Thread: Hi from Texas and the road...

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Hey guys.....some jeep guy introduced me to his 27 chev build thread over here and I was hooked...I have a collection of jeep DJ models..(2WD flatfender aka Surrey jeeps or Dispatchers..)hence the name..

I picked this up at a local scrapyard a while back...


I am still attempting to ID it, I think it is a 31-33 Chevy truck cowl.. Someone tore off the door skins so I have to build doors now..

This also appeared in the same scrapyard...a hay wagon conversion of an older Chevy frame..


It is remarkably complete and solid.. Plans are to add a drivetrain from a 76 4 door Chevelle I have in the yard, Still in the planning stages as to what axle to use up front..I am leaning towards keeping the parallel leafs but using a different straight axle under it. Open wheel with cycle fenders to keep it legal, bobbed rear fenders, pickup bed, probably roadster pickup style. Not really low, need to drive it on local streets that look like bomb craters..

I'll have lots of newbie questions....This won't be a million dollar magazine cover car, just a safe, decent, hot rod with some rough edges that will get smoothed out as time goes by. I read the Felsen books as a kid, and always wanted one, now one shows up and I even own some metal fabbing stuff so it is possible! And yes, I know, nobody builds Chevy rods......

Pics link to a webshots album with many more pics....lots of jeep pics in my albums too if anyone is interested...

howdy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to CHR

Welcome to CHR Bill, nice assortment of parts you have to start with!!!!

Welcome to CHR! Looks like you're diving into a big project!

As I recall, the DJ's are "Dispatch Jeep's", which are all 2WD variants of the CJ line, mainly built for the post office and other urban uses that benefited from the rugged Jeep heritage, but did not have need for the 4WD all terrain features. Sound right? Lots were built with the square body, sliding door feature used by postal delivery people - last forever, easy in & out. Lots were right side steering too, weren't they?

Originally Posted by rspears

Welcome to CHR! Looks like you're diving into a big project!

As I recall, the DJ's are "Dispatch Jeep's", which are all 2WD variants of the CJ line, mainly built for the post office and other urban uses that benefited from the rugged Jeep heritage, but did not have need for the 4WD all terrain features. Sound right? Lots were built with the square body, sliding door feature used by postal delivery people - last forever, easy in & out. Lots were right side steering too, weren't they?

Yup you got it right. My DJ3A jeeps are LHD, it wasn't till the DJ5 official postal jeep that the RHD versions became popular. Here's a pic of my custom DJ3A..windshield and doors are NOT factory. It now has glass in a white windshield frame, almost ready for the road. The neighbor kids all learned how to drive a column shift 3 speed in it a few weeks ago...

Anyone recognise either the chassis or the cowl?? I would like to have a better idea of what it is than my current "30-33 commercial Chevy I think?"description. Especially the chassis...mechanical brakes, band drum brake in the rear, it has 2 17 inch rims like pictured.

Originally Posted by DJ Bill

Anyone recognise either the chassis or the cowl?? I would like to have a better idea of what it is than my current "30-33 commercial Chevy I think?"description. Especially the chassis...mechanical brakes, band drum brake in the rear, it has 2 17 inch rims like pictured.

Bill,
Wish I could help on the chassis/cowl ID - the 17" rims look like the "artillery style" sold by Vintiques for chevy's of that vintage. Maybe some of the other guys/gals will reply with this "bump" to the top.

Cool old Jeep, by the way, and its great that the neighbor kids were learning to drive it!! Way cool story!