Puddle Jumper (re-creation)

Once again I’m thankful for living where I do. No title needed here after fifteen years.

 

This is why one of my old barn find motorcycles is registered to my dad in Alabama as an antique motorcycle. No title required there for a bike it's age and the antique plates are good forever, one time purchase.

 

Yeah, I have the form and am working on filling it out.

 

Did some work on the Jeep today, some ne rubber going on, well seals, window frame and transfer case. Pleased with how nice the window frame is.

Also the wife likes this color, so that's good as long as she approves the easier it is to buy things for it.

 

So I got the Jeep painted this weekend, quick and easy rattle can job.

Took a drive to my dad's let him drive it around.

Even put in his old CB.

 

So after driving it a bit, the belt for the alternator and fan is a bit loose, the alt. is at the end of it's adjustment so I am going to see about putting on a slightly smaller belt, should keep it from slipping and squealing.

 

Got some wheels from my brother's house.

Gonna run these cool sand tires this summer.

 

Took the draw bar off of the back of the Jeep, not planning on doing any farming with the jeep, so I put a pintle hitch on it, since my dad has 3 jeep trailers that I can borrow if I need to. Man alive they could have used one size for a lot of the bolts holding it on, but no, 5 different size bolts and nuts holding on and the ones that run up under the frame to the crossmember above the rear axel were a joy to get to and had some diamond shaped spaces instead of washers. It had to be 75 pounds of steel hanging off the back, looks better without it, and a better departure angle off road.

Next up is draining the fuel tank and flushing it out, I keep getting sediment in the fuel pump, it looks like sand, or crystalized gas, either way, I will run great and then it won't stay running. Oh well the joys of owning an old Jeep.

 

So I drained the tank and took it out, found lots of crusty gas and sand in the tank, (Dad told me to do that first, should have listened ). Found a bit of rust under the tank, cleaned it and put some Zero Rust paint on it, it had felt strips under it that I think were holding moisture, so I think I am going to do Cork Strips instead, hopefully will keep it from trapping the moisture.

Ordered some 1/2 in Daystar shackles with greaseable bolts, they look a little more heavy duty than the stock ones, plus the rubbers in mine are completely gone, so I figure why not upgrade. I also ordered a Bestop seat to see if it is better than the Ruggid Ridge seats in it now, and I have had no luck finding original seats for it.

Making progress and getting it ready for the EJCJ5 run at the end of June.

 

we had the same, and put strips of memory foam under it.

 

I just ordered a sheet of 24x36 1/8 in thick cork.

 

we had some scraps laying around, so we did it. it keeps the tank off the floor nicely, but tools can get stuck under there if you put them on the floor(which i do)

 

Others cut hardwood strips and still others use the center sections of rubber bungee cords.

 

I glued 3 strips of conveyor belting to the underside of my tank.

 

Living on the Wet side of Washington state I am hoping the cork will dry out quickly if it gets wet under the tank, I'm only going to run the Bikini top and no doors, cause why restrict myself.

 

winter?

 

All Year... that is what coats and rain gear is for.

 

I got a set of tires
Goodyear Wrangler Authority™ A/T Tires. Got a set of 31 10.50 r15 off craigslist for 400.

I also got the wheels back from power coat they look awesome. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

 

So I was waiting for the gas filler neck rubber grommet, to show up so I could put in in before the tank, well I got it yesterday and put in in and wow, it sucks, it barely filled the hole and when I put the tank in it does noting and looks like crap.

Any suggestions, I will buy another one but it better fit better that the one it got.

 

i didnt realize they had that