5a Restomod

I've been picking away at this project for quite a while, taking some pics along the way. I'll try to get things up to where it currently is, might take a while and be a little random, but here goes....
What I started with:

 

Cool! Haven't seen a fastback in a long time.

 

I wanted to start with a fairly original rig that hadn't been all cobbled up. This one seemed to fit the bill. Original plan was to do a "rolling restoration". I got it home and drove it a (very) little. While looking it over, I noticed the water pump was leaking..... I twisted two bolts off removing the water pump. In order to remove broken bolts, I had to remove the grill and radiator.... When I had the radiator off, I noticed that it appeared to have a leak.... You know where this is going don't you?
I picked up a new water pump and took the radiator to a local shop and had it repaired. As long as I had the parts off, I might as well clean them up and paint them, right?
I can't say I recommend the approach, but I may be the poster child for "might as well" and "project creep"...

 

I think it was re-worked from a regular top. No frame, just stretched over the rollbar. I'll be doing something different when I get to that point.

 

Wow! Do I see yellow paint under the current colour!?
Double wow that you have the original turbine hub caps!

 

Yes, I can't recall the name right now. I just couldn't get myself to like it, I decided to go with a sand/tan color.

I wish the hubcaps were in better shape. The inner edges are rusted out in a few spots and the "clips" aren't very secure. I don't know how well they would stay on now. Might be relegated to "wall hanger" status.

 

X2

<-- Ryan and I

 

Was the rear of the frame extended or is the frame from something else?

 

The frame had been extended, I'm thinking to make a place to haul deer, but not sure about that. It's gone now. (Sawzall emoji goes here)

 

Were those chrome bumpers available on Jeeps other than Tuxedo Park? Super Jeeps had chrome front bumpers but not surr if they'd fit an early frame.

 

Your original color was Praire Gold, a light pale yellow. Actually, I think this is one of the better colors on an early Jeep, also used on the early R1 Jeeps! Those chrome bumpers are the same as the SuperJeep, except they only have 2 mounting bolts on the face as seen in the rear view. Your Tux license light sould be centered on the tailgate, and its upside-down. The bracket actually hinged to allow the tailgate to be in the dropped position.
The rusty clips was a big downfall of the Turbine hubcaps. I threw 3 out of 4 away back in the mid-'70s because the grip rings rusted off.
-Donny

 

Very cool. You have most all the hard to find Tux stuff. That is a big +.

 

I really didn't know about the Tuxedo Park model when I bought it, so all that is just a fun bonus for me. I've decided to try to keep the "Bling" for the Name's sake.

 

I want a progress report. Show us the shortened frame and stuff.

What's under the red carpet, a multitude of sins?

 

Patience my friend, we'll get there....
The carpet is gone, the floors were rotten....

 

Yep. I like the JEEP as it shows in the first pics. Always liked the fastback style top. Like the maroon. Like the Tuxedo Park. Like the winch.

Glad you are making progress.

 

The looks got me excited when I found it on Craigslist. The top is in fair to poor condition, lacking hardware. I sold the doors. I like the maroon too, but decided to change color. Maroon paint was fairly expensive. I decided to try and do this "on the cheap" where I can. The Tuxedo park thing is fun, but I'm afraid I won't satisfy the scrutiny of a purist. I'm OK with that. The winch is a heavy beast, the motor turned out to be fried, I did find a replacement, so it will go back on.

 

Purists be damned. And I can be one. But, hey, do what you can or what you want. It's your project. We'll save our judgements for the craigslist and eBay classifieds.

 

I found my old camera in the shop, had a few pics in it of the rocker panel replacement. I have a friend with an extensive sheet metal fab shop, so I figured out what I needed for flat panels and main bends and went through my list with him. He made me rocker panels, front floor panels, and rear corners. (I've been back for more since then ) I figured out where I wanted to cut the old metal and laid it out on the new piece first, cut it, then laid it over the existing rocker and marked the edge. Careful cutting and the new piece fit nicely. I held everything together and in alignment with sheet metal screws and a copper backing. It worked really well and prevented me from blowing a bunch of holes through the rockers.



I had to do a little bending and massaging with a hammer and dolly on the ends at the wheel well.



Pretty happy with how it turned out considering it was my first crack at welding sheet metal.