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1956 DJ3A; Resurrection
Topic Started: Apr 20 2016, 10:43 PM (2,559 Views)
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
The fenders are now looking pretty decent inside and out considering how beat up, extra holes, etc that they used to be.


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I do reserve the right to tinker with then just a little bit more while I get this ready for color.


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I had previously straightened it up some and just left it in heavy primer back when I laid it aside. The front of the grill because of all of the previous coats of paint and bondo wasn't too rusty BUT


the backside and bottom is totally unacceptable to me

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That grill has to be cleaned and sanded finished straightened and slick (or at least much better than it is now) inside and out.

Ps. My wife is visiting grandkids and great grandkids in Virginia. She'd have a DUCK if she knew I had these fenders, etc in the house. I'm thinking what she doesn't know won't hurt me at all!!!

SHUSH!!!! B)
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
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PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
So how do I even start this finish work. Simple tools, small snatches of sandpaper, and look for places that need straightened or welded etc. as I go. One inch at a time paying special attention to cracks and crevices. Also soaking everything down good way back when with phosphoric acid solution pretty much killed any rust underneath my 'slopped on and dirty protective coat of dirty primer.


Posted Image
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Here's something that might be worth remembering. There's some really really expensive rust converting solutions out there. The fact is that as long as it's got the same concentration of phosphoric acid they all work pretty much the same.

I get mine at lowes. It's pretty cheap and as as shown here underneath my primer it does a good job. I put it in a old windex spray bottle or something similar to apply. What I'm saying is this was laid aside only in brushed on primer over two years ago.

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As you can see its held up very very well and so far I'm seeing no left over rust as I sand. Some dirt and old pits, yes but rust no.

Again the advantage of sanding over sandblasting, which is really probably not a essential advantage but suits me is there's still traces of original paint underneath everything.
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
There's some minor dings under there that I really wanted to try to get out. Trouble was there was no way to get a hammer or pick up under there so I made a quick tool to help me out.

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Body work tools done have to always be expensive. This is crude, quick made out of a old yard sale off brand welding clamp but I betcha it'll do what I need it to.

Been a long day and I'm calling it a night. It'll still be there tomorrow!!!

Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Sorry for the long delay before anything else exciting happens but still working off and on on this grill. I can't lay it aside for a long long time anymore. Now IT HAS TO BE FINISHED.

See, I understand the wrecks this DJ has had over the years but how in the HECK did this jeep get this many of these kind of dings in it?

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It's coming along though

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No filler here or below. Just lightly fogged with self etching primer so that I could see it better

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Soon to be like the rest of my jeep....... RNOS...


'Restored, Repaired, Rescued, Renovated, Resurrected, or Renewed'....to as good as 'NEW'.....'OLD' STOCK'
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Real time since my last post. Finished smoothing, slats straightened, cracks welded, paint stripped, sanded, power wire brushed, power sanded, and a light coat of self etching and then a light coat of sandable primer.

It'll need multiple coats of primer to sand down completely slick.

Maybe some of my best work ever. No bondo or body filler at all here.


Posted Image
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
PREVIOUS WORK

Included hand making a new inner cable for my rear emergency brake cable housing

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Swedging steel ends on the new inner cable

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Even though they were still like new I had the brake drums resurfaced


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And cleaned everything up and reinstalled the old brakes.

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Didn't try to get the colors correct there. Just used what paint I had at the time to prevent rust.

Also I installed 100% NOS wheel cylinders even though mine were almost like new. That turned into a GOOD THING because eventually I included those take off front brake cylinders in a VERY VERY important trade that we'll talk about later.

Important note:

It's still a unsolved mystery to me why that both the brake shoes all the way around on those OHIO axles AND another pair of old DJ3A FRONT brake shoes had equal length pads on all of the shoes. I finally decided to quit questioning it and installed anyway.
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Here's what my frame looked like a long time ago after I put the rebuilt springs, Ohio axles etc on and just before I turned it back over.

Posted Image
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Ok. While the primer on those fenders and grill sit for a minute it's time to think about a hood.

One of the first things I worked on on this jeep was this hood.

Posted Image

and even though I got a good end result there was an excessive amount of work done that took days to get there. Even so I was proud of it BUT the crack in the middle isn't 'exactly' right.


So now that I have access to this hood

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Which starts out in much better shape so I'm thinking about sandblasting, repairing and using it. So here we go. One more big piece to get ready for color

Edit: not in real time now. Waiting on blasting sand to be delivered. I've got another project or three I'm going to need it on anyway.
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Ok. My sand just arrived. Actually using coal slag on this old hood. It should be noted the last time I tried sandblasting I cooked a expensive compressor motor. It couldn't keep up anyway so I'm really anxious to see how this big OLD heavy duty compressor I dug out of a building last year keeps up.

EDIT: never mind


The sandblasting tank is full of moisture. Gotta get that dry before I can blast anything. Ugg
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Got that sandblaster dried out and working but had to quit for a while. Years of throwing heavy bundles of shingles had sure taken its toll on my back and it's acting ugly but it'll be ok.

The wife should NOT have left me alone this week, I've been on a shopping spree!!!! :)

Nos flasher (they're REAL REAL proud of them, especially the embossed ones)
Grill Welt and rivets from RFP sales. Later DJ's didn't use these type rivets so pictures soon of the difference.
Made arrangements to borrow the right tool to install the rivets.
Nos 5 ply trico wiper blades (Real Real Real proud of them too when you're wanting to buy but we did do some negotiating.
Original fender to frame bolts. Think I've got everything else bolts wise.
And even though I've already rebuilt my 6 volt starter and generator now I've got TAGGED original starter and original generator AND parts to rebuild. (NOS BRUSHES, starter drive, etc.). The ones I've already rebuilt with no tags or bad tags will now become spares. B) B) B)

Also today I had to CLEAN HOUSE. The wife is coming home tomorrow so jeep parts have went back to the shop so I won't get myself KILT GRAVEYARD DEAD!!!



Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
Previously

Back in the day I built myself a charcoal fire on the grill and threw some air on it so that I could heat up the flywheel enough that I could remove and flip around the ring gear on my jeep. Easy as pie.

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With just a little polishing on the flywheel it came out real real good. Not perfect without machine work, but real good. Good enough to satisfy me anyway. I still wouldn't trade any of it for a modern day ring gear, flywheel, or clutch.


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Because I even reused the extra heavy duty clutch that I found in one the wood boxes of stuff that came with those hidden away for years Ohio parts.


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Oh. Did you notice before that a 1956 DJ3A Dispachers bell housing had a extra cut out so that it could be used for ether left hand or right hand drive?

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That's something that SteveK pointed out to me at the time!!!
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
A little dent

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A little crack

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A rusted out spot

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Plus appx 6, 8, or 10 or more pinholes not shown revealed by the coarse blasting medium. Soaking in rust converter in these pics. By now cleaned of the residue left over from multiple coats of (cleaned and scrubbed and wire brushed between each coat) of the rust converter, the majority of the dent has been knocked out, the rotted spot cut out and replaced with a metal patch, and the pin holes welded up.
Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
INSPIRATION

1955-56 WILLYS DJ3A DISPATCHER AD
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1955-56 WILLYS DJ3A DISPATCHER AD
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1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER ADVERTISING IMG.
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1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PapaC
Papac
[ *   *   *   *   *  ]
More Inspiration


1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE
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1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE

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1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE
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1955-56 DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE

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Charles Tate....North Mississippi

1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible
Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts.

1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
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