G
Guest
·OK, well, I'm new here (relatively), so here goes. I'm not having much luck getting this question answered on the mailing list. Anyway, an intro. I'm 24, male, and I live in Tampa, Florida. I've been carpooling to work with my girlfriend for about 5 months, we both work downtown. Recently my office decided to move, so out of necessity I'd need a car. Well, not really, I own a 95 Ford Taurus, but I told her she could drive it. I was faced with a choice, buy a fix-er-upper or lay the same money down on a new car. A buddy had a 1974 Jeep CJ-5 that wasn't in the best of conditions, but he said he'd sell it for $750.00 bux and help me with repairs. What the hell. I bought it, only saw it once and never heard it run. But he's a good friend, I trusted him. I bought it cash. Picked it (had it towed), and the vehicle started on the first try afer 8 months of storage in the open. Took her home, cleaned out the 1 and a half inches of old leaves and dirt and started assessing the situation. Clearly there was much work to be done. However, the lack of a car payment means that I can spend that money on this Jeep. No problem. That was in November. Since then I have replaced the gas tank, redone all the brakes and brake lines, ground out all the rust and temporarily put some real good rust resistance paint on till I get a new tub. I've rewired the engine from front to back with a Centech Harness (a subject for another post, Awesome harness) and put a new besttop seat in the jeep. On Sunday, the Jeep will become my daily driver to and from work and where ever else I need to go. The truck is mechanically sound, just needs aesthetics from here on out. During my repairs I've run into 2 problems.
1) Whoever owned the Jeep before me put in a steering column from a newer model Jeep, 76 and up. This is obvious because a 74 had the ignition switch on the dash and my Jeep has a column mounted ignition switch. This worked out really well because the only harnesses I could find were made for Jeeps after 76 with ignition on the column. The part of the column inside the engine compartent is ok, it is almost rubbing a portion of the frame, but doesn't look like it just yet. The column has custom mount to the dashboard on the cab side. My question is this: The column is obviously too long for my Jeep because it's hard to get in and get out and when I do get it, the steering wheel is almost in my gut. If I gain 5 pounds I won't be able to drive this thing! So I know this will diminish as I break in my new seat, and I know I'll be getting a steering wheel (a grant) with a smaller diameter so I'll have a little more room. But I think I'm going to go to a column shop and get a 76 or newer column with tilt also. That way I'll have a little extra room getting in and out. Do you think I could cut 6 inches off the column? I mean, it's basically a hollow tube at some point, so couldn't I just shorten it a little bit? Any thoughts? Anyone tried this?
2) There is no emergency brake on the vehicle. I can see where the brake used to be, on the drivers side, firewall area. Anyone know where I could find the pedal and release assemblies and any and all lines? I'm assuming the lines would run directly to the rear drum brake, but I'm not sure. I can't find this part anywhere and I'd really like an emergency brake. not that I really need it, but I'd like to leave the Jeep running at times while I run in for a soda and I can't do that right now. The jeep must always (obviously) be parked in gear to stop it from rolling away.
Thanks for all the help, in advance. And I like the lively discussion on this BBS. Takes me back to the old days with the "web" didn't exist and I was on an Apple ][E at 300 baud watching one letter at a time come on the screen. Ahh.. the good ole days! I'd wait for hours to connect to a BBS just read a reply at some slow speed. I remember getting that awesome 1200 bps modem and being the $hit on the BBS scene...
Anyways, sure appreciate your replies.
Carl
Tampa, FL 74 CJ-5
1) Whoever owned the Jeep before me put in a steering column from a newer model Jeep, 76 and up. This is obvious because a 74 had the ignition switch on the dash and my Jeep has a column mounted ignition switch. This worked out really well because the only harnesses I could find were made for Jeeps after 76 with ignition on the column. The part of the column inside the engine compartent is ok, it is almost rubbing a portion of the frame, but doesn't look like it just yet. The column has custom mount to the dashboard on the cab side. My question is this: The column is obviously too long for my Jeep because it's hard to get in and get out and when I do get it, the steering wheel is almost in my gut. If I gain 5 pounds I won't be able to drive this thing! So I know this will diminish as I break in my new seat, and I know I'll be getting a steering wheel (a grant) with a smaller diameter so I'll have a little more room. But I think I'm going to go to a column shop and get a 76 or newer column with tilt also. That way I'll have a little extra room getting in and out. Do you think I could cut 6 inches off the column? I mean, it's basically a hollow tube at some point, so couldn't I just shorten it a little bit? Any thoughts? Anyone tried this?
2) There is no emergency brake on the vehicle. I can see where the brake used to be, on the drivers side, firewall area. Anyone know where I could find the pedal and release assemblies and any and all lines? I'm assuming the lines would run directly to the rear drum brake, but I'm not sure. I can't find this part anywhere and I'd really like an emergency brake. not that I really need it, but I'd like to leave the Jeep running at times while I run in for a soda and I can't do that right now. The jeep must always (obviously) be parked in gear to stop it from rolling away.
Thanks for all the help, in advance. And I like the lively discussion on this BBS. Takes me back to the old days with the "web" didn't exist and I was on an Apple ][E at 300 baud watching one letter at a time come on the screen. Ahh.. the good ole days! I'd wait for hours to connect to a BBS just read a reply at some slow speed. I remember getting that awesome 1200 bps modem and being the $hit on the BBS scene...
Anyways, sure appreciate your replies.
Carl
Tampa, FL 74 CJ-5
