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My Little "Barn" Find... '55 CJ5

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by durangotang, May 12, 2015.

  1. Mar 22, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Now that the world has shut down... it's a good opportunity to knock out some projects on the Jeep. Started today with replacing the water pump and giving the engine a deep clean.

    [​IMG]
     
    Fireball, Buildflycrash and Iandavidh like this.
  2. Apr 11, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Decided to jump on a bigger project that has been lingering for some time... the Hudson steering swap. I've had these parts for some time now, tried once and saw it wasn't going to be easy, and now we try again. 93042259_534662297428513_3780644365303545856_n.jpg

    You can see the factory Willys box on the left and the Hudson on the right. The first problem that you will see is the shape of the steering arm. F-Heads have an oil pump that sticks out and the factory steering arm is bent to work around that.
     
  3. Apr 11, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    92697380_2814838815279451_8604639975905951744_n.jpg

    So the steering box was removed and the Hudson box was clamped to the frame to test fit where things might go. Being as my Jeep is a '55 with the factory shackle reversal, everything is more complicated. You have to space the box out from the frame or else the column will go through the firewall at an angle.

    FWIW: if you are ever trying to find out how much spacing something needs, use nuts and bolts. You can easily adjust them to provide more/less spacing without cutting things

    92702699_262945448054597_4016383940381114368_n.jpg
    I then found out why every picture of a Jeep with Hudson steering has the dash removed. The Hudson column comes through the firewall at a different angle and doesn't leave enough room for your legs if you feed it through the factory column brace.
     
  4. Apr 11, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    501
    93309629_1104284036597541_6744193317329698816_n.jpg

    You can also see the angle difference in where it comes through the firewall. This part is going to be much easier to adjust for. First step was to move the column brace on the dash to a place where the wheel was going to be in the right place when the swap was done. Fortunately, the way it is made makes this fairly easy to move.

    Step 1: 92715387_249161619812251_834774220222234624_n.jpg

    Step 2:

    92732286_326735548295936_2763731697433313280_n.jpg

    Step 3:

    93014799_685813665498783_7590755607871750144_n.jpg

    This will buy me the correct angle to get the wheel in the right place. Once it's said and done, I'll do some trimming on the dash to make the profile look correct.
     
  5. Apr 11, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    For anyone considering this:

    1). it will be just as much (if not more) work than a manual saginaw swap. The only reason I am continuing with this is because I want my Jeep to only use period-correct mods. It's dumb and inconvenient but that's how I want it.

    2). The interference with the oil pump will restrict your ability to turn right compared to left. I might have a machine shop make me a hybrid steering arm between the Willys and Hudson so that it will clear the pump.

    3) You will not be able to use the factory holes in the frame. You will have to do that yourself and it is a pain.

    4) Hudson steering arm has a different OD than Willys, meaning you cannot use a willys drag link. You will have to find a Hudson drag link and weld it to a willys drag link to adapt the two systems. (ALso solved by my solution in #2)

    5) Everything I am saying about this being difficult will likely go out the window if you don't have the shackle reversal.
     
    Buildflycrash likes this.
  6. Apr 12, 2020
    MOSDIF589

    MOSDIF589 New Member

    Atlanta, Ga.
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2007
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    30
    My dad ordered me a 1983 Jeep CJ-7 my senior year in high school and we installed those wheels in 10” wide.. Loved the look...
     
  7. Apr 12, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Didn't I give you the drag link along with that steering box? It was kinda hokey looking but the way it was welded together actually looked pretty strong....
    IIRC the Jeep I took that box out of didn't have dash modified like you're doing, but it was an M38A1 dash so it might be different (it was also 20 years ago and my memory sucks LOL)
     
  8. Apr 12, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    I do have the drag link you gave me, and it's what will get used if I can find the parts to rebuild the hudson end of it.

    I googled the m38a1 dash after you said that to see what might be different. Funny thing is that the m38a1 dash already has the recess I made cut out of it... I never noticed that before, but it explains why they didn't have to modify anything to get that end of the steering to work. I'm just having to make a new adapter plate for my Jeep and we'll be good-to-go.[​IMG]
     
    colojeepguy likes this.
  9. Apr 21, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    :watch: anything new to report?
     
  10. Apr 23, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Hudson steering is coming back out for further evaluation, haha. I have to do some research into steering arm interchange since I was not able to find a lower-profile oil pump to help with clearance. At the moment I am patching the previous owner's holes in the dash and seeing how badly I can warp it.
     
  11. Apr 23, 2020
    melvinm

    melvinm Member

    Arvada Co. 80003
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
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    196
    We mounted the column the same way You are in the dash .
    We used A 1" plate to space the box from the frame . the only difference I see is that
    You are using A different Gear box than We did . The gear box We used was out the Hornet .
    It had the chrome column . They made two different Gear boxes Your looks like the
    small Box We used the big box . We also used the six wire turn signal switch .
    We also had to modify the housing and the pitman arm . If You have questions
    call Me , phone 303-420-8310
     
  12. May 5, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Awesome, I will definitely be getting in touch with you for some details.
     
  13. May 5, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    So with work being a little crazy due to the COVID nonsense... (my medical specialty is getting hammered)... I decided that I need to get some Jeep work done to blow off steam. Water pump has been leaking for a while, so I pulled things apart to replace it. After having everything apart I realized the toll that years and years of daily driving and off-roading has taken on this poor Jeep. So we are getting a facelift.

    After power washing, degreasing, wire wheel, and priming. Welded more structural support into the winch mount and got myself a tow point that I could hang the Jeep from.

    jeepold.jpg

    After paint and welding were finished. Decided to touch up the winch motor as well.

    jeepnew.jpg

    Was happy to find out that I still know how to weld... it had been a couple years so I was a little nervous.

    jeepweld.jpg


    From this point it looks like the whole frame that can be accessed without removing the tub will be refinished, as well as repairing some body rust that has made an appearance and repairing missing paint. Hudson steering project is on hold until a machinist friend of mine is available to see what my options are for custom steering arms.
     
    Muzikp, bigbendhiker and colojeepguy like this.
  14. May 8, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

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    More work done today... took care of a lot of surface rust on the frame and started touching up paint.

    front.jpg

    frame.jpg rear.jpg

    Hopefully that'll buy me another 5 years off road without worrying about things.
     
    Muzikp and Dne007 like this.
  15. May 8, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Also prepping the new rack I found at an antique store for $50 a while back... was very surprised to find it there.

    rack.jpg

    Also broke out my growing speedo collection so that I can finally get the correct speedo going in the Jeep.

    speedos2.jpg
     
  16. May 8, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Dash is getting wrapped up as well... met with a guy to do rust repair on the tub, so that'll be nice to get finished.

    dash.jpg
     
    Dne007 likes this.
  17. May 8, 2020
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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    That is the Whitco tire carrier you can see in my avatar picture from '85. I wish I still had it.
     
  18. May 8, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    My dad has that tire carrier on his jeep. Be sure to keep the latch mechanism well lubed!
     
  19. May 9, 2020
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

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    I have fought one of these before and could never get it to stop rattling. I think the original latch mechanism is going away and will be replaced by a pair of these.

    [​IMG]
     
    colojeepguy likes this.
  20. May 9, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Whre do you get those?
     
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