Aug 3, 1999- Today is Tuesday. I finished the bodywork last Wednesday and sat the body on the Jeep, and to my surprise, only one bolt hole aligned. Apparently what had happened was that when the body was heated (while brazing) it had pulled together and twisted. I spent a day and a half fitting the body back on the frame. I made rubber mounts from expansion jointing that Dad brought home from work. I bought five pounds of nuts, bolts, and washers. After mounting the body, Bill Stripp suggested that I assemble the rest of the body for a pre-fit. I followed his advice. The tailgate door needed straightened, and the holes needed drilled for the tail lights. The hood latches were cocked, and the fenders practically needed beaten into place. The holes in the bottom plates of the fenders needed changed into slots. The gearshift lever holes needed cut larger. The back bumper was bent. I had to cut down that M38 seat I purchased from Daryl Bensinger. I had to make many other minor adjustments.
Aug 6, 1999- I did a fun thing. I put the Jeep all together and took it all apart. Bill Stripp came over, and we drove it around and had a fun time. Most of the bolts were finger tight. I had to pull on the windshield with a come-along to enable it to fit correctly. The next day Bill Stripp came over, and we lifted the body off with the truck crane. That day, I went to town and bought more miscellaneous nuts, bolts, and washers. I painted them all black. I also painted the gas tank. I had a slight scare when I noticed a crack in the front top left corner of the gas tank, but it was only the trim and not in the tank itself.(The gas tank was made in Brazil.) Yesterday was the start of the great days of sandblasting. From 8 am to 9 pm I sandblasted. I finished sandblasting from the passenger door over the cowl to the driver side door finishing the steps as well. Today is more of the same, sandblasting. Oh, I also had trouble with the engine when we were romping around in the yard. We found that the accelerator pump rod needed bent, slightly. I also had to reset the points. I had to cut off the M38 seat legs to make the seat fit, but Daryl Sanner welded them.
Aug 6- �Later� Today, I sandblasted the dashboard and painted all that I had finished. The red Sears Craftsman Air Compressor would not compress any more air. I took it apart and found that the compression ring was shot. I ordered new ones, but they won�t come until next Thursday!!!! That stinks, because I�ll probably be back to work by then.
