cj3A progress (picture heavy!! 27 pics)

I think the last time I posted I maybe had pulled the tub off or maybe started the sub frame restoration but I did a search and could not find the old thread to add to... So I'm starting a new one.

ok, the first few pics show the shape of the 3a when I got it. The tub looked deceivingly good shape.


But once I started pulling off farmers patches things didn't look so hot.

Now there were two factors in the next equation. I like my Jeeps as original as can be..... I like my Jeeps as cheap as can be. It's all about the cool and fun factor for me... and I hate seeing old CJs turn into basket cases.

Almost everything on this Jeep matches the year, It hasn't been butchered or modified... It's just been a little neglected.
So I decided to fix the body as opposed to getting a new one.

If I knew at the start how much there was to repair, I'm not so sure I would have made the same decision again.

Pictures follow...

A few shots of the tub before repair



Had to cut out one side at a time or it would collapse


replacing hat channels with 1x1 tube steel

shot from the top

The usual suspects in an procedure like this

Moving on... the other side subframe

Underneath...

Time for some floor steel

Underneath...

Inside... All this floor steel came from the roof of 73 DJ5C... waste not want not


Flap disc on the side, cut out bad spots



again hat channels on the inside of the tub replaced with 1x1 tub. Surrounding flat steel replaced.



Left and rear of the tailgate needed attention. It was hit there at some point. This caused me all sorts of problems lining up panels. Oh well, it's a Jeep after all. I don't think any of them aver came off the line straight.



Right rear quarter was a mess. Patches over patches... By the time they were removed there was nothing left... so I cut it out


This is like my proudest moment.. fabbing up a rear 1/4 from scratch.. (steel again form the 73 dj5c)
That's why you get lots of pics of this one. I thought it turned out really well.







Well, the tub structure is done. Alot of grinding of welds is left and then the bodywork.
I've been trying to keep up on the frame at he same time and also the drive line. This Jeep drove and ran fine before I took it apart so I just chemical washed and power washed the frame and engine. I'm going to POR-15 the frame and put the tub back on and enjoy.

More to come...

 

Ay carumba! You're a helluva lot more ambitious than me!

 

nice welding skills!

 

good work...

 

WOW! how many hours you hvae in that tub?

 

Looks really good!

Have one on me,

 

Lots of welding. Looks great!

 

Great progress!!!

 

I thought it was illegal to ask that in reference to jeeps...

Keith

 

You are my hero.

 

Looking really killer man! hats off to you and your fab skills!

 

That is the exact reason I don't keep track, my wife can't then complain about how much time I'm spending in the garage.

Seriously, I didn't keep track, but quite a few hours for sure. I figured I had more time to fix this tub than I had money to buy a new one. I can see plenty more hours needed to grind down welds, buff, scuff and fill.

I might swap it out a few years down the road when it's in the budget.... or I might find a better candidate between now and then. It's not easy to find a flattie in good shape in the midwest. They are almost all rust buckets. I was just happy this one had a frame and drivetrain in great shape.

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'll post some more pics as I go.

 

WOW!! You mean to say you still have a wife??


Funny thing is, I was talking to my buddy the other day about the amount of new Willys MB's & GPW's that sunk to the bottom of the sea's in WW2, and wondering what condition they would be in now.
After seeing your pixs I reckon you would be just the guy to restore them

Keep up the GREAT WORK!!

 

dayum

 

WOW. You have skills.

That looks great.

 

good work !!! i like things to be origional as well so i saved my tub.i had to do about the same thing on my 5. i just didnt have to mess with the quarters and the rockers like you did besides small patches. i know how you feel about the time thing, i dont have a clue about time in mine all i know is it took years. But keep up the good work, it looks awsome so far!

 

Time for an update. Here's what's been going on lately.

Right Rear Quarter had been repaired before but it wasn't the right radius. Instead of replacing, I sliced it and re-welded.



Skip ahead to the inside and underneath of tub are finished and painted in POR-15




Cleaned up the frame with wire wheels



Frame is painted!



Detail and paint the front/rear diffs while I'm at it.



Lined up to go back together (Springs are 2.5" superlifts)




Motor + trans are back in. I didn't want to clean them up. They run and drive fine and don't leak so I'll leave well enough alone for now.



New park brake shoes and cable along with changing the rear seal on the T-case.


Ready to drop the tub back on



Slight detour here to fix the DS fender. Hat channel rotted it out.






Fenders on

The repaired fender. The hat channel came from the roof of a postal Jeep. I couldn't bend it So I cut/welded it as close to the original shape as possible.

Sits a little too high for my liking. To put it in perspective, the rollers are 14" wheels off of a Postal. I was planning 7.00-16 NDT tires but I think I'll either have to move up in tire size or lose the springs in favor of a 1" lift or stock.


some non-specific shots





Bumper came from a postal Jeep. All holes line up the same. Had to fill in a few extra holes and cut the ends.

Grill is all cleaned up on the back and POR-15ed, some extra signal holes filled in as well.



Next step is a lot of grinding welds and body finishing for paint. Somewhere in there I need to figure out the lift hight/tire size issue. It's not only that, but the driveshaft is now too short and the angle too high. decisions decisions...

That's it for now.

 

you're nuts!

In a very good way.