Rebuilding the "father of recreational vehicles"

Well, I thought this would be a good place to stop and post about my restoration since I am "tearing" the 3A down again. But first, I would like to tell some stories about this special jeep.

My dad brought it home when I was 8 or so. As a bonus, I got a 1948 doodle bug too from the guy. The Jeep was the fist vehicle I learned to drive in and the doodle bug was the first "motorcycle" I learned to ride. The L-head power is amazing. My dad and I went to go plow out a friend's driveway with the jeep and a the top of the driveway, there was a snowdrift. That thing was up to the top of the hood and the little 4 cyl powered right through it. Oh yes, the jeep had a white soft top on it. I may get it repaired/cleaned and put it back on. So, this jeep means a lot to me and that is why I'm restoring it.

Since you are all dying to see what a doodle bug is, I'll post that last.

WARNING! THERE ARE 15 PICS. DIAL UP USERS ARE IN FOR A LONG WAIT.

The beginings of the project. Doesn't look bad, but the body is shot.


The removal of the body. I'm running the excavator.


The stripped chassis


The uber junk body.


Stripped frame


Rebuilt engine bored 30 thousands over. Can you believe that the compression before was 115 psi, 100 psi, 105 psi, and 100 psi for having all 8 rings in multiple pieces?


Axles meet frame.


Got two freebie junks. the CJ5 was the donor of 10" WORKING brakes. yes, they actually worked when i got it.


The evil MD Juan body kit :smash:


My cutlass plh hubs, before and after. found a lone dana 25 sitting with those in the weeds for $30.


Stupid new oil pump locked first time at starting the engine. cam gear is okay and the three broken teeth are at the bottom of the oil pan. cleaned up the old one and put new gaskets in it. works just fine.


Completed rolling/running chassis.


drivable again!


The body is now taken off and on a rotisserie. Body work is under way and should be completed shortly.


body work should be finished shortly. primer and paint will be easy. This is last major hurtle for completion.



Hopefully it will be finished this winter! I'm gonna repaint it the original maroon color found on the grille. I'll post up more pics as major events happen.

Now that you've suffered through another jeep restoration, you get to see the doodle bug!

Kick start briggs and straton. how rare is that? This thing actually runs really good and I've won some trophies with it. I'm gonna leave it unrestored like that. BTW, the battery just powers the lights.

 

WOw. How was the fit of the repro tub? I'd go that route if they'd stamp "JEEP" on the side of a '5 tub.

 

eh, ok at best. took a lot of :smash: to get it there. the drivers side fender a a wrong bend to it so it kept off centering the tub. fixed that. Lots of drilling and fitting. the gauge holes were all to small. the front tub mount didn't line up with the hat channel, so I had to drill a new hole in the frame mount. I just really took my time and made everything fit. why don't you just cut the "JEEP" of the old tub and reweld it into the new one?

EDIT: I had to notch where the hi -lo range lever is to get lo range, and I didn't care for the repro windshield frame. There was a nasty weld in the center of the top channel where the two pieces were put together. They dont even line up! one is lower than the other.

 

screw the jeep i flipped right to the DB! That thing is beautifull definatly leave it unrestored original. Im sure you know what those are worth. Im heavy into old mini bikes even moreso than jeeps. Are you on oldminibikes.com?

 

no, i'm not. I'm not even sure how much it is worth. I don't plan on selling it anytime soon either.

 

Doodle bug is cool but the old jeep you and your Dad rode in is something realy cool. Keep up the good work!
Al

 

I read somewhere that the 3A's are known as the father of recreational vehicles.

 

How much do you want for the 3B? :drool:

 

Why? There is nothing left to the body and the engine/tranny are seized. but it was 100% original/complete. I've used some parts on my project.

 

If your into that stuff its a great site. Id say 4 or 5k that complete

 

actually, there is a guy on the web who sells parts for those things. doodle bug jim is his name i think..

 

about 20 min ago, my dad and I took the tub off.



we're going to put it on a rotisserie to make body work and panting easier.

 

pics updated. both rear quarter panels are done. I just have to finish sanding the front bondo.

 

got 3 coats of color down and 3 coats of clear done today. Very purty.











^ how do you guys like our hick paint rack? R)

 

thanks guys! I wish i could wheel it outside and get some better pics. stupid rain...

 

Man, that's looking great! Then there's that killer shop that's making us all green.....