My First Jeep Build Ever, Need Solid Guidance!?!?!

As title states, im needing serious input. so i went and recovered a 46 CJ2A #26352 from the woods at my uncles house. Jeeps been in the family since new and has barely over 5,000 original miles. Jeep is 100% original, unmolested and last drove in 1999. mechanically its in fair condition but the last 19 years in the woods at my uncles has played hell to the sheet metal. So first thing i need to do is have a key made for the ignition and a battery to attemp a start, but were im needing guidance is body, will i lose value to replace the tub with a reman tub or a used tub, or attemp fixing mine. my wants is to keep it original as possible, but dad has warned me that its not very streetable in original condition. so will it de value it to change to a 4 or 5 speed trans, will the L134 handle a different trans. im again, in my mind very partial to keeping it original. Now that said, Im the sole provider for a family of 4, and a over the road trucker, so please dont expect this done in 6 months hahahaha. so please, be honost, be helpfull, if your trolling take it elsewhere, im 40 years old and dont need that crap. so heres some pics....quick thing, my nickname is LJ last name doliber, born 1979, one of the license plates on the jeep from my great grandfather reads    LJD 079, just added a cosmic sign that i am supposed to do this..

Ol' Unreliable wrote: Welcome to the page, CapnCaveMan!  I think you could and should save the tub.  Worse ones have been saved by folks here.  Has the electrical system been converted to 12 volts or is that just a 12-volt battery under the hood?  I agree that the license plate is an indication that you and the Jeep are required to be together.  You don't need to do a full resto, just repair what needs repair and improve what might need improving and DRIVE IT!

much appreciated, very helpful, the whole keeping it original idea is solely because thats exactly how its been since 1946, and not so much on resale, because it will go to one of my daughters one day. my dad put a 12 volt battery, alternator and head lamp bulbs in it, but i still have the 6 volt generator, and yet another delema, 6 or 12 volt battery, i was a diesel mechanic for near 15 years before gaining my cdl and driving, so skills i have, i know the 12 volt requires minor mods, also heard 12 volt helps it start easier. all this advice is great, you guys are the best, keep ideas coming, has anyone ever seen this low of mileage cj2a? for being 70 some years old, id say its a low mileage vehicle lol

and it also has sears/roebuck lockout hubs, i like that for originality, but are they going to need to be replaced?

thats the incomplete intake tubing going from carb to filter assembly, i never met my great grandfather but from what my dads told me, its never been modified as far as he can remember, title milage matches speedo so i couldnt tell you about that, and yes my dad had it titled, i know didnt exist in 1946, so engine wise ill have to get out my ether and wire brush and start finding numbers to see if they all match? thank you for letting me know, cause if its not original like i thought, then im not worried about keeping it original

A lot us know enough to be dangerous but we mean well so I hope we can help you.
A T 90 side shift and top shift use the same parts inside of them. It's the output spline and tooth count that will determine the overdrive usage. An OD is very useful depending on how you use the Jeep. If you just put it on a trailer VS actually driving it will sort of determine if an OD is worth it. My 3B with the V6, 5:38 gears, and the OD makes it driveable on the highway. Ask away...

and yes the coil is attached to the ignition switch, lil like this

If you have the key for it you are ahead in the game.