1952 CJ-3A in Rhode Island

[athawk11]

Little rough sitting on a board... ouch� � :-/

Swipe your Wife's pillow.

This is such a unique Willys.  I suspect it would garner a lot of attention even it you were surrounded by a dozen Willys Jeeps.

Truly beautiful work.

Tim

[Kirkski]

Thanks Tim, much appreciated!

[1955CJ-5]

You must have plans for seat cushions....

I went with the full 6" or so thick foam filled original style from Beachwood Canvas.

You sit pretty high....high enough for me that I need to choose between looking over the windshield frame or stooping a little to look through the windshield...

I almost replaced them with the thinner 2a style.

I still might....

I bought the ones that were made with a plywood base and the "T" nuts were already installed and they fit perfectly......

[athawk11]

You must have plans for seat cushions....

I went with the full 6" or so thick foam filled original style from Beachwood Canvas.

You sit pretty high....high enough for me that I need to choose between looking over the windshield frame or stooping a little to look through the windshield...

I almost replaced them with the thinner 2a style.

I still might....

I bought the ones that were made with a plywood base and the "T" nuts were already installed and they fit perfectly......

This made me smile.    I went through this exact same issue!

I'm not tall, but still seemed to slouch down a bit while driving.  I did pull the trigger and changed from the 6" cushion to the 3" cushion.  For me, it was a good decision.   

[1955CJ-5]

It probably would't be as bad if the cushions were actually springs...you'd probably sink a couple inches into the seat bottom...but for now the foam is pretty firm...

I put seat belts in just so I didn't feel like I was gonna get thrown from my perch!

Good to know I'm not alone ...I could probably take the present cushions apart and cut them down...but that might just end up being a mess..

[Kirkski]

Randy, I have gone to a local shop to get a price on the interior...

Otherwise, I may attempt it myself...

[1955CJ-5]

That's what I may eventually do if I decide to get thinner seat bottoms.....I really just wanted to point out the difference between the 3 and 6" seat cushions....

Do you think you will go with 3" or the 6" ?

[Kirkski]

Randy, I'm thinking that I may go thinner. The shop I spoke to told me about a 1" foam that is expensive that they can laminate together to build it up.

Im thinking of having them set up a 2" foam setup and then letting me try it out.

On elf the benefits of working with a local shop. Because my back seating area is custom, I fell I need to go local or do it myself...

[Kirkski]

Well, I have been driving the Jeep around quite a bit, just about 750 miles on her since I put her together

The town where I grew up and my Uncle lives asked him to be in the Memorial Day Parade as the oldest Male resident and the oldest WW2 Vet! I was pleased he asked me to take him in the Jeep... however the parade ended up being cancelled due to rain.

I hope we can try again next year!

Not to be daunted I took a ride to his home on Friday and was able to take him for a short ride after lunch. My cousin took the picture so looks kinda funky.

Next pic is the Jeep at the Point Judith lighthouse in Rhode Island

[squidtone]

A beautiful Willys at the beach. Man it can't get much better! I'm going to the Cape this summer and it sure would be cool to have a CJ3A to bop around in there, but I'd probably get run off Rt 6. Haha

[Kirkski]

The other day I went to drive the Jeep on the farm I grew up on, nice afternoon out in the country. On a lark, I decided to see if the man that went with my Uncle in 1954 to get the Jeep in NY was home and he was...

 He was surprised to see me and the Jeep. Nice to hear his side of the story, what an adventure in the winter of '54 that must have been

[Kirkski]

Working through the wood project that the upholstery will attach too in the rear.

Wish I could take credit for this myself, but I hired this out, I feel like he is doing a great job, retired carpenter that absolutely loves this Jeep.

[1955CJ-5]

Very nice.....it's cool to see the techniques used to make the curved pieces and to hold them in place. Did he soak those corner pieces or put them on dry? In the model airplane world it's common to soak wood in ammonia and water to help form curved pieces...

Picked a fabric yet?

[Kirkski]

Thanks Randy I am not sure if he soaked them, he did the pre work at his place and then did the finishing touches at my house.

He was really cheap, quoted me $250 and then only charged me $200, I gave him the $250 cause he really did a great job and worked 8 hours straight yesterday. And no breaks... I was impressed.

 I'm sorry I didn't take a picture after he finished cause we went right to the upholstery shop with the vehicle and they took the wood out for covering.

 Going with a grey vinyl, so the weather won't be a factor.

[Kirkski]

Here are some pics of my upholstery installed, comfy...