Tale of 2 Cheros-

[j2sax]

So, you may remember a "Hack Lift" 82 Chero I brought home last year with an 8" lift that was horribly done: 8" blocks in back with 8" 'spacers' welded onto EVERYTHING in the front end (sway bar. shock and spring mounts)







It was not drive-able due to steering issues and the Auto trans had no reverse. There were a couple of rusted areas, buy the frame is in AMAZINGLY good shape and the body better than most WT's from this era I have seen.

On the upside, it has lockers front and rear, but this is not going to be necessary for this build as this will rarely see 'froading and will be primarily and around town truck with occasional trail rides

[j2sax]

Tale of 2 Cheros, enter the donor

During my travels for work, I stumbled across this OTHER 82 Chero on CL between St Louis and Cape. It was a STRONG running 360 with my coveted FOUR SPEED! I was excited until I saw that the floors were just a patchwork of galvanized steel, road sign pieces and various other flat metals.

Worse yet, the frame is BADLY rusted... all along the gas tank to the front body mount is rusted and the front 2 corners of the frame are SHOT! Just behind the front cab mount it is literally cracked all the way through except for the top of the channel.. not something you want to spend a lot of miles in!

Had 2 wait a couple of weeks for the owner to get to my price range, but drove it home about 2 hours (enlisted some help from AAA for the rest to save on gas!)





(I know, it LOOKS great until you get CLOSE!)

On the way home, it sprung a leak in the Radiator and oil pressure was WAY low at idle. During a wrench day Weekend, Jeepman Dave and some local friends came down to help out and he replaced the radiator. I checked the oil pressure with a gauge kit and it was not bad, but had a lot of top end noise. I replaced the sending unit and suddenly the oil pressure was decent!

[IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz266/j2sax/Serrano%20Wrench%20Day%2006_21_14/IMG_20140621_161751_490_zpsea4d8619.jpg[IMG]

[j2sax]

Tale of 2 Cheros- plans change- Ouray Bound?

The original plan was to use the Cape 82 as the donor vehicle for Power Train, Springs, Axles and other various pieces and scrap/sell the rest. The engine ran so strong, I felt it was the way to go... then I fired up the Hack Chero. SIXTY PSI even after warmed up, ran much smoother and quieter than the Cape Chero... lo and behold when I looked at it, it has obviously been rebuilt.



So, I am taking everything but the engine from the Cape Chero and I think I already have that sold. During the wrench day, we hacked and burned the nasty lift and this is about where it sits now: (though the front axle is completely pulled out of the way now)



This metal will come in good for SOMETHING... not a lift though! The giant rear lift blocks were made of SOLID STEEL and must weigh 25 pounds a piece! NASTY! (not shown as I was too tired to pick them up!)



Unfortunately, I will likely be taking my son's XJ to Ouray again. My beautiful J10 is getting a motor built for it (on someone else's dime) and getting that figured out, finding a shop that would do it as stipulated by the paying company took time away from this project.







I found out last week that I have been tapped for a project in NE all next week so, so that's 5 nights I would have had to finish things up gone... dangit! I leave Monday early, come home late Friday and leave for Ouray on Sunday. Rather than finishing this project, I am going to do preliminary maintenance on the "Mini Chief" and prep it for the trip, as well as getting the 82 Spirit 4 cyl running dependably so my son will have something to drive while I am gone (would normally have been my J10)

Still... I have always wanted to have a good FSJ Chero with Standard trans, so I cannot wait to get this all back together! My Girlfriend has named this one "Abe" as I plan to paint it a bright copper color and I did NOT like "Penny!" (I think Abe might already be taken here.. maybe I will go with "Lincoln")

Still cannot WAIT for Ouray!

[Strode]

Wow......that's alot of frustration sitting there.

Muscle Grilles Rule!

[j2sax]

Wow......that's alot of frustration sitting there.

Muscle Grilles Rule!

Yeah... I when I see the floors in vehicles like yours I often think it is not worth the trouble... I actually scrap a lot of stuff that guys further North would DIE FOR, but just too much rust for me! I know the floors in the Chero I am keeping are good EXCEPT for the driver's floor which is rusted through, but other than the rockers and one spot on the rear flares, it's actually not bad. I am probably going to get rid of the rockers all together, but we will see.

Your build is an inspiration!

[j2sax]

Muscle Grilles RULE!

And I believe the Muscle grille to be my FAV! I am not big on Chrome, but that factory Ad that Jeep used in the 80's of the Black Chero with the Chrome (well, chrome looking finish on a plastic grille!) MUscle Grille was always one of the best looking truck shots ever, IMHO!

[DARK FATHER]

[/QUOTE]Still... I have always wanted to have a good FSJ Chero with Standard trans, so I cannot wait to get this all back together! My Girlfriend has named this one "Abe" as I plan to paint it a bright copper color and I did NOT like "Penny!" (I think Abe might already be taken here.. maybe I will go with "Lincoln")

Still cannot WAIT for Ouray![/QUOTE]

Suggested names!
Cop
Penny Dreadful
2 Cents
Good Cents

(Silly, I know!)