3B Project

[73CJ5]

I have this thread on other forums so I figured I'd add it here also. Derek Redmond covered it in a small article. https://cj3b.info/Owners/LineMountain.html
This thread will have the specifics in it.

I traded a set of 700-16 NDT's for this 55 CJ3B on July 23, 2018. I was 21 yrs young back in '18. I wanted to build something to run around the woods on a budget and try to learn a few things along the way. Here it is at my friend's house.



Studebaker column, steering wheel, and gearbox.


There was plenty of Bondo on the body.






The frame condition was poor.






Before now I had never attempted something like this. I was completely out of my element. I am pretty good at fixing things mechanical wise but when it comes down to welding and fabrication I have no idea what I'm doing. I picked up this AC-225 Lincoln and 1/8 7014's and welded up the frame horns. They were built out of 2x3x1/4 tubing.




January 10, 2019
I went to a junkyard and pulled leaf springs from two different YJ's because there were bent packs on each of them. I paid $100 for them and a YJ steering shaft.




January 14, 2019
I went to my local steel supplier and bought a piece of 24x24 1/4 steel plate and another foot of 2x3x1/4 tubing.

[73CJ5]

Here are the front spring hangers. I decided on a shackle reversal and YJ springs over the axle. I cut them out on a horizontal bandsaw and angle grinder.





March 11, 2019
It was a roller and awaiting further work.



Tuesday, April 16, 2019
I found a Millermatic 35 welder for $300 on marketplace. I shoehorned it into my Suzuki Samurai one day after work.





I resurfaced the old F134 flywheel.


I picked up an M37 Dodge and I pushed the 3B into the woods. A few months later I brought the 3B back home.



June 6, 2019
I went to the junkyard and pulled a steering column, gas pedal assembly, steering gear, and steering shaft off this 86 Wagoneer. The mosquitos and other bugs were an annoyance and it started pouring down rain while removing the steering gear. I think I paid $100 for all this stuff. I made the battery tray out of some free angle iron.






The column was locked (no key) so I had to take it apart to unlock it.



Sunday, June 23, 2019

I found a Wide ratio T18 and D20 from a 78 CJ5 in Rayne, Louisana 235 miles away 4 hrs. I drove my raggedy 80's Dodge pickup that I bought for $700 that had been sitting for a few years untested to pick it up. What could go wrong? Luckily nothing went wrong. My plan was to adapt that transmission to the F134. If it had a longer input shaft I could've figured out something.



Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Through the EarlyCJ5.com classifieds, a member posted a link to a T98/D18 combo somewhere around Selmer, TN. Another 5hr 300-mile drive.




I got the front hoop measurements and had a friend bend it for me.



Sunday, September 15, 2019
An ECJ5 member contacted me saying he'd donate an F134 to the cause but I had to pull it from his 3B. Done. Just a 4hr 260-mile drive to Pensacola, Florida.



Around January 2019 I pulled the D25 apart to rebuild it.

February 15, 2020
I started tinkering with the D18/D20 adapters and T98

D20 Adapter


D18 Adapter


Old Transmission mount and the one I modified from a Willys truck or wagon


April 14, 2020
I found a 74 CJ5 parts Jeep and threw some D25 hubs on the D30 drum brake axle and drug it home.



May 1, 2020
I managed to the the D30/D44 and fuel tank removed from the 74 CJ5 along with the old manual steering gear.


[img][https://i.imgur.com/wahex76l.jpg/img]

[73CJ5]

May 10, 2020 I managed to get the T98/D20 mounted but I had to modify the bellhousing for the clutch arm.




May 11, 2020
I managed to get the F134 in.



May 12, 2020
I made this fuel pump block off plate.



May 21, 2020
I started tearing down the D30.







May 27, 2020
More teardown of the D30 and the 4.88 gears and Spartan locker arrived.






May 31, 2020
I started working on the roll cage. I managed to mount the front hoop and outriggers. *I was way out of my element here.*



June 1, 2020
More cage stuff.



June 2, 2020
I managed to make the power steering pump mount. This actually came out easier than I expected.



June 8-9, 2020
I worked on the reassembly of the Narrow Track Dana 30. I used the knuckles, wheel hubs, spindles, and locking hubs from an 84 CJ7 wide track Dana 30.



June 11, 2020
I installed the steering column and started on the Saginaw 800 series power steering gear install.






June 12, 2020
More steering gear mount stuff.






June 13, 2020
More steering gear stuff and I cover up the old gas filler hole.




June 14, 2020
More cage work.



June 15, 2020
I picked up a sheet of 1/8 steel to patch some of the tub and started on the engine bay runners.






June 16, 2020
More cage work.




June 18, 2020
More on the cage.




June 20, 2020
More on the cage.



June 21, 2020
Got the driver seat mounted.


June 28-July 1, 2020
Got the front shocks mounted and some other things.






July 3, 2020
Got the cross bar done.

[73CJ5]

July 10, 2020
I started to work on my homebrew front driveshaft. $30


July 11, 2020
Tacked in the shock mounts and started on the accelerator pedal swap.





July 13, 2020
Found a power steering belt and got the driveshaft made. Or so I thought. I was removing the tail lights and this corner of the tub fell off on its own.




July 14, 2020
Some advice was given to me and I made a small change to the driveshaft.


July 15, 2020
I removed the cage for welding.

July 31-August 2, 2020
I took the D44 NT Flanged axle to my buddies in Starkville, MS to work on it.




Aug. 4-5, 2020
I started to work on the tub.



Aug. 8, 2020
Painted the floor.


Aug. 26, 2020
Got the D44 in.


Aug, 28-29, 2020
I built the first transmission cross member.



Aug. 29-30, 2020
I pulled an all-nighter and wired the entire 3B and did the entire brake system. I used NiCopp for lines. I was up for 36 hours.






September 2, 2020
Got an oil bath and filled it with coarse steel wool since it had been gutted. Made the power steering pump hoses.



Sept. 4, 2020
I spent the day working on a few loose ends.




Sept. 5, 2020
I got it running by night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puLzGAskFuQ

Sept. 17, 2020
It needed a tune up and water pump. The radiator was pouring water.




Sept. 19, 2020
I started on the D20 twin stick using D18 shifters.


Sept. 22, 2020
Finished twin stick. $20


Sept. 24, 2020
Got some parts.




Sept. 26, 2020
Made the header.



Sept. 27, 2020
Made a steering brace and installed the tachometer.



Sept. 30, 2020
The first drive.



Oct. 1, 2020
I was having cooling problems and added the bypass hose.




Oct. 3, 2020
Got the seat belts installed.


Oct. 4, 2020
Installed tail gate.


Oct. 6, 2020
Started on the rear bumper.


Oct. 7, 2020
more on the bumper.


Oct. 8, 2020
Made the front bumper.


Oct. 9, 2020
Added some protection for the saginaw steering gear and painted the bumpers.





Oct. 10, 2020
I used the 3B to pull my brother's truck up the driveway. After action poser shot.


Oct. 12, 2020
New paint scheme



Oct. 13-14, 2020
I went to the junkyard to find calipers with a built in parking brake. This Nissan 300zx was the ticket. Came back with a tbi unit too. All for $20.




Oct. 15, 2020
Resealed the Saginaw steering box.


Oct. 27, 2020
I installed new plug wires and an electronic distributor.


Oct. 29, 2020
I have access to a full machine shop and started playing around with some Fhead parts. I milled .125 off this cylinder head. Threw the crank on the CWT balancer. New tires arrived for the 3B to go on my 1974 Jackman 16x8 wheels.






Nov. 5, 2020
I had been limited to less than 3k rpm and my first guess was the oil bath. Of course it was the oil bath so I installed a Donaldson paper filter unit under the dash.

[73CJ5]

Nov. 10-12, 2020
Bought 2 Fheads. I have to pull the other one. Did some work on it.








Nov. 17, 2020
Cut the guides down for a PC seal.


Nov. 18, 2020
Resurfaced another flywheel.


Nov. 24, 2020
The 3B has made it 33 miles without making me walk home even with a bum engine.



Nov. 29, 2020
Used the 3B to pull this raggedy truck up the driveway the previous night. Open header.


Dec. 10, 2020
Made an aluminum top for it.


Dec. 11, 2020
Made a new accelerator pedal and capped the bumpers.




Dec. 17, 2020
Got a passenger seat.


Dec. 27-29, 2020
Started working on a new transmission cross member to gain more ground clearance.





Jan. 4, 2020
Started to work on the new gas tank. I decided on 22x14x8. 10-gallon tank


Jan. 11, 2020
Snowed last night and this morning.


Jan. 15, 2020
I made new shackles to gain more clearance between the frame and spring eyes.


Jan. 17-19, 2020
Mounted my Hi-Lift Jack, mock up of the 300zx calipers, steering column mount/brace, new spreader bar, gas tank pieces.

[Doug_3B]

That is a really interesting build!  You sure didn't waste any time on it.  I like it - thanks for sharing!

[73CJ5]

There have been many changes since my last post. I just got the 3b running again since I tore it down February 2021.
Built a mean F134
Narrowed GM D60/14b
HMMWV wheels and 37' BFG Baja rubber
Pto winch
Meyer snow plow stuff

[Rus Curtis]

I've been following this very interesting build on the 2A Forum.  Thanks for posting it here!

[73CJ5]

I've been following this very interesting build on the 2A Forum.  Thanks for posting it here!

Thanks. I didn't really document the rebuild as it was mostly just a whole lot of measuring, cutting, and welding.

[73CJ5]

Got the plow harness built and mounted up.