JD Cruiser's 1981 BJ42 Body Repair & Restoration (5 Viewers)

[JDCruiser]

Headlight Switch
Next step was to start removing the switches on the dash. I started with the headlight on / off and dash dimmer switch. The set screw on the knob backed out pretty easy, then the knob twisted right off. I took the collar off carefully with a pair of channel locks so that I wouldn't scratch the decal or IP. Once the collar is off it simple pulls off from behind the dash and the connector gets disconnected. There was a mini lightbulb which illuminates the knob. Here are some pics of the removal

 

[SSCR]

Fantastic work so far, thanks for documenting it!

 

[JDCruiser]

Manual Throttle Cable Removal
Worked to remove the bracket and the throttle (choke) cable switch. I had previously disconnected the cable during the accel pedal removal so it was just a matter of taking off the switch assembly. It also houses the sedimenter filter indicator light, which just had one connection on the back.

 

[JDCruiser]

Remainder of Dash Disassembly
Continued with taking everything off the dash. I have pics of it all so if anyone needs details of anything, just let me know. Here is a sample of some of the pics from the dash disassembly.

 

[JDCruiser]

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[JDCruiser]

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[JDCruiser]

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[JDCruiser]

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[JDCruiser]

Antenna Removal
Continued on stripping down the tub to its bare metal. Next was removal of the antenna. The nut on the inside was jammed on there really good, tried a couple different methods to get the screw to free up from the nut but couldn't ended up taking an impact drill to it which just stripped out the Phillips screw head. I had to then drill out the head of the screw in order to get it out. Didn't damage anything in the process which is good. Here are some pics of the removal.

 

[JDCruiser]

Fuel Control Relay Removal
The glove box side walls makes for a good spot to mound stuff to them. The RH side has the fuel control relay towards the front and the single speaker (yes imagine if they still made cars with only one speaker) at the rear. They were pretty easy to remove as the housings had studs on them and nuts accessed through interior glovebox side. Here are some pics of the Fuel Control Relay.

 

[JDCruiser]

Speaker Removal
Next up was the speaker removal. It also had studs that went through the RH side glovebox wall. The speaker wire (blue / white) routes along with the other wires through glovebox. Unlikely that I will reuse this speaker, not sure if it even ever worked as I never used the radio. Will likely retrofit the truck with a new sound system, but one step at a time. Here are some pics of the speaker removal

 

[JDCruiser]

Glovebox Outlet Removal
After I figured out what this was and what it was for (only done through the the help of IH8mud of course), did I remove it. When I got the truck it didn't have the inspection or trouble light so wasn't sure what it was. Here are some pics of being removed also with the white capacitor or filter looking thing that is also located on the LH Side of the glovebox but to the front of the dash.

 

[JDCruiser]

Voltage Regulator Removal
Needed to remove the voltage regulator connection so decided to just remove it at the same time before isolating the P Side firewall WH entry. It came off pretty easy and so did the connections.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

JD,

You wouldn't be interested in selling the speaker and bracket would you? My 42 has the radio but no speaker or bracket. At the very least I would be interested in borrowing them so I could make myself a copy and try and find a speaker that matched. Let me know.

I would also like to thank you for documenting everything in detail. It will help you and many others down the road.

Kevin

 

[Wes]

JD,

You wouldn't be interested in selling the speaker and bracket would you? My 42 has the radio but no speaker or bracket. At the very least I would be interested in borrowing them so I could make myself a copy and try and find a speaker that matched. Let me know.

I would also like to thank you for documenting everything in detail. It will help you and many others down the road.

Kevin

I have an extra bracket with no speaker if JD doesn't want to get rid of his. Free to you if you pay to ship it. It has been repainted, but is in good shape.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Thanks Wes. I'll take you up on that offer. I'd still like to see a close up shot of that speaker though JD, if you have the time. I'm curious if the 24V system speakers are any different than a typical 12V type. Probably not as they are powered from the radio's output. I would imagine they just changed the input power supply to the radio to 24V and left the rest as it was.

Wes, I'll send you a PM (or start a conversation as its called now)

 

[Crescent Wrench]

Excellent write up JD, you are setting the bar very high. Keep it up !

 

[JDCruiser]

Hello Kevin (Awl-TEQ),
Not really up for selling the speaker, sorry, haven't decided yet on what direction I am going to take. I would be up for letting you borrow it, provided you covered shipping out and back, I could do up a pretty good detailed drawing for you with pretty accurate dimensions of whatever you need on it. Let me know what you think.

 

[JDCruiser]

Hello Kevin,
How quick do you need a shot of it. I have it stored away, but I could get it out over the next few days and get some shots on it and take some quick dimensions for you, just let me know what aspects you are interested in.

 

[JDCruiser]

Hey Crescent and Kevin,
Thanks for the kind words regarding my write up.... Glad it might be able to help some people down the road. I have not done this before so I wanted really good pics of everything so I have a shot at putting it back together. Thought it might be overkill on what I was posting in the write but figured it would be useful sort of like a play by play later on.