The build of Uncivilianized

So I've owned this shell of a Jeep for six years now. I purchased it from my grandfather after pestering him for 2 years to sell it to me. When I bought the Jeep it ran and drove......Well sort of! I drove it out of the barn, onto my car hauler and back off the trailer into my garage where I immediately began tearing it down for rebuild. I knew it was in bad shape but didn't realize how bad until I really started tearing into it.
The engine was worn out and not correct to the Jeep, trans was full of water and rust, body chopped up like a mad beaver had at it, etc. etc! ( In grandpa's defense most of the hack work was done before he owned the Jeep. In fact he never drove it, He had big plans to use it for a plow rig but never got around to making it happen. )
We had just moved into a new town and I had my hands full with other projects so the Jeep took a back burner for awhile........Has it been six years already? Damn time flies!
Anyway this is what I'm starting with . . . . .

1948 CJ2a with all the signs of once being a M38.

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Apparently the P.O. didn't own any kind of metal saw so all the holes in the firewall look like they were made with an axe and can opener!



Someone had installed a overhead valve engine in place of the original Flathead and this was their remedy for making the hood fit!

 

My focus this winter will be on the body while I finish gathering parts for the chassis. With any luck by summer I can start putting the drivetrain together.

I'm building this Jeep to use, Use hard! It will get scratched, dented, and may even end up on it's top so I'm not going to get real carried away with perfecting the body ( besides I hate bodywork! ) I'll cut out any rust straiten out the dents and rattle can the paint.....Yes rattle can the whole thing! My focus of time and money will be on the drivetrain and engine.

I picked this rusty grill up on eBay. It had some bad pitting but all the metal was still solid and it was strait.



Yes I know this is a MB grill but I've always preferred the look of the MB so this is the grill I'm using! Hence "Uncivilianized"





I covered the entire thing with several coats of POR15, sanded it smooth and painted. Then made light brackets and installed a set of IPF lights.

 

Both front fenders were fairly strait but had rusted through in areas along the center support. I will be running long travel shocks and was planning to cut out the inner fenderwells anyway.



Cutting out the inner wells not only gave me the room I'll need for my suspension but cut the weight of the fenders by nearly half.

I cut out the rusted portions of the outer fenders and patched as needed.



To strengthen the lighter fenders I welded 1" square tubing along the underside of both.





A little bodywork ( YUCK! )



And paint

 

I spent Sunday eve. finishing up the left fender and bolted it all together to check for proper fit.

The hood with the big square hole in it will be my next project! chainsawguy

 

Small Block Chevy for the power plant, stretched wheelbase, YJ suspension, full size 3/4 ton axles, Basically a basic very capable offroad machine. Not allot of whistles & bells. I'd like to keep it just about as basic as it was in 1948 only with muscle

 

lookin good man

 

Can't wait to follow along, good work!

 

I plan to do the same grill swap. What did you use for lights?

 

Nice build...subscribed....
A video for your motivation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XGkNsTxB0

 

I like the build .. Kind of up to something similar myself.. I have a 2a body and a MB grill set up myself..
Keep us updayed!

 

beeeautiful

 

IPF slim line....I think the model is 968??? I wanted something slim enough that they wouldn't interfere with a larger radiator.

 

DAMN IT! Who's been videotaping my dreams at night?? :?

 

The wife & kids were out of town for the weekend ( which means no interruptions ) so I took advantage of it and put some serious time into my build.



The tub was riddled with rust and I wanted to make room for suspension, roll cage, etc, etc.






WARNING THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VEWERS ( Restoration buffs! )








Told you so!

I also had some bad rust in the forward body cross member and the rear body cross member just behind the tailgate hinges.





Performed surgery on both and came up with this.....

 

To strengthen the rear body panels I boxed them in with 1.5" & 1" tubing. Once I had the tubing cut, bent and ready to go I squared up the body and tacked everything in place.





And for the last thing........A little more bodywork! chainsawguy

 

Very cool. That's one way to get rid of the rust...

 

Nooooooooooooo why comp cuts ?????
Well is your build...keep on the good work.

 

I feel the same way. Kind of a shame. I like a real rear wheel well even if it is cut way bigger. It just keeps the Jeep a Jeep. From comp cut to full buggy with a Jeep grill is a quick snowball effect. It was plenty rust free to leave a real wheel opening. To each his own though. Have fun with the project. Overall it is sounding interesting.
Greg

 

Some would argue that to keep a "Jeep a Jeep" one would need to run the Flathead engine with 6 volt. wiring rather than a multi port fuel injected V8 with modern 12 volt electronics........Just sayin

I knew I'd raise a few eyebrows with those cuts but fact is this Flatty is being built for hard use! Anyway I do appreciate the input. Even if it is wrong Just kidin

Enjoy!....Joe