Mission Impossible 1956 Cj5 Basket Case.

Thanks. All the parts seem to be playing well with each other.

 

I'm trying to figure out which Bimini/Bikini top to get for the CJ5. I believe the windshield is from an M38A1 with the curved channel, but not sure. Also the roll cage throws another wrench in the mix.

 

Thanks.

 

First post shows a totally different Jeep!

 

It's come a long way in a little over a year. And you're right, It's not the same Jeep. I can't even call it an Early CJ5 anymore. So now it's a CJX for Experimental.

 

Daisy and I went for a drive today after changing out the roll bar padding. Just getting some miles on it.

 

Haven't been here in a while. Too much snow and rain. The CJ has been hibernating all winter. The 62 Willys Wagon has a top and heat.
I have been looking for a Bimini top for a while, and I found one on Facebook Marketplace yesterday New in the box for $40.00 I messaged them and they dropped the price to $30.00 with out asking.

It didn't look like it had ever been out of the box and it's Garfield approved.

It's designed for the 87-91 Wrangler, so the front slide in section wouldn't work. I just used sheet metal screws with built in washers and stretched it across the top of the windshield and screwed it down. Next trip to town I will pick up a 1/2" aluminum strap to re-enforce and sandwich the canvas to make sure it doesn't buckle up and leak wind/rain.

For not being the correct top, it actually looks pretty good. After a day in the hot sun I think I can pull some of the wrinkles out.

 

So what's the difference between a Bimini top and a Bikini top? In this context of course.

 

Designed for different Islands. But I think Bikini got nuked. This one says California Brief on the box, so I guess I'm still going topless.

 

Top came out decent. My Daughter In Law made up a dash emblem for the odd shift patterns. The black won't show up well against the Gun Metal grey, so the final label will be white.

 

Been getting ready for the 4th annual RFTH (Run For The Hills) Rally with the OWF (Old Willys Forum) guys. This year it's up in the Trinty Alps of Nor Cal outside of Weaverville. I started out adding anti-rattle carpet to the Army surplus tool box I used to replace the original one that was so rusted out I stepped through it.

. Then I filled it to the brim with all sorts of junk I may never use.

. I then built a set of 1" square tubing doors and added padding to them.

. They will be held closed with Ball bearing quick release pins. I removed one of my side mounted Jerry Cans and modified the bracket to hold a small Ice Chest strapped to the bracket.

. On the other side I added mounts for a picknick basket and then added a piece of 8" double wall polycarbonate Greenhouse panel to separate the Basket from the Jerry Can in case of any leaks.

The last thing I want is my lunch spoiled with gas out on the trail

. I think I've got all the 10LBS of Junk in a 5LBS CJ box I can think of.

. I even carpeted under the driver seat and added a piece of angle so that the First aid kit and any other thing I can stuff under there doesn't slide out under the brake pedal.

 

I went for a quick test drive today. I hit the I 80 Freeway in Dutch Flat and got off at Gold Run. Just 2 tenths of a mile according to the trip meter. I rolled onto the on ramp in 4th gear and just gave her about 1/4 gas pedal.

The Ford 5.0L was just humming along.

 

We loaded up the CJ and took it out for it's first Shake Down Trip.

We towed 5 hours each way up into the Shasta/Trinity National Forest.

Where we met up with some old and new friends.

Spent some time wheeling and Jawing.

and enjoying the scenery.

The little Jeep came home from it's first shake down trip running better that when it left. But a bit dirtier.