CJ7 restoration in progress- Advice please

bullseye · 02-09-2010, 03:00 AM

Work in progress, but I wanted to see what it would look like.

Not 100% sure I like the brushed stainless look or maybe just not stand alone, but it was still cheaper than getting the original dash blasted and repainted.

certifiablejeep · 02-09-2010, 07:49 AM

I don't know how I missed the license plate before and maybe you mentioned it, but where in MA are you? I am right over the border in NH...

cb

bullseye · 02-09-2010, 01:04 PM

10 miles outside of Boston.

Chevy350 CJ7 · 02-09-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseye

Worked on getting seats mounted to new brackets for the last couple days. The bolts connecting the seats to the brackets seized and all the heads broke off. So I spent some rather frustrating times drilling out bolts.

I really, really hate drilling bolts. Especially grade 8's. But I did get them out and the seats mounted to the new stainless mounting brackets.

They look better against the black carpet.

Where did you buy those bitchin stainless steel brackets from?

bullseye · 02-09-2010, 09:53 PM

4WD.com

bullseye · 02-11-2010, 11:56 PM

Slowly getting the dash put together. Switched out all the dash light bulbs with new ones since I had the chance and a spare $15 bucks...

Replaced old heater/vent/air control pull cables with new replicas from Omix-Ada. Not sure if I am going to keep the cable knobs. Might go with a custom look?

Replaced all 6 dash light indicators. Those were tough to slide into and click into place.

Excellent suggestion on Certifiablejeep's web page to hang the dash panel for ease of installation and reconnecting wires, etc. Thanks for that one.

certifiablejeep · 02-12-2010, 08:08 AM

I have had a lot of people use that technique... all with good results.
My first one I didn't do that and it made such a diference each one after that.

cb

bullseye · 02-15-2010, 03:31 PM

Got roll bar, doors, and mounting brackets for rear seat back from blasting.
$295 total, tax included. I think this was a very fair price and they do great work.

Specialty Stripping
Plastic Media and Sand Blasting
60 Lafayette Road
North Hampton, NH 03862
603-964-6693

Took them to the shop to get everything painted. Having them spray POR15 in the door guts and on the pads of the roll bar and and rear seat mounting brackets.

Hopefully they will be back here at end of week or early next week.

bullseye · 02-15-2010, 03:53 PM

After switching out old dash for new stainless steel, I forgot that original dash was cut to mount aftermarket radio so I either need to cut the new dash or get a new radio that fits the factory opening. The current head unit has a cassette player, "so I might as well..."

5 most expensive words ever.

But seeing that the dash is still hanging and easy to get back there, now is the time to wire it in.

This is what I am putting in:

Retrosound Model One

The Model One looks like an old-fashioned radio, but it offers all the modern conveniences. You can connect your iPod, MP3 player, or portable satellite radio to the front or rear auxiliary inputs. Hook up a thumb drive loaded with music files to the rear USB input, and you'll be able to view track info on the LCD screen. The Model One also offers excellent AM/FM reception.

Retrosound Model One Digital media receiver for classic cars — available in black and chrome at Crutchfield Signature

Best of all, it fits the factory location without cutting.

This is what it's supposed to look like...I picked black knobs instead of chrome though.

So getting the dash fully back together is on hold until later this week whenever it arrives and I get it in.