Kansascats 1957 CJ5 build thread

Well our jeep family grew a bit more again over the weekend. It all started when some friends of ours decided they wanted to join us on this summers colorado continental divide summer ride event. They fell in love with the idea while watching our FB posts from last summers trip out there with Wilbur our CJ3A. Only problem is they dont have a Jeep. Their solution was to just rent one from out there for the week. The problem with that solution is that they wouldnt be able to go on any of the more interesting trails in a late model rented ride. My solution was of course to offer to let them use a jeep of mine if i had another one built by then. They then offered to rent mine instead of the newer one if i was willing to do it. Deal. Sooooo, long story shortened a bit, i found this 1957 CJ5 with a rear PTO in need of rescuing from being parted out. It had been a project started on and the body was removed already and two of the 4 2.5" new lift springs installed when the project stalled out and had sat outside under plastic ever since. 4.5 hour drive north on a cold windy day had us loading it up and headed out with it.
My plan is to rebuild this CJ and have it ready to go to colorado when our group of jeepers leave on July 25th for Taylor Park area. This should not be a problem as the 3A was in worse shape and i rebuilt it in 4 months last spring...i am getting a 2 month head start on this one. LOL
The engine was stuck from sitting to long, but when we got home my 13yr old son Dillon was anxious to get started on it so he removed the spark plugs as soon as we got it in the shop and sprayed PB blaster in each cyl. A few mins of soaking and i hit the cyls with compressed air to help spread the PB around inside the cyls and low and behold when i pressurised one of the holes the engine turned. I hit another hole and it turned back the other way. Did this a few times them hooked up the jumper cables to the starter and spun it over till i had oil coming out the oil gauge line. Dropped the fuel line into the gas can, hooked up a jumper wire to the coil, hit the started selonoid with power and it cranked a few revs and fired up. Didnt even have to clean the points or mess with the carb. I was very surprised when it started so easily, and even more surprised when it ran so well. Sounds real good, so will have to see if its going to use oil or not after i get the jeep rebuilt and going i guess.
Here are a few pics of day 1 progress. Removed the snow plow mounts, wheels and brake drums. Cut out the rear crossmember that was junk. Removed the pto shaft and rear gearbox. Got it up on jack stands. Got the stuck brake master cyl soaked with PB and broke loose so hopefully will only need a rebuild kit for it. Got the tranhy top off and found milky oil in it and the first rev slide gear was stuck and would not slide. Freed it up and found the clutch to be working properly and not rusted stuck. Discovered the T/C mount ear is broken off so will have to reweld it when i have it all out and apart. Plan to put new bearings and seals in tranny and tc, new seals etc in both axles. Rebuild the st gear and tie rods need one new end. Go thru all the brakes as it came with new shoes so will rebuild wheel cyls and replace all the hoses and any rusty looking lines. Then start in on the tub and fenders. The tub floors are pretty rusty and the L rear corned is beat up. Fenders are in real sad shape so unless i find some better ones cheap i will prob modify them with tube frames and make them flatties. Tread plate the lower sides and maybe even the floors. This one will not be a restoration. Just want it to look decent and mechanically be real good and dependable. I will post more as progress happens.

Good project I look at this last Saturday.

My solution was of course to offer to let them use a jeep of mine

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That is masterful delusion to acquiring another jeep.   We bow to the master...............................

Joe J, give me a contact number or PM me with info about your ws and top. The top is more of a want but a ws is def a need item, so give some thought to what you would have to have for them and let me know...also where your at in mo. Its starting to look like we may have to make another trip either up to childrens mercy hospital in kansas city or the shriners hospital in St louis in the very near future as my son is still suffering with his so far undiagnosed illness and the docs here are saying the nest step is one of these places for additiional testing. The Jeep is a distraction for both him and me to do on the days he is feeling well enough to go out to the shop with me. If your located up that way perhaps we could swing by if we can make a deal on those items.
Appreciate your reply.

Progress has been slow the past two evenings as my son has not been feeling as well so did not make it out to the shop with me. This eve i did go out when i got home and mess with it a bit and managed to remove the front drive shaft, front axle assy and both front springs. Also discovered the frame on this one is not only broken in a couple places up by the front crossmember, which i knew, but its right frame rail is bent to the left on the front rail and bowed back in about the center of it, so once i have it stripped of drive train components i will have to do some repairs to it. I will box the front rails and reinforce them inside where they are broken like i did on Wilbur the 3A. Im sure the snow plow mounts that i took off it probably have a lot to do with the condition of this ones frame. Am guessing it hit something pretty solid while plowing and folded things up and the added load of the plow hanging on the front of the frame probably resulted in it being broken at the front crossmember.