My Willys 3A and 3B Community

TECH FAQ SECTIONS => BODY and trim => Topic started by: knapmich on August 29, 2021, 02:17:06 PM

Title: Hat channels and bolting down body
Post by: knapmich on August 29, 2021, 02:17:06 PM

My 54 3B had the hat channels and drivers floor replaced by Sheldon Greene before he Passed.
The hat Channels are not filled with wood like the originals? Do I have to place a spacer
in the channels so the channels are not crushed?   

Anyone?  Thanks

Title: Re: Hat channels and bolting down body
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 29, 2021, 03:52:49 PM

This is a picture of one of the hat channel assemblies from Classic Enterprises. You can see that it has spacers welded in...this was for a 3a but its probably the same idea on a 3b..

On the J brace that supports the spare tire mount I added spacers made from conduit...I fished them into place after the brace was welded into place using string and encouraging words....

Title: Re: Hat channels and bolting down body
Post by: Rus Curtis on August 29, 2021, 04:25:13 PM

knapmich,
The original hat channels had wood inserts.  That retained moisture, then it would rot leaving behind rusted out hat channels. 

You will need some type of crush sleeve to support the bolts.

I too have the Classic Enterprise hat channels and have the same round crush sleeves.  This method (hopefully) will reduce moisture retention and help it last longer. 

There is one body mount directly under the tank that is different.  Originally there was a captured nut.  Classic Enterprises didn't account for that (maybe it's been updated).  I had to get a captured nut for the body shop to replace that crush sleeve.  This avoids a bolt head underneath the tank and any hat channel crushing.