1955 CJ3B, "Stock" restoration

[Jax]

Back at it!
Been working on a roll cage for the past few weeks with brother Dave. It's made with 2" seamless pipe. Measuring, bending, test fitting. Made to fit a "Summer top".
It's all welded up, spent today sanding & then etch primed the bare metal to get ready
for epoxy prime & then final painting.

[birddog7]

Jax, great looking build. Hope to get mine looking as good as yours. What type of tail lights are those, military from hummer? Like the green color too.

[Jax]

Thanks birddog7,
With all the good advice from the members here & your own imagination there are endless possibilities for your build.
Yes, those are M998 HMMWV tail lights. I also have a mil. interior dual light to mount overhead between the roll cage center bars as an interior Lt. The mil. surplus stuff is really well made...strong, shock proof & water tight.

This is the roll cage that inspired mine:
I got the idea for my roll cage from photos I saw on Google image search. Liked it so my buddy, Matt, he's a great welder, made a copy. Plan to get a "Summer top"(top & back)fitted over it.


Mine is about ready to install.
Primed, sanded, 2 coats of Black Hammerite...makes it easy to touch up dings with a rattle can in the future.


Aloha, Jax

[rhodech]

nice work

[Jax]

At it again.....
Doing a few test fits for top, soft top doors & measurements before installing the roll cage which I think will be will be a close tight fit.








Aloha, Jax

[div4gold]

Nice looking 3B. Did you make your pivot for the spare tire carrier?

[Jax]

Hi div4gold,
A friend of mine, Matt has a welding shop saw one online & made a copy to fit the cuts, bends & curves.
I'm really only a novice welder....lots of grinding to clean up LOL .
My brother Dave did the welding he's pretty good.
I finished it with the bare metal primer & Hammerite paint job.

[div4gold]

Is your pivot a homebrew?

[HOGHEAD]

This is what i used as a pivet point on mine,,,

tire rack pivet


Video here:

http://youtu.be/sJ0B0hRpGU8

[Jax]

Hi div4gold,
No I didn't make the pivot, there are some really
fine ones available like the one HOGHEAD used.
They fit tight & swing out smooth & easy.

Here is the pivot I used, bought it from "TheDirtworx" on Ebay

[Moncheche]

Hey Jax,

I'm looking at your shackles. Heavy duty? Where'd you get them?

[Jax]

Hi Moncheche,
I've followed your build & you are doing some fine work...a family project with some real history. Your grandfather must have been quite a guy. It' great your kids are involved helping you out too.
Nice fabrication on the cross member & the frame looks great. Boy, that Por-15 sure is fantastic, its tough stuff, lasts forever. If it gets on you & it dries it has to wear off. I painted it on the frame & under the cowl after we sand blasted my tub...you can imagine how that dripped down.
I got those rear tow line shackles at a boat & marine supply store, they are heavy duty galvanized & of course painted with Por-15. Their tabs are mounted thru the bumper/tire carrier and welded on both sides for strength.
If you mean the H shackles for the front & rear springs they are heavy duty greaseable shackles with Poly Bushings, I got those years ago from "Krage Motorsports" in Tennessee but they closed awhile back.

You can find some really nice ones at Walck's 4 Wheel drive:Heavy Duty Greasable Shackles 1957-1975-Part Number: 916646HD



I've found them to be honest & reliable. They know their stuff when it comes to Jeeps.
Keep up the good work, its well worth it especially that your restoring a family legacy.
Aloha, Jax

[Moncheche]

That's it! Thanks for the kind words! I will say that your project has really inspired us! Everyone gets excited seeing how great your vehicle turned out.

It really has been a pleasure working with my family on the project.

I've tasked the wife with recovering the seats. Somehow that requires her to get a new sewing machine? I think I'm being played a bit, but... it's all in fun.

Right?

[Jax]

LOL Right!
I know what you mean...played a bit.
Bought my wife a new sewing machine last year. I told her she could get what she wants as long as it could sew through heavy canvas & vinyl. She's recovering the seats now with this retro looking heavy dark green vinyl they call "School Bus Seat" vinyl. I think it will look pretty good in the end.

[Moncheche]

I love it!

That will be the perfect color for your 3B.

We have gone back and forth on what color to paint ours, and then what color the seats should be.

Part of me wants to paint it the original factory color. GLENWOOD GREEN.

My oldest wants it to look like his great grandpa had it.

Sigh. I don't know.