A dilemma of summarizing one's thoughts in a few lines of e-mail text, is the
result tends to be an over simplification of many details. Consequently, a
short message may not always convey an adequate representation of your true
feelings and thoughts.
Recognizing the limitation of this forum, I simply wanted to indicate I thought
Kerry's arguments were very good, and I personally identified with several
aspects of his short write-up. Also, I thought his message was well presented
(better than I could have done) and could be of value to others on the list.
Some details left unsaid in my personal comments, and which by their absence may
have caused some confusion, follow: I passionately want to restore my jeep to
its "original configuration", and I continue to work towards this goal. I also
recognize I lack the experience of others that have fully restored these
historic landmarks. Therefore, I have been, and continue to be, concerned that
my final results will not be up to all of my expectations. For this reason,
buying a repro body and/or getting someone else to do the body restoration job
for me has been in the back of my mind since I started this labor of love. With
this said, I must admit my skills have improved significantly (and so has my
workshop inventory of tools -- another plus).
One last thought that may shed some light on my original e-mail message: The
body (the MB's not mine, but that's another story) was a basket case. After
removing all the old street signs that previous owners had used to hold the rust
together, I had very little with which to work. If I didn't make this almost
futile attempt at salvage, I doubt that even you, Jeff, would have wanted to
keep any of this body. At present I have the roughed in structure of the
original body -- this after: consuming two each 4 by 8 feet sheets of metal,
many specially formed sections contracted out to a local roofing and sheet metal
house, and other purchased parts such as the gas tank well. I am very proud of
what I have got, of what I have accomplished so far, and that I still have the
fortitude to continue this project. When all is said and done, will my
"original rebuilt body" be as precise as a "very good repro-body"?
Quite frankly, no. Possibly, by my next restoration project, I will have
sufficiently improved my skills to turn this "no" into a "yes" (and I can assure
you there will be more restoration projects -- I have been bitten by the bug, or
is it rust?). Even better, maybe I will be smart enough to find a vehicle
that's not so far gone.
Sorry for this long message; but I wanted (1)to undo any injustice I might have
done to Kerry's excellent comments, and (2) to present a more detailed
perspective for Jeff.
Thanks, Herb
On Jul 24, 8:51am, Kerry wrote:
> Subject: Re: [MV] After Market Bodies for MBs
> All good points but just because a repro body is put onto a jeep does not
> mean that it can't come off again. It only takes a few hours.
> My point is that if it can get the project on the road then it will keep
> interest alive.
> How many 1/2 restored jeeps are sitting in garages around the world because
> of lack of interest? Or loss of interest because a project just took too
> long?
> I do believe that to toss out good body metal is a mortal sin.
> If a body or parts of a body are worth saving they can and should be sold
> or traded to someone with the skills or resources to restore them and use
> them on a complete restoration.
> I think that there are more chassis left in the world than bodies.
> Would it not be a sin as well to let those chassis go to waste.
> What the world needs is more flat fenders.
>
> Of course if it was up to me...
> The new, re-born, round head lighted jeep by Chrysler
> would have been an "MB" not a "TJ"
> But that's only me.
>
> Long live the JEEP!
> Kerry
> Surrey, British Columbia
>
> ----------
> > From: Jeff Polidoro <willys@vgernet.net>
> > To: Herb Brown <brown@ida.org>; mil-veh@skylee.com
> > Subject: Re: [MV] After Market Bodies for MBs
> > Date: Wednesday, July 23, 1997 8:01 PM
> >
> > First Kerry wrote:
> >
> > I've got to say something here in regards to repro bodies.
> > I may make some purists sick but here goes anyway.
> >
> > I purchased a jeep sight unseen for next to nothing and had it shipped in
> a
> > load of tropical foliage plants from South Florida to British Columbia
> > Canada.
> > When it rolled off of the truck, it was a very rusted out DJ with a Chevy
> > V8.
> >
> > The truth of the matter is that there is now a 1952 jeep back on the road
> > and turning heads instead of rusting in a South Florida swamp.
> >
> > I Reply:
> >
> > I have a woods buggy with an original 3A frame and driveline and repro
> > body, fenders, tailgate and windshield frame. A very pleasing and
> > original *looking* Jeep. Everyone who sees it likes it.
> >
> > But that's not the point. We're not talking about your daily driver or
> my
> > woods runner here. This started out as a discussion of using or not
> using
> > an inaccurate replacement body in a high end restoration of a somewhat
> rare
> > MV.
> >
> > I agree that rusted out DJs with small blocks Chevys should use repro
> > bodies.
> >
> > Then Herb wrote:
> >
> > > Please tack my $0.02 on to what Kerry wrote.
> >
> > > I've wanted a WWII jeep for over 30 years. I finally got a 50 year old
> > > jeep on my 50th birthday two years ago, and at the rate I am proceeding
> > I'll be
> > > 55+ when I first drive it. Clearly, much of the fun is in the
> > restoration;
> > > but as I recall, most of the fun is in driving it! A repro body could
> > have cut at
> > > least two years off this project. I am too far down this road right
> now,
> > but I
> > > sometimes wonder if I took the wrong path? Kerry did a good job of
> > > expressing my feelings.
> > >
> > > Herb & Bubbles
> >
> >
> > This makes no sense to me. Are you saying that the original body is
> > keeping you from enjoying your Jeep? That after you delayed for 30
> years,
> > the original body is now, somehow, responsible for delaying your
> enjoyment
> > of your Jeep for an additional 2 years? How so?
> >
> > Is the repro body free? I think not. Think you won't have to spend
> money
> > on *it* when you get it? Think again.
> >
> > If it's going to take you 5 years to "restore' your Jeep and 2 years of
> the
> > 5 is the body, then the rest is taking you three years. So take your
> > original body
> > and the $2000 (or more) you would have spent on a repro body to a tin
> > knocker and have him fix the damn thing. Tell him he has 3 years to do
> it
> > because
> > you're gonna take that long with the rest of the Jeep. (Over the course
> of
> > the 3 years you can, probably, invest the $2000 and make back a couple of
> > hundred dollars.)
> >
> > When it's done put in on the frame. Viola!, ...an accurate, WW2 Jeep
> done!
> > ..... within the 3 year period you felt was reasonable and a much better,
> > more valuable piece for the same or less money.
> >
> > You don't want to bring the body to someone? No sense of accomplishment
> > or satisfaction in that? What sense of accomplishment were you gonna get
> > from buying the repro body?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > JP
> >
> > ===
> > To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
> > UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.
>-- End of excerpt from Kerry
-- Enjoy your day -- Preferably in an old (1945 MB) jeep.\ __________ / _\__________ | ___ \ / \ / ___ <| | /###\ \____/ /###\ | [__/# #\_____________/# #\__] # # # # ### ###
=== To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.