81 CJ5 Repair

[81 CJ5]

Went to pull-a-part yesterday and got a coil and starter spring off an 89 Ford E 250 van. Hope the TFI upgrade was worth it.

[81 CJ5]

I decided to just do everything tonight.

Here is what I started with from the Junkyard


Bent these u bolt plates about 90* and drilled out the holes a bit so the bolt would fit.


Coil is done


Then I had to remove the canister coil plug and boot and replace it with the TFI one.


End Result


I'll test it tomorrow.

[mike.zeiderman [Veteran Member]]

Had you already done the basic upgrade with the 460 parts, notice any improvement there? I really need to get going on mine, this is my first V8, so just driving it bone stock with an MC was a big poop eating grin moment. It already had a new distributor in it when I got, install was bad and some how the kid got the gear on upside down, long story of how I got it so cheap. So anyways I don't know anything about the distributor other than it's new.

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[81 CJ5]

The TFI-Thick Film Ignition upgrade is worth it. The Jeep had a "miss" every once in a while and when I put the large cap and rotor on it the engine to me ran a heck of a lot better. I would get the coil too because that's where the upgrades to the cap, rotor, and wires comes in.

[mike.zeiderman [Veteran Member]]

Cool, thanks.

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[81 CJ5]

It was a success. Started right up and ran it for about an hour. Went on a small test drive and the left rear drum brake kept dragging. Done with the engine for now. I'm going to use the rear bumper for the OBA tank and I'm going to try to find another factory bumper so I can modify it.

[zachcrosby [Veteran Member]]

Oba in the bumper is a good use of space. I had plans to do that at one time


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[81 CJ5]

So while the Jeep was been sitting around with weeds growing around it in the back, I made a new list of parts/items I need.

My list includes the following (if you have an item on the list let me know & the shipping to 39056) windshield wipers, leaf springs, fuel tank sending unit, shocks, M20 rear brake drums, Dana 30, drum brake repair kit, engine, front brake hoses, body mounts, gauges, fan shroud, drum brake wheel cylinders, shackles, soft or hard top w/ doors, new or used tires, seats, shift boots, starter, battery and a few other things. With the tub off I can get a better idea of what I'm working with. I might go ahead and remove the bondo floor I have and use some sheet metal to fix it right. Also some white wagon wheels like my 73 had would be a nice. I believe they were a 15x7 or 15x8. Now did I forget anything?

[mike.zeiderman [Veteran Member]]

Well I don't know why.....but my response got posted in a different post, anyways I have 4 chrome wagon wheels with 2 center caps in decent shape.

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[81 CJ5]

Thanks for the offer mike. I have 5 on the Jeep right now that are/were chrome. That nostalgic look gets me.