  • Body/Frame Archives "Just purchased a 1957 Willys for $500. It is running now, and all the electrical has been rewired. I need help on the body. I have never worked on body repair, and I want to do it myself. What do I do ?? Any resources for my son and I to look at regarding body repair, sanding priming, painting etc. It has been fun so far, but I'm over my head on the rest of this. Help ???" Head to your local library or bookstore, there are tons of books written on the subject. Body repair is not terribly difficult, but does require some practice and patience. Get your hands on a book and then go for it! "I recently bought a used factory hard top. Its in good shape but I want to paint it. Is there a special paint for them? Also where can I get a wiring diagram for the electrical plug that runs the light and wiper motor?" Contact a body shop or an automotive paint store for information on painting your fiberglass top. Any off the shelf repair manual should have several wiring diagrams for your Jeep. "I am restoring a 1977 jeep CJ7 304, and have put on a whole new steel body and have had it primed. Now i am ready to paint and need help and advice having never painted a car before. Alao advice on a two part clear coat process or whatever?" The best source for info is your local paint store. My experience has been that most stores are happy to give you the information and products you need to do the job right. "Is it possible to bolt a CJ-7 body on a CJ-5 frame without any major changes. I would rather spend $1000.00 on a new body than buy a new Jeep if possible." If you're going to buy another body, why not buy the one that fits? You might be able to make the CJ7 tub fit, but I think all of the front sheetmetal will need to be from a CJ5. "This, what may sound like a stupid question, is most likely a simple answer for you. I have just purchased my first Jeep. It's a 1995 Jeep Wrangler with a soft-top. Could you tell me how to remove the doors? It looks as if they have never been off before. The door itself appears to hang on the the two hinges, basically with only one threaded bolt protruding on the top hinge. Yet, when I try to pull up on the door it doesn't seem to move at all. In fear of pulling to hard I'd thought I'd ask you." Remove the nut from the top hinge, open the door, then lift it straight up. Voila, doorless. "I want to fit a 350 Chevy in my 1946 Willys CJ2A. Do I need to box the chassis for the added weight of the bigger engine and gearbox?" No, the original 4 cylinder engine is very close to the weight of a small block Chevy. Weld the motor mounts in place and enjoy. "I enjoy your magazine, and I love my 1995 Jeep Wrangler. The only problem is that I have a soft top and even with the addition of a Clifford alarm, it still has been broken into. This last time the soft top was cut so that the person could let themself in. Where can I get a hardtop, I would perfer a factory one. How much money am I looking at for the top, the doors, and rear defrost and windshield wiper?" When are thieves going to learn that soft top windows unzip? The best way to find a factory hard top is to check out the classified advertising in your area. Salvage yards are usually a little more expensive but they are worth a look as well. Even though it's used, it will cost somewhere close to $1500. "Does anyone currently make steel full or half doors for my 79 CJ5? We have a steel OM roof w/steel full doors that overlap the door cut outs and latch alright, but they're REALLY HOKEY LOOKIN' and the whole she-bang is coming off pretty soon!! We would like to buy a soft top for this little toad (lives behind our motorhome) when and if we find said steel doors. If there are none around I guess we'll have to settle for soft ones, so question 2: what's the general opinion about full soft vs baja style with you and your staff? Regards, Brian" I don't know of anyone currently manufacturing steel doors for CJ5's. There are several companies producing them in fiberglass but I suspect these doors would only work with their fiberglass tops. A soft top in your case is the way to go. Since your highway travel will be spent behind the wheel of a cushy motorhome you don't have to worry about how noisy soft tops are at 70 mph. As far as a full top or bikini top, it's up to you. If you don't intend to use your jeep in inclement weather than a bikini top is certainly less expensive. Just make sure there's nothing in the jeep that can be easily stolen or anything that could get damaged from a good downpour. But since you asked for my opinion, I'd sport for the full soft top and simply fold it down when you hit the trail. Most new tops are easy to raise and lower and you'll have the extra security and protection from the weather. "Hi, really enjoy your page! Anyway, I need some advice on a body lift for my 84 CJ-7. If you need to, please feel free to foward this message to whoever you think would help me out. Anyway, its really simple probably, let me just say, I've always wanted a Jeep and finally got one a couple months ago. The guy who sold it to me gave me a 3" body lift with it. I'm totally unfamilar with lifts(or Jeeps for that matter!) but eager to learn, and also have a decent knowledge of mechanics in general. Let me tell you what I received with the Jeep: 6 - lg. spacers & 4 - smaller spacers (bolts included with all this stuff) Now, I just need to know where to put these things, so if you or anybody else can help, I 'd really apprciate it!! Thanks so much!" The spacers go between the body and the frame of the vehicle at the original body mounts. However, a body lift is not as simple as installing these spacers. The radiator and fan shroud will need to be relocated downward (in your case 3 inches), the steering shaft from the steering column to the steering box will likely need to be lengthened, and transfer case and transmission linkage will have to be modified. If you have a mechanical clutch, it's linkage will have to modified as well. It would be simpler and far more beneficial to spend the money and buy a 2"-3" suspension lift. 
Dirt Road Magazine is sponsored by Turner 4WD Parts Co. |