Now My 56 CJ5....

So As stated I just bought this 56' CJ5 from 56CJ5WILLYS:
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62058

I got the tub, hood, front fenders windshield dash, and trans tunnel parts. I would like to do some minor body work as this jeep, although it lacks much rust, has some cracks and other issues.

I have never done much body work, so please give me hints and tips if you have any. I have a 185 Hobart MIG that I am pretty good with on thin metal. Still I would love to see how best to tackle different fixes for the body, and it looks like it has many opportunities to do this.

My plan is for a relatively modern drive-train and I like the patina, so I doubt I will paint it. Only areas where repairs are necessary. The jeep looks to me to have originally been a light green (like forest service trucks). You can see it where the hood hinges should be, and the firewall is almost totally that color. I would like to go back to that color where I make repairs. Is there a readily available spray paint that comes close to matching this color? Is it original or do I have a former forest service jeep?



thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

ive got a 63 that was the same color.
yep
almost certainly forest service

 

it also has a number 5 hand painted in red on the firewall on the original paint just next to the VIN. Its also from Colorado... I would love to know more about these if its true?

 

Some more pics. one of the 5 on the firewall:

What looks like a light plate (?) on the cowl that someone added like an M38A1?They did not do a great job and seem to have welded it in with a stick welder (which was also used to patch holes in the body at some point):

An added spare tire carrier well in the passenger side rear wheel house:

and what I am pretty sure is a bullet hole in the passenger side floor board. "Damn Jimmy watch your toes!":

 

mine has the govt vehicle nomenclature plate on the dash

 

Well if mine had one of those its long since gone bye bye, but I think the 5 is cool!

 

Cool, not used to seeing a slammed Jeep, most folks lift them.

 

LOL! Cool hot rod huh?

 

at this point the name fits pretty good. its low, and with no tires im sure its real slow

 

OK, so I did some of my own rattle can research:
This is Krylon Pistaccio green:


Not perfect, but not too far off from the forrest service green. The other green (darker) in the first picture is Krylon Forrest Green...too dark!

 

Its been a while, and I have gotten lots done.

Here are the frame rails. Its made of 2x4x.120 wall front and rear with 2x4x.188 wall in the center.



I got the body mounted one night!


Fenders and grill:


And the motor/tranny today:

 

You sure that's a '56? A '56 shouldn't have those heater cutouts on the driver's side firewall, AFAIK. Should just be flat. Not that it really makes a hoot.

 

The title says its a 56' but I never checked the VIN (If you can??). Its definitely an early CJ5 it has the M38A1 battery box block off plate on the cowl. I think it was a forest service jeep you can see what's left of red a #5 on the firewall just next to the VIN plate and it has seen LOTS off off road use. Not much rust, but LOTS of stress cracks all over the body and fenders. It was that Sea foam green originally which would fit with the forrest service (or border patrol (but the title is from Colorado)).

 

Now the build is in Jp.

http://www.jpmagazine.com/projectbuild/154_1108_building_a_jeep_cj5_frame_from_scratch/index.html