see, I also finally got a red top Optima battery!!!

March 13th, 2003:
Well, Saturday the 15th is it, I have 2 friends coming over to help install the motor. I have to run out 1st & get the throwout bearing I ordered.
I also hope to get the new power steering hoses connected & the emergency brake cables changed.
March 15th, 2003:

July 22nd, 2003
Yup! I went awhile without updates.. I haven't really done alot either.
I repaired the driver side body rot with sheet metal & rivets.
That'll be good enough for now.
I also finished all the TJ flares, got the motor & tranny in too.
The transfer case is not in as I'm holding out hope on clocking it but that's another $85 bucks. I'll do that last incase I find some extra dough :).
I got the headers installed along with the MotorCraft 2100.
I also put a manual choke on.
I found a leak in the heater core so I tapped the intake & outtake hose together in the engine compartment bypassing the core.
The front axle finally got done, yipee!!
I had new 4.10 gears put in & had every seal & joint replaced plus the guy painted it all, looks new!.
I reinstalled the axle with the front lift leaves & attached the front revolver shackles I got for $75 bucks used ;)
The new front rotors are on & that's where I am now.
I need to hookup the driveshafts, xsfer case, emergency brake & then do the exhaust.
That'll be about it - oh I still don't have tires to go with my 15x8 rims yet..
But that'll be last.
Work has really kept me hoppin' & travelling & won't let up until about Halloween.. I really hope to get some Fall wheeling in!!!!!!!


February 19th, 2004
OK, so I haven't done updates again in awhile, but I haven't been working on the JEEP this Winter either. I needed a break from it. It was simply draining me mentally working on it, thinking about it, wishing I could just jump in and drive off... *sigh*
So why the update now? Today was warm, I got home early and felt like opening up the garage for some fun (JEEP work). All I really did was remount my fire extinguisher but starting back up on the JEEP today was more symbolic then how much I accomplished =)

footnote- I am in the process of buying YJ fenders & rear boomerang shackles from another Jeeper =) The YJ fenders are already pre-cut for TJ flares!



I'm stuck with cheap pitman pullers I keep breaking (2 so far- with full refunds).


April 24th, 2004
I took the 4 Super Swampers, I bought used for $50, got them mounted up for free and borrowed a quality pitman puller. Let's see what breaks Now!
Edit: Nothing broke & the pitman arm is off - YES! Now I can put the steering all together. The tie rods & ends are all new & are now in place with the new pitman arm on too.

May 8th, 2004
It's really looking like a jeep again =)
I got the old emergency brake cables (3) out & off. The replacements were ordered from www.jeepdoc.com. They are some really good people with a great website & great prices too!

May 15th, 2004
Still waiting on the front YJ fenders & rear boomerang shackles. I removed the rear shackles & fenders so that is out of the way when they get here. I finally fixed the passenger seat belt anchor bolt. It had to be removed & wouldn't budge so I ground out the tack welds underneath & removed the nut & bolt together.. The last body mount was removed too & was in amazing condition! Most others were crushed & petrified. I decided to have the metal mounts removed & will order new replacements (ouch they are expensive).

July 19th, 2004
I got the emergency brake cables, installed them & now my Jeep technically has brakes :D
July 3rd I went to Bristow Virginia for a Jimmy Buffett concert. On the way I met up with wildturkeycj8, a semi-local friend who had a delivery for me to make to Northern VA. I took it along to the concert (jeep parts) then met up with JeepSkate. He's who I bought the YJ fenders, boomerang rear shackles & spare rear driveshaft from- nice guy too.
The boomerang shackles are now on. The YJ Fenders were temporarily put on to see how they fit. Now I'm in the middle of sanding & primering them.
Recently I have also found a YJ at a junkyard where I got YJ Half Doors with soft tops & a Power Brake setup!
Finally, another piece of the puzzle was the Top Axle Truss I've wanted for awhile, I bought one used & painted it up (it's not installed yet).

August 2004
I got just about all the major things done so I can button it up & go on the VA4WD Fall Trail ride in late September. Included in this are the brakelines (hard ones replaced) of which I pieced together for around $40 at Advanced Auto Parts. The lengths come flared with fittings on already for between 3-$5 bucks apiece! The learning curve on bending my own was quick & almost fun it went so easy! Also in August, the rear axle truss was installed, I got a custom Y pie made, installed it along with a cheapo Thrush muffler, got the YJ Power Breaks installed (sweeet) and did a ton of small things.

Late August
Fernando (Ferran from the cj8 board) came over to weld the new rear crossmember on & fix up a few body mounts. I also had him tac weld the tranny skid plate on as 2 bolts on 1 side & 1 on the other twisted off during it's removal. After this I drilled out twisted off body mount bolts on the left and right side, the ones just forward of where your feet are. This was a real "PITA" if you know what I mean!! I felt real good though when they finally came out. With all of these things completed I was finally able to put on the Daystar 1" body lift, woo hoo :)

September 2004
Looks like I won't make it to Charlottesville (VA4WDA run) due to work! I really wanted to go to this one too. Everything's just about buttoned up except for non necessary things like the Clock & Tach, tonneau cover snaps for the back, stock CJ radio hookup and interior rear view lights hookup.

October 4th, 04
I drove the Jeep to work today for sh!#'s & giggles. My kid loved it when I picked her up!

October 23rd, 2004
1 week to go until the Uhwarrie Halloween Scramble!
I got my City sticker for the windshield yesterday (did I mention I got plates like 2 months ago?). Anyway I put the hyard half doors, bikini top & windbreaker on in anticipation of the 4 hour trip to my friends house in North Carolina