Project "nickle And Dime"

Here is my jewel in the rough. I think its a 57 body. Has a 225 with a 2bbl that supposedly runs. The t14 and t18 are rusting in tub. They were pulled because of "engine noise". But the problem was busted teeth on the tcase input gear. It's been sitting since then. Has a drivers drop waggy front 44 sitting in the tub. PO put the 44 hubs on the d27. It has an offset flanged d44. Frame seems to be ok. I also got 2 sm465's in the deal. The front clip is in great shape. So far it looks like I'm missing the bellhousing with adapter (sourced a bellhousing) and driveshafts. My goal is to fix it back up as cheaply as possible. I have a 15 yr old that will enjoy helping and eventually driving it. You guys have to see the way the tub was rebuilt with 10 gauge metal. Check out the square corners! From the door fwd, the floor and bracing is shot. I think the tub will be a good candidate for a trailer build. You would call me a liar if I told you what I scored this thing for, lol

 

Well that back end is different all-right.

 

was it free or 100 bucks
did it come with a title

 

He was asking $50, I gave him another $50 for delivering it. Saved it from the crusher!

 

It looks like you have a good start to a project there!

 

Just one man’s opinion...Sell the parts and use the profit to buy a nicer candidate. You will be so far upside down in that thing you’ll be kicking yourself for buying it.

 

I hear ya Alan F. I'm sure I'll use a few parts off of it combined with something else. I want to build one with the old school look for my wife and kids. She wants a convertible, little does she know I have plans

 

Looks like a good pile of parts to start with. I think I can see a raised mirror boss on the drivers side cowl. Is there also a raised "lid" on the passenger side cowl? If so, the tub is pre-64. The front turn signal lights are '64-up to '68. The front fender doesn't have the overlay panel, so could be from an early M38A-1.
You have a lot of franken-Jeep there!
-Donny

 

Thanks for the info. Yep, it has the lid on the passenger cowl. Franken jeep, I like it! I havent found a frame number yet. The t18 is a single stick. I cant quite tell if the engine frame horns are factory welded, or somebody welded them in. But I didnt see where they would have cut the 4 cyl mounts out. I found a rear exiting driver side exhaust manifold in the pile. I'm guessing someone was planning a steering box swap. I picked up a job offshore before I could start taking it apart. I'll try to take some pics when I get home.

 

Oh,and it has the hood with the cutout for the snorkle and the factory cover

 

Definitely enjoying the "as found" pics, before you disturbed the tomb.

Hope to see more pics as you clear away the old debris. It's like automotive archaeology.

 

So I finally made it home and started looking for parts to build a jeep. Made a 12 hr round trip to the backwoods of alabama to pick up a I think 70-1/2 to 71. And dang if I didnt find a m38a1 locally. Looks like I have more than my wife is happy with in the yard haha. I cant get pics to load at all after several attempts.

 

After a little research, the m38a1 is a 52-53. It has the early style battery box cover. The PO sold the grill before I got there. That gives me a decent tub with original seat frames, a good windshield frame, twin stick 18, a t90, and driveshafts

 

Sure hate to lay this one on you, but...

 

I hear ya lol. But I cant figure out why I cant get the pics to post. It worked when I started the thread. I had a chance this morning to unfreeze the engine in the 70 1/2-71. 4 valves and some rings were stuck, I bet it fires right up! I had a heck of a time getting the spark plugs out. Are they supposed to be the smaller 5/8? This one had 13/16 sized plugs. I had to grind down the outer diameter of an old socket just to get in there

 

It looks like my new laptop uploads pics now. Here Y'all go. Havent gotten much done since I drug them home except buy a set of 33's and rims for the 70, and getting it to roll over on the key switch

 

They’re delightfully tattered.

Good general condition though. So you have 3 now?

 

4, grabbed this 78 also

 

The rain stopped so I went out and got the spare parts out of the 57. Found 3 pressure plates and discs. Somebody was going through clutches like crazy. Made a pile of junk for my scrap buddy with the stuff I wont use. I've decided to make a truck like the old Landcruiser trucks out of the 57 since the back end was bubba'd so bad. Maybe my Bubba mod will look better.

 

I've been busy on other projects. Going on a road trip in the morning to pick up a Meyer hard top and doors.