Another Rebirth For The 3b

I like that guy already.
I had an air-over-hydraulic suspension setup in the works for my willys pickup that got put on the shelf 20 years ago because of... life.



I’m going to pick up a major piece of this puzzle later this morning.

 

what now?

 

Behold! The elusive married Ford NP205!
This one popped up on Craigslist 45 minutes from here.

 

31 spline left drop? Whats it bolt right up too?

 

Ever find a 31 spline shaft?

 

They came behind C6s and all the 4-spds. All married Ford 205s were 31 spline.

Not yet. I didn’t want to put too much effort into the search until I was certain I’d find this t-case. Now the hunt is real.

 

Not sure what shaft your hunting, but I think I have an NP 435 that would have that spline on one end

 

I’ll be searching for any Ford 31 spline shaft. Could be a transmission output shaft or an axle shaft; apparently they’re the same. They’re on eBay for $40, I just need to do it.

 

This project got put on hold due to my wife taking a different job that pays a little less, and she’s been accounting for every penny spent. All secret purchases have been put on hold.

So, keeping this workhorse going as-is for at least another winter season has become a priority, which is much easier said than done. Every part of this rig is within an inch of its demise.

Side-story: The mile-long private dirt road that we live on (or rather, the head of the neighborhood association that is in charge of it) has undergone a change in leadership, and they decided that it would be a good idea to re-top it with 1 1/4” minus rock, then rent a tiny roller to try to pack it in to solid hard pack. It didn’t work. At all. The road is now a washboarded dusty mess that is easy to get stuck in without 4wd.

Once per week, I take the 3B with the snowplow and back-drag the 1/4 mile from the road to where our property ends. It takes about 8 passes to get everything smoothed out.

About two years ago, I had a pinion bearing fail on my D30, and it took out half of 4 teeth on the ring gear. I didn’t have time to do it right, so I pulled it apart, swapped in a new bearing, scraped out the broken bits, and that’s how it’s been running ever since.

Forward to last week when back-dragging the road, and the front axle locked up a few times where I’d have to change direction to disengage whatever was lodged, then it would be good to go again. I could tell that something inside was trying hard to get out. Look at this front cover!



@73 cj5 heard about my issue and generously donated an old 3.73 R&P he had sitting around. Thank you!!
I did the swap this morning.

This Jeep is just an endless exhibit of how broken something can be and still function. It’s been so abused and neglected, it’s just beyond saving as a whole. The first issue I came across; the only thing holding the front axle together is a truss that is stretched to its limit. Too many jumps!


Ignore that. Keep going.



I unhooked the front driveshaft and bits fell apart. Dangit.



I took the cover off, and the first thing I noticed was how chewed the inside of the cover is.



…and what is this??



Oh, it’s just half the ring gear bolts sheared off.
And now it’s missing parts of 6 ring gear teeth, not 4.

Pulling the axles out, I saw one of the axle u-joints was toast also.

I had to use a hammer and punch to get the ring gear off the case, since the sheared bolts were peened over.



All the bolt mating faces were chewed up, so after about a half hour with a flat file….



And a trip to the hardware store…
(I know they’re not “correct” but really; look at this thing.)





I put all my old shims on the new R&P. I didn’t check the pattern, but the backlash felt perfect.

Here’s the old ring gear, all 10 of the threaded sections, and 9 of the bolt heads. The 10th bolt head never was found.



I tried replacing the axle u-joint, but it’s so rusted in place, it was taking too much force in the press to try to remove it. I’d rather have a floppy joint than a destroyed axle shaft. I’ll replace it when it fails.

I got everything buttoned up, replaced the driveshaft joint, and I noticed the shaft still had play. I checked the upper joint…

https://i.imgur.com/M5CIFlF.mp4


Oh joy! It’s not the joint, it’s the front output of the D20!

Everything on this Jeep is roasted.

 

it's a miracle that thing is even mobile.

 

I have a set of Dana 30 axle shafts and new u joints you can have for shipping.

 

I really appreciate it, but after this season, most of this Jeep that isn’t getting re-used is getting sold or scrapped. I’ll cut the inner Cs off and keep from the knuckles/out, but the rest is scrap. I’m sure someone else has a rig more deserving of good parts.

 

Great Scott!!! Easier to start over with another Dana 30. And another ?????.......and another ????.......

 

can't wait to see what happens to it

 

seems like a D70 would bend/break less...

 

Patience may be starting to pay off. I’ll be making a 5 hour round trip drive on Sunday for a sweet score for this project.

 

ummm a 44

 

I ended up making the 6-hr round trip yesterday with my trusty road trip pal (oldest daughter). We got back after dark, so I’m unloading now.

An ad popped up on marketplace for “jeep parts” for $100 and had a picture of a pile of junk. The piece that caught my eye was a cj5 frame that was in decent shape. I figured I’d grab that and anything else he’d throw my way for the value of the Franklin.

He was willing to give a lot of stuff away, but sadly, I wasn’t in the mood to receive. Most was junk. Tons of D18 cases and parts, but all small hole and rusty. A T15/D18/BW OD from a wagon that had a flathead ford, but it was all frozen. A flatfender hood, but non-script and dented up. A nearly complete D25, but a hub was missing. On and on.

What I did end up with was the frame with rear springs, a D53 rear with springs from a truck,



front Rancho springs, a 4-hole Saginaw box, and some random 6v heater.



Basically everything is junk but the frame and maybe the steering box.

My plan is to park the frame in the shop over the winter and start to build the new drivetrain and suspension for the 3b while it’s still out there pulling snow plow duty.

 

Nice score. Good length of c channel and factory dauntless mounts.

 

Going to pick up a major piece of the puzzle tomorrow morning. I’m sure it will prove to be a very controversial ingredient in the soup.