Theodore a 51 3a project

[cbauer]

In the beginning.... There was a 51 cj3a named Theodore (name based on the Teddy Roosevelt because its a rough riding SOB!)
I have decided to dismantle Theodore after having it for about 3 years and enjoying using it around my place. Also due to the fact that we finished my dads 66 Tuxedo Park cj5 restoration and I have the room now.
Probably a slow restoration but we'll see. I've been collecting parts for a while now and my goal is to turn it into a ag-jeep.
I collected all the pto funning gear front winch (Koenig) and a Ramsey pto with the rear pto gear.
At the final thread in this build  :DI will have a picture of me and Theodore mowing my front lawn? 
I will be mostly working on the weekends due to work and replies and post will be welcomed as we all know we hit the wall at some point and wonder why we took it this far. well full steam ahead and damn the torpedos.
Its been interesting going through the build treads here and on the 2apage.....more to come

[cbauer]

Just for reference the before pic of the cj5 is of my dad and I in front of Theodore and Tux before we started on his resto two years ago. I pulled his jeep out of the back of the shop with Theodore where is sat for 15+- years.  The dauntless is a cool motor and that is the fastest stock jeep I have ever been in. sorry, tangent. back to Theodore

I began the disassembly this weekend and the PO did a lot of mods to the jeep.
welded the bumper and frame together with bracing to the front horns.  There had been a rather large impact and the horns are bent but the frame is clean and good with some stress cracks in normal places.
one of the mods is the MC, it is a 68 corvette MC mounted on the firewall (very nice engineering) but I am bringing it back to original. I don't like the pedals hanging down from above.
The bad news is the grill and fenders are toast the PO welded the grill and fenders together and welded brackets to the frame inside the to hold the radiator, grill and fenders all together. Pics of the sacrilege tomorrow.
I've scored some cool items one of which is an original NEW 6 piece top with bows, hardware, doors never installed and a great hood for $500. 8-) Thanks Tyler.

[athawk11]

The Tuxedo looks beautiful.  Nice work.

Looking forward to the 3A restoration. 

Welcome aboard.

Tim

[Kirkski]

Nice looking forward to the restoration!

[cbauer]

Here are some pics of the front frame and the rather creative way to fix the front end.. not

[cbauer]

The little springy things are hood anti-vibration dampers or just bubba bumpers eather way they will not be reinstalled
You can see where he mounted the MC on the firewall kinda cool upgrade but not my cup o tea. ordered some parts for the axels since the frame up resto starts with the bones. all new bearings and seals. I had rebuilt the trans/transfer last year but the tcase has a bad wine, must have been a bad new shaft and bearings. No worries bought a whole newly rebuilt t&tcase for 200 from a guy that gave me the trans and a winch (Koenig) and carb rebuilt and misc. part before he moved.
People in Texas love their jeeps and hoard leftover parts.

[cbauer]

vin on the firewall
the Texas title has the motor serial # for on title I thought that was somewhat different.
I cant make it out very well but ill post it this weekend, I think the motor is a rebuild and not original to the jeep. Id like more info on it.

[cbauer]

I think I can beat on and straighten the front horns up after I get the bumper off but ran into a snag with the grinder, blade dissentigrated on me and cut my knuckle to the bone, no worries that's what duct tape is for. Need to pick up more blades (maybe better quality) Nice having harbor freight up here in Sherman/Denison.

Anyone have a preference on who the get a bell crank kit and ross kit from. I have bought parts from CSE, OCONEE, AND QTM. some good and bad but there all mostly omix  or crown anyway.
I ordered from ROCKAUTO some shocks and rebuilt kits for the wheel and MC's great price less than 2 bucks each and MC was about 9 bucks.

I will rebuild the wheel cylinders and MC parts from a 2a that is my parts jeep and theodore. could'nt hurt to see if they work or not.
Anyone ever try to do that? and what was the outcome?

[Kirkski]

I got both my bell crank and Ross parts from Walcks, great service and everything fit nicely.

My wheel cyl and MC were too rusted

Kirk

[cbauer]

Got to work on the removals this weekend (very hot) in the shop. I only had to grind off two bolts and (wahlah) frame exposed. The resulting repairs needed for the body repair is what is expected.
bed riser
both rear tail light panels
rear cross member (Under the tailgate)
Hat channel
driver and passenger floors
rear passenger quarter panel
I will most likely get replacement panels for the body and weld it back, lots of stress cracks everywhere, I do have a 2a tub for those areas that are useable.
as far as the frame it looks like the frame horns are the only area that needs attention besides the dirt and grease. I'll have the motor and drive train pulled this weekend.
Bubba did his part on this one. the brakes were interesting to see how he engineered the peddles from the master cylinder (hang down from the cowl and not up from the floor).
Here are some pics for the pennut gallery (which I am a member) but its kind of interesting to go back through the thread and see the progress or lack of and how long it takes.
My plan is to get the rolling chassis completed by the next two months. Axels, springs, frame, brakes, ect. I have most of the parts for that unless the surprises are overwhelming.
The body turned out to be more damaged than I expected, so I will cut out the bad and order and replace with good. I am disappointed with the fenders, I thought I might be able to save them but  my skills will butcher them. to many bad spots and bubba mods.
Chime in and give me your opinions and guidance as this project moves to the I'm done and whats next phase (down the road).
 

[cbauer]

If you look at the pics and notice how bubba made the trans hump into accessible panel to the trans/transfer case, he did it with lead buck rivets (wow). I think he had to be an engineer even the access he cut into the top of the cowl for the brakes was very exact. But with that said none of the mods will go back in and Theodore will be mostly original to the parts side. Now I plan to take some liberties with the paint and bolts and getting some of the parts that are painted and have them zinked, I just like the cleanliness of how the parts clean-up the looks.

[cbauer]

Also the mods made by bubba to the fenders and where they attach you can see in one of the pics where he cut off the angle for the bolts. and he added in there a 1.5" angle and bolted that on. That sucks cause now I have to repair that ( very unexpected).

[athawk11]

Your tub is in remarkably good shape. 

All 3A owners wish we had tranny hump access panels like yours...or like the M38.

Keep the progress coming.

Tim

[cbauer]

Its not to bad, I looked over my 2a tub and it will have some panels I can use. I basically have 2 1/2 tubs ive collected and it will be good to use them to make one good one instead of discarding. I will need a passenger fender as the one on Theodore is to far gone. I have two 2a sets of fenders maybe I can see if they can contribute to make the original work.
Also I have a 2a grill but I think it is much different than my 3a, which is toast due to how they fixed it to much work again.
I will be up for parts trading on mics. items to complete Theodore if anyone is interested.

[cbauer]

Not much done this past weekend but I  did get the trans out and most of the parts labled and put away for the slow days of cleaning and misc. repairs. Lots OF TOTES. But now with parts everywhere I need to get organized in the shop meaning cleaning and getting rid of crap I truly don't need. IF anyone is interested in a 6X6 Hustler amphib let me know that will be the moneys for Theodore's restoration.
I really wanting to get to the frame and get it done with axles restored and brakes, you know the working engineless chassis.