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1946 Cj2a.... Or Is It M38 Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by DanStew, May 10, 2021.

  1. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    I picked up a 1946 CJ2a on a whim last January. I felt like i needed another flatfender in my life again.

    The pictures of the rig when from the online ad
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    I picked it up and brought it home
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    I paid just a bit more than I wanted after I saw it was in a bit worse shape than i noticed in pictures, i did travel 3 hours to get it, so i went home with it.

    The jeep had lived a hard life. It also had been patched in multiple places. Every leaf spring back was broken and rewelded in some fashion. The driver side rear spring hanger was rotted on the frame and pretty much collapsed into the frame. My original plan is to cut and stretch the Jeep 20 inches to make it a CJ6 length CJ2a
     
  2. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    The jeep has the original drivetrain pretty much intact, the engine is missing the oil filter housing and air filter but the engine was intact.
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    I had a 4.3L on my engine stand that I was planning on installing, and using an auto tranny because if it is longer wheelbase i can get the auto in with a usable rear drivesahft.
    BUT the engine on the stand turned out to be sitting for a long time with straight water in the cooling passages. I have not seen so much rust in my life. The engine was rebuilt and bored .060 over but with this much rust i do not think i could ever keep it cooled down. I scrapped that idea literally and am now sticking with the original Lhead. The gear boxes need to be rebuilt. The transmission looked like it has leaves dumped in it, but i was able to get it into neutral. The Dana shifts fine.

    I stripped the body down and started going through the jeep.
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    Stakebed and fhoehle like this.
  3. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    After stripping it down I first tackled repairing the frame.
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    Next was to change out the suspension. I am going with 2.5" YJ leaf springs with factory YJ shackles to give the Jeep a bit more comfortable ride
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    Stakebed, dozerjim and Fireball like this.
  4. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    I got the suspension mocked up and it turned out to be a bit taller than I wanted.
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    Back to the drawing board. I did not want to run 36" tires. I was considering maybe going to 34" tires if i can replace shackles maybe.
    But I wanted to keep the factory rims and run 7.50/16 tires.

    So I ordered my 7.50/16 Power King Traction II Tires. In my head if i ordered them, it will force me to build the Jeep around them.
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    I needed to knock the altitude down on the suspension. Looking at things, the springs were 2.5", the new spring mounts gave another 1.5" lift and the YJ shackles are longer than the CJ.
    So I sourced a set of later CJ5 factory springs (2.5 rear and 2 front) I also am changing the shackle to be a CJ style.
    I had to move my rear spring mounts back another 2 inches to accomodate the length of the springs. Fortunately the fronts did not have to be messed with

    The new tires on the Jeep, the suspension is lowered. The rear wheel is not fully centered as i made the spring center be an inch before center line so that the weight on the springs would move the axle center, but it did not work out that great. I will change it

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    This is the stance I want. I just have to pull it apart and weld everything up.
     
    Stakebed, Rich M., fhoehle and 2 others like this.
  5. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    You might notice that the Tub in the recent pictures look nothing like the original. Well I found a local deal for an M38 tub. I was thinking about patching the original tub but in sheetmetal alone the cost to fix up the rear tailgate area, would come close to this m38 tub i found. So i purchased the M38 tub.
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    The tub came with fenders, hood and all the sheetmetal pieces for the floor. I got a good deal for it. There were some things i had to repair, like the side pieces that were cut out already, a hat channel on the bottom and a corner rust area. This tub looks to be an older reproduction tub, because even though it was sandblasted, it was in much better shape than an original tub would be.

    First I repaired the bottom of the tub and put on a new step
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    I am using red oxide primer for the tub. The bottom i just brushed on and for the rest of the tub i will spray.

    This last weekend i was able to repair the other locations that needed attention
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    Stakebed, melvinm, fhoehle and 4 others like this.
  6. May 10, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Today I pulled the trigger and bought a gallon of USAF Strata Blue for the Jeep. I was thinking bout schoolbus Yellow again, but the darker blue caught my eye.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  7. May 15, 2021
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    "This tub looks to be an older reproduction tub..."

    My opinion is you have an original M38 tub. The location of footman loop holes and the reinforcement on the top rear panels are what I am seeing. I was told on G503 that those patches on the top of the rear was a modification added on a MWO by the military. :shrug:

    It's looking good. (y)
     
  8. May 16, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    If it is original then dang it was in good shape. There are no waves in the rear floor at all, just so new looking. i guess i lucked out getting this tub. :)
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  9. May 24, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    The latest update. The old body found a new home which is a good thing.
    This weekend I finished up primering some pieces and then started to put down some paint.
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    I wanted to get underneath the tub painted so i can put it aside and get then weld up the suspension mounts, sagninaw steering mount and brake MC mount.
    Then prime and paint the frame, and them reunite them back together and do my final paint on the body.
     
    melvinm, fhoehle, ojgrsoi and 2 others like this.
  10. May 24, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,626
    That's a great blue.
     
  11. Jun 1, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Got some more things done.

    I welded home the new spring mounts and repaired the rear crossmember, and made it nice and solid again.
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    Gave the frame a dose of paint and primer
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    Pressure washed the axles and then dosed them with some paint. Then flipped frame over, added the leaf springs and put it back together
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    I had also boxed the front frame rail in preparation for my Advanced ADapters Saginaw mount to show up.
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    Well i found out that saginaw mount was backordered, so i ended up making my own.
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    I also notched the crossmember so i would have an easier time to get the hydro lines to and from the gear box in a location that I did not have to do all kinds of crazy bends.
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    Now I also have my new brake MC fitted permenantly with a Herm bracket.
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    The next step is to plumb the brakes and receive my brake parts and that should be done. Going 11inch drum up front and 9" rear. Using a 1973 CJ5 Brake MC.
     
    melvinm, blalp!, Twin2 and 2 others like this.
  12. Jun 7, 2021
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    Are you still going CJ6 length? That would be super cool to have a CJ6 length flattie. I don't remember the lift during the Rover build, looks great (y)
     
  13. Jun 8, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    No, Once i learned the V6 i had was a boat anchor i decided to keep the stick drivetrain and then this great condition m38 body i got is now preventing me from cutting it.
     
    melvinm and jeepstar like this.
  14. Jun 9, 2021
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,427
    Nice work! Your progress is darn quick!
     
  15. Nov 15, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    Well i finally got to working on the project again. my friends 78 CJ5 that took my time for the last few months has went home and now i am back. 3 weeks ago i picked up a 1970 CJ5. it was not complete but it did have a running 225 V6.

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    So I took the motor and gear boxes and resold the rest. I did not keep the rear end because i did not want to regear it now and did not want to have it sitting around. But i picked up the Jeep for $650 and sold it back off minus the engine and gear boxes for $500. And i kept the grill for a wall hanger :)

    An way, this evening i got in the rebuild kits for the gear boxes so i started tearing things apart.
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    Things looked pretty good. the lower cluster gear in the transmission looks chunky, the rest is good. there was about an inch of clay/dirt in the bottom of the transmission. I will start cleaning it all out tomorrow and see where i stand with gears.
     
  16. Dec 26, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    It has been real nice weather this holiday break. I decided i wanted to get the tub painted so once i get my drivetrain installed i can put it back on.
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    I still have a few more coats to put on and then do the fenders hood and grill
     
  17. Dec 26, 2021
    melvinm

    melvinm Member

    Arvada Co. 80003
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
    Messages:
    196
    I like the Blue paint .

    Looks really Good .
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  18. Dec 26, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
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    5,626
    X2. The blue is great.
     
  19. Oct 12, 2022
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    It has been a while since i worked on the Jeep. Might as well throw down an update.
    After the paint was put on the Jeep I had a few other jeeps come in for work so it got put in the corner.
    I did have a window to work on it and i needed to get the motor off the stand and out of my way.
    First I had the intake blasted and the Heads rebuilt
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    Added some paint and the heart looks pretty
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    The motor and gearboxes were put back together.
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    I got a set of advanced adapters mounts and mocked it up
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    It then sat with the engine sitting on those mounts clamped in for a few months while other jeeps came and went.
    Finally i got time again to work on it

    The biggest issue i have is trying to get it to have enough room for an air cleaner.

    Here it is with the hood on checking for air cleaner clearance
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    I had to trim the top of the advanced adapters mounts to get the things to sit lower to get the air cleaner clearance.
    I was fighting the mounts, just did not want to play nice. Front to back it looked good but side to side it was not even, i was about a 1/2 inch higher on one side and i could not get it to come down even after pounding on things and moving things.
    I finally said heck with it i can live with the 1/2 inch difference.

    I tacked the mounts in pulled the engine out and full welded it in.

    THEN the OCD kicked in. I had the frame in the air and i was just looking at the mounts and not liking them. The engine bolts in to it fine but now as i eyeball it, they are all catywampused and looked like crap to me. Just not happy

    So then i cut them out and went back to making my own mounts. I used a set of Chevy saddle mounts for my Land Rover and it worked fine. So I welded up some mounts for the engine side
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    I got my saddle donuts and clamped
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    This is it for now. I should get things measured and finished tomorrow. The bracket on the frame rail will be gusseted.
    This setup is much cleaner for my OCD and actually gives me a touch more room for the steering shaft and the best thing is i will be able to get my side to side level done evenly and I can set my engine down to have my air cleaner clearance.
     
    melvinm, Muzikp, blalp! and 5 others like this.
  20. Oct 18, 2022
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    I had a 4 day weekend and got lots of things finally done to the Jeep.

    The motor mounts are final welded and painted.
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    The chain clutch linkage installed and my pedals put back on.
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    I made my bracket for the lower portion of the steering column.
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    Also the lower radiator mount was welded to the frame.

    This week I am waiting for my T90 rear bearing adapter thing to show up so i can bolt the trasnfercase on.
    I also ordered new pushrod, shaft bushings and a center mount for the pedals since they were super wore out when i put the pedals back on.
    Once that is done, I can lower the body on the frame and bolt it down permenantly
     
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