First up is to clean up both battery boxes. The Jeep came with the correct 2HN military style batteries installed, these are wet cell lead acid batteries and sitting for years hasn't done the battery boxes any favors. Luckily the corrosion wasn't to bad so we set to getting them cleaned up and re-painted.
We will be replacing the 2HN batteries with sealed 51R batts, I've had great luck with sealed batts over the years and the lack of corrosion alone will make the swap worth it. This is a practical swap that doesn't modify the actual Jeep, if someone wanted the correct batts it would be a simple swap back.
The batt compartments as purchased. Sitting in the garage for years didn't do them any favors.
Front batt box removed, Baking soda and a good scrubbing to neutralize the acid on both boxes.
Cleaning up the base and internal batt boxes.
Sandblasting the smaller bits.
A couple coats of primer applied.
The new 51R sealed batts are about an inch smaller than the 2HN batts. I was going to fabricate my own hold down brackets then found these cool brackets for sale, custom made for the 51R's. Nice!
And in primer.
And in paint.
Still wet so the color is slightly lighter since it hasn't dried yet.
Time to flush and bleed the brakes. The master cylinder is located below the drivers side floor and the cap is vented up to the air filter assembly under the hood (Part of the fording capabilities of the M38). These Jeeps were set up to use DOT5 fluid, the fluid in this one looked clear and not purple (DOT5 is purple) so I flushed and installed DOT4 since it looks like that is whats already in there. All 4 corners were flushed and bleed. Also adusted the free play on the pedal to 1/2" and adjusted the brake pads on all 4 corners.
Making a custom bent 1/4" wrench for the rear brake bleeders.
Front and rear axles were drained and re-filled with fresh fluids. I'll be draining and re-filling the transfer case and transmission with GL4 soon.
Hover Jeep lol. Pic was taken before the rear jack stands were installed....I'm not going under without 4 jack stands!
Filling the front knuckles. I'm using JD Cornhead grease, this grease is between a grease and an oil...It's thick enough that it doesn't leak out like 80w-90 and thin enough it properly lubricates and circulates unlike regular grease that just sticks to the inside of the knuckle housing.
I heated the grease up with a heat gun a bit and poured it into a oil syringe, the syringe worked great for squirting the grease into the knuckle.
As you fill the knuckle turn the hubs over by hand as you fill. This will get the grease all the way around inside the housing and allow you to completely fill the knuckle to the bottom edge of the threads.
More to come.....
Hodakaguy
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