Great. It seems like you guys are interested.
This build isn't going to be very involved, after all, it's a simple Jeep. Probably one of the easiest restoration projects out there. Maybe an Austin Healey Sprite would be easier. We've only had a couple weeks of hands on work and the thing is about 60% done.
As stated earlier, this is a 1974 CJ. It is from the early AMC era when things were in flux. Not only were the manufaturing processes and design heavily altered during this changeover, but the style itself and associated image or brand was being tinkered with. The earliest of Jeeps, we can all agree, were military influenced and purpose built for rough environments with minimal parts and light weight. The second iteration came after WWII when Jeep needed to figure out how to sell them to civilians. Ranchers and farmers were the primary target. Then came the lifestyle era where Jeep marketed the CJ as it was now called to the weekend warrior. During this time, the average weekender was very rugged and willing to go places and do things that seemed like pioneering. I wish I lived back then...
This Jeep comes into a new era where Jeep started marketing with beer and bikini clad coeds hanging off the roll bar. Graphics were added and invariably, there was a beachball involved.
Which brings me to my dilemna. The replacement body that we purchased, although of the same year, has no tailgate, while the one we replaced had a tailgate. I am torn. Should I modify the tub and add the tailgate? My mind is already made up, and we're going to mod the body. But as this Jeep will be for sale, it's a risk that may not pay off.
So now to the actual build. We started with a pile of junk and another pile of new parts. I usually mock up as I go along to avoid surprises. Here is the chassis being disassembled and inspected while the front disc brake conversion is being mocked up.
