My Willys 3A and 3B Community

Your Projects => Your CJ-3A Project => Topic started by: SteveB on January 30, 2013, 08:02:06 PM

Title: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on January 30, 2013, 08:02:06 PM: I took advantage of slow business at the garage where I work and brought my Willys in. ï¿½My boss is real excited to help me restore the 3A. ï¿½ A little too excited ::). ï¿½I took a day off only to find he tore into it when things got slow. ï¿½I returned to find all the body to frame bolts cut, steering shaft unsuccessfully pulled from the box and other items cut in an attempt to free the tub from the frame.. ï¿½I am going to have to watch him closely and slow him down. ï¿½He has a beautiful restoration of a 72 Olds 442 to his credit, so I know what he is capable of helping me achieve, just a little worried by his methodology.
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_20130124_163430.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0677.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0682.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0684.jpg)

I am staying with the 12 volt conversion, and upgrading the master cylinder but otherwise want to return it pretty close to stock.

The tub is in pretty rough shape, though I know many have repaired worse. ï¿½I am on the fence as to replacing the tub. ï¿½The dash, firewall and all metal forward looks good, but the rest is well beyond my skills.

She was running when I pulled her in, quite a bit of white smoke on start-up which clears when warm.

I power washed the frame tonight and it looked pretty good. ï¿½60 years of mud/crud splashing back at me. ;D
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on January 30, 2013, 08:33:03 PM: Looks like you have the shop to do it in!

Where in Southeast MA are you located?
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on January 30, 2013, 08:50:06 PM: @Gnome..., Foxborough.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on January 30, 2013, 08:55:15 PM: Yep, you're waay out there (or I'm waaay over here ;D). If you ever need inspiration like CJPilot did, let me know. My '49 and '53 are here to be check out.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Gunslinger on February 04, 2013, 12:01:11 PM: Can I have your boss? Gives you a fantastic shop to work in, I did mine on a cold garage floor in winter, lots of nice tools, time to work on it and picks up the ball while you are off doing whatever! What a great opportunity I'm jealous....or could you tell?

Keep us posted, have fun.
Gunslinger
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on February 22, 2013, 05:19:42 PM: Busy couple of weeks, just not with the Willys..... got the motor pulled as well as transmission, steering box , mc, exhaust etc etc. ï¿½Axles and suspension left then the frame is out for sandblasting...
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0750_zps2486c8c5.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0751_zps6f7cfd2a.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0765_zpsdb157a9c.jpg)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on February 27, 2013, 08:10:19 PM: Got the Jeep stripped to the frame....
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0811_zps1d667240.jpg)
...and frame sent out for sandblasting and primer.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: athawk11 on February 28, 2013, 09:40:56 AM: Man I wish my frame horns looked that good! :o

Wish I had that kind of room to work in.

Keep the updates coming.

Tim
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: BMIC on February 28, 2013, 12:47:56 PM: Nice thread Steve, one of several going on. The richness of the 3A page!
PS.. Have I got issues or does anyone else equally enjoy looking in the back ground at what people have for tools and facility. I have a garage, some of you guys have a facility.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Ryan_M on February 28, 2013, 03:47:56 PM: Quote
PS.. Have I got issues or does anyone else equally enjoy looking in the back ground at what people have for tools and facility. I have a garage, some of you guys have a facility.

If you have issues I have some of the same ones. I spend as much time looking at the details in the background of garages (other projects, tools, empty beer bottles, dogs, etc....) as the jeep projects themselves. I think there was an entire thread awhile back on one of the Willys pages just with pics of garages. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Kenny_Kustom on February 28, 2013, 07:23:14 PM: Looks like you got a good start on it !

I too, get to use the shop at work to play when its slow.. Gotta love it ! I have 6 bays, and am the only tech..lol
Last winter, my TJ spent the entire winter in the shop !

Can i ask, what the mc upgrade is ?
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on February 28, 2013, 07:34:49 PM: I bet he will be doing Herms dual MC conversion.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on February 28, 2013, 09:06:32 PM: Yes Gnome, I was going to do the duel master cylinder (mc) upgrade, was...changed my mind and for now replacing it with reproduction. ï¿½

Oh, I'll be sure to keep future pictures rich in background details.

Also, leaning towards a new tub (settlement check came in from when my Comanche got t-boned in December). ï¿½With all the adjustments needed to make the "new " tubs fit right, I am thinking of moving my dash and cowl panel from old tub to new. ï¿½I like the idea of keeping as much old steel as is reasonably possible.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on March 05, 2013, 08:00:54 PM: Got my frame back! ï¿½Nice and pretty. ï¿½A few areas I should have fixed before, but its only primer so no real harm in touching up.

I foolishly cut off one bump stop with a torch before realizing the nut was captured in the boxed section of frame up front, live and learn. ï¿½I'll weld my replacement one back on.
I've got one body mount to repair and two bolts to extract (cut by my aforementioned boss).
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0813_zps91906ba3.jpg)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0818_zpsaab99841.jpg)
and my wheels are back too...
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0821_zps215d27d8.jpg)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Ryan_M on March 05, 2013, 08:44:58 PM: Quote
I foolishly cut off one bump stop with a torch before realizing the nut was captured in the boxed section of frame up front, live and learn. ï¿½

Your frame looks great. If it makes you feel any better I took an angle grinder to the grimy metal ring on the frame cross member that holds the rubber transfer case mount. Didn't realize it was WELDED on there, not just held in place with the bolt and some rust. Sort of hammered is back into shape but not really. Good thing that section is now out of sight....
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on March 05, 2013, 08:48:23 PM: Looks great!
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Comanche_County on March 07, 2013, 09:30:01 PM: Quote
and my wheels are back too...
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0821_zps215d27d8.jpg)

Yeah you're making it look easy. Good to see another 3A and MJ fanI You even have MIA sticker like mine but I've got it on the MJ's back window.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on March 14, 2013, 08:17:31 PM: Got a little work done today...

Pressed out wheel studs to separate drum from hub. (new drums going on)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0828_zpsc6d55a4e.jpg)
Cleaned up original backing plate for paint...
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0845_zps0e7ba539.jpg)
Cleaned up transmission mount, also prepping for paint.
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0847_zps79a63110.jpg)
Got a little help bending my transmission skid plate back (was rubbing on front drive shaft)
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z227/titaniumsteve/Shared/IMG_0836_zps5ba13887.jpg)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on March 14, 2013, 08:45:11 PM: While you have the drums off, you may want to think about upgrading them to the later CJ3B/5 drums so you don't have to remove the whole hub assembly to work on the brakes. It makes them more like modern brakes where you can just remove the drum. You don't have to swap backing plates or anything either, only the drums.

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx125/willyscjmj/6CDDE17C-3DA8-4FCE-B0D5-B3233C56D447-15008-00001BE18C4C817C_zps49b5bd4d.jpg)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on March 14, 2013, 08:51:08 PM: You might want to put all RH wheel studs on too. Makes life easier. ;)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on March 15, 2013, 06:51:16 AM: Have to keep that in mind..........for next time. Got all my parts all ready. ;)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on March 15, 2013, 07:55:09 AM: You can always send them back and wait for the other ones too. ;)
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on March 15, 2013, 08:04:23 AM: Same inner diameter? Do they use the same hub? What year CJ3/5 are compatible with this swap? You got me thinking....
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: garage gnome on March 15, 2013, 09:02:26 AM: Same hub and everything. Only thing you change is the drum. I'm not sure on the importance of the 3 screws that hold the drum on. I had a junk 3b so I swapped hubs and drums to make life easy.

http://walcks4wd.com/brake-drum-9-front-or-rear.html
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Ryan_289 on April 25, 2013, 09:45:12 AM: Quote
Same hub and everything. Only thing you change is the drum. I'm not sure on the importance of the 3 screws that hold the drum on. I had a junk 3b so I swapped hubs and drums to make life easy.

http://walcks4wd.com/brake-drum-9-front-or-rear.html

Thats good to know. My M38 was set up this way as well. It just so happens that I have a 3b frame sitting in the backyard with good diffs. Ill make this swap as well on my 48 2A.
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: Kirkski on March 02, 2014, 12:39:15 PM: Any updates on this project?
Title: Re: Starting on my 51...
Post by: SteveB on June 02, 2014, 04:48:03 PM: Quote
Any updates on this project?

Thanks for asking...........been shelved for a while...life got busy then the boss pulled his own project into the shop (67 Sprint convertible - modding into GTO clone).ï¿½ When we're slow we work on his project.ï¿½ ï¿½Good thing though, as I am learning to weld on HIS car, so I am inspired to save as much of my original 3A tub as possible....when I can get back to it.