Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) So.....The last progress report was the tub about to go to get blasted and primed. This was late March. After Easter and illness, we're now in late April, so has anything happened? Yes. With the tub out of the workshop, I began stripping the windscreen. There were a number of areas rusted through, but I had a donor screen, and hoped to make one good one from the two rusted examples. This is the original outer screen frame fitted when the Jeep was purchased, and the donor inner frame. These are the two best parts, but need work. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The skin on the screen frame was rusted through in a number of places, and so needed to be removed and replaced. The two outer frames can be seen in this picture. The paint and rust was stripped away to check the condition of the tubes. The main frame was sound, but the tubes supporting the skin were badly rusted. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) A steel tube was welded across the screen pivot arms to keep the spacing correct and a corner brace welded in to stop the screen twisting while being worked on. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The skin support tubes were then cut out, the side tubes cleaned up and the tubes from the donor screen welded in place. The two wooden blocks were used to set the correct position of the cross tubes. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) Here's the inner screen frame; the original one which is in reasonable condition, and the remains of the donor frame, parts of which I plan to use to repair the worst parts of the original. The glass was already cracked, so I didn't try and salvage that. I did find something interesting when stripping both screens, and that was the reinforcing corner pieces in the inner frame. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) On my original 1943 screen, the corner reinforcing pieces were solid metal, though both had been damaged by the holes drilled for the bolts that hold the frame together. One had snapped and the other drilled so close to the corner that it had broken through the edge. These would be repaired to use in the rebuild. The other corner pieces are I'm guessing late war, made from flat sheet to save metal. These were quite rusted and mangled. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) This handle was salvaged from the donor frame. The one on the original frame was ok, so this one will be sold on. The good frame was dunked in the electrolysis bath to clean out the internal part of the channel. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) These brackets on the original frame had rusted away in places, so these were cut from the donor one, and will be brazed back on later. It took quite a while with the grinder, slowly removing the remains of the frame from the bracket. All four screen arms were in good condition, so the spares will be sold. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) While the tub was gone, I also skimmed filler over some of the holes that had been brazed up, and primed the hood. The workshop was looking rather big with the tub gone! Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) On March 28th, the tub was done, so I made the one and a half mile trip to collect it with the trailer. Fortunately it was a nice dry day for getting both Jeeps out so I could get the tub back in the workshop. When I took it there, I got rained and hailed on by the time I got there. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) After all the illnesses, I finally got back to the Jeep last week, skimming filler over the various side and floor panel repairs. It's all solid metal in there, but needed tidying up to make it presentable. I started out sanding by hand, which was hard work, then I remembered a mini 12 volt orbital sander. It has a foot print of about 2.5 by 1.75 inches, which meant it could fit into small corners. Sanding is now much easier, but I'm getting vibration white finger. Rear panel. Passenger side floor, underside. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) Drivers side floor, underside. Inside. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The drivers side step and axe/shovel mounting position. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) Finally today, after much skimming and sanding, it was time to slap some primer on. The only area left to do is the side the tub is currently resting on. The primer is currently baking in the workshop with the heater on. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 That's coming along nicely Steve. Guess you can't wait to get more progress done on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 The next big step will be a trial fit of the tub prior to painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) After a busy day yesterday working on the Dodge, today was spent on the Ford. It was time for the trial fit of the tub. The day started with moving the truck, aircraft trailer and my other Jeep. This was so that the Ford chassis could be rolled out of the garage, making room to bring the tub through to position it under the engine hoist. The big driveway comes in handy. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) The tub was wheeled through from the workshop on a wooden trolley I made some months ago for shifting the tub and engine around. It was then tipped onto its floor on some wooden blocks, before some ropes were rigged for the lift. It is seen below lifted on the engine hoist ready for the chassis to be rolled under. 'Skint George' from HMVF was my helper for the day. The day was originally forecast to be sunny, but around lunchtime, there was a heavy shower which stopped play for a while. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) After a bit of jiggling, pushing and shoving, the tub fitted, but the tub bolts holes didn't align with those in the chassis. Despite both the tub and chassis being original, the floor inside the shocker cover interfered with the rear shock mount. This prevented the tub from sitting in the correct position, so the floor was ground out with the angle grinder, flush with the back of the shocker cover. This allowed the tub to move forwards to its correct position. It was probably only 1/4 inch, but it made a difference. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) The Jeep looking like a Jeep again! Some of the bolt holes needed opening up with a file to allow them to align properly, but the pictures below show the tub on and all fourteen bolts fitted. It was on and off a few times while hole positions were marked, and enlarged, but it was good to see the tub sitting square on the chassis and fastened together. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) Some additional parts may be required to complete this kit! Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skint George Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I would recommend helping Steve as his wife Lynn makes great coffee and home made biscuits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeferret Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Really nice project............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) Thanks. I decided to undercoat the tub in the gloss grey from the engine, to provide better waterproofing, since matt paint can be porous. I should have done the chassis, but it didn't occur to me at the time, but at least that is thicker metal. I used the airbrush first, to spray into all the seams and difficult to reach corners where the larger spray gun wouldn't fit. Edited October 21, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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