Opinions PLEASE!!!!

So I am trying to decide what to do with my swiss cheese/beat up firewall. As you can see my 3b has been the brunt of many if not curious modifications. Should I
A: Suck it up and fab up a firewall using sheet metal
B: Locate a used firewall and use factory spot welds

A CJ3b will usually completely rust out except for the firewall and the grill so finding one should not be to hard and I am in no hurry.
Any other options are welcome!

 

Personally I'd patch the holes up rather than trying to replace the entire thing. Might take a little longer but done right it will look just as good as the original.

 

I agree... and you might find it pretty tough to find someone that is willing to sell the firewall without the tub... kinda kills any value of the tub itself.

 

:iagree:

 

I'd consider cutting out some rectangualar patches and flange them in. Depends on how nice you think it needs to be under the dash.

 

:iagree:

 

The structural integrity seems good. A nifty thing the buggy guys do is cover their engine bays using sheet aluminum. They simply paint the underside to eliminate rust, cut the sheet to match, seal it and pop rivet it or use stainless screws. Usually looks pretty good. I have also seen galvanized sheeting used as it is easy to work with.

 

A suggestion: If your going to sheet over the existing firewall, plan ahead as to where you want your wiring to pass through. Mark and drill new sheet to fit rubber / plastic grommets. Before mounting, drill oversize holes in the existing firewall so your new grommets wont have any " clearance " problems. ( Getting grommets to fit over two layers of plate can be a pain "

 

Here's a pic of my CJ5 dash - complete with pop riveted galvanized patch panels (ugh). I plan to weld in new panels. The hard part is that the PO butchered the curved part of the setback. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle that. But if you just have flat panels to weld in, it shouldn't be too difficult.

tommy b

 

I'm gonna be in the minority here but in the Northeast a firewall/cowl is usually all thats left of a 3B. I've junked one 3B cowl, 2 ECJ5 cowls, and my buddy dumped three 3B cowls over the years. Depend how far gone the rest is. My buddy and I found a good cowl to mate up with a decent tub section. Spliced together you can't tell it ever happened. About 4 hours with marking,measuring and welding. You'll have more than that in massaging that firewall.

 

I agree with SIDSCJ!
If you are not in a hurry as stated, find a donor cowl section and cut out the sections you need for transplant surgery!

 

I think I am going to keep an eye out for a used firewall. If any has one or a good dash, cowl and firewall PM me. I will also get some heavy poster board and play around with making some templates if I go the fab route
Steve, got a link to good flanger/punch tool??
Thanks for the help!

 

Harbor freight sells one. There on sale right now for $29.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41696

 

There is way too much damage to repair to original firewall. Cut it out but leave an inch or so flange. I'd get an overlapping replacement that is close to full size and drill holes for plug welding to what you left. Seal the raw metal with something paintable.

 

O don't know where, but you can also get one of those tools that fits in the end of an air chisel.

 

I don't like it...Just my opinion, It all depends on what you want to look at 10yrs from now if your going to keep it. The only parts of old Jeeps that are any good at all are the the cowl and hood. if your going to keep it and fix it right find a firewall and replace it. JMO
Gary

 

This is the worst part on my tub, the pass. side firewall. I'm just going to cut the area out and weld in a new piece of steel. Don't know if it'll work, or if I'm capable of doing it, but I'll find out I guess.

P.S. - I'm only talking about the cluster of holes at the top, not any lower.

 

Ron, I wish that was the only problem with my tub!