Building a forest service jeep

[1955CJ-5]

Oh it will be! I hope to done by December!

What year?

[garage gnome]

This year.  The rust is not terrible at all on the body. There are no patch jobs or bondo to deal with. Just a clean slate to work from. I've also been analyzing it for the past few months and came up with a game plan for it. I know what I'm going to do and how to go about it.

[1955CJ-5]

I expect you'll get it done in time to pull Santa out of a snowbank.....Having a plan and a place to work is more than half the battle...and a lift! What a luxury...!

[garage gnome]

We put lifts in for a living.

[garage gnome]

Got the body off the frame! When I initially picked it up off the frame, I noticed the rear was starting to cave in a bit so...



I set it back down on some stands and re supported it with some wood so the rear fenders were not stressed.



The frame is mint! No rust pits or anything. 

[garage gnome]

Now to order up some parts, get the other tranny rebuilt that I have for it so I can put that in, then install the PTO and OD. Then I can start working on the body. I want to have the chassis done before starting on the body.

[1955CJ-5]

It looks great! Keep those pics coming...

[Jesse]

http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Finds/FindsBenson.html

First photo shows a little Forest Service signage.

I would suggest also adding "not in service" or the like, you would be in trouble if the wrong person saw any logos. We got a big document not long ago about proper use of Forest Service logos and stuff for presentations and whatnot. Too many people slapping official logos on things that don't necessarily match the mission statement. You know what I mean.

-Jesse

[garage gnome]

Major progress today. I degreased the whole tranny area, painted it, put a new clutch in, the rebuilt tranny, and all this funky aluminum stuff that hangs off the back.� :-? I didn't rebuilt the transfer case, for two reasons, 1) it worked fine, so if it aint broke, don't fix it! and 2) It didn't leak anywhere. I figured if I took it apart, leaks would develop.

When I took the bell off, I found a few issues, the pilot bushing was loosy goosey in the flywheel. It somehow stuck to the input shaft and worn itself loose. I had a spare from my '53 so I put that in. Then on the old clutch, the springs in the friction plate were real loose. That explains why the jeep would chatter when I would take off from a stop.

[1955CJ-5]

That is quite an appendage on the back of your tranny! I've often wondered how a PTO and overdrive would fit together. Can't wait to see it with all the drivelines etc in place...

Very cool....!

[garage gnome]

Thanks! I have to pull the PTO back off eventually. I have to clock it down some more so the driveshaft clears all the stuff. I still have to figure out if the OD has to be in direct drive or OD for the PTO to work.

[1955CJ-5]

Wow, you'll need a checklist just to engage the PTO...lets see...transfer case in neutral, transmission in gear of choice, OD in or out, PTO lever engaged...oh, and lets not forget to start the engine and set the governor!

[Ryan_M]

I've always wondered exactly what that OD/PTO set up would look like too. Do you need to add any additional support for all that extra stuff? Almost seems like you would want another cross member under the PTO instead of having all the weight of that and the OD hanging off the back of the TC. Or do the PTO shaft(s) support enough of the weight that it doesn't matter? Pretty cool either way.

[garage gnome]

Some more progress! I got the dual MC installed today. I decided to try R&P 4WDs new kit. I used Herms in my '53 and I didn't like how the original mount has to be cut out of the way. This one was more expensive, but I figured I would try it anyways. Well, lets just say, if I have to do another restoration project, I would put R&Ps in before Herms! The fit is much better and the kit is more complete. It comes with a pushrod and a tee for the brake light switch.

http://shop.rp4wd.com/product/willys-jeep-cj-dual-res-master-cylinder-conversion-kit

This MC is originally set up for remote reservoirs, but you can make it so the reservoir is on the MC too. I opted to have the reservoirs on the MC because the remote ones would have looked out of place on the firewall of this jeep. Also, I shouldn't have to fill them because my brakes will be done before the body goes on, unless I decide to upgrade to 11" drums.

The bracket only requires 4 holes on the side of the frame and the plumbing connections are on the bottom of the MC. Unlike Herms, this kit can be installed when the body is on with relative ease and you do not have to remove the rivets for the clutch bracket.

Next, I have to replace the brake hoses and then she's ready for some paint!

[Tumbleweed]

Does the brake switch fit in front of the MC? Were there any problems with getting the existing brake lines to connect?

I think I see the new bolts on the side of the frame so I take it that is where you have to drill thru. Looks nice. I have seen the reservoir on the firewall and I thought that it looked a little unusual but really easy to get to. I am anxious to see the tub on the frame to see how accessible the reservoir is.

On another note I was glad to see that the brake arm/extension has a bend in it. I was thinking that mine was really wacked but now I know this is okay.