'78 AM General DJ5

[altec]

I know, opening another candy bar before I finished the first one.

The Vehicle: 1979 AM General DJ5D 232ci I6/904 Torqueflite

The Condition: Apparent problems included rusted front fenders, single rust hole in frame, gas tank straps, slight transmission oil pan leak, and bad tires. The good is decent frame besides a single spot, good sheet metal everywhere else, starts right up, tight-ish steering, brakes just done, and good transmission. All new wiring, and LED tail lights. Clean title, and the simple fact that it is a mail Jeep is cool...

The Objective: A Unique Daily that I can afford to drive, but still use for my normal needs.

The Plan('s): I don't know... I have two ideas in my head. A lowered down hot rod style playing on the fact that it is already 2WD. Lowered Jeep's are rare... The other option is a 4WD conversion, and mild lift. The drawbacks there is added weight, and it's been done...

-Lowered Plan: Axle flipped rear, notched front frame, front axle moved forward. This plan requires a different engine. The oil pan occupies the space the front axle would need... The easiest solution for me is a engine swap... The GM 4.3L V6 is what I'm looking at. I found out the '90's Cherokee came in a 2WD that has the perfect replacement front axle. disc brakes, and no kindpins. Win-win.

-4WD Plan: Spring-over up front, Jeep axles, and a 4WD tranny/T-case combo to bolt to the 4.3. Cheap, and effective. The up side is that this option is a piece of cake, and I could do a bit of trail riding. Down side is the extra weight, and...it's been done...


The Current Plans:

1. Remove factory doors and fab up hinged half-doors. Making removable tops to make them whole doors.
2. Add passenger seat.
3. Body Work/Paint.

What I'm starting with. I drove it home (Only a couple miles). That was a hoot to drive on the right side with the door open with manual drum brakes.

Perfect floors!

Only a couple spots of surface rust under it!

Extra crap gutted out. I have no need for a mail tray, or fifty empty packs of cheap smokes...

I left the radio power wires in it, and tied them up. It will be getting another radio, but not the current "system." No real interesting stuff hidden inside. Other then a brick next to the parking brake handle. I think the brick IS the parking brake. lolx

Going to try and find a pair of nice low backs, and another one of them lap belts for a passenger seat. I think my Silverado seats are just to bulky...

Cool auto cross build. Gives me some insight on what I'd be looking at digging into the '76.

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...ead.php?t=7568

[mDust]

Haha! I can't believe there are no other comments... This is awesome! That is one interesting 'economy' vehicle. Built tough and cheap.

Why are you planning on getting rid of the sliding doors?

Isn't there an endorsement or something needed to drive vehicles from the right side? Maybe it's just my state...

[blaze15301]

nice find altec. i can't wait to see what you do with it.

[altec]

The square tubing is ordered for the doors. Found Speedway Motors has door latches, and strikers that I think will work. Pondering using early '90's Miata door handles for the outside. Simple design, and aren't bad looking. Still don't know about the inside handle...

I found out Tractor Supply is discontinuing the Valspar tractor paint. So I need to go soon to get the paint for this.

Haha! I can't believe there are no other comments... This is awesome! That is one interesting 'economy' vehicle. Built tough and cheap.

Why are you planning on getting rid of the sliding doors?

Isn't there an endorsement or something needed to drive vehicles from the right side? Maybe it's just my state...

Well, I've MIA recently. Between a new job, and most of my internet time going to tool sites. That might be part of the lack of interest.

Most people would rather have a car payment, and a new fancy car. I'd rather have something different, and no car payment. Oh, and cheaper insurance, and cheaper reg...

Honestly, the doors just don't do it for me. They look like an after thought, and make a hell of a racket when you hit a slight bump... So, I plan to make normal Jeep half doors, and then make inserts that I can slide right into the top with the door open, and when the doors close they will be pinched in place. Then have the top sectioned skinned by a friend who does upholstery. So all I have to do to get them off is open the door, pull them up, and throw them in the back.

No endorsement that I know of in MD. That seems silly to need one. driving on the "right" side has it's drawbacks, but so does the left...

nice find altec. i can't wait to see what you do with it.

Thanks. It really fell into my lap. I was doing a tune up on a DJ5 at work, said it was neat and a bud said he had one. A week later the deal was struck. Haha.

[altec]

If I didn't mess with the DJ soon, I was gonna go nuts. So I pulled the fenders off...

First fender off. Gotta love Jeep designs... Around eight bolts, and the fender is off... Of course, the over flow bottle, coffee can, and turn signal wires had to be unhooked first.

Oh no! Firewall rot! Oh well, easy enough to fix...

Other fender off. This one the fresh air inlet for the heater, an the washer fluid bottle had to come off. The bottom bolt on the front gave me trouble. Ended up rounding off, and had to use a extractor socket.

How it looks now. The main reason I went ahead and did this is the motor is still fully covered! I was shocked to see that the core support/grill is still very rigid!

Tube Fenders: Yay, or Nay?

[mDust]

Yay if you go the off road direction...otherwise nay.

[altec]

I'm feeling the same exact way. Before I didn't even think about tube fenders because I was planning for a lowed street setup. Now that I'm leaning toward 4WD, they are a option.

I found JCWhitney has a pair of fenders for around $270 shipped. Cheapest I've found. However, since I already have the metal laying around, I may try the tubes before spending the money on replacements...

[Snowman]

I say you leave it bone stock as far as height and drop a small block V8 in it.

[TLHarrell]

Must. Do. This.

[AmEv]

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