Well the project has begun

Hey guys,
Its been a long time since I've been on butnow that I've started my "restore" of Old Yeller I figured I post some pics.

I'm not going for a show quality restoration here, I'm just trying to stop the decay and get Yeller running again. He's been sitting for , Yikes 6-7 years now! He didn't get winterized properly either, just parked. I already have the tranny and T-case rebuilt and ready to go, so now its on to the rest...
I have the body mostly off, am waiting for more muscle to get the tub off.
An observation, Old Jeeps come apart fast I know it won't go together as quickly.

Had a couple of questions too...
First any recommendations on paint and primers for the frame and body?

How do I get started checking the engine out and getting it back on its feet? It ran fine when I parked it.

Any good tricks for cleaning up the frame, from rust, and fixing cracks? I'm tempted to do a partial boxing of the frame, I just don't want to have to put a million weld nuts in.

Any other valuable tips, I'm sure I'll be asking other questions later.

By the way its good to actually have something to post, instead of just lurking.

 

Posting rules say I can't post attachments, apparently I'm not cool enough.

 

Welcome back....

I too am just starting an old project that has been sitting for a few years. I will be interested to see what people say about getting the motor started again after sitting for so long.

Cleaning the frame? I have heard (not tried it) that oven cleaner works well.

 

Regarding the fuel, if sitting that long get rid of any fuel left in the system, in fact I like to use a remote tank made of a old gas can with a short length of fuel line connected to the carb. that eliminates a lot of variables like, are the fuel lines plugged, is the fuel filter pluged, is the fuel pump shot ect. Then make certian the batt is fully charged and start her up. This is after you confirm the engine is not stuck.

 

What is MMO? And thanks for the engine check list.

And Cleaning the frame is more of a question about best way to remove rust, prep fro welding, and prep for primer and paint.

 

Frame sandblast. The oven cleaner is for the engine works great.

 

I can't find the photos but mine wasn't running when I got it. It turned over fine and wanted to fire but wasn't getting fuel. I was too impatient to wait for a new pump so I rigged a gravity feed set up using a pick up tube from a portable boat tank held vertically with a spring clamp and a funell in the top of the tube. It started and ran! I could watch the fuel level drop in the tube and topped it off with a Corona bottle (to avoid any confusion) filled with fuel as it ran. It worked great but some friends with children are nervous of their kids thinking vehicles can run on beer after seeing the pictures.

 

I'm working on my frame now. I'm in humid florida and so far the best thing I've found for rusty frame parts is to: clean with a degreaser (oven-off, purple stuff,etc), wire wheel it to remove loose paint and rust. Now I weld up anything that needs welding. In the areas paint is still good and no rust,just a quick wire wheel to roughen it up. Next get some rust converter. By far the best I've found is made by Permatex. It is in white bottle and says it's rust converter. it's not real expensice, like 7 bucks a bottle. Ithink walmart has it. FLAPS will. You brush it on, wait 20 minutes and give it another coat. All the red rust will be black. If not, add antoher coat until all the red is black. I've used up to 4 coats. It dries with a coating and the bottle says you can paint right over it. I do not. After I use the rust converter drys, I scuff sand it with a 220 paper using my hand. I only knock down the roughies. Then prime with a rustolum rusty metal primmer. Scuff sand with 320. Then paint. I use Tractor Supply Implemeint Paint and add their harnerner on the last coat of paint.

So far, this is the only thing I can get to work.........

And down the road, I can wire wheel it and weld to repair, add somthing, etc.