Page 6 of 9
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:01 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
With the bottom, interior and firewall painted, it was time to come off the rotisserie. I had to think the steps through as I do not have a lift or helping hands.
First step was to position the rotisserie with good access all around and four jack stands underneath:
IMG_3972 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:04 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Next, lowered the body on to the jack stands and removed the rotisserie:
IMG_3973 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:07 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Nice thing about this rotisserie is you can take the two ends and use the jack screw and hydraulic lift to get a lot of lift ... which I need to roll the frame back under:
IMG_3978 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
To get the rear tires over the rotisserie lifts, I used a floor jack under the rear axle and pulled the rolling chassis back.
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:10 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Just line up your body above the body mounts and lower in place. Worked much better than I thought it would; was forecasting a trip to the ER but hardly broke as sweat. As it now sits:
IMG_3980 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_3981 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:16 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Do I wait for the expected ... 'why in the world did he not fix the rear fender flares before getting this far?'
Simple, I'm not doing the exterior paint. Real paint man will do that and his metal man will cut and repair the fender flares. I did spray PPG DT 90 on all of the wheel wells, but I only shot the 3M rubberized coating up to half way across (far from metal work). Once the fender flares are repaired, will spray the remaining 3M and the paint shop will paint the wheel wells. There's actually not much body work to do on what you see here. But I've still need to work all of the front end sheet metal, prime, block, and paint all of the non-exterior sides. Then assemble and deliver to paint shop.
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:06 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Looks like a Dynamat bomb blew up inside the Chief. Using Dynamat Superlite on most of it as will add layer of Dynaliner on top. Will be curious to see what it sounds and feels like at highway speeds. The nooks and crannies for the inside of the exterior body panels are getting Dynamat Xtreme.
IMG_4289 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_4288 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_4285 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_4278 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:10 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
What are pros and cons of sealing off the air vent at kick panels? This Chief will have A/C, so what's the benefit of the vent? I was thinking of making an access panel instead, but essentially sealing off the vents.
IMG_4298 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 6:12 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
We have been busy at work this year, little time to work on the Chief. Just some weekends here and there and on days off. To make some time up, got some help via soda blasting removing the remaining paint on the body panels. After cleaning, wiped them down with Fast Etch pending a coat of DTM epoxy primer.
397 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_4335 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
IMG_4332 by [url=
https://www.flickr.
IMG_4330 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickrcom/photos/156384986@N06/]Max Bouthillette[/url], on Flickr
IMG_4331 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 6:17 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Inside the tailgate and doors, used internal frame coating as it is meant to get into hard to reach spaces and seal off / coat any remaining areas that could rust. This is after removing most of the tape and paper; it shoots through a tube with a 180 deg. spray head so you actually want to seal off the area before applying.
054 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:03 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
I picked and chose smaller projects along the way as work schedule has been tight. The Cherokee badge on the tailgate was damaged. Used some clamps and a 2x4 to walk back to flat. It will need to go into the 'to be chrome pile'.
2160 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2161 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 3:52 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
For the fenders, I first shot DTM epoxy primer.
But there was some movement between the pieces that make up the panel, so I drilled holes and place some additional spot welds at the seams between the panels.
2761 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
After the spot welds, touched up the DTM, and then shot with 3M 8964 rubberized body schultz.
2278 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
After the second coat:
2907 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Close up view of the 3M stuff:
2909 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 3:56 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
This is after applying the PPG color base coat and clear:
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 4:09 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
I had one more thing to do on the suspension; the steering stabilizer. I wanted to go with Bilstein for the stabilizer since I'm using Bilstein shocks, but no such thing for the FSJ. To keep the OEM location and looks for the suspension, just upgraded parts, I went with a Bilstein stabilizer for a mid 90's Dodge 2500. The compressed and extended lengths are about right and both ends are eyelets, just wrong size.
To adapt, I cut off the posts from the OEM mounts, keeping the mounting base, and drilled holes through the base for the right size posts:
2895 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
I used long bolts with smooth shanks and welded them in place:
2897 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2898 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2901 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:19 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
The finish install of the stabilizer; also had to center the steering wheel and adjust so that full turn left and right on the steering box.
2902 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:22 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
The roof braces are painted on both sides and re-installed. Started adding 1/2" Dynaliner across the roof.
2913 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2911 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:25 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
I stripped the dash down to metal and prepared for primer and paint.
2925 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2926 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:27 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Paint for the dash is what will also be used on the exterior flat black for the OEM Chief paint scheme; this is called PPG 'Hot Rod Black' which is an exterior quality flat black finish and is spot on to the original color code. Single activated stage paint; goes on very well.
2930 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2931 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:29 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
Also painted the steering column with same PPG black:
2934 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:32 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
The dash pad was in good condition other than some cleaning and color deterioration. Refinish the dash pad with SEM products first their soap applied with 3M grey scotch pad, then their vinyl cleaner and prep, then their paint for vinyl in Landau (flat) Black:
2968 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2969 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
2966 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr
Re: New2Me FSJ 1977 Cherokee Chief
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:59 pm
by 1977ChiefLS3
The windshield wiper motor and mechanism behind the dash are refurbished, tested and installed. I also installed the hydroboost unit and brake pedal assembly.
2943 by
Max Bouthillette, on Flickr