These are the original gauges. All were in working order. The odometer shows mileage at just over 36,000 miles.
Various pieces and components after final cleaning and painting.
Some of the electrical components, including headlights. The original boots were replaced with new ones. The original wiring harness was beyond repair. The majority of the wires were bare and many shorts were occurring.
More pieces, including master cylinder, heater, hood and windshield clamps.
The original radiator required no repairs. I had it boiled out and tested. The same could not be said for the heater coil -- it had rusted out and had many holes, so it was replaced.
The engine was given a thorough going over. All new gaskets replaced the old ones. New seals were added. Two of the manifold bolts were broken off in the block and were removed successfully and replaced. The 6-volt system was converted to 12-volt, including the replacing of the generator with an alternator. I rebuilt the entire wiring harness. The motor was not rebuilt because Dad had done it many years ago and had only put on about 2400 miles since that time. Compression was checked and found to be right in line with specifications.
The distributor, fuel pump, oil pump, carburetor, air breather and just about anything else that could be removed was disassembled, cleaned, painted and reassembled. I had obtained a Spicer PTO unit in hopes of adding the rest of the PTO components to have a winch, but gave up after unsuccessfully trying to procure the unit.
The jack and tire irons were pretty rusty but cleaned up nicely and work just fine. Hopefully they will never have to be used.
This is the final paint, which was the original Willys color. From here, the Jeep was hauled home for final assembly. Because I did not have the experience with painting, I contracted it to be done. The entire body was primed and painted including the underneath side. I reassembled the body, returned it to the painter for the final coat and 4 coats of clear coat. Total cost for the paint job was $2000.00 and I feel I got a good job and a bargain! I did all of the other painting of components, which was basically all black.
Here it is! The final product is something that I am extremely proud to have as one of my favorite things. I wish my Dad could have seen the Jeep in this kind of condition. He would have been pleased.
I have resisted taking it off-road because I have put in so much time and effort to make it look like new. The thought of mud and dirt on the Jeep is something I do not want to think about. I am still undecided as to putting on some original style canvas. It certainly is expensive, but after all that I have done so far, I will probably end up getting the canvas top and necessary components.
Thanks to Jack for this 1999 look at his restoration project. As of 2018 the Jeep has been sold. -- Derek Redmond
Continue to Part 4: Retrofitting a Koenig Jeep Hardtop.
Return to Part 1 of Restoration of a 1954 CJ-3B
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