A barn (really a metal building) find

Since I am working on my '81 CJ, I am always looking around on Craigslist for items that I may need. I stumble on this post for a 1976 CJ-7, and at first glance, it looks really rough. I did not need another Jeep and did not pay any attention to it.

Over the next few days this add keeps popping up and I finally click on the pictures and give it a look. The more I look at it and the more I think about it, I realize this could be a good find. I contact the seller and make arrangements to meet him on a Saturday morning. He is located about 90 miles from my location in a small town south of Dallas, TX. I wake up and head that way early, with some straps, a come-along and a blank bill of sale, just in case.

Once I arrive, and walk in the shed, I am amazed to see the condition of the Jeep. I'm also surprised to see the over 5' rat snake that has made himself at home in the Jeep. Although, dirty, it truly is a survivor. The Jeep was purchased by the father of the man who I have been communicating with, but has passed on. He bought the Jeep brand new in Waco, TX and drove it home. The family mainly used the Jeep on their deer lease and even towed it to Colorado 4 or 5 times. He tells me stories of him driving it and even his mom a few times.

I investigate the frame and body, and it is in fine shape for a 40 year old Jeep. There is some surface rust but no rust through. The Jeep has not been welded on or cut on, as so many have been. He tells me the only thing that is messed up is the antenna is broken off, but he has a new one, and he cannot find the keys, but has bought a new ignition switch. He tells me it has not been started in 8 years and that the rats have chewed on the spark plug wires. I look at the other wires to make sure I will not have to replace the wiring harness and all but a few look fine. He tells me the Jeep has always been parked in a garage unless they were using it.

As we are digging around in his shop, he finds the complete soft top for it as well as the original hubcaps.

I seal the deal and go pick up a uhaul trailer to take it home.

With all the snakes, spiders, scorpions (found him in the folded soft top) and who knows what else living in the Jeep, I was scared to put it in my garage. I rented a storage unit and dropped it off there until I could at least get some tires on it that would hold air and get the steering wheel unlocked.

Here's most of the snake skin I pulled from the frame, but some broke off.

I was able to pick up some slightly used tires/rims a guy removed off of a Jeep Wrangler and I found a set of used adapters on ebay. This was a cheap way to put something under it so that it would roll and hopefully I can sell or trade them later when I am finished with them.

I then tackled replacing the ignition switch. I looked around on the internet for a guide to replace the ignition switch and found this excellent photo pictorial.

I found a $10 spring plate compression tool on Amazon and I suggest having this as well as a steering wheel puller to do this job. As long as you have those two items, this is a 15 minute effort.

My next update will be me beginning work.