RJ58, and so it begins...

[motor12 367]

Is that the table the dog lives under..i think I see his blanket.

[SMITTY 23]

Your going to need some new clevis pins for the steering 22.00 shipped let me know.

 

Smitty

[mels 174]

Yessir, one of my old Army blankets I brought Home from Korea in '85.  

 

Will let you know about the pins, Smitty.  I've got a bunch of parts stuff around here from years of hit & miss engine and antique tractor hobby but finding it is a different story...  Lol

[mels 174]

30 x 60 condensate pan fits pretty good!

 

Got it up off the floor this afternoon, Suppertime comin' then head off to Lodge for a meeting. 

 

Will give her a quick look over later this evening.  Trying to figure out where I can take everything to be sandblasted, one more cabinet I just never had room for...

 

Enjoy the new pics 

 

 

 

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,601]

Mels-

I use a guy out of Brookfield (Joe's Sandblasting). He is reasonable. PM me if you want his number.

[motor12 367]

Great pictures, I also used a large drip pan when I disassembled my RJ, it kinda keeps the greasy stuff in one easy to clean spot.

[mels 174]

Steve thanks for the lead, talked to sandblast Joe yesterday, will be seeing him soon.  Will be taking to the paint guy today, try to coordinate everything so it all comes together as seamlessly as possible...

 

That said, picked up an OEM Kohler carb kit and points from my long time friends at Newtown Power Equipment yesterday, got the old girl up off her hoops once I got Home and started the dissassembly process.  Took a few pics along the way, enjoy.

 

 

[mels 174]

[mels 174]

[mels 174]

[mels 174]

[motor12 367]

I look at every RJ58 picture I can find as I work thru my RJ project, (close to completion) and so far I have not seen two alike. There is always something assembled in a different order or just different parts all together. Looks like you have an array of quality tools at the ready so fighting rusted parts should be no problem. The only problem I had with stubborn rust was a wheel hub and it took days of PB blaster and a puller to get it off without any damage. Looks good.

[mels 174]

Thanks, yessir been collecting tools since I was 5 years old walking down Mildred Avenue in Poughkeepsie NY when a hydrant wrench fell off a fire truck and landed at my feet.  Lol, after 50 years - 35 of those in and out the trades / 6 years in the ARMY / mechanical hobbies / etc... - I need more room for tools than I do for myself.  Garage is packed to the gills which is why Wifeys' RJ is in the house.  Kicker is, I have a full-on pneumatic motorcycle lift table and air tools out in the garage just sitting there doing nothing, lol...

 

Gents, posted up a WTB ad here:  

 

Looking for a toolbox and fenders assembly off a Suburban IF it's a bolt-on for Wifeys' RJ.  Need one ASAP as I'd like to lump it in with the sandblasting and paint.   Also, I remember seeing that someone here reproduces the decals for the RJ but can't for the life of me remember or find out who.  Could someone please point me in the right direction?  Want to have those here and ready to give to the painter, probably put 'em on before the clear coat, I don't know.

 

Probably be minimal work done on the RJ today, pull the wheels off and the steering shaft'll most likely be it.  Bible study on Thursday evenings, and it's the one day every week that Wifey and I go out to eat together.  Date night with God.  

 

Will post up more pics tomorrow.

[AMC RULES 37,251]

http://www.redoyourhorse.com/1955-to-1964-front-and-mid-engine-rjs-suburbans/

[mels 174]

Awesome.  Thanks Craig Alan!

[motor12 367]

I have used the decals from redoyourhorse for two of my projects and I must say the decals are outstanding in every way, I will use them on my next horse. I hate to sound like a sales guy but he does offer a great product.

[Racinbob 12,434]

I'm lucky to get away with my Suburban in the garage. Cool thread you have going here mels.

[mels 174]

Not at all, 'Motor, thanks for the testimonial it's good to hear, I'll order up a set when I get back to my computer tomorrow!

Lol 'Bob, I guess if our garage were clear my beautiful Wife would have both this project AND me out there instead of in her clean white nest... Lol

This was supposed to be something we chipped-away at while I recovered from surgery next week, guess I blew that plan huh?

Took a few more pics this afternoon before we split for Supper, will post them up from the computer when I get back to work in the morning.

[mels 174]

[RedRanger 1,470]

 

 

RJ on the bench.JPGRJ on the bench 2.JPG

 

I believe my wife would have a heart attack if I did this.  

[mels 174]

I believe my wife would have a heart attack if I did this.  

Believe me, I'm tryin'!!! Lol

I'm telling you, I'm sure I don't have the best Wife in the world, but I definitely have the best Wife for me.

[mels 174]

So that's it for yesterday afternoon. Still need to decide what to do about the transmission, I know I should replace the seals at least while I have her stripped down this far and that input pulley has a broken sheave so maybe I'll replace it with an adjustable sheave pulley. Not too keen on splittling the transmission apart to look over the gearset and check out the mess in there, maybe someone can link me to a RJ tranny rebuild thread. I have a solvent tank parts washer out in the garage, maybe I'll uncover that this weekend along with some bench space and get into it. Pretty sure even Wifey would draw the line at the wonderful aroma of 30+ year old gear oil inside her house...

Any supplier here for those seals? If not, Ernie at Sam Dallas here in town is right up the road and has always been able to match up what I've needed. http://www.samueldallas.com/

Edited April 10, 2015 by mels

[motor12 367]

Mels one of the members on Red Square (Jake Kuhn) has the trans gaskets and he can help you on the seals and bearings. He usually has the gaskets on e-bay. I have used a couple of his gaskets and they work great, they are the correct thickness.

[Racinbob 12,434]

Go to the reference section here under transmission instructional threads and videos and you will find all sorts of good stuff there. Stevasaurus has some great videos posted there. Don't be intimidated about opening up the transmission. Obviously you know your way around mechanical thingys so you won't have a problem. They are really quite simple. Download the repair manual in the manual section. I second motor12's comment on Jake. and there's also a cross reference for the bearings and seals here.

[Racinbob 12,434]

By the way. If you do open up the tranny you might want to do that in the garage. You don't want to push Mrs. mels too far