1955 Restoration Tips

Hello all,

I have just been given a 1955 CJ-5 which runs ok, but the aesthetics are awful. It's rusted, the seats look as though they have been mauled by a tiger, and desperately needs some TLC. I am planning to do an ON-body restore because I simply don't have the time nor the experience to take it apart. It has the original green paint on it which I like very much, and I plan to repaint it the same color. Does anyone know the original green paint color? Please include any tips to restoring a Jeep with taking it apart. (I am very new to this).

Thanks for all your help in advance!

 

Don X maybe this should be in early tech for more exposure

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

Welcome from Boston!

We have an introductions forum if you'd like to post there.

I suggest you take photos of everything now, from every possible angle and at every possible distance. You are welcome to post a link to your album, and we'd like to see the bes shots here.

I suggest you square away any mechanical issues first, before you think about appearance. People sell cars for a reason, and there are a lot of moving parts to neglect on a Jeep. Jeeps that are not owned by enthusiasts generally are neglected until something comes up that the owner does not want to fix - then they are sold.

First start with the factory service manual; read it cover to cover. They are available as reprints from all of the jeep parts retailers - http://thejeep.com/shop/TECH+MANUAL...%252F6+L%2526F+HEAD++JEEP+SERVICE+MANUAL.html - this is an example.

Next, you might read this http://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Rebuilders-Manual-1946-1971-Restoration/dp/0837610370 - hear that it is good.

Interesting that you are focusing on the "body on" part of whatever restoration you might do. Usually the body comes off to make the work easier, not harder. I hope that you understand what you are getting into, and that the amount of work in a body-on vs. body-off restoration is somewhat tangential. There will be a certain number of things that you will have to fix to make it road worthy, whether you take the body off or not.

<edit> Also, you will find that everybody here does their own work, for the most part. That's the only affordable way to own these cars, unless you have very deep pockets. If you intend to hire someone to do the mechanical repairs, finding someone locally that will work on old cars for a realistic price - and that knows Jeeps - will be central to your success. If you don't have the time or the means, owning or restoring an old car may not be for you. Also, if you can't work on the car, it will probably be less expensive to seek out an example that is already in good shape and pay up, than it will be to fix up an example that's in poor condition.

 

I've done a couple body on restorations. Its not so bad. Fenders, hood, dash, windshield all come out pretty easy to give you alot of access to work on the tub.

 

Do you really mean "restoration?" You can have fun with an old jeep without needing to pretty it up too much. if the paint is already awful, it can be liberating...just slap on some fresh rustoleum and go...

For more advanced efforts, Timgr has good points. I would suggest - don't tear it to pieces trying to do it all at once.

Beyond that - get one basic thing correct, then the next. For instance, plugs, points, cap and rotor. Then the carb. Etc. Isolate problems and it makes the diagnosis easier on the next one.

 

Here's some paint info - http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Paint1.html

Pretty sure the colors for 1955 included both the CJ-5 and the CJ-3B. Both were in production at the time.

The CJ-3B Page tech tips contain a lot of good info that is relevant to the earliest CJ-5s, and it's fun to browse through. Once you read a little about your CJ-5, you can ask some more specific questions. http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/tech.html

 

Welcome to the world of old Jeeps! You'll find good people and good info on this forum. All the advice you've been given so far is right on.

X2 on the mechanical stuff. Before you do much for the appearance of your Jeep, learn all you can about, and, correct any issues with the: steering, bearings, brakes, engine,trans, and transfer. Job 1 is to make it safe. Job 2 is to make it reliable. Once you get that done, then turn your attention to how it looks.

As has been said, take off the front fenders and grill. It all comes off together and you can do it by yourself in less than an hour. It's time well spent.

Put your location in so people know where you are. And post some pictures.

 

:uwop:

Get some pics of the floor pans from the top and bottom side. Replacing floor pans the correct way involves removing the body but it depends on how bad they are to start with.