Restore or rebuild?

This question is 10 months (wishful thinking) premature because of a current project, but I can’t stop thinking about my 46 2A sitting in the garage and the column shift stored at my father in-laws house.

My plans are to restore the column shift to original, but what do I do with the other (besides giving it to one of you guys) restore or rebuild?

On one hand their both completely stock and I hate to change a thing, on the other hand being smaller in size would be ideal for the trails in New England or for that matter anywhere, plus every members flattie looks so good built. I suppose if one was already half built I wouldn't have a problem going the rest of the way.

I do own a 225 V6 on an engine stand waiting for me to pick up.

I would enjoy hearing any and all thought, thanks in advance for your help.

I know what Jim’s thinking.

 

you think you know
my "next" Jeep would be a stocker (L or F) 4cyl, lockers, 5:38s, full float in the rear, sagi steering, mild lift if at all, narrow tires and wheels, dual gas tanks. I would want it to appear as stock as possible, but be a mountain goat on the trails. I'll sacrifice the power for crawling. Can't go fast anyhow when trail crawling along........

 

“Nice find Chuck
should give you several hours of enjoyment
V6, 11" brakes, full cage, powerlocs, you're good to go"4/24

 

Does that mean no towing a trailer (Bantam) to the site with your trail rig? Curious, what does the setup you describe above do for you that your present rig does not?

 

that's true I said that....for your Jeep
I would reccommend that again to anyone

mine's already that way

something about a stock flatfender that can climb almost anything has always intriqued me.

Steve: I like my Jeep the way it is now; wouldn't change a thing; I always enjoy the trips we make in it. It's dependable and capable.
just want a stock 4 banger to trail crawl with, that's all

 

R) R)

 

Chuck, you have 2 Jeeps (read: jealous)
restore the 46 col shift
modify the heck out of the other

 

x2

 

x3

 

Follow your gut instincts. Make them your jeep. I say go wild with them both, but thats just me. See signature

 

So many Jeeps, so little time.

 

Keep it orginal other than a small lift and better tires. It will still go where you want it to

 

Sorry Chuck, but here goes...

SBC, headers, 5:38's, 33's and a removeable push bumper for when you want to play at the local race track That's what I would do. You need to build it the way you want to...make it fit your needs

 

Your sig says the 45 is column. I'd definitely keep that stock. Play with the 46.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone had some very good thoughts which helped.

At this time I’m planning to keep it pretty much stock I can’t see changing out that L-head unless it makes me, although I’m liking Jim’s hiding upgrades.

Gump, as for the 45 on my signature. When I found the Jeep I was told by the son that his father bought it new in 45 and was the only owner. The father passed away and the mother is in a nursing home and I thought the son would have been more helpful in explaining the history of his father's Jeep. With the sons permission I will need to visit his mother to hopefully get some answers. The 2A doesn’t have any tags and there is a plate welded over where the frame tag would have been. My gut feeling is that it’s a 46 and that’s why I refer to it as so in the thread. I’m hoping I’m wrong. They made column shifts from 45 to mid-46.

Brian, you have first dibs.

 

They are no more stock CJ-2 anything being built anymore. Don't get too crazy unless the jeep is in really bad shap and has no hope of being "stock" again. If you want a trail rig buy a non stock jeep and run with it. Some day there will no longer be any stock flatfender CJ's left. I don't see the rational of hacking up a 60 year old antique to run some trails. It's like the F-script GPW a guy hacked up to make a mud bogger...... WHY?