CJ7 Caroline Build

[rubclt]

I wanted an original paint CJ8 to do a “rustic build”. I then found near me a CJ7 that looked the part, and I brought it home and named her Caroline... somewhat a tribute to being originally sold by Hinkle’s Jeep in South Carolina.

Caroline has no drive train, but I plan to use a used 258, Auto, Dana 300

 

[rubclt]

After a good wand wash can start to see areas for repair... the foot well on both sides, a little rocker on drivers and drivers rear corner from PO was rear ended and a lot of bondo repair

 

[rubclt]

Found a set of original wheels and got some Key Floor Pans and drivers corner

 

[rubclt]

CLR and Scotch Bright Pads cleans the rust off paint

 

[rubclt]

After all the washing time to move inside to meet Rose another original paint 1984 CJ8. Now compound and sealer...

 

[Belizeit]

Glad to see you are saving that Jeep !

 

[Scramblin Man]

Nice, is that paint code 2C, slate blue ?

 

[rubclt]

Nice, is that paint code 2C, slate blue ?

yes 2C Slate Blue, tags says it had Slate Blue High Back seats with a four cylinder and 4 speed T4 long gone... last tagged in 1994

 

[Scramblin Man]

Slate Blue is a great color, both paint and interior. It is just difficult to find slate interior pieces. Is it an 83 ?

 

[rubclt]

Slate Blue is a great color, both paint and interior. It is just difficult to find slate interior pieces. Is it an 83 ?

agree, slate Blue is a neat color, had a TJ in a similar color and love it. I have the dash pad in slate blue, rough, will try to repair... likely get Slate Blue after market seats unless I find some OEM for resemble price as this will be a driver...

 

[rubclt]

Cleaning bolts versus sand blasting to maintain rustic look, thread chasing and wd40

 

[rubclt]

The green windshield frame swapped by PO need painting. Will decide if I sand some of new paint to match rest of jeep.

 

[rubclt]

The new paint looks good, old clear coat is slightly yellow so I started making it look old before clear coat. It was tough scotch padding new paint

 

[rubclt]

Rear corner was hit and repaired with bondo... I have a new corner but wanted to try this one with clear coat coming which will improve color match. I did distress the new paint to look old and match jeep

 

[rubclt]

Dash removal will allow service HVAC unit and heater core, cables, replace harness from reliable donor plus easier to fix floor pan

 

[certifiablejeep]

windshield came out good.

cb

 

[jerseyjeeps]

Looking great. I thought I would share a little bit of brotherly inspiration, a parts Heep I bought last spring. This one is too far gone but wow do I like your color combo. And this one. An 84 though and ice blue and not slate. (Slate ended in 83, sadly)

 

[rubclt]

Looking great.

thanks for sharing, like the hard doors with white top. Does your have blue or black interior?

 

[rubclt]

Steering column, master cylinder out of way to start cleaning engine bay and install new floors.

 

[mhinchliffe]

You need to soak (pickle) those bolts in muriatic acid, rinse them and then re-coat them in your own electroplating set up. E-A-S-Y to do. There's also a black coating that Mopar used on their fasteners. I'd have to google it up.
Strip and coat your own stuff. You can control how perfect it is and it'll be protected with a sacrificial layer of zinc.
just my quick .02