sgogpn's $150 flattie- before and after...

This isn't a build thread as much as a simple before and after comparison since I've had this 47 CJ2A for 18 years now and have finally got it going. There are still things to do to it but it now runs and drives. Yippie!

So back in 95 I was out hitting the junkyards one day looking for some pieces for my 77 highboy when I came across this Jeep sitting in front by the gate. I went to the office and inquired about it and the guy behind the counter looked surprised. "You want that old thing"? he said. I said "yea maybe, what's the story on it"? He said it had been sitting against the back fence for years and they were cleaning out the lot and sending all the worthless stuff to the crusher and the Jeep was next as soon as the truck got back from its current crusher load. I asked how much and he thought about it for a minute and finally said $150 if I could get it out of there before the truck got back. I rushed home and got my trailer and brought it home. $150 for a 47 CJ2A- really?

Yep. http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/Bobcat.jpg

I had to store it at a friends property until I was able to find a place to work on it.

Here's how it looked the day I picked it up in 95-
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/600dpi.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/5_11_95_3.jpg

It was worse than it looked. All floors were rotted out, the drivers rear corner was caved in, the frame was cracked in several places, and the cowl had been notched for a chevy v8 distributor and then horribly patched.

I moved to its current location a coupla years later and began the on again off again task of disassembly and parts sourcing. I have started and stopped this project 3 different times over the years, in between life and other distractions, admittedly some of which were other Jeeps. This last week was the culmination of the efforts.

Here's a couple of completion shots from this weekend-
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/IMG_2257.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/IMG_2256.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/IMG_2255.jpg

Yours truly and (wife) Junipine the Jeep Goddess-
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh307/mofus22/Jeeps/47 CJ2A/IMG_2258.jpg

I got the hydraulic clutch working and pulled it out of the shop to try it out. Couldn't resist playin with it a bit. Here's a short vid of Junipine making a lap with it. It has no pipes or brakes at this point.
http://vimeo.com/101762813

The specs-
47 CJ2A on a late 50's CJ3B frame, early CJ5 front and rear springs.
4.1L 252 Buick V6 with Edlebrock Performer cam, factory aluminum 4 barrel intake with a quadrajet, Novak headers, HEI distributor. Howe aluminum crossflow radiator.
SM420, D18 with brand new Saturn overdrive ( with aluminum shift fork swapped out for a bronze fork), 4.88's with offset flanged 44 rear (sourced from my 71 out back- I later found another one and brought it home) with a Detroit Softlocker, Disc brake Dana30 front with Eaton Elocker.
All floor panels had to be replaced, as well as the cowl. 3 months with hammer and dolly to get the corners back out.
YJ swinging pedals, firewall mounted master cylinder from a mid 70's AMC car.
LED front parking lights, wired to enable both running lights and turn signals behind stock bezels. Saginaw power steering.
33" BFG muds on my old chromies and baby moons.
I still have to put new glass in it and mount the winch.
I'm hopin to have all the bugs worked out in time to take it to Moab next month for the ECJ5 gathering.

Mike

 

Very cool! That is a great save. You should be very proud.

 

Awesome work Mike, interesting to see the before pics. Now its time to have fun.

 

Great work, Mike. Wish I could see it in Moab.

 

Mike, That's come along way from that first $150 bucks!...............Nice Find and a beautiful job!............love the baby Moons!

 

Thanks Posi, and thanks for your recommendation on the clutch slave cylinder, it works great. Hopefully you'll get to see it on the 'con next summer.

 

I'd love to run the Rubicon with you again. Maybe Fordyce too? Barrett Lake may be open next year too. A trifecta!

 

Nice.

 

Yea lets plan on it!

Mike

 

Thanks Terry...I was sweating it a little because I thought the beads on those chromies were too bent up to hold air but it turns out they weren't holding air because the beads were full of dirt. I put some different tires on them a few days ago and they're still holding up so I'm stoked to run them again.

Mike