I really thought I could save a
lot of parts from the CJ3A body. Sadly the only things worth saving were the
hood, grill and windshield. I could have cut a few parts off for someone crazy
enough to be into masochistic bodywork but it wasn't worth the effort.
I had intended all along to sell the grill and windshield as I wanted an MB/GPW
grill not only because it looks better but it offers more slats for better
engine cooling. You can fit a wider radiator behind an MB grill because the
headlights are a lot smaller and wider spaced than CJ2s or 3s. I have always
liked the look of the MB/GPWs over the later model Flatfenders. It has been my
plan all along to paint the finished vehicle olive drab with traditional stars
and bars of WWII era.
The neat thing about re-building a Flatfender is that every part you could
imagine is available from a multitude of sources. You can buy new parts, old
parts, NOS parts, reproductions, you name it, it's out there.
It's a lot of fun doing the research, hunting the want ads, searching the
Internet for parts. I located an MB grill, fenders and a spare hood from a
fellow club member. About a week of sanding, filling, priming and painting and
they were as good as new.
I purchased a repro body made in the Philippines, and distributed throughout the US by OMIX-ADA. Not very good quality, but cheap and excellent for this project. I POR-15'd the tub inside and out and primed it.
Next Page - Body Meets Frame
[The Start]
[First Parts]
[1979
CJ5] [The Frame]
[The Body]
[Body
meets Frame] [Toumbstone] [Extra
Seat Room] [Blocker and Tanker]
[Brakes
and Steering] [Test Drives]
[Details] [Incremental
Willys]
[Incremental Willys Part II]
[Incremental Willys Part III]
[She's getting old]
[Still the best damn
wheeler]
[Timeline]
[Specifications]