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CJ3B Beastie

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by browncoat, Apr 15, 2017.

  1. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    :rofl:
    Not mucking around down here.
    I do get a bit obsessed with finishing things once I start them.

    And, my tank is only a tiny little thing.

    Body work updates.

    Have welded in the firewall, but first I needed to repair the left side front panel that had been torn to shreds sometime in the past.

    The front triangle part was holding on with only 2 inches of non ripped steel.
    The top tear was around 6 inches long and the tear at the bottom was around 4 inches.

    Straighten it all as best I could and welded the panel and then welded in the firewall.
    [​IMG]
    Instead of spot welding the new panels in I fillet tack weld them in place. Then later those tack welds get covered with Sikaflex sealant.
    The firewall also got the joint out the front sealed all along it's length so no moisture gets in there.

    Then looked at the side panels that need work.
    Left side, note the crumpled panel damage extends all the way from the badly folded up lower sill, all the way to the door opening in more than 1 place.

    [​IMG]

    The right side is better, but full of rust. The sill is in slightly better condition but above that is terrible.
    [​IMG]
     
    Muzikp likes this.
  2. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    I decided that it would be better to have one big panel insert rather than try to repair the sills and fill rust damage so here's what I did.
    Remove the step and new panel tacked in place.
    [​IMG]
    Then welded and ground back.
    [​IMG]

    Right side, same deal.
    [​IMG]
    I am going to be making new steps and weld them on rather than try to incorporate them into the replacement panels
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2017
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  3. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Got the floor install then to get everything squared up.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    That made it easier to work on the panels above the repaired insert to try and get the original steel flat again.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  4. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    Getting the original steel panel back to perfectly flat is nearly impossible I am discovering.
    I have done the spot heating, cool off, and dolly hammering sequence for almost a whole day and while it came back OK in most places it is not perfect by any means.
    While the Jeeps are not perfectly flat at any time of their lives these are just not what I would be happy with.

    So I got the thought that I would look at setting up body tool storage like the MB and GPW's had. But modified a bit to suit my needs.

    I only want to carry a shovel and an axe so I only need 2 recesses in the body below the door openings.
    Plus it will let me cut out the worst of the rough sections altogether.
    Win, win.

    Here's what I am going to do.

    [​IMG]

    Cut out the marked area and insert the pressed up channel shape tapering to the body front and rear but about 1 3/4 inch at the deepest point.
    This will be the slot for the axe, it's shorter than the shovel is, so it doesn't get in the way of the filler.
    The axe head will be above the foot step pointing down.

    Rather than the sideways V shape of the earlier jeep's I am going with a squared slot so the handle end and axe head sits in close to the body.

    The shovel on the other side will have the same slot inserted.
     
    Danefraz, ojgrsoi and Fly Navy like this.
  5. Dec 23, 2017
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Looks great! You make it look easy. Do you have a real brake?

    I made the mistake of trying to piece parts together and fix rusted areas instead of cutting out large panels. The second time i did my body I tried to do that as much as possible because its just the right way to do it.

    No matter what I did, I couldn't get it flat either.

    Don't fix the bullet hole.:rofl:
     
  6. Dec 23, 2017
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Sep 27, 2016
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    1,450
    This is awesome.
     
    Danefraz and 47v6 like this.
  7. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    I have access to a set of shears and a brake press so that does make life easy.

    But when the workshop is closed, I do any bends I need using a pair of angle irons in the vice clamping the panel and then hammer the lip over.
    The side panels sills were done that way.

    I did lose the side drain openings by doing the big panel repair but it does make a better job of it in the long run.
    Bullet hole is a bolt hole that appeared to be a seat belt added at some point.:lol:
     
    47v6 likes this.
  8. Dec 23, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    Spent 2 1/2 hours this morning before it got too hot and installed the tool slots.

    Cutout.
    [​IMG]
    Insert and mark the lines for cutting.
    [​IMG]
    Weld and blend in to the body.
    [​IMG]
    That got rid of the majority of the bad panel dings.
    Left side done as well and with the axe in place.
    [​IMG]

    The brackets that hold the axe head and the shovel head I will bolt on later.
     
    Danefraz, Muzikp, ojgrsoi and 6 others like this.
  9. Dec 23, 2017
    Rogue277

    Rogue277 New Member

    Maine
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Messages:
    14
    Amazing job!!! Great idea on the tool holders.
     
  10. Dec 24, 2017
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Nicely done!
     
  11. Dec 28, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    Thank you gents.

    Hope everyone had a good Christmas day.

    After the family visits and presents I have continued on my own merry way doing a bit here and there.

    Rear chequer plate floor installed.
    Repaired the tailgate opening where the hinges bolt on, behind the hinges had big rust holes, straightened and welded it all in after cleaning and rust converting the joint areas.
    [​IMG]

    Repaired the front of the mud guards.
    They were paper thin and rusted through down at the bottom so replaced up to the brace.
    [​IMG]

    Then on to the tunnel to clear the 5 speed box and the handbrake bracket assembly.
    Now that I know how high the tunnel is going to be I can fabricate the handbrake lever assembly so it is installed before the body goes back on.
    [​IMG]

    The top will be a bolt on cover.

    [​IMG]

    All welded and ground smooth.
    Still have to do a bit on the body before it can be bolted on to the chassis.

    Rear body mounts need to be made.
    Front slope of the floor needs the triangular bracing underneath done.
    Repairs on both sides and rear panels still to do, plus the rear tank fill point to make.
    Top of the mudguards near the side panels is rusted away so need to replace that area.
    I am going to make storage bins with lids in the rear of the guards like the early jeeps had, but need to leave room for the roll bar to mount.



    [​IMG]
     
  12. Dec 28, 2017
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Looks great. I made my triangular supports a bit different.[​IMG]
     
  13. Dec 29, 2017
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    See, your ones look stylish and elegant.

    Mine just look agricultural. :lol:[​IMG]

    Oh well, it's functional if not pretty.

    Got the body mounting holes drilled and sleeved and the side steps done today.

    Here's the sub frame now it's all finished.
    I didn't follow the factory layout but I think this arrangement will work fine.

    The original top hats were totally kaput so rather than replicate them I have used 50mm x 25mm x 1.6mm rectangular hollow sections.
    [​IMG]

    The side steps are made from the same chequer plate as the rear so it ties in nicely.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Bit by bit getting there.
     
    Danefraz, ITLKSEZ, Rich M. and 3 others like this.
  14. Dec 29, 2017
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Yes sir.. Looking very good. :D
     
  15. Dec 31, 2017
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Sep 27, 2016
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    Incredible!!!
     
  16. Jan 2, 2018
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Jun 21, 2005
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    Looking great, keep up the good work!
     
  17. Jan 2, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    I try to follow this thread with deep interest, but your photos time-out on my back-woods internet connection before they can open. :cry:
    Any chance you can post smaller photos?
     
  18. Jan 6, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    410
    I can see an option to use a thumbnail to make them smaller ITLKSEZ, so we will see if this works.



    Had a few days off but did the rear fuel filler point in the body today.

    [​IMG]

    Folded the lower piece back to form the floor of the recess so that saved a join, then made the insert with the folded edge to go behind the body panel.
    Used a corner to corner joint where the two pieces met.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2018
    ojgrsoi, Bowbender, 47v6 and 3 others like this.
  19. Jan 6, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    6,656
  20. Jan 6, 2018
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Now, its too small!!!:lol:

    How did you cut that really nice radius?
     
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