Fat Albert's '43 MB 217048 Project Thread

[thidisbogus]

Dutch,

It looks to me like bubba at one time either tried to install a tailgate and then removed it and covered it back over or used a CJ type rear panel and welded over the included tailgate. Where is that Ford script from? Is that from your jeep or is it a reference picture, because I do not see the script on the lower left of your rear panel. As far as the hole to the upper left of your taillight, there should not be one that close. That is more where the reflector goes. On a later model you would have a trailer plug farther up and to the left. I don't think your model had them yet, though I could be corrected on that.

Looks like you are getting a lot accomplished.

[nick peters]

Hey Dutch
I too agree with Rodney,that back panal certainly has had some sort of tailgate fitted earlier on in its life . I havnt noticed in your pictures, a shot of the inside of the rear panal. Which will help to say, just what (or if) needs replacement/repair to that area
regards Nick

[Fat Albert]

Dutch,

It looks to me like bubba at one time either tried to install a tailgate and then removed it and covered it back over or used a CJ type rear panel and welded over the included tailgate. Where is that Ford script from? Is that from your jeep or is it a reference picture, because I do not see the script on the lower left of your rear panel. As far as the hole to the upper left of your taillight, there should not be one that close. That is more where the reflector goes. On a later model you would have a trailer plug farther up and to the left. I don't think your model had them yet, though I could be corrected on that.

Looks like you are getting a lot accomplished.

At first I thought the hole was just a rotten place... I think I actually said that in an earlier post... but I crawled under it yesterday and looked at the back side. It looks to be a perfect circular cutout on the backside. What is showing on the outside is a patch over it that is rotting away. I'm going to get some measurements and compare them with specs from Jon.

And concerning the script... I was just dreaming... That is actually the fender of my 52 Ford tractor! I just couldn't resist putting a pic up here!

[Fat Albert]

Hey Dutch
I too agree with Rodney,that back panal certainly has had some sort of tailgate fitted earlier on in its life . I havnt noticed in your pictures, a shot of the inside of the rear panal. Which will help to say, just what (or if) needs replacement/repair to that area
regards Nick

Hey Nick... I'll try to get a pic up later on today. But the inside has all the bracing or support channels I guess they are called. Slightly bent... but they are there.

[nick peters]

Hey Dutch
Thats a big plus if the reinforcements are still in. You have a choice either drill out the spot welds and replace the rear panal skin (if all the dents are too bad for you to live with) or grind the welds flush,and keep the original panal. Must say dints and dings dont really bother me But its your jeep so its your choice
regards Nick
Ps Thats a real big koi carp pond in your back garden, for the dog to play in

[Fat Albert]

Hey Dutch
Thats a big plus if the reinforcements are still in. You have a choice either drill out the spot welds and replace the rear panal skin (if all the dents are too bad for you to live with) or grind the welds flush,and keep the original panal. Must say dints and dings dont really bother me But its your jeep so its your choice
regards Nick
Ps Thats a real big koi carp pond in your back garden, for the dog to play in

Carp yes... Koi no! Haha! I wish it were full of the koi... Those are some beautiful fish. But this is an acre and a half spring fed pond my dad built in the pasture... Which is now my front yard. He put 30 supposedly "sterile" grass carp in to control the moss. Almost 20 years later and those boogers are everywhere and every size! No moss though! Also bass, bluegills and catfish. And one Bear!

[Fat Albert]

Not much time again today... just enough to sand back over the passenger side and prime it in. Bummer... honey do's are get very tiresome when there is a jeep calling my name!

Dutch

[Fat Albert]

Found a friend near me today with what I believe to be an old CJ 2a. It's not been cranked in close to 10 years but looks to be in pretty good shape. He wants to get it running and begin restoration which should be relatively easy as the body appears straight and mostly rust free. I pointed him to you guys on the G as I didn't know where else to send him. I hope to see him on here soon! Super nice guy. Any tips to pass along or websites I can send him to? Thanks in advance.

Dutch

[Fat Albert]

I don't have any pictures to post tonight seeing as how my sweetheart took the camera out of town with her! But I have accomplished some things this past week. I only have one more bolt and the steering wheel to remove and the tub should be ready to lift off. It was relatively easy! Most of the bolts had already rusted out and were already gone! Wow, do I ever have my work cut out for me on this project! I have to keep pouring over all the other threads on here over and over for encouragement! Oh well... One day at a time.

Dutch

[Fat Albert]

It's been a busy week so far... unfortunately its been busy with everything else and NOT with my jeep! I was able to grind/cut the final body bolt away tonight in preperation for removing the tub.


The steering wheel did not go as well. I worked at it for a while with PB Blaster and a wrench and hammer. No luck. Wouldn't even begin to budge. So I soaked it good in another couple douses of PB and went to the house. I'm going to put it on the trailer tomorrow and take it to my brother-in-laws shop and see if an impact wrench might do the trick. If it does then hopefully I'll be lifting the tub off tomorrow sometime. At least that's my plans for right now. Who knows what tomorrow may bring but the Good Lord?!

Dutch

[The Raven]

If you haven't already DO NOT use sandpaper to find the numbers. You will damage them as the metal IS NOT smooth. Use a product called rustoleum clear and base coat remover. Spray, then wipe and repeat. Once you find a number, put the stuff on your finger wrapped in cloth and slowly wipe the remaining paint off each individual number. I destroyed the numbers on one side of mine with the horrible wet sand method and perfectly preserved the numbers on the other side with this method.

The red paint was cheap bubbas T90..... Apparently red is faster

That back hole you uncovered was for the trailer plug.

[Fat Albert]

If you haven't already DO NOT use sandpaper to find the numbers. You will damage them as the metal IS NOT smooth. Use a product called rustoleum clear and base coat remover. Spray, then wipe and repeat. Once you find a number, put the stuff on your finger wrapped in cloth and slowly wipe the remaining paint off each individual number. I destroyed the numbers on one side of mine with the horrible wet sand method and perfectly preserved the numbers on the other side with this method.

The red paint was cheap bubbas T90..... Apparently red is faster

That back hole you uncovered was for the trailer plug.

Thanks Adam for the advice. I havent stripped much of the hood yet... But I have used both stripper and sand paper. I'm thinking Bubba stripped the hood once before since I haven't found any sign of any numbers at all. Also the hood doesn't have as many layers of paint as the body does. Still, I'm going to try again later.

Funny you say red is faster. My father-in-law fixes cheap cars to sell... he used to paint every one red! I asked him why and he said it sells faster!

I was hoping it was that... But I thought I read somewhere that March of 43 jeeps didn't have them. I'm probably wrong. I'll have to check it out.

Dutch

[Fat Albert]

Well... today brought rain here and I didn't get to work on removing the steering wheel. I spent the day instead cleaning some of the parts I already have off. The rain was good for my ADD... it forced me to work on things that are piling up on the bench. I was able to install the water separator and also get another air compressor working. Anyways... here are a few pictures from today.

Cleaned up the BO marker lights... went from this...


To this...




As I've said many times over now... tomorrow is another day! Maybe I'll get around to getting the tub off then!

Dutch

[thidisbogus]

That back hole you uncovered was for the trailer plug.

I was hoping it was that... But I thought I read somewhere that March of 43 jeeps didn't have them. I'm probably wrong. I'll have to check it out.

Dutch

Hi Dutch and Raven, I don't think it is the trailer plug. Look at the measurements of course but a quick look at some old photos will also show that it is far too close to the taillight in my opinion....

[thidisbogus]

Looking good......one step at a time...one day at a time