10/2/2016 Even though I haven't been able to get to the shop for almost a month, still plugging ahead. The factory hood hinges were in very bad condition. The cast cowl pieces were very worn where the pin goes through them. Also the hood hinge pins were badly corroded.
So I turned them over to my brother, original intention was to drill out the holes in the cast cowl pieces and put bronze bushings in there. But, they were so worn the cast would have been paper thin. So, he took some worn out press brake die and machined entirely new ones out from scratch. And while he was at it he also knocked out the old double-D pin and made new ones out of high carbon shaft.
Now I need to get the body done to check the fit and the position of the double-D shaft for final welding.
10/30/2016 Got the twin-stick conversion on my NP205 done today for my build. Was going to grind the original shafts. But, found they were deeply pitted from rust in the areas that the seal would ride when in low range. Also the front shift rail was worn in the seal area from lack of use. Ended up putting in JB Fabrication stainless steel shift rails. No more worry about rust! Kind of wish I had enough rear drive line length for a NP203 doubler in front though.
12/12/2016 Seems like in the last few months with everything else I have going on I only get about 3 hours/month to even mess with the Jeep. Did go out and finished the last of the main welding on the driver's side. Not much to really take a picture of. Won't be able to mess with it much for the next 3-4 weeks due to Christmas, work, and moving my oldest son into his new house. Hope to get the rest of the mud on the driver's side and maybe even get that side in primer sometime in January.
Merry Christmas everyone.
1/23/2017 Toe board supports finally welded in place. Most of the body filler done on the driver's side and what little I'm going to do to the fire wall done. Hope to have the driver's outside, firewall, and cowl in primer by March.
3/6/2017 Well March is here, not much closer to primer. Did wheel bearings on my son's girlfriend's car. Found she needed front brakes also, did that the next weekend, Worked some more on the body filler. Was getting around to putting in the trans tunnel, then dug out the tool box and set in place. Glad I did, otherwise the trans tunnel would have bee in the wrong place. Ordered a new fuel tank today, figured I better get it fitted to check the trans tunnel clearance on that side before making final commitment to tunnel position. My tank that came with the Jeep looked like it had lived at the bottom of the lake for years!
5/15/2017 Didn't have any carpentry, moving, or other projects today. And, since I spent Mother's Day yesterday with the wife visiting our mothers. Figured I'd spend today with the mistress.
Didn't realize I was down to my last bag of sand for the sand blaster. The cheap bed liner that a previous owner comes off easy, same with the original Forest Service green does. Thinking the Fire Service safety yellow must have been Imron, that stuff does not want to leave! At least I got the areas that I'm replacing metal at blasted.
All the metal replaced, do have some extra holes that previous owners had placed to fill. Test fitted, looks good. Now I can start in on my transmission tunnel!