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Home » Outdoor Fun » Accessories / Gifts » Tips For Rebuilding An Old Jeep, Or Building One From Scratch

Tips For Rebuilding An Old Jeep, Or Building One From Scratch

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If you ever have the opportunity to get your hands on an old Jeep, the availability of Jeep parts is nothing short of amazing.

Old Jeep DIY project vehicle

 

With their longterm durability, people just keep them forever.  As a result, the demand for parts has generated an aftermarket supply chain that will keep even the oldest Jeeps running indefinitely.

Ready to tackle that DIY Jeep project?…

Download the repair manual for your Jeep.

 

Jeeps Are Definitely Worth Restoring

My experience with Jeeps goes back over 50 years (…and I’ve always had 4×4’s from as far back as 1973).

My dad bought a new CJ2A shortly after World War II.

Due to shortages and war production, there just were no new cars available to buy.

Advertised as a dual-purpose piece of agricultural equipment, the small 4×4 Jeep was shown pulling plows and performing all sorts of tasks around the farm or orchard.

For my father, the Jeep was simply a necessary form of transportation.

I was introduced to the Jeep soon after I was born.

On a winter trip north from Duluth Minnesota, to Winnipeg Manitoba (where my mother was from), I rode unceremoniously in a cardboard box placed between the two seats.

From that humble beginning, I eventually purchased a used 1979 Jeep CJ5 of my own in the mid 80’s.

Still a nimble little vehicle, I always thought would have been nice to find an old CJ2A to rebuild or restore.

rebuild-jeep-by-36Bananapies

 

Ideas For Your Jeep Project

old-wwii-jeep.jpgOver the years, Jeep maintained that upgrading designs was a worthwhile pursuit, while changing designs simply for change’s sake would be a losing proposition.

To that end, the drive train and mechanics of the trusty Jeep evolved very slowly.  As a result, the mechanics of today’s Jeeps are very similar to the original military Jeeps from way back in the 1940’s.

For starters, the original 4-cylinder engine with energy passing through a transmission followed by a transfer case with drive shafts going both to the front axle and rear axle.  Pure, simple, and straightforward.

If you’re eager to jump into a DIY Jeep project, rest assured that it really doesn’t matter the condition of your Jeep (even if it’s a recent CJ barn find!).  That’s because replacement bodies, frames, and other Jeep parts are readily available for all years and body styles.

jeep-cj-rebuilders-manual-1946-1971.gif In fact, the source of parts is so good, you could actually build your Jeep from scratch using readily available parts.  If you have a good title and VIN plate, then you can buy the rest! (Some states may allow you to forego the existing title issue. Just be sure to check with your state’s DMV to confirm what they will allow you to do before building a vehicle aimed to be licensed and driven on public roads.)

Fiberglass bodies have become quite popular for 2 reasons:  (1) They’re lightweight; and (2) They don’t rust.  Once you have a usable frame and a rust-free body, you’re well on your way.

Your drive train can be pretty much whatever you want to put in it.  Adapter plates will match up many engines to different transmissions.  You can build your Jeep as “mild” or as “wild” as you like.

Jeep lift kits will enable you to raise the ground clearance and put on a set of those super swamper tires that you’ve been looking at.  When you’re done, your Jeep will be ready to go anywhere!

If mud is your thing, you might want to set it up with a snorkel kit. When in deep water, water will get into the intake unless you’ve relocated your air inlet up by the roof.  A snorkel will make your Jeep part submarine!

If you haven’t found that perfect “project Jeep” yet, and you’re still looking for the Jeep of your dreams — be it ready to roll, or a basket case — then drop by eBay. There, you’re bound to find something that will meet your needs.

Feel free to share links to photos of your own Jeep project in the Comments below!

Curtis
Curtis

I’ve been involved in RVing for 50 years now — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller, you’ve got a good idea of who I am.

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Filed Under: Accessories / Gifts, Outdoor Fun Tagged With: CJ, Jeep Parts, Restoring Jeeps

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Jim WalczakI've been writing about Jeeps since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). We started this Jeep site in 2004. I've always been a Jeep guy -- and I enjoy tackling simple Jeep DIY projects myself.

Jim Walczak: View My Blog Posts

LynnetteSince we’ve been married, my husband and I have owned 5 Jeeps (3 Wranglers and 2 Grand Cherokees). And when we’re not driving our own Jeep, we’re usually renting one (a 4x4 Wrangler on vacation). We keep a Jeep Bucket List of places that we’d like to go next, and we're always crossing more states off our list of 'Places That We’ve Jeeped in the USA'. As our daily driver, we keep the soft top on our Jeep Wrangler year round (and the back window permanently rolled up) so the dogs can enjoy the ride. Yep... even in the winter! I've been sharing my best Jeep ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998. When I’m not Jeeping or writing about Jeeps, you'll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

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