Seabee M38A1 Build

Here is the primer that we used...


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Sorry for the wait. We used a different primer underneath the body and rear frame. There wasn't as much bare metal under there. The front half was mostly bare so I wanted something that would stick good. The other day I put the drivetrain back in and placed the brake booster and pedals where they need to go. The only thing is the brake and clutch are gonna be on the same side of the column. I hoped to keep the column between them. To me it makes things a little easier when you're off road. Oh well. That will make me need the handbrake even more. Thanks again for all the compliments guys. Laters

 

We've been making some slow progress. The firewall has been reinforced and some holes filled.

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Did a little sanding and painting today. The firewall only has a couple holes left to fill or block off.


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Let's bring this back from page 7... We're still pecking away at this. Sometimes its hard to stay motivated when its so hot outside. I ended up working a ton of overtime in July and August. That and my beautiful wife has me going to Crossfit every evening. Any ways, enough excuses. We've got the firewall all painted. And the drivetrain installed with a flywheel and a clutch. I've converted to a hydraulic clutch using all the Novak stuff. Hopefully it will work well with the XJ swinging pedals. I also built the fenders that mount to the hood. I haven't decided what to do about the inner fenders yet, so we'll see. I also just finished up the changes to driver's side of the rollcage. I never liked the "A" pillar coming down in front of the dash. It took up what little foot room I had in the door opening and blocked the glovebox. So I chopped off the tube and made a bracket that bolts to the dash for the "A" pillar to weld to. Then I used a piece of 2x2 thick wall tubing for a stanchion, to go behind the dash and connect to the floor. The front dash mount and the stanchion are bolted together, and the stanchion bolts to the outer wall of the tub as well. It should be plenty strong and help stiffen things up. Before the roll cage would rattle back and forth.

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For some reason I'm not able to attach photobucket pics right now...

 

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Here is a picture with the fenders. The top panel is 3/16th plate and the rim is 12ga. I traced the curve of a flatfender from the other jeep and transfered it to the plate. Then I welded the 12ga to the outside and inside edges. We still need to figure out the filler panel between the firewall and fender. That will be part on the inner fenders. I'd like to add some vents to the side panels to allow air to escape from the small engine compartment.

 

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Here is an in progress on the dash bracket. It is also 3/16ths.

 

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Here is an in progress of the stanchion. It ties into the outer wall of the tub and the backside of the dash plate. As you can see, it is a lot less intrusive. I need to build the passenger side next. It should be easier since I laid out all the cuts for both sides.

 

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You gotta have a flex test!! That's motivating... Now we start all the fun stuff. Brakes, fuel, wiring, cooling, steering, and finish all the paint.

 

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Got the first coat of primer/sealer on yesterday... All the body work is done. I've taken this week off from work so I can get it painted before it gets too cold. I figure I can do all the other stuff while its cold. I didn't want to have it running and not have the paint done...

 

Basically you hold a Cj2a fender upside down on a piece of plywood. Then using a good carpenters pencil, outline the fender. Cut that piece out of the board and hold it in place under the hood. Then draw the outline where the hood meets the fender. That will be the top piece. I made mine out of 3/16ths plate with 1 1/4in 12ga around the outside and along the hood. Too heavy. I plan to make some new Ines out of lighter steel, someday.I found the best way to do it was to bolt the piece on the hood then tack weld the rest on. Then I took it to the bench and finished it up. Both had gaps and stuff but nothing that couldn't be filled. The drivers side even has a bow in it.

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Now I need to build the inner fenders. I've kinda got them figured out in my head. I just need to get some metal and start fiddling with the cardboard...

 

great work so far.

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. I was hoping to get the paint on today, but with all the Halloween stuff at my daughters school, it never happened. So maybe Tuesday... I've had to spend too much time and money on the M1008 lately... One of the alternators took a dump last week. So I converted it to 12 volt since I don't need the 24volt anyway. So new glow plugs and a gear reduction starter are needed too. I've been putting off the glow plugs too long, now winter is coming. So hopefully my next post will have olive drab in it...

 

Well I got the glow plugs in the M1008 today and sprayed some color on the Jeep... I would be posting a picture or two but... my phone got cracked while I was taking the starter off. One of the glow plugs fell down behind the exhaust manifold and landed on top of the starter. So with my phone in my pocket I crawled underneath and started spinning wrenches. Oh well. We're going up to Medford tomorrow, so I'll get a new phone or this one fixed. The paint looks pretty good though. For my first time and using a cheap Harbor Freight hvlp gun... The Jeep is gonna get scratched up anyways...

 

Double post

 

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Here it is... I've got a bit of sanding to do before the next coat. I noticed a couple runs, sags, and boo boos. Including a dog hair off my German Shepherd... Oh well... Its my first paint job.

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And I wrote up a little to do list... Of course I've added a couple things to the needs since I took that pic...