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1980 U-50 (br Army Cj-5) Restoration

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Nando870, Dec 29, 2024.

  1. Dec 29, 2024
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2024
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    26
    I Mentioned this Jeep both in my introduction post, and in the Brazilian CJ-5 history post.
    It's a 1980 U-50, the last version of the Brazilian army CJ-5, made by Ford from 1980 to 1983, this specific one is a radio Jeep.

    I managed to loose some of the pictures of the process, so i'll show you what i have, and then carry on from the current status.

    These pics are from the ad my dad bought it from, in 2016. It didn't look good, but it had the paperwork to be titled, something that the army stopped giving on surplus Jeeps after circa 2010, so we went for it.
    [​IMG]
    Here are some of the features of the Brazilian military Jeeps. The closed off tailgate, spare and jerry can mount, bumpers and pintle hook, and what remains of the seat frame. Specific to the U-50 is that square hole to the left of the steering wheel, where the auxiliary gauge panel (Volts, amps, fuel and temp) used to be. Another thing of note is the reinforcement gussets under the dashboard, added in '77 to civilian and army jeeps alike, and the radio brackets on the driver's side rear fender.
    [​IMG]
    It actually came with a complete drivetrain, which the seller mounted on it before delivering it to us. Note the size of the front diff... that's a D44, standard starting in '61 here
    [​IMG]

    After we got it, we quickly fixed some things up, and mounted some more appropriate used tires on it. it sat like this for a few years, before we started actually working on it. We also sent the paperwork to title it (more on that later).
    [​IMG]
    This was painted on the fuel tank... Someone didn't think Jeeps are safe...
    [​IMG]

    Our plan early on was to use an earlier inline 6 engine on it, instead of the correct Ford OHC 4. So we swapped engine mounts and put a 6 on it! (the T-90 was a placeholder) We since got the proper engine and gearbox, and will replace them with the correct ones.
    Also in this picture is a flanged rear axle, since the Jeep came with the incorrect early 2 piece axle.
    [​IMG]

    Well, a few years passed without us hearing anything from the title. we had to reach out, only to learn that the government office that handled this, changed, and we had to start all over again. Thankfully, this time it went fast. actually, too fast, since we now had a date limit to take it for inspection, and the Jeep was disassembled and the body was in the body shop with no floors...

    Enters the 1959 CJ-5 that we have... it had the complete electrical system, a body that was (at the time still) in one piece, and a top, so we body swapped them! We actually had to repaint it, because the DMV wouldn't accept an olive drab Jeep (they think people will confuse old Jeeps with active service vehicles). This was the cheapest green available at the store.
    [​IMG]

    We kept using the Jeep like that, as the '59 was our Farm Jeep, meanwhile, we finished the proper body.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Dad painted the temp body in a more acceptable color
    [​IMG]

    Until finally, the time had come to reunite the body and frame.
    Out came the '59 body, which cracked in half on removal...
    [​IMG]

    And the frame sat for a few months while we did farm work.
    Last week, we finally got around to joining them.
    With some help from the 3A...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Bodywork is not complete, and we still have to "un-swap" the engine, but it's in one piece again, for the first time since around 2018
    [​IMG]

    That's all for now. As soon as we start working on it again, i'll update you.
     
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  2. Dec 29, 2024
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Active Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    Pretty cool! U-50, I learned something! That is really cool! Looks really good.

    Maybe Brazil is where the parts are since they still made these in the 80's.


    Thanks for posting this.


    Dave
     
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  3. Dec 29, 2024
    Tralehead

    Tralehead Member 2025 Sponsor

    Silverado, CA
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    Now I have "The Girl from Ipanema" in my head! :D
    Nice work!
     
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  4. Dec 30, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2025 Sponsor 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Very nice!
     
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  5. Dec 31, 2024
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    Yeah. Great to have another international Jeeper here.
     
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  6. Jan 17, 2025
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2024
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    Thanks for the feedback guys!!

    Did some work on the Jeep last week.
    Removed the grill and windshield (the one inside it on the pictures, the one mounted is a donor) to finish some details the body shop left behind and to paint them
    No pictures of that :(

    Dug out the correct engine mounts for the 2.3 engine, next step is removing the F161 and it's mounts to weld these back in
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Jan 18, 2025
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Are you going to use the Ford OHC 4 because it is the “correct” engine for this Jeep? The F-161 engine made about 90 hp/135 tq up here in the US, and the 2.3 OHC Lima made about 90 hp/120 tq, so had similar specs. The torque figures for the F-161 were a bit higher, and at much lower rpm. For use in a Jeep, both engines have similar specs, but the F-161 seems better suited with the low end torque.
    The 2.3 Lima is obviously a much more modern engine, and later versions could be downright potent. I have a fuel injected SVO version from an ‘86 Mustang rated at 205 hp/200 tq. Maybe not ideal for a Jeep, but the US market had a wide range of power/torque ratings. Did your market have many variations of horsepower, or were they mostly “work horses” for vehicles like the Jeep?
    -Donny
     
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  8. Jan 19, 2025
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2024
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    Indeed, we are using the OHC to go for a factory correct restoration, but i think a part of it is my dad wanting to do something different after so many years of 161s.
    We recently got hold of a later truck with the engine, and we were both surprised in how well it handles (we expected it to be underpowered down low) specially at highway speeds. Directly comparing it to our other truck, which has a F-head but otherwise identical drivetrain, the OHC can actually hold modern highway speeds and even do overtakes, while the F-head chugs along at ~70km/45Mph

    Here's it at the farm, with 900L/238gal of water and a pump in the bed.
    [​IMG]

    Here, Ford has a historic for weird and downright bad decisions, and the (lack of) use of this engine is one of them. They only put it in the 75-79 Maverick, which was already a sales failure, the 75-83 Jeep vehicles, and the 75-85 F-100, where it was totally underpowered (Oh, i almost forgot, we got the twin spark plug version on some imported Rangers in the late 90's as well). We only had the 90hp and a 99hp version with a different carb.
     
  9. Jan 19, 2025
    58 willys

    58 willys Sponsor

    Millsboro, Delaware
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    Thanks for sharing good looking for sure
     
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  10. Jan 24, 2025
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
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    We went to the junkyard and picked up some parts yesterday!
    Correct radiator and cowl (note the lower exit on the side)
    [​IMG]
    Miscellaneous parts
    [​IMG]
    We also got a steering box.

    Today, we did some work on it, the body came out again, and so did the L6 engine
    Out came the mounts
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    We also took out the shackles, because the new bushings we put in, around 3 years ago, are totally destroyed... we are replacing them with a new set of urethane bushings
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Finally, we removed the pedal assembly, because they hadn't been properly addressed the first time around, and it was a mess... i didn't take many pictures, but everything was sloppy, and they (the army folks) had even welded the bolts to the pedal shaft bracket...
    [​IMG]

    That's all for now
     
  11. Jan 27, 2025
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
    Joined:
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    More work today after a weekend of resting
    First, a wide shot of the bare frame:
    [​IMG]
    Welded some cracks in the frame, and also tacked the mounts in (they'll get welded for good when we get our engine here to place them properly)
    [​IMG]
    Heated and bent back into shape one of the rear spring hangers. As you can see, it doubles as a mount for the handbrake cable
    [​IMG]
    Fitted the rear bumper accessories
    [​IMG]

    And finally, since this is a radio Jeep, i made a financially questionable thing, and bought a RY-20 radio, the Brazilian made version of the American AN/PRC-77 or AN/VRC-64 radio. No pictures of that, since it has not arrived yet, and I cannot find a single picture of a complete set on the internet.
     
  12. Feb 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
    Joined:
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    Well, last week Dad started what we thought was an easy sub-project: swapping the front brakes from the earlier to the correct type (both 11", Bendix, but different adjusters). well, it was nothing but simple

    Out came the hubs, the donor brakes are on the axle laying on top.
    The problem started with the donor brakes, one of the backing plates had been re-drilled, clocked the wrong way... no problem, we found a spare one in our parts
    [​IMG]

    Then, the bearings.... yeah, we ended up getting a whole set of bearings and seals, and we might get new knuckle seals as well
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    First we did the passenger side, cleaning the outside of the knuckle (it had been painted over crud) and the axle shaft. On this side, we didn't need to change the knuckle grease.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    On the Drivers side, it was a bit more complicated... on clean up, we noticed the sealing surface and the bushing on the spindle were both bad, so we sourced a new one. The rest was pretty much the same, except that since we had to change backing plates, i went further and cleaned/painted the brake hardware as well (red oxide primer, silver for the parts originally plated, and blue for the springs, just because i like to have colored brake springs).
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Currently, we are awaiting for a hub nut/washer kit, that should arrive tomorrow to finish the hubs, then, the next step is to change the diff oil.

    Last but not least, the radio arrived! I then realized this mounting base is supposed to have 2 receiver/transmitters, and I only have one... oh well, we'll work something out...
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Feb 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2025 Sponsor 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Interesting finned drums! It looks like there are no self-adjusters on the brakes?
     
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  14. Feb 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

    RS, Brazil
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    The drums are stock, but i don't know when exactly they started being used, modern replacements are plain, though.
    And yes, there are no self adjusters, and i don't know why... Maybe cost cutting, maybe Willys/Ford keeping it simple for untrained mechanics, but it's stock that way.
     
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  15. Feb 5, 2025 at 10:49 AM
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Interesting vehicle. Apparently when CJ-5 was first offered in Brazil it was shipped CKD and assembled in Brazil. They came with a 161 engine? This is the displacement of the Willys F-head six... maybe locally built. According to this source https://www.blueovaltrucks.com/ford-u50s-the-camel-trophy/ Ford Brazil bought the Jeep franchise in 1968 and started installin their own fours (2000cc Lima apparently) and transmissions, and eventually converted to make/build all the components domestically. Seems surprising they would duplicate the body stamping of imported Kaiser parts and make them locally, but this was Ford and they clearly had the resources to do that.

    Should be fun to drive when it's done. The Lima engine would be peppy, and apparently it was paired with a close-ratio 4-speed, likely derived from one of the Brazillian cars that came with the Lima. Does this run on ethanol or gasoline?
     
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  16. Feb 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep.. 2024 Sponsor

    North Central FL
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    That D44 closed knuckle front is very cool.. I didn't know that existed under a CJ.. The front knuckles in grease though.. Shouldn't that be oil?
     
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  17. Feb 5, 2025 at 11:16 AM
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The 6-cylinder engine is interesting. In the USA, An L-6 is a flathead or valve-in-block engine. Typically we would call this an inline 6.

    The inline 6 you show looks like an F-head design, and could have been original to a somewhat earlier year of Jeep in Brazil. The 161 was an inline 6 used in the Kaiser passenger cars, with the intake valve in the head and the exhaust in the block; an "F-head" engine. This is a rare engine in the Jeep world ... maybe it was used in the VJ Jeepster?
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
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  18. Feb 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    I believe the 161 F head was also used in the pickups and wagons. It met an untimely demise in this country when Kaiser purchased WO in 1953. Kaiser owned Continental Motors and hence the 226 which quickly replaced the Willys built 161.
     
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  19. Feb 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
    Nando870

    Nando870 Down in Brazil

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    Almost spot on Tim! I did a thread on this: Alternative evolution: The Brazilian CJ-5
    Ours runs on gas, and i believe the ethanol engine was only available on civilian Jeeps.

    I don't know why, but i picked up from other car circles the habit of using L-6 for inline 6s, instead of distinguishing between L-head and F-head engines. and yes, the F-head was available in the VJ Jeepster, but i'm not sure if it was the F-161 or just the F-148

    That's a good question, and i've read a lot of discussion on this before. Apparently the best "off the shelf" lubricant for the knuckles in the corn head grease (for combine harvesters), which is in between the viscousness of oil and grease, but we had none at hand.
     
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  20. Feb 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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