CT Chapter March B/S Thread
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,330
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ya i hear ya. small steps. thats how you learn. and that good you built a running motor by "winging it" but everything is pretty much made easy now-a-days... with rules and guide lines... and directions with easy kits to intall... not like good old days when you had trial and error... go to the junkyard... by a motor... you can take apart... clean rebuild... get a project... where you dont "need" to fix it over the weekend... and your knowlege will skyrocket.
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 5
From: Manchester, CT
ya i hear ya. small steps. thats how you learn. and that good you built a running motor by "winging it" but everything is pretty much made easy now-a-days... with rules and guide lines... and directions with easy kits to intall... not like good old days when you had trial and error... go to the junkyard... by a motor... you can take apart... clean rebuild... get a project... where you dont "need" to fix it over the weekend... and your knowlege will skyrocket.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,330
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yurp.. those friends are the best to have around. thats good man... have fun. thats the best way to learn if you get flustered... then walk away and come back later.. thats the best way i found to deal with problems.. sometimes you figure it out if you take a brake. good to knwo people are still interested in motors not how new younger guys are they car more about looks and brands then how to change a tire... ha 
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
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From: Wallingford, CT
I heard my name...
Pushrods is those metal sticks what makes the valves move!
Pushrods is those metal sticks what makes the valves move!
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,056
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From: Waterford, CT
yurp.. those friends are the best to have around. thats good man... have fun. thats the best way to learn if you get flustered... then walk away and come back later.. thats the best way i found to deal with problems.. sometimes you figure it out if you take a brake. good to knwo people are still interested in motors not how new younger guys are they car more about looks and brands then how to change a tire... ha
goodnight CT, catch ya later.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 264
Likes: 2
Brian can in fact vouch for the Jeep... he's seen it a number of times. We have a history, he referred me here a while back but I had lost the link long ago.
The Jeep has a long history with me. My father bought it in 2002 as a father/son project for us. Following this came 6 others, at once... I have two more of them plus this one pictured below. He passed away in December of 2005 and since it's been a working project for me. Slowly but surely. Right now it's waiting for me to pull the entire front clip so I can pull the engine out for a gasket overhaul and painting, as well as me coating the front part of the frame and components, and the engine bay itself. As well as a new wiring harness from the dash forward including the addition of a fuse panel. It might also be getting a mild cam... but I'm in the process of scoping out another engine for it to build up a little so I can keep the stock one. Hopefully next year it will be getting painted.
It's a 1973 Jeep Commando, one of about 20,250 built in two years (72-73). Little known model... but it's known for its following of people who tend to like them. They started life in '66 as a V6 "family" type SUV, width of the CJ5 and wheelbase of the CJ6. In AMC's era, '72 saw the nose lengthened and changed from a Jeep appearing nose to one that looks like a bobcat Bronco or Scout. They had similar drivetrains to the same era CJ's, with the exception that these had optional automatics given the extra room.
It's a slow-going project. I've learned a lot doing this, I've been taking my time due to budget and time constraints and the fact I'm trying to do it all right the first time. I take pride in knowing that one day it's going to be perfect. It's just getting there that's hard... it's only me working on it as it has been for the past 6 years.
This Jeep in particular is a factory V8 Jeep with about 87k miles, AMC 304 under the hood with a few mods. It's an original auto too, using GM's TH400 transmission, and Dana 30/44 axles and 20 x-case (with 3.73 gears and a posi in the rear). Other options that were factory on it include PS, PB, and the original radio. It's a factory full hardtop but has an added soft top to it. One of the other Jeeps is a '72 original confirmed half-cab model, one of about 580 from that year built.
List of notable mods:
Edelbrock Performer intake
Edelbrock 600cfm 4bbl (changing)
Thrush Welded mufflers in true dual form (switching to long tubes and 2.5" exhaust)
Mallory GM-style HEI
Alcan Springs 3"f/4"r lift springs
31x10.5 AT's on CJ7 Renegade wheels
STC Soft Top
Custom seats up front
Now for a few pics (top one is the newest):
This is how it was in August of 2002:
If some of you are from this part of the state you may have seen it at Ocean Beach or Mohegan Sun.
The Jeep has a long history with me. My father bought it in 2002 as a father/son project for us. Following this came 6 others, at once... I have two more of them plus this one pictured below. He passed away in December of 2005 and since it's been a working project for me. Slowly but surely. Right now it's waiting for me to pull the entire front clip so I can pull the engine out for a gasket overhaul and painting, as well as me coating the front part of the frame and components, and the engine bay itself. As well as a new wiring harness from the dash forward including the addition of a fuse panel. It might also be getting a mild cam... but I'm in the process of scoping out another engine for it to build up a little so I can keep the stock one. Hopefully next year it will be getting painted.
It's a 1973 Jeep Commando, one of about 20,250 built in two years (72-73). Little known model... but it's known for its following of people who tend to like them. They started life in '66 as a V6 "family" type SUV, width of the CJ5 and wheelbase of the CJ6. In AMC's era, '72 saw the nose lengthened and changed from a Jeep appearing nose to one that looks like a bobcat Bronco or Scout. They had similar drivetrains to the same era CJ's, with the exception that these had optional automatics given the extra room.
It's a slow-going project. I've learned a lot doing this, I've been taking my time due to budget and time constraints and the fact I'm trying to do it all right the first time. I take pride in knowing that one day it's going to be perfect. It's just getting there that's hard... it's only me working on it as it has been for the past 6 years.
This Jeep in particular is a factory V8 Jeep with about 87k miles, AMC 304 under the hood with a few mods. It's an original auto too, using GM's TH400 transmission, and Dana 30/44 axles and 20 x-case (with 3.73 gears and a posi in the rear). Other options that were factory on it include PS, PB, and the original radio. It's a factory full hardtop but has an added soft top to it. One of the other Jeeps is a '72 original confirmed half-cab model, one of about 580 from that year built.
List of notable mods:
Edelbrock Performer intake
Edelbrock 600cfm 4bbl (changing)
Thrush Welded mufflers in true dual form (switching to long tubes and 2.5" exhaust)
Mallory GM-style HEI
Alcan Springs 3"f/4"r lift springs
31x10.5 AT's on CJ7 Renegade wheels
STC Soft Top
Custom seats up front
Now for a few pics (top one is the newest):
This is how it was in August of 2002:
If some of you are from this part of the state you may have seen it at Ocean Beach or Mohegan Sun.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,058
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,648
Likes: 1
From: CT
Good morning Ray, Greg, and everyone else.
Looks like it is going to get cold tonight.
Matt- that Jeep is very nice.
I used to have a '68 CJ5 Back in high school with a V6 225 Buick in it.
It was a lot of fun but I sold it to buy the wife a engagement ring.
Looks like it is going to get cold tonight.
Matt- that Jeep is very nice.
I used to have a '68 CJ5 Back in high school with a V6 225 Buick in it.
It was a lot of fun but I sold it to buy the wife a engagement ring.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,330
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good morning to the great chapter of ......little something to wake up with.
YouTube - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home (JVTP)