14 year 51 3A saga

[bwtufts]

A couple of pics of my 51 in its current state after a 14 year journey.

My dad and I bought the Jeep in the late 90's, out of the Louisiana swap for $150, as a parts Jeep for a 53 3A we had acquired (the 53 is still in pieces, we're kinda SLOW �;D ) Something changed our mind and we started working on the parts jeep instead of the original project (funny how that tends to happen).

The day we bought it, the motor is in the back too, but covered up by the seats.


Great progress in the beginning up until we had a rolling chassis and running motor (about 10 years ago). High school, big trucks, fast women, and eight years (and counting) in the Marines left it on the back burner. Dad finally put on the body after four years of it sitting and I took over and brought it to VA in Dec of 2010 to finish it up. All new interior and running down all the small details have gotten it to the state it's in now which I would consider about 98% complete. I'm still tinkering around with a few details here and there.

She's all stock minus the horrible idea front bumper (trying to track down some good used frame horns to put a stock one on) and a 2 inch Superlift kit as it was about half the price of going back all stock on the suspension. The colors are John Deere green and John Deere Old Construction yellow. Early reproduction body which was a huge pain in the butt to get to work!

I drive it often now and take it off road every chance I get. Had it in an all Jeep car show and off-road day here at the local Jeep dealership and took home three trophies. She got 2nd in the CJ class (I was beat out by a highly modified CJ5 that looks like it hasn't seen anything but a trailer in 10 years ), won people's choice and won "King of the Trail" for 34 inch tires and below. All in all not bad for a first show.

Long story short this is light at the end of the restoration tunnel even if it is 14 years away!! �;)

Here is the link to my Facebook album that has a lot of "along the way" pictures of the build
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.200887306600942.44122.100000390234921&type=3&l=e5ea10b77a

Here she is in all her splendor, enjoy!!





And of course I can't forget my trail buddies!

[athawk11]

Great Looking Willys, and a great story.  This might be the first one I've seen in John Deere Green.  Initially, I thought it might have been an attempt at Pasture Green.

Is that the bumper that was on it when you got it?  When I see that kind of modification, I always wonder what it was for.  There was probably a perfectly good reason...at the time.

Thanks for coming over and hanging with the 3A guys.  

And thanks for your service to our country.

Tim

[bwtufts]

This might be the first one I've seen in John Deere Green. �Initially, I thought it might have been an attempt at Pasture Green.

Pasture Green was definitely the inspiration. I've always been fond of the green and yellow color scheme. That and we had a lot of JD green and yellow laying around �;D

The bumper was a creation of dad and I (the only horrible idea we made on the jeep). It was intended to be a beater and trail rig at the time, so we figured the bumper of that caliber was in call. The Bubba who had it before us had one similar to it on the jeep when we bought it.

I appreciate your thanks very much! People so very often don't take the time to say it!

[calvinhunt]

Great pics. �Thanks for posting them. �Good looking Jeep. �The Facebook album showed a lot of your detailed efforts. �Many of us have gone though much the same. �I, too, had an early reproduction MD Juan body. �I've said more than once on this site that had I known the trouble with fitting such a body I would have taken the same time to repair the original. �I certainly noted your problem with the floor pan transmission cover. Like another 3A member from FL, I actually cut about 1 1/2 inches out of the cover just forward of the hole shortening it in order to center the hole over the shifter. �I had to do some floor pan work as well as shown here.

As stated above by athawk, thanks for your service in the Marines. �I served 4 years in the Air Force with one year in Vietnam (that tells you how old I am). �

[52withaGPW]

Nice! Your Jeep is an exact duplicate to a 3A my Grandfather had years ago, right down to the color scheme, wheels, and tires. He hand-painted the name of the side of the hood. Named it "Deere John".