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My Little "Barn" Find... '55 CJ5

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by durangotang, May 12, 2015.

  1. Jun 13, 2020
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    500
    Looking great so far.
     
  2. Jun 13, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
    Messages:
    501
    Turn of events today and I learned a LOT about the history of my Jeep. This is where my Jeep becomes a cautionary tale about what can possibly be wrong when you buy a nice "older restoration".

    The frankenstein body patches continue inside the Jeep and I have since learned how the previous owners did bodywork: don't cut out the old rust, simply slap a repair panel on top of it.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    The whole thing it two layers of sheet metal with rust growing between them... no idea why someone would do this.
     
  3. Jun 13, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
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    501
    Theme continues with these (assuming) homemade fenderwell corners... more garbage covered in bondo and glue.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Jun 13, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
    Messages:
    501
    They obviously replaced the rear floor pan as well... did the same stuff again...

    [​IMG]

    Moving to the back, I can't even tell how many layers there are... along the rail it almost looks like they skinned the tub with another tub... under the bondo/glue is a horrible rusted seam that I actually think is two layers of sheet metal skins.

    [​IMG]

    Entire fender/tub junction is a constant bead of body filler and some sort of glue... they are tack welded at the body supports, but I can easily flex them apart with a screwdriver.

    [​IMG]

    Done for the day after all of this... need to figure out how I can salvage this mess.
     
  5. Jun 13, 2020
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2018
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    500
    Oof... this is my nightmare when I start thinking about bodywork on my tub. Still, tip of the cap for jumping in, sir. (y)
     
    Fireball likes this.
  6. Jun 13, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Mar 17, 2010
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    501
    This should be everyone's nightmare. I have never seen one this bad. And I still don't know how to approach it.
     
  7. Jun 13, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
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    1,450
    Eeeek!!! I hope someone comes along with some sound advice soon :worry:
     
  8. Jun 13, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Mar 29, 2007
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    5,916
    Holy cow. Sure is a major disappointment for sure. I feel your pain.
     
  9. Jun 13, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    At least you can make a spare tub with the extra layer you peel of everything. :(

    On a serious note, that's a serious bummer. Ugh.
     
  10. Jun 14, 2020
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

    Tacoma, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2013
    Messages:
    354
    Ugh. Sorry to see that. A little bit of putty and paint makes a "restoration" all that it ain't.
     
  11. Jun 14, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
    Messages:
    501
    Update on the shenanigans... it gets worse, haha.

    [​IMG]

    Had to get the sandblaster out to try and get into the glue/bondo mix. Yes, that's empty space between the fender and the wall of the tub, they aren't touching. At least there is only one layer of metal and it's solid.
     
  12. Jun 14, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
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    501
    After removing all the glue and bondo, this is what was left of the spare tire support... it was hanging in space other than some glue and som tack welds to a little piece of angle steel.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Jun 14, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
    Messages:
    501
    Next big problem is that all of the seams look like this:

    [​IMG]

    You can see the bulges in between the spot welds holding that panel on. Each one of those is where dirt/rust has accumulated. I will get it taken care of as best I can, but I think I have to give in to the fact that my Jeep will need the tub replaced whenever I come across a good original donor. I'm going to have to coat most of the tub in POR-15 after a few rounds of naval jelly and see how much life I get out of it before it starts rusting again.
     
  14. Jun 15, 2020
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    Feb 21, 2009
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    3,869
    Fluid film will Creep in and stop the rust you can even apply it after you paint
     
  15. Jun 15, 2020
    Blackout6vi6

    Blackout6vi6 New Member

    Lansing, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    I can't speak on Colorado laws but in Michigan it costs $35.00 to run antique plates as long as they are from the year the vehicle is titled in. The registration of the plate is good for life, so no yearly fee which is nice. The downside is, technically, you are limited to driving to parades, car shows, swap meets and the like. You aren't supposed to drive daily with the plates registered in that way. I also feel that I read somewhere that the month of August is open for full travel anywhere with the antique plate but I could be making that up.

    Anyway, awesome build! I just finished reading through the whole thing. Keep up the awesome work, I look forward to seeing more.

    Cheers, -Jimmy

    Edit: For some reason I thought I was at the end already but am now seeing your updates about the body rust you found. Big bummer and definitely makes me worried about mine. Good luck with the repairs
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2020
  16. Jun 15, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Mar 17, 2010
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    Appreciate the encouragement.
     
    Blackout6vi6 likes this.
  17. Jun 15, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Mar 17, 2010
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    501
    Started making some headway on the fixes and I have a plan now as to how to fix these issues. All of the spot-welded lap joints are getting removed and will be re-welded as butt joints as they should have been. I managed to find a good plan of attack to get it done fairly quickly. Right rear corner was fixed today with some slight changes. If My Jeep is going to make me chop up a fender, I'm going to make it more useful. This is my patented Willys fender cubby hole. I don't know what will go in there, but I guarantee the space will be useful.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Yes, it's just tacked in place for now. Once the repairs are all tacked up I'll spend way too much time finalizing the welding.
     
  18. Jun 15, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Sep 27, 2016
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    1,450
    That has me rethinking how I was going to do fenderwell storage in mine (y)
     
  19. Jun 15, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
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    1,450
    What are you thinking for protecting the brake light wiring and stuff?
     
  20. Jun 15, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Mar 17, 2010
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    It was surprisingly easy to do as everything is pretty square off of the fenderwell and the corners are an easy radius. I'm curious to see how it works with the rear seat, might have to make a cover for it.
     
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