'84 Postal - Do What?!?

[bigwalton]

Actually no. Those three parts look to have never been disassembled until I got to it. But you read my mind when it comes to rivnuts. I was thinking of doing them anyway. All in all the top is in amazing shape with the only exception being the dent right above the drivers seat.

There was evidence the top had been taken off as a unit at some point in its life. The foam was dug out around each bolt. However someone did a good job not damaging it - even retaining the rubber gasket that goes all around the top of the tub.

That gasket isn’t the key (I think the top overlap is more than enough to prevent water ingress, but it’s cool to have), it’s the one that’s between the top and the sides. It’s a hot damn mess to try to get back in right. Pay very close attention when you disassemble. I didn’t take nearly enough pictures and it never went back together 100% right, especially around the back door trim at the top.

 

[AdamH]

That gasket isn’t the key (I think the top overlap is more than enough to prevent water ingress, but it’s cool to have), it’s the one that’s between the top and the sides. It’s a hot damn mess to try to get back in right. Pay very close attention when you disassemble. I didn’t take nearly enough pictures and it never went back together 100% right, especially around the back door trim at the top.

Everything is apart and I feel like I took the right pics to Reassemble but of course there will be that one shot that won’t show the right angle of something….

 

[AdamH]

picked up the body tub yesterday. all primary welding complete and some anti-rust slathered all over raw metal. now comes the fitment of top, doors, etc..

This will sit as-is for at least the next month due to vacation travel and finishing up the 401 swap I'm doing for a customer in the CJ7 in the background

Still exciting to continue down the path of this build

 

[AdamH]

Picked up a 5th wheel for a spare from fellow member @onesourcemike today at a great price… FREE!

Always great to put a face to the names on here. It’ll go to good use!

 

[AdamH]

Summer saw a halt to this project between trips to the coast and a customer project. Happy to report the customer project is complete so now back to the Postal.

Installed a 401 with FiTech efi, AX15, brake booster upgrade, twin sticks, Custom D44 axles, OME lift, and other do-dads on this 84 CJ7

 

[certifiablejeep]

Very nice work... came out great!

cb

 

[bigwalton]

Summer saw a halt to this project between trips to the coast and a customer project. Happy to report the customer project is complete so now back to the Postal.

Installed a 401 with FiTech efi, AX15, brake booster upgrade, twin sticks, Custom D44 axles, OME lift, and other do-dads on this 84 CJ7
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I need a new twin stick boot, which one do you like?

Jeep looks fantastic. I love a sleeper.

 

[AdamH]

I need a new twin stick boot, which one do you like?

Jeep looks fantastic. I love a sleeper.

Thanks for the compliment. It’s an 84 that the guy bought used in 87.

All I know is I do NOT like the boot that came with this setup. Customer bought it. It’s Omix.

 

[gr8dain]

I need a new twin stick boot, which one do you like?

Jeep looks fantastic. I love a sleeper.

Look into Stronghold Shift Boots. I really like them. He will make one for whatever combination you have. I had one for a T-176 and Dana 300 twin stick (which is listed on his site), but after I switched the trans to an aw4, I just cut the trans boot off and run the rest for the twin stick. I wrote that somewhere and the owner replied saying to email him and he would make me one to be whatever dimensions I needed for just the twin sticks. I have not bothered yet.

 

[AdamH]

To give myself some additional room I put the engine/trans/tcase in the frame today. Trans mount is drying from paint as we speak.

Plan is to put the chassis back on top of the lift tomorrow and get the rotisserie down and mock up hard top on the tub and fingers crossed get all body panels to paint end of next week

 

[AdamH]

Started getting final bits ready for sandblast and paint. Of all the CJs I have owned / worked on / parted out this windshield frame is in the top 5 for condition. It was SLATHERED in some sort of RTV everywhere which usually means trapped water and the rust. Not so much on this one. One small spot which is just surface rust

Now for the bad. This frame had a weird aluminum piece at the wipers. I figured either for support trying to move snow and ice OR it had damage. When I pulled it off I didn’t immediately see any damage and quickly smiled like a kid in a candy store. Then I took a better look. The infamous wallowed out holes. Oh well… in my opinion much easier fix than if the frame was all rusted out. I’ll take it. Whomever did the aluminum fix did a great job

 

[AdamH]

All three doors disassembled and ready for paint process. Two front doors have typical vent window cracks. The rear barn door is good minus some rot on the lip at the bottom of the window opening. Fortunately it’s on the raised channel that supports the glass seal. Will be an easy fix.

Happiest to say that no glass was harmed in the process!

 

[AdamH]

Having a rotisserie makes things so much easier. Today I was able to drill holes where needed with ease.

My dash panel is decent. At least some PO had the decency to just do the cut and fold method for the radio opening. Makes it easier to fix. On the far right there was an additional water temp gauge that has a “SW” logo at the bottom. I’ll have that hole welded up and just rock the original temp gauge. I do find it interesting that the fabrication process back then had the speaker studs welded on however no speaker grill.

 

[AdamH]

went ahead and picked up a set of tires. A little pre-mature but tires seem to go back and forth in availability.

BFG AT KO2s in 32" flavor. Same thing I run on the '83

 

[AdamH]

more work on the body fitment. want to ensure as little massaging as possible after paint is complete.

 

[AdamH]

Test fitting complete. Dropped the body and parts off with my paint guy yesterday.

 

[AdamH]

Body tub is in primer. Looks great in person. Rest of the bits get final massage this week

And MANY MANY THANKS to @Dave The Sparky for his help with an auto shifter. I can’t thank him enough. Well packaged to make the swim over from the UK. He even included a treat!

What a great community we have here!

 

[certifiablejeep]

Agreed 100% on @Dave The Sparky and his RHD bits... he got a very... very difficult heater lower/upper for me for the RHD CJ7 I did... I would never have found it here.

Rock on!!!

cb

 

[Dave The Sparky]

Glad i could help, i just hope those biscuits aren't too smashed about by the various postal services or a customs guy who was simply having a bad day!.

 

[AdamH]

not only are they all intact - they taste great!