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Questions and Answers | Return to The CJ2A Home Page Re: Wood in Hat Channels

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Posted by Nick on December 03, 2002 at 14:30:08:

In Reply to: Posted by on November 19, 2002 at 15:06:33:

: I ahve started to replace the hat channels on the floorboards of my 50 3A. The question I have is do I replace the wood in the hat channels or leave it out. If left out, would it crush the hat channels when I rebolt the body to the frame.
: I would appreciate any thoughts on this .

: Tim

I realize that this has been covered ad nauseum, but if you stop to consider what the later CJs had in them, it's a different design altogether. Granted, it's not stock, so it can't be a TRUE resto, but it's an option.
The later CJs (70's-80's) had rectangular pieces of 1/4" steel tack-welded in the hat channels at the mounting points. The steel was drilled and tapped for the body mount bolts.
Even if you don't know EXACTLY where the body will end up, you know generally where it will be based on the old locations and the mounts. You can also compare the hat channel to the mounts before you weld it up to the body, and mark the approximate locations of the body mount points. Tack a long section of 1/4" steel in there, mount the hat channel to the body, place the body, then drill and tap the hat channel and plate at the body mount location, and run the bolt up from the underside.
The upside to this design is that you don't have bolt heads sticking up into the body at the mount locations, so it's a cleaner look. The downside is that it's a little more prep work than just drilling a hole clean through and dropping a bolt in.

Nick

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: : I ahve started to replace the hat channels on the floorboards of my 50 3A. The question I have is do I replace the wood in the hat channels or leave it out. If left out, would it crush the hat channels when I rebolt the body to the frame. : : I would appreciate any thoughts on this . : : Tim : I realize that this has been covered ad nauseum, but if you stop to consider what the later CJs had in them, it's a different design altogether. Granted, it's not stock, so it can't be a TRUE resto, but it's an option. : The later CJs (70's-80's) had rectangular pieces of 1/4" steel tack-welded in the hat channels at the mounting points. The steel was drilled and tapped for the body mount bolts. : Even if you don't know EXACTLY where the body will end up, you know generally where it will be based on the old locations and the mounts. You can also compare the hat channel to the mounts before you weld it up to the body, and mark the approximate locations of the body mount points. Tack a long section of 1/4" steel in there, mount the hat channel to the body, place the body, then drill and tap the hat channel and plate at the body mount location, and run the bolt up from the underside. : The upside to this design is that you don't have bolt heads sticking up into the body at the mount locations, so it's a cleaner look. The downside is that it's a little more prep work than just drilling a hole clean through and dropping a bolt in. : Nick

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