Body work,which holes to keep?

Getting ready to start the body work, and need to know which holes to keep. Trying to return the body to '57 configuration. Main question is about the top attaching holes. It has had two different tops on it. Were all of the footman loops installed at the factory, or added when a top was installed? There is a door channel in the door openings, and a set of holes on the body in front, and an extra set of vertical holes at the rear quarters near the bow sockets. The four holes for the spare tire carrier are obvious, but four of the other holes were bolted through the brace. I have both of tops with all the hardware, but neither was installed when I got it. I will probably just be using a summer top with no doors when its completed.

 

The four tire carrier holes in the right rear fender are original. I don't see any others that are. The footman loops are added by a PO, I think. The bolts through the cowl are definitely wrong.

If you buy a new soft top, none of the snap holes will line up - I'd certainly fill them.

 

:iagree:


I'm in the same situation with my '57.

 

When I did my Tux. I welded every hole in the body except the original holes in the firewall and the radio antenna hole. I had the body completely apart and off the frame so as to be able to grind and sand smooth all welds. A lot of work but IMO the best. I can always re-drill a hole if I need to without re-filling and re-painting the jeep.

 

When I finished counting I have 46 holes to fill. All day project. Any pointers on welding to keep from warping the sheet metal?

 

A chunk of brass on the back side and I filled the front side with wire-welder. Didn't get any warping since they were pretty small holes. On a few of the bigger holes, I welded in a washer then filled the center hole. Worked very good for me. After grinding-sanding-2 coats primer then paint, I can't see where any of the holes.

 

HOWDY, THE BODY ON MY 64 USED TWO STEP BOLTS AT THE BACK TO ATTACH THE TUB TO THE FRAME.
Now days Step bolts are a little hard to find around here, and yes Step Bolts are not the same as Carriage Bolts, hope is helps

 

Those footman on the tail light panel might be original. The JEEP at the picnic that has the air compressor on it has footmans in the same spot.

 

You may be able to tell if they were painted over by the factory paint. And factory holes should have been put in the body before paint, if they were attached at the factory.

My feeling is that they are hardware that goes with an old-style soft top, where the back flap is held down with straps. The tailgate should have holes for footman loops to accommodate this kind of top, but IIRC the Jeep was not delivered with the tailgate footman loops in place.

So, they may be a "period" feature, but I suspect they were not added at the factory.

 

Timgr, per your suggestion I carefully re-examined all of the holes. Except for the firewall holes and spare tire carrier holes, all the rest show signs of being drilled after paint was applied. I will fill these, and redrill where appropriate for the top later.