Jump to content

Mike House

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    124

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

  1. Mike House
    Thanks Moses, For sure drying out the drum brakes after getting them wet is critical. Normally when you exit the creek you are going up hill so you don’t think about the brakes until you get a little further down the trail! You gotta remember to dry them out right away. I went with a single reservoir master cylinder. it had no place for a brake light switch so I added a proportional valve that had a switch. I understand there is no need to adjust the valve with drums on both ends. It seems to work good for the amount I have driven it so far.
  2. Mike House
    Thanks Mose! Always appreciate your feedback. I had a disc brake upgrade on n my punch list but never completed it. I tore into the 9” drum brakes and surprisingly everything was in really good shape. I purchased a master cylinder and mounted it with the swing pedals. I ran all new brake lines front and back. The brakes are very solid and stop the jeep quickly. I will likely upgrade them in the future as I use the jeep a little more. It looks like there are a lot of options for an upgrade.
  3. Mike House
    1956 Cj3B RESTOMOD summary. I purchased this jeep April 3rd 2020 for $1,200. I was unable to get the 4clinder engine freed up so I started looking at options for an engine. I found a Dauntless V6 that was sitting in a CJ5 in North GA and purchased it for $500. This included the bell housing and flywheel. I decided that the body was going to be too much work for me to repair myself. I did not have the time, tools or experience to do it right so I decided that when the time was right I would buy a complete replacement body from MD Juan. I pulled the engine, transmission and body off of the frame and began to clean it up. I found the frame was broken just behind the spring hangar on the drivers side. I repaired this break in the frame. I cleaned and painted the frame and axles. Next I decided I would keep the T-90 and Dana 18 transmission and transfer case. I rebuilt the transmission and inspected the T case. I stripped the V-6 down and took everything the machine shop. The engine was bored .020" over, crank turned, heads rebuilt. I installed new pistons, new cam and of course new bearings throughout. I mated the transmission to the engine and located it in the frame. I purchased an aftermarket radiator and electric fan and fitted it to the engine and frame. I upgraded the steering to a Saginaw steering system. I upgraded to a set of swing pedals and hydraulic clutch and break master cylinder on the firewall. For the new tub and body I went back and forth for a long time on the right direction for paint. I decided that I would spray the entire tub from top to bottom inside and out with Raptor Liner safety orange and all black accents including the windshield frame. I opted not to buy a new wiring harness. Instead I decided that I would wire everything from scratch. These old jeeps don't require a complicated wiring system. I used a fuse box, relays and wiring terminal blocks instead. I purchased some seats from a 90s YJ and had them recovered by a friend. I cut the backs down so they would not be so tall. I purchased a roll bar from a late 70s CJ5 and modified it to fit the 3B. I extended the frame, boxed it in and added a winch to the front of the jeep. After driving it around for a few weeks I decided that the jeep needed new springs. I purchased a set of springs and u-bolts and installed them last weekend. The project was an absolute joy! In the end I built a jeep that was nothing like what I envisioned when I brought the 3B home two years ago. I purchased the jeep with the intentions of making it run and drive it around on my property and that was about it. The finished product is now my pride and joy! All in I have spent about $12,000 on parts and the engine work. The single biggest purchase being the body kit. It was well worth the money. Lessons learned. Plan as far in advance as possible. I did not do a very good job at this and as a result spent some money on parts that I did not use and spent some time completing steps that I did not need to. (Steering upgrade) Do your homework. There is a wealth of information and advice on line. Just don't let the volume of advice compromise your common sense. Purchase the "Jeep CJ Rebuilders Guide" by Moses Ludel! All of the technical data you will need. Thanks Again Moses for all of the encouragement, advice and feedback a long the way! PS I am in the market for a Willys Wagon. I am hoping to find a decent body. Frame, engine and drive train optional. I plan to upgrade to a modern drive train. Mike
  4. Mike House
    Thank you Moses! And thank you for all the encouragement and guidance along the way. Time for a summary.
  5. Mike House
    I am so pleased with how the 3b has turned out! A few pictures from today! I am not going to call it complete but I think I have to switch from project mode to “just a few more upgrades” haha! When I get in front of my computer this weekend I will post a brief summary of this project and some lessons learned. Mike
  6. Mike House
  7. Mike House
    Went for a short drive today! thanks Moses! I’m going to see about getting it licensed this week and make it official!!!
  8. Mike House
    Almost done! Added some mirrors, hood latches on, hood blocks on. need to paint the “WILLYS” on the hood and grill. I bought some 12v wiper motors but haven’t installed them yet.
  9. Mike House
    I really appreciate your input , feedback and guidance! When I bought this jeep it was more about the timing and less about the scope of work that lay ahead of me. I had been looking for a 3b and was getting impatient not finding what I was looking for. When this one showed up on Craig’s list I decided to buy it before I ever looked at it! It was a bigger project than I was looking for! I am pleased with where I am at now and have really enjoyed building this jeep! It means a lot to me knowing that you approve. The fact that your wife approves as well having been a part of your many years in the business is the real test! Thanks so much for all the input! Mike
  10. Mike House
  11. Mike House
    Thank you Moses! I am getting so close! I appreciate all of your input and feedback! Seatbelts and a rear seat coming soon! I bought this steering wheel over a year ago. Looking back I should have waited until I actually needed it and had completed the steering upgrade. I may still swap it out if after a little more driving I decide that I don’t like it. I look forward to the first time I drive this jeep to town. I think my first longer road trip will be 50 miles to Athens GA to see Dave at the engine shop where I had the machine work done on the 225. He was pretty excited about this project! thanks again Moses! Mike
  12. Mike House
    Thanks Moses, Glass is in. That’s a relief. I have the roll bar modified and fitted. I will build the pieces to attach to the frame. I see several options for these parts online I may just buy the pieces. I am considering getting rid of the piano hinge for the hood and replacing it with cj7 hinges. The hinge was welded on out of square and as a result I can’t get the hood squared up. here is a pic to see how it would look.
  13. Mike House
    Thanks Moses, I am happy with how it all came together. I am going to have to add some weight to the back of the jeep now. hahaha all of the weight is up front with that engine steering, bumper and winch. I will likely build a swing out tire carrier for the back. I mounted some lights up front today. They are a 3.5" LED light. They have kind of a blacked out look to them. Last weekend I broke my windshield glass trying to put it in the frame. I got a little heavy handed with it....... The new glass arrived today. So I will take it to the glass shop in the morning. I purchased a roll bar online that is from a late 70s cj5. I am going to modify it to fit the 3b. I like the look of that roll bar and the angles. The width is good but the overall footprint length is too long. It shouldn't be too difficult to make it fit just right.
  14. Mike House
    Thankyou for all of the support and encouragement Moses. I’m working hard to get this project to the “finish line” which is licensed and road worthy. I will have plenty of work to do on this jeep in the coming years. I have had a couple set backs with windshield glass and hood alignment. I did make progress on the front of the jeep. I extended the frame 3”, I finished my bumper, closed in the front of the frame with channel modifies a winch mounting plate and mounted the new winch. I notched out around the steering box in case I ever needed to remove it considering I welded the winch plate instead of bolting it. I have some lights to add still. oh and cleaned up and painted the headlight buckets and I installed them. I painted the bezels black! I’m going for the all orange and black theme.
  15. Mike House
    I will have all of that Wireing on the fire wall cleaned up and tucked into split loom before I am done also.
×
×
  • Create New...