Restoration underway

[ranchhopper]

I bought a nice CJ3A a while back and have started to give it a facelift since most military jeeps are out of my price range I have decided to make a M38 clone. I have a real nice base to work with virtually rust free at one time it was retubbed with a surry jeep tub so I took the jeep and sold off the rims and tires, roll bar, soft top and other bits and pieces to fund the buying of new parts. I started by welding up all the holes drilled into it over the years took the gas tanks out and had the local radiator shop boil them out and check for holes then the whole front clip went to the media blaster and was taken down to bare metal and was surprised no bondo or filler. Took the original grille and enlarged the turn signal openings to install black out lights also fabbed up some mounts and welded them in to mount them to. This morning I tow barred the chassis down to where I work and I steam cleaned it later today the chassis got a fresh coat of POR-15 tomorrow it gets top coated with a fresh coat of OD. So far it has had the differential covers removed new gaskets installed as well as pinion seals it will get a new carb next week and the engine will get a fresh set of gaskets as well as plugs, wires, cap and rotor and points. I found a real nice set of rims in michigan not crazy about the color but they will get new paint along the way the tires even hold air good enough to roll it around while working on it. Heres a few pics from when I picked it up to the stage Im at with it now.

 

[ranchhopper]

A few more of todays paint work and a couple shots of the underside of the tub as it came off the frame.

 

[ryan77]

Looks good old timer!!

 

[marchplumber]

Congrats! Hope the Mrs. loves it! Keep up the great work. (Ya usually do!lol)

God bless,
Tony

 

[ranchhopper]

Hi Tony going to paint the tub tomorrow got the frame all redone last week its going along slowly.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

<applause>

 

[zout]

The channels look in really nice shape under the body - even the rear brace - work is looking very nice and
you surely have a winner on your hands.

 

[dougimes]

Looks great. I made the same choice a few years back, changed a cj3a into an m38, if you go to

http://wartimetrucks.com

I have a picture of the finished product. You can get as close as you want to. I ran down most of the details, but stopped short of changing the bell housing, which is different on the m38. I post a list of the mods I had to make if you are interested.

 

[ranchhopper]

Thanks appreciate any help is a plus I got most of the body ODed yesterday welded a new support into the hood I picked up from a 2A have to do a bit more to the engine and I can start putting the front end together.

Looks great. I made the same choice a few years back, changed a cj3a into an m38, if you go to

http://wartimetrucks.com

I have a picture of the finished product. You can get as close as you want to. I ran down most of the details, but stopped short of changing the bell housing, which is different on the m38. I post a list of the mods I had to make if you are interested.

 

[ranchhopper]

A couple pics taken today need to finish wiring everything back up and getting the fuel line attached to the fuel tank its getting closer to finish time.

 

[zout]

That jeepie looks like your getting ready for battle and looking sweet - your going to have a blast in it. Your lucky yours does not belong to your wife.

 

[jcappeljr]

Lookin good as usual...

 

[Ferroequinologist]

Nice Ford tractor, has the same loader as my 1963 4000...

Jeep looks good! will pass a drive by and probably a pretty close inspection.

Jeeps are just meant to be green!

 

[Tinwoodsman]

Every nice, enjoy it.

 

[ranchhopper]

I really like it thats going to be my summer ride I just ordered the decals for it they should be here next week Adam that is a ford 4000 industrial it was manufactured for the USAF in 1970 still has the data plates on it I bought it out of NJ off the GSA.

 

[marchplumber]

Way to go Kevin! Another super project out of your garage! I thought that the wife was going to drive it in parades? Thanks for the pics and the update. Can't wait to see the decals on her.

God bless,
Tony

 

[ranchhopper]

Tony my wife doesnt know how to drive anything with a manual trans I like it that way any toys I buy and dont want her to drive I make sure it has a manual trans the jeep should be ready for parade season it starts in a couple weeks.

Way to go Kevin! Another super project out of your garage! I thought that the wife was going to drive it in parades? Thanks for the pics and the update. Can't wait to see the decals on her.

God bless,
Tony

 

[3rdaavbn]

That is going to be great! I did'nt know the CJ3 was the same, or at least as closeas it is. You also seem to work fast. Wow.

 

[ranchhopper]

I believe the 3A is real close to the M38 as far as looks with the exception of the stowage area for the pioneer tools and the 24 volt system.

 

[camoyj7]

Looking nice Kevin!