59 cj5. Mater

Started to tear down my 1959 cj5, my wife nicknamed it Mater.

 

The previous owners put a new floor in. It was made of flattened duct work

 

This is my first vehicle restoration. I know I need a new floor, I am going to get one from kaiser wyllis. So, where do I start? Do I separate the body from the frame and then weld floor on? Or do I leave it on the frame, and weld it that way? I will probably have to replace the rockers too. Any guidance would be awesome.

 

Hey nice nick name ! It looks like my floor when i started . I left mine on the frame . Tacked it in place . I made my own floors and hat channel . Michael's 1962 on here under builds .

 

I've read your post, it makes me hopeful. How much do you think you saved by making your own floor?

 

I paid 40 cent a pound for the metal so 500???

 

Ok thanks. You have done a lot of work in a year. I have no welding experience lol. So I might have a little longer timeline. Keep up the good work.

 

my floor was in much better shape than yours, but I still had to repair all of the body mount locations which is impossible to do while the body is sitting on the frame. you may find out that all of your body mounts are completely rusted out too.

 

Good looking jeep. I think your restoration path depends on what you want out of it.
If you plan on redoing brake lines, fuel lines, & other chassis pieces then I'd recommend taking the tub off.
When I started mine, I also had zero welding experience but you'll pick it up fast.
I purchased my replacement pieces from Classicent, and got good quality stuff that fit.
If I had to do it again, there are certain pieces I'd probably try making on my own.

 

I think I'll eventually take it off of the frame, I just don't want it to fall apart before I get some rigidity to it

 

I did mine in steps . Fabed hat channel to frame mount. Tacked them in place . Laid in the floor tacked that in place .Same with riser and rear floor . than took tha body off . I use to weld swimming pool walls when i was in my late teens . By the time i got to the rear floor of the jeep i had remembered a lot i had forgot and still have a hard time with rust !

 

A little more out