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Words: Tommy Parry
Dean knew his way around classic Jeeps, but with this particular build, he set his sights quite high and needed to bring out the big guns to get it to where he wanted it to be.
Fortunately, he started this project off with a healthy car; the engine, transmission, differentials and frame were all in good shape, though a suspicious spring hanger caught Dean’s attention. Thankfully, his brother is a professional welder and was willing to lend a hand to see this machine meet its potential, so hopefully that would offset some of the difficulty finding parts for this rare Jeep.
Well, after his brother welded a few cracked spots on the frame, Dean replaced the spring shackles and bushings. This made a world of difference in ride quality. Next, Dean sanded the body and started prepping it for paint. After a coat of black paint to cover the fenders, grille and hood, the promise hung thick in the air.
Rust had gone through most of the floor and some of the support piece, so Dean ordered new floor pans and a bit of 1/2x2 square tube to mend the respective sections. It wasn’t pretty.
Nor was the right rear quarter panel - Dean described it as “Bondo city.” Though he’s self-effacing about his metalworking ability, he was quite capable of cutting out the undesirable section and fabbing up a new panel that was quite easy on the eyes. Modest and a perfectionist; a good recipe for a talented builder.
Turning his attentions to the cancer in the floorpan, Dean scrapped what he could and took the opportunity to remove the tub and take it to his father’s shop, where he could give the whole thing a thorough inspection and a good scrubbing. May as well know what exactly he’s working with instead of stumbling upon any other “surprises.”
While he was at it, he power washed the frame and, at the behest of his eldest son, powdercoated everything and coated it in slime green. From there, he remounted the fuel tank, and since Jeep used factory plastic line at the area where it crosses over the shock mount and leads to the tank, he wisely grabbed some steel line to replace it.
After getting the floor back in and reassembling the parking brake, he started plotting out his custom dash. With Speedhut gauges and a GPS speedometer, he’d help give this aged Jeep a hint of modern style. In addition, a newer steering column and a smaller Grant wheel would help get him and his gut in and out of the Jeep with a little more dignity.
With a dash of green paint and a set of custom, leather-bound poly seats similar to those he had in his stock car, Dean left nobody curious about the nature of this focused Jeep.
Feeling like a no-compromise sort of guy, Dean went ahead and installed a rollbar and a bikini top in the appropriate colors.
Of course, he couldn’t get off that easy. After dealing with some puked fuel and poor engine response, he grabbed a new fuel pump and carburetor, and soon everything was running smoothly. Sure, it’s not perfect, but if Dean wanted a pristine gem, he’d buy a new Jeep. This CJ has charm and character, and elicits a wave or a whoop from most people in town. With that bright green paint scheme, he’s become a local celebrity.
