1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Forest Service 3A

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by garage gnome, Jan 10, 2014.

  1. Feb 8, 2014
    F Bill

    F Bill Member

    Abilene, TX area
    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    274
    When did the forest service start to use the pastel green you see nowadays on their trucks?

    I was looking for an image to share, used google image search to see surplus forest service jeeps.....WOW, you could get lost checking out the pics you get.But not one of the mint chocolate chip ice cream colored jeeps in there, most were red and one was that light metallic green you see on Cj5's.
     
  2. Feb 8, 2014
    gunner

    gunner Member

    Washington state...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2012
    Messages:
    596
    Good question, Fbill. I got thinking about it and have to admit that the 3A may well have come with a different green than the current FS green. Since my first days around the FS, stretching back to 1970, it's always been the current color. I have seen ECJ5s in person , say from the early 60s that were the current color. They were all faded out, but that was the color (mint chocolate chip green, huh? Never heard it described that way!)

    Maybe, if the OP likes red, he should just go with that. Vehicles were usually painted green as the FS wanted to maintain the Forestry connection and not be seeing their firefighters as anything but FS employees. I did a career as a wildland firefighter. Some of that career, in my early years, was with California State (the old Division of Forestry) and our rigs there were always fire engine red. They still are and no doubt always will be. In the federal end of things, we were "forestry technicians". We may have been firefighters, with our own retirement system, etc, but the official title is forestry tech.

    Took a look at the power wagon pics. That might have been a factory color; looks like they have black fenders and Dodge seemed to like that two tone thing. If that is a PW from the 50s, then the FS must have gone to the lighter green in the early 60s.

    But it looks like you have done your homework. Good job on the jeep!
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
  3. Feb 8, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Nah, I'm sticking with the green I have now. Already have a red jeep. I posted some links to a forest service power wagon and that is close to the same color I'm using. And then there is another link to the 3B page with a color photo of some jeeps. They are the same green as a junk 3B I have.
     
  4. Feb 8, 2014
    gunner

    gunner Member

    Washington state...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2012
    Messages:
    596
    Is that a dark green? If so, then the FS must have changed their color sometime in the 50s or 60s. A dark green may have even started back in the 20s or 30s as the FS was getting fully into fire control after some disasterous seasons like 1910.

    The CJV-35 I had was a dark green, like hunter green but even darker. That was a 1950 jeep that probably left USMC use in the 50s. Some fed outfit painted it dark green, maybe even a state forestry. I found no sign that the FS had owned it which may have indicated state forestry as more likely. It was pretty close to that Power Wagon color in your attached pics
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
  5. Feb 8, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Yes, the 3b is a dark green. The grille is all I have left to it. The green I'm using is a bit brighter, but I like it.

    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. Feb 16, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Major progress. The floors are all welded up. I have a bit left to do in the rear and some on the outside of the tub. Then I can start grinding away! I should be able to finish that up tomorrow.

    [​IMG]


    And here is how the area for the PTO came out.


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    And I found what looks like a .38 cal bullet hole in the rear. If a pistol was in a holster on someone's left side, it would have hit that area if fired accidentally.


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  7. Feb 24, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    The body is all done!

    [​IMG]
     
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  8. Feb 25, 2014
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    3,869
    looking good. must be nice to have heat in the shop. way too cold here to paint.
     
  9. Feb 27, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Thanks! Yeah, heated shops are a must!

    Here are some pics of the progress.

    First, I wanted a 12v CB radio to work on a 6v system. So I quick internet search turned up a company that sells vintage radios and a heavy duty voltage booster. That is what the silver cube is on the dash support.


    [​IMG]


    Then a friend of mine gave me this cool dash plaque, so I put that on too. This pic also shows the true shade of green the best. The dash uses all original parts including the steering column clamp welt.


    [​IMG]


    And then the rest. I've decided to go with a black windshield frame and black WILLYS scripting. The black and green look great together.


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  10. Feb 27, 2014
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    Great Job! Been watching this build from the other forum wish I saw it here.
     
  11. Feb 28, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Thanks!

    MAJOR progress today! The tub is back on and it is about ready to drive! Just have to put the seats in, hook up the fuel line, and dump some gas in!


    [​IMG]


    I'm mad, broke one of the tcase shifter knobs. The thing exploded when I tried to take it off. I have spares. ;)


    [​IMG]


    No hockey pucks, but conveyor belt and valve springs for the body mounts!


    [​IMG]
     
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  12. Mar 1, 2014
    jwmckenzie

    jwmckenzie Sponsor

    Boston, MA
    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2012
    Messages:
    568
    That is an interesting idea. What torque do you put on the mount bolts, assume you are using a lock nut.... Do you do this on all the mounts?
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2014
  13. Mar 1, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Thanks! I just put a little bit of tension on the spring. Yes, I use a locknut and all the mounts for the tub got this treatment.


    I got to take it for its first drive today. It was awesome and I love it! I have a video too I'll upload later.


    [​IMG]


    And then it got its first bath!


    [​IMG]
     
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  14. Mar 1, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
  15. Mar 2, 2014
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2004
    Messages:
    4,491
    Nice, Nate. Looking forward to seeing it this summer, in person. Question: I've seen body mounts like yours before. The cab mounts on my truck are like that. What's the purpose, though? Can't see how it would provide a much better ride. Maybe save the mounts as there may not be as much stress on it as there would be if just washers, nuts and bolts are used. What am i missing?
     
  16. Mar 2, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    When the frame flexes, the springs compress, so the body wont flex near as much. There were several cracks where some of the body mounts were.
     
  17. Mar 2, 2014
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    698
    [​IMG]


    What size square tubing did you use for the spare tire mount and the fuel can mount?
     
  18. Mar 3, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    1" for the gas can mount and 2" for the spare tire. Both are heavy wall.
     
  19. Mar 5, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    I recreated the decal that I'll be using. If anyone else needs it in the future, I have the autocad drawing.


    [​IMG]
     
  20. Mar 5, 2014
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    Some more updates I didn't get to this morning.

    I printed out the graphic and taped it on the side. It looks pretty good! The size looks right, so I'll get two of these decals made up.


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    And yesterday, I took the windshield all apart. I can reuse all the original rubber.


    [​IMG]
     
New Posts