Was it Tumbleweed that had his tub "dipped" and plated? That sounds like a great solution, though it's not available everywhere....
The main problem with galvanic hot dipping is that it makes it very difficult and hazardous to weld repair things in the future.
There is always fiberglass. I built a fiberglass bodied CJ-3A many years ago.
I bought a Jewels full stainless CJ-3A body several years back and I'm still collecting a few parts for that build.
During testing the M-38 was considered underpowered compared to the MB, the only thing that made it squeak by was going with 5.38 axle ratio. Add 12HP with the F-head engine (M-38A1) and then things were acceptable.
I can fully appreciate that.
Other than 1 notable exception I have driven old jeeps as daily drivers since the mid 1970's.
I drove a near stock standard Go-Devil powered CJ-2A without O.D. back when the national speed limit was 55.
At the time it was very marginally acceptable on cross country trips of 500 miles per day.
I always keep my Willys engines in good shape and I'm not afraid to run them long and hard.
In the early 1980's the speed limit went up.
I was basically forced to convert to a Hurricane for practical reasons.
So I rebuilt a pristine CJ-3B with 25% overdrive.
For multiple reasons I feel that the Hurricanes as daily drivers are very marginal by todays standards.
I am currently still running a Hurricane as a daily driver but will soon convert to Dauntless power for increased practicality.
All Jeeps were originally derived from the 1940 military build stipulations
It's a pity that I have not studied the Military jeeps in greater depth.
I am however, very familiar with every significant change that occurred from 1945 CJ to 1985 CJ.
My point is that the original WWII Military LRV was re-introduced to the public in 1945 as a "UNIVERSAL".
That Universal design underwent a constant state of change that we generally consider to be progress.
For whatever reasons some of the changes did deviate away from the original military stipulations.
My Jeep interest is to
KNOW all changes 1941- 1985 and beyond that I determine what was true progress.
Considering my own optimum JEEP build stipulations I have the tremendous advantage of oversight or hindsight.
I can see all the changes and determine what was truly progressive.
Considering the "L" in LRV, I see no significant body progress beyond the CJ-3A� form.
And so I feel obliged to claim the M-38 / CJ-3A body form was the all time superior "Universal" design.
Obviously I am considering mass produced jeeps and eliminating the rare prototypes.
But it is very shrewd to be aware of the prototypes and possible body deviations from standard.
