Thinking about buying a rebuildable patrol

[stalledjeepproject]

New to the forum to ask a few questions about the realities of restoration. I am familiar with old Jeeps and am in the process of frame off restoring a 1964 CJ 3B so I am not afraid of the enormity of the task and am pretty mechanically inclined. Its the availability of parts I am most concerned about since they were sold for such a limited time in the US. Interior parts like seats and hard parts like engine rebuild kits, wiper motors...all of that little stuff. I like a little lift on 4x4s so is lifted springs even a thing? Or replacement stock springs and shocks? I read through some posts and it seems like parts are generally available with some searching, but is that really the case or is it much harder/easier than I am led to believe from my admittedly high level search? I have always loved the old Patrols, but I am trying to not let my emotions conquer a decision. Any information and a reality check from an enthusiast forum is very much appreciated.

[RiverPatrol]

Welcome to 60Patrol! I know some of us are aware which Patrol you are contemplating. Needless to say that will be an extremely challenging resto. It will make your CJ resto look like a cake walk. But if you are incredibly patient and extremely diligent it can be done, it will just take time. Zed - how many years have you been working on your's? But he's going for showroom.

What you see here is reality, some things can be found others are impossible. You'll be shipping items from all over the world, Australia and Colombia are two big sources. For cosmetic things like seats and instruments you'll find those here in the states, because after '69 all of that stuff changed and only the parts from the early models are interchangeable. And that doesn't apply for everything, some things like seats, seat brackets, doors, door hardware are '66 and '67 only. You'll end up buying stuff that won't fit but you don't find that out until you get it. That's why it's always a good idea to ask here first. Our motto is "There are no stupid questions." And if you want to PM someone instead of posting to the forum that's always ok too.

[L60Boerne]

Stalled,
My mechanics are on the fourth rebuild for me. I hate to say that, because I'd like to claim some expertise, but ...I can't. This forum is so generous I am certain you will not be lacking for help or direction for parts. With time and diligence you will find everything you need. With the experience herein and your talents it will be fun. Me...I have no talents...and it is still fun...simply because of the great givers found herein.

Patrolling with everyone else's parts,
L60Boerne

[moore_rb]

I like your "funhog01" user name on BAT better....

I can't add anything more here than what I already stated in the BAT comments- That truck's revive-ability depends 100% on how bad any "deep rust" is, and whether the trans, tcase and axles have been kept sealed (if they are full of water, then all bets are off. HOWEVER, the intact hardtop should have protected the trans and tcase, and the frame on the truck (from the pics) looks pretty solid (but looks are deceiving).

Technically, there is nothing with these trucks that is any more complicated than your old flatfender CJ3 (I've done many Jeep rebuilds over the past 30 years, and the Patrols only take longer (and cost more) in the sourcing of parts. The wrenching part is pretty much the same- Expect to drill out a lot of broken bolts and snapped off cotter pins, and dropping lots of curse words... Beyond that, these things are no more complicated than farm tractors with roll-up windows

Beyond that, here are a few other key points to keep in mind:

As Riverpatrol pointed out, the listed truck is a 67, and so the doors, latches, hardware, and body tub are all of the later design (mid-66 was the year that the door latch design changed drastically. This is just something you have to keep in mind if you do get to the point that you need door-parts (they would have to be sourced from a mid-66 or later Patrol- door parts from an early 66 or older Patrol won't work)

It looks like both window regulators are still in place with this truck, so hopefully getting the doors working again would be just a matter of glass, weatherstripping, and time...

Or, as Faux40 pointed out in the auction listing, you can yank the top, yank the top door frames, and yank the top-half of the ambulance doors, and go topless/jeep style, and never need roll up windows again.

Wiper motors- the OEM's are rebuildable, OR you could toss originality out the window, and cobble a set of early flatfender Jeep wiper motors like these:

https://www.quadratec.com/products/9191 ... 7oQAvD_BwE

same design, but probably not the same mounting bolt pattern

Engine rebuild- again, just add time, and $$$$... Faux40 has had 2 Patrol engines rebuilt, and user rdarnell is rebuilding his own engine right now (go look through his build thread)

In fact, go check out the first page of rdarnell's build thread- I don't think his 67 was THAT much better than the one you are looking at (again, depends on rust)

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5383

Lastly: The PRIMARY consideration to keep in mind with Patrols is that they are a Unicorn vehicle, and doing basic "off road" style mods (lifts, huge tires, etc) may not be worth the pain. The front can't be lifted without the front driveshaft hitting the trans crossmember, and the steering geometry is not adjustable, so expect any suspension lift project to quickly balloon into a "what did I get myself into?" project - (This coming from a guy who knows first-hand: I re-did a very bad/dangerous spring over axle conversion on my 66 several years ago, and user "yitzac1990" is doing an SOA project on his 69 right now)... At the same time, I'm not really sure why people want to lift these trucks, anyway- they can run up to 34 inch tires with the stock suspension without rubbing (assuming you get the wheel front and back spacing measurements correct)

Texas- Big state, but several active members here are also Texans (l60boerne, zed, jwgreen, several others)

I have always loved the old Patrols, but I am trying to not let my emotions conquer a decision. Any information and a reality check from an enthusiast forum is very much appreciated.

I LOVE the fact that you are doing all your diligence and homework up front . Good luck in your decision, and with your bids if you decide to go for it.

My very first Patrol was also (coincidentally) a 67, that I bought in 1996 (it's the second one from the right in my sig below). The only difference between that one, and the BAT listing was that the engine in mine turned over, and the body on mine was WAY worse than the one in the BAT listing... I had it running in 3 days, and drove it for over a year before sending it on down the road...

Honest opinion (just my own, others may, and probably will disagree...: That truck in the BAT listing is worth no more than 1200-1500 as a project, or in parts (if the parts are good).

If the bid goes above that, then the cost of shipping/transportation (plus the BAT buyer's fee) might flip it upside-down in the equity department (assuming $$$ matters)

But if you win it, we won't let you fail in your project to get it going again...

[RiverPatrol]

I can't add anything more here than what I already stated in the BAT comments- ...

Famous last words.

[moore_rb]

I can't add anything more here than what I already stated in the BAT comments- ...

Famous last words.