1986 Jeep CJ7 Restoration: June 2016

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Top - Doors

Top

Make: Bestop
Model: 5250804
Color: Tan
Channel: 51209-01

Doors

Make: Bestop
Model: 5303801
Color: Black Crush

Roll Bar Cover

Make: Bestop
Model: 8000701
Color: Black Crush

Bumpers

Bumpers

Make: Pro Comp
Model: Rock Crawler
Black Powder Coat
Front: 66162 (With D-Rings)
Rear: 66167 (With D-Rings & Receiver)

The bumper comes with a glossy black powder coat and the shackle mounts are fairly sharp at the edges. I decided to ease those edges with a file and touch up a couple of irregularities from the factory. I then painted them with Duplicor low gloss engine enamel. Looks great. Also scotch brighted the shackles... I like the look.

Bought new button head stainless bolts, lock washers and nuts to mount the bumper.

The shackles rattle and could end up chipping the paint. Solution: spend $20 on special isolator washers or make some out of Gorilla exterior duct tape. Just fold over some tape, trace out a 1 3/8" O.D. and 15/16" I.D. circle and cut out. Works perfect.

Found a guy on ebay selling these diamond plate frame covers. Used Scotch BrIte to dull the finish to match the shackles and tool box. Also stacked up 3 rubber garden hose washers and siliconed them to the bottom for support.

Here it is installed.

The cross member is not strong enough to support a full rear bumper. Found these frame tie in brackets on ebay. Very nicely done for $40 including the hardware.
Unfortunately, the bolts were only 3". The CJ7 frame is wider... off to Tractor Supply.

The OEM exhaust hanger tang would no longer fit, so I fabricated a new one out of 2 x 4 angle. Tapped the tie in bracket for a 1/2"-20 stainless bolt positioned over the existing tang slot in the frame.

Here it is all bolted up and painted.

A view from the rear.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Color Scheme

We had originally picked a burnt orange pearl, but Adam convinced us to go with more of a traditional Jeep color. These photos are of another project that he did. Every time I went over there, I must confess, I drooled over it. Anyway, Mary and I are loving the new choice and look forward to watching the transformation!