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leecarr View Drop Down
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    Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 12:06am
Working on a new MD Juan body and just got started, I'm painting this body for a friend of mine. Depending on how fussy you are be prepared to do a lot more than sand and prime. It looks fine in semi flat black but when you get into it the little things start to show, this one is going to be Normandy blue so everything will show even more. Just about every area of the exterior anyway is going to need at least some body work. The outside corners of the hood and front fenders show tooling marks when I started to sand them and have to be fixed to show a smooth radius. The back end around the tailgate in somewhat less than flat. The sides seem to be alright other than the spot welds and the joint where the body narrows. All in all the construction is solid and I would buy one in the right circumstances, still lots easier than chasing rust. I have not seen another one but I would suspect they are similar. A lot of the bends are not as crisp as I would like to see them but once painted and assembled most of it won't be noticeable. Not complaining just want to give people a little heads up on what they are in for.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 12:56am
Since MD Juan tubs don't come with top bow pockets, bow storage pockets and fuel tank strap hold down weldments you will want to add those if they are part of your friends plans before you do any finish painting.

I didn't do any body work to my MD Juan tub, I figure that the spot welds and minor surface imperfections were probably representative of what came out of Toledo circa 1946. Of course, your friend might have other ideas about how he wants the finished product to look.

Overall, I thought that the MD Juan tub was well constructed with the exception of some of the captive nut cages were not welded down very well. A simple matter to correct. There are a lot of holes to locate.

Edited by SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A - 27 Apr. 2017 at 1:02am
46 CJ-2A #64462 "Ol' Red" (bought April 1969)(second owner)(12 V, 11" brakes, M-38 frame, MD Juan tub)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote danover321 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 12:56am
I'm dealing with the same issues on the 01/2015 manufactured body my brother purchased.  There are grind and die marks all over the thing; however several of the inprovements are visable.  There is certainly less care on the cj2a bodies than the MB kits.  My MB kit required several modifications for everything to mate properly.  That's the way it is with patent parts.
44 Willys MB 379XXX
45 Willys MB 459XXX
46 Willys CJ2A 38008
46 Willys CJ2A 38136
47 Willys CJ2A 97474
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leecarr View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote leecarr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 1:48am
I have all the weld on pieces in the back of the bed and I made templates off an original to put them on. I plan on doing the hood , grill and fenders first then get them out of the way and then the tub and windshield. I also plan on installing the top bows and top to make sure the windshield will fit where it should. The windshield mounts will need a lot of tweaking so it will fit the cowl without being able to put your hand under one side. Maybe I'm too picky but that's the way I like to see it, the interior and underneath will just be primed and painted. I have most of the holes drilled but still have to locate the footmans loops, I figure I'll put the top on first and put them where they need to be instead of having to move them after. Overall it is built solid and all the welded joints seem to fit tight.

Edited by leecarr - 27 Apr. 2017 at 1:56am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 3:30am
I agree. Not to 'original' specs or even close. Made in the Phillipines by semi-skilled people in a hurry. Mine took a ton of rework and parts from the original body tub. I used the original hood, grille, windshield, and tail gate. Still took may hours to get more or less right.
'47 CJ2A -- #114542
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2t2-crash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 5:30am
The quarterpanel I got from the for my front passenger side was all jacked up. Remember a lot of the panels are probably used on the Jeepneys too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adrian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 6:47am
Weld the top bow pockets on the rear corners of the tub, the MD spot welds are tiny and my LH rear hoop pocket fell off a few weeks ago

Go to ;MD Juan Body Faults,(search on the page) big list you best know about before painting....you have been warned!!
1946 CJ-2A Column Change 14605
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote leecarr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 5:31pm
I have all the fittings to weld on yet. Once I start working on the tub and flip over I plan  on checking out everything real close. My own jeep is a franken jeep, but it will all original parts other than some rust repair. The new body is definitely the better way out for some people but where I do everything myself it cost me nothing. With half decent parts with little rust I think I would stick with the original stuff. If you have to pay to have it done the new body may be the cheaper way out depending on how picky you are and how you plan on using it, for mostly off road paint it and go. This one is going to be a driver and some local cruise nights so I want it decent.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote leecarr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 10:00pm




A few more pictures, obviously the shiny spots are high and the dark spots are low. Everyone of these marks will have to be fixed or it will show especially through a dark color Like Normandy blue. The windshield latch holes will have to be welded up and re drilled.


Edited by leecarr - 27 Apr. 2017 at 10:07pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adrian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 10:12pm
The original bodies were as best as I can tell not perfectly flat anyway, they are a farm truck and looks came second.

I put minimal filler in my one and it came up very well.

Just be careful that the paint from MD Juan has actually stuck on, in places it chips off to bare steel very easily and anything you paint over it will do the same.

If I had to do another one I'd take it back to bare metal myself everywhere.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2t2-crash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 10:25pm
Wow, that things more F'ed up than a football bat ain't it?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote leecarr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr. 2017 at 11:43pm
I plan on sending all the black stuff off, another big project. I have a lot of original parts and even at 70 years old they don't look like that. No tooling or forming marks. I realize that they are a small company but if the dies and jigs were set up properly it doesn't cost anymore to make it right. But they really don't have to, have you ever heard the expression "the only whore in town". I also noticed that the bottom edge of the hood below the willys stamping has pulled from the stamping and leaves the bottom edge with a bump. Not to noticeable unless you sight directly down the edge. That's staying, it's fixable but way to big a project.

Edited by leecarr - 27 Apr. 2017 at 11:50pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ryan_289 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr. 2017 at 2:59am
My windshield/cowl fitment was the same. It's in the cowl somehow. It was the same with the repro and original windshield. We heated the arms on the windshield and shifted it over to fit. Look closely at yours. I bet you don't have to redrill the dash latch holes, just fix the windshield to fit.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wadoyado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr. 2017 at 1:41pm
Leecar...Thanks for the detailed pic's, I actually feel a little better about the rust chasing project I started before the forum. I've been around auto-part manufactures most of my life and can't believe the hood and other parts ever made it out of the factory....rework pile if not scrapped. They probably have a policy of zero scrap--just hit it with a sander call it good. Quality control?? I personally put this on NAFTA. Joe wadoyado
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the jeep you've been driving all your life" (Mickey Mantle paraphrase)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote leecarr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr. 2017 at 1:38am
Sanding this black primer off is like working in a coal mine. The back edge of the hood where the brace is welded on is far from flat.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ol' Unreliable Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr. 2017 at 2:38am
Originally posted by wadoyado wadoyado wrote:

I personally put this on NAFTA. Joe wadoyado


NAFTA has nothing to do with it.  MD Juan has been making Jeep bodies for decades and they never were very good.  I don't know what kind of machinery they have to press the steel, but they need something better than what they have.
There's a reason it's called Ol' Unreliable
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Adrian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr. 2017 at 6:18am
I consider the MD Juan bodies to be very good value for money.

I couldn't have fabricated my own one as good for any where near the price of their one.

They are not perfect and the problems start when you try and match original and after market parts, I brought the "master kit", complete body, fenders, seat frames, fuel tank etc and it all went together ok.

If you are aware of the faults before you paint then its easy enough to correct them.

I contacted the factory direct and they were great to deal with.

I would buy another one, as time goes on they are making them more accurate and a better product.

They are good solid steel and for me that was a better option than importing a rusty original from the US.

Adrian
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wadoyado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr. 2017 at 11:37am
Originally posted by Ol' Unreliable Ol' Unreliable wrote:

Originally posted by wadoyado wadoyado wrote:

I personally put this on NAFTA. Joe wadoyado


NAFTA has nothing to do with it.  MD Juan has been making Jeep bodies for decades and they never were very good.  I don't know what kind of machinery they have to press the steel, but they need something better than what they have.
It's like you said about walking away from the computer before I typed that last line. Joe
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the jeep you've been driving all your life" (Mickey Mantle paraphrase)
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