1963 Us Navy Dj-3a

[Fireball]

After some grinding, drilling and some rivnuts, the plates to keep things under the seat seem to fit. Some wing bolts are supposed to show up tomorrow for tool-less removal:

Time to watch paint dry:

I tackled another annoying thing. The transfercase shifters would rattle under load. Especially in ow range. You could grab the hi/low shifter and pull it to the left and stop the noise. It turns out the hi/low lever was hitting the shifter boot ring:

What kind of idiot designed that? Oh wait, it was me. I gained some clearance by bending both the lever and the ring. We'll find out if it was enough next time I drive it.

A couple things for the packing list showed up. 1). A cool 3D printed wrench that works for both Jerry can lids and spouts. 2). A new Jerry can spout that will live in this Jeep. The spout on the right came with the old '69 CJ-5 when I bought it. It's interesting in that it's the cap for the can when inverted, and a spout when not. I think I'll test it and if doesn't leak, I'll use it. It has the advantage of not taking up additional space in the Jeep, it just rides along in one of the cans:

 

[Ol Fogie]

After some grinding, drilling and some rivnuts, the plates to keep things under the seat seem to fit. Some wing bolts are supposed to show up tomorrow for tool-less removal:

Yeah, lots of storage space under the drivers seat. In my 74 I always kept a Colman cook stove ( one of those old box type ) under there packed with frying pan and supplies for cooking freshly caught trout and making Coffey. Stayed there year round for lunch breaks and emergency unplanned over night campouts. Used it a couple times too!
Speaking of storage, when I was a teenager I drove my old junker GPW on wheeling trips. those rear fender well tool boxes were exceptionally useful. Wish jeep had of continued using them in the CJ models.

 

[47v6]

alright, so when I show up with nothing but my Jeep, boots and underwear to run the Rubicon, I can just stay in luxury because of your singularity of storage for anything you may need in your Tardis of a jeep..

 

[cj2atruck]

I tackled another annoying thing. The transfercase shifters would rattle under load. Especially in ow range. You could grab the hi/low shifter and pull it to the left and stop the noise. It turns out the hi/low lever was hitting the shifter boot ring:

What kind of idiot designed that? Oh wait, it was me. I gained some clearance by bending both the lever and the ring. We'll find out if it was enough next time I drive it.

The 4WD and Hi/Lo levers always seem to rattle. To help solve the problem, I used the little spring clips that slide in next to the levers and then used large heat shrink tubing to keep them from working loose. Doesn’t solve the clearance issue, but sure helps quiet down those levers and the heat shrink keeps the clips in place.

 

[colojeepguy]

The spout on the right came with the old '69 CJ-5 when I bought it.

Do you know if those are still available?

 

[Jw60]

Someone could probably make something. I have a cap I started on years ago that was basically a knurled aluminum slug with 2" thread and a 3/4" npt hole in the center. If i tap both sides and add a vent the fill tube could stow inside.

 

[Fireball]

Do you know if those are still available?

All I can find on the web is historical listings of used ones being sold on e-bay in the past. Nothing current.

 

[45es]

Do you know if those are still available?

Ron Fitzpatrick jeep parts has them in stock for D-18.

 

[1947cj2a]

Ron Fitzpatrick jeep parts has them in stock for D-18.

I thought those where factory, my 47 has them. It made sliding the pin somewhat of a pain with the extra clips

 

[Fireball]

A bunch of small stuff.

The retaining walls for the under seat storage are done:

I added an additional 12V power port and some USB charging ports to charge a couple cell phones and a GMRS radio on the trail:

Cell phone mount. This one has worked well for years in the '71, so hopefully it won't fall off on the trail:

Made a clip out of some scrap plastic and mounted it to the (rusty) roof of the roll cage:

It holds the GMRS radio in handy reach:

One mildly concerning thing is this persistent small coolant puddle under the Jeep:

I traced it back to the front cover gasket seeping between the cover and the block just above the fuel pump:

I'm not tearing the front of the engine apart now before the Rubicon, so it's going to get some Bar's Leak beet-based tablets. They should stop the seep without clogging up the rest of the cooling system. Post Rubicon, the engine needs to come out and get a full compliment of gaskets/seals.

 

[Fireball]

Popped the Bars Leak pills into the radiator and went for a drive last night:

Results:

• The slow coolant leak at the front cover has stopped as expected.
• It's driving pretty good these days.
• The Detroit locker in the back makes for quite the white knuckle experience at higher speeds on gravel roads. I think I'll save up for a selectable locker when I get around to installing the 30 spline rear axles shafts.
• I think I'm going to go down one more carburetor Jet size as it's slightly rich at cruise when warmed up.
• It still gets way too rich when on the throttle, like 10-11:1 AFR. I'd prefer 12:1. I'm going to swap in a 4.5 power valve to see if it helps, but I'm thinking it really needs some flow restriction on the power valve passages.
• As Rich M noted, once the oil level went down a bit, the oil leak at the rear seal has gone away.
• I still need to take it for a longer, higher speed drive on some of the paved roads to see how it does.

Another small trail prep item is the outside rear-view mirror. It had a tiny motorcycle mirror that was hard bolted to the windshield. One tree/rock hit and something is bending:

It was also "welded" so it wasn't removable without taking the whole bracket off:

The solution is this (surprisingly nice for the money) all metal set of mirrors from Amazon intended for running doorless on TJ/JK/JL Jeeps. I'm only doing the driver's side. You wouldn't be able to see the passenger on with the door on:

I had to slot the holes slightly with a die grinder and it bolted right on. Now it can swing away if I hit something:

I also put a scissor Jack in the Jeep for tire changes. I've got it jacked up against the seat mount to keep it in place. I may add some velcro straps for backup:

 

[duffer]

Dang, know it's probably someplace in the thread, but must have missed the M2 mount.

 

[Fireball]

Dang, know it's probably someplace in the thread, but must have missed the M2 mount.

If you mean a 50 cal mount, this was a 2wd shipyard Jeep. Not appropriate to its history!

 

[duffer]

If you mean a 50 cal mount, this was a 2wd shipyard Jeep. Not appropriate to its history!

Perhaps but you could also argue that the present build isn't appropriate to it's history---- But a way cooler rig now. Even without the M2 mount

 

[Fireball]

Perhaps but you could also argue that the present build isn't appropriate to it's history

Good point!

 

[Fireball]

Little things these days.

The driver side rear-dump exhaust is somewhat close to the master cylinder and brake lines, so a heat shield seems smart.

I cut one out of aluminum and am using some 16 gauge steel for the brackets. Drilling holes for rivets to hold things together:

Brackets attached:

Installed with hose camps on the exhaust down tube:

The steering U-joint is also pretty close to the exhaust and could use some heat protection:

I bent this up from some more sheet aluminum:

Another hose camp to attach it to the column. That should do the job:

The Jeep will only have a bikini top for the Rubicon and all the tools/recovery gear will be in canvas bags under the seats. In the interest of keeping things dry in the event of rain, I'm treating all the bags with Scotchguard outdoor waterproofing:

One coat on everything tonight. Another couple coats to go over the next few nights:

 

[duffer]

The Jeep will only have a bikini top for the Rubicon and all the tools/recovery gear will be in canvas bags under the seats. In the interest of keeping things dry in the event of rain, I'm treating all the bags with Scotchguard outdoor waterproofing:

One coat on everything tonight. Another couple coats to go over the next few nights:

Sort of fighting this with the TJ. I ran the Smittybilt MOLLE back seat covers in my 3B for several years but they didn't like the deep bolsters on the Corbeau seats in that rig. I think they will work well on the stock TJ seats and are being resurrected. They still market those covers but the attachment is all different. The ones I have use velcro straps for the back attachment. Between the Smitty pouches and a dozen of the military versions, I have that covered well. In the B I had all the recovery gear stashed in those pouches, tree strap, clevis, extension rope etc. Flip the seats forward and its all readily accessible.

 

[duffer]

The left spout is the same one I use in the 3B. Dang, you got that with Old Blue and kept it??? The disadvantage of those is when "stored" in a full jerry can, there is no way you can use it without applying gasoline cologne. I eventually made a storage tube for it under the hood.

 

[Jw60]

The Jeep will only have a bikini top for the Rubicon and all the tools/recovery gear will be in canvas bags under the seats. In the interest of keeping things dry in the event of rain, I'm treating all the bags with Scotchguard outdoor waterproofing:

One coat on everything tonight. Another couple coats to go over the next few nights:

I've been using a ryker bag very similar to the blue bag. Mine has straps that can go around the roll bar. I need to make some hooks to hang it off the tailgate or tub when in use.

https://a.co/d/0dphLOxf

 

[Fireball]

The left spout is the same one I use in the 3B. Dang, you got that with Old Blue and kept it??? The disadvantage of those is when "stored" in a full jerry can, there is no way you can use it without applying gasoline cologne. I eventually made a storage tube for it under the hood.

The spout came with the Red '69 not Old Blue. I agree on the Cologne issue and probably won't end up using it. I was also having issues getting it to seal tight even with new gaskets.

I really like the under hood mount. I might need to do something like that for the standard spout.