I Really, Really Like Flat Fenders

Flat Fender is the name given Jeeps that were made up until 1953, I think. After that the front of the fender was rolled down and stuff like running lights or directional signals were installed in the rolled down part.

One of the first things I did after buying Blue Goose (BG) was to have the steering fixed. The worm gear in the steering column box was very worn. So I took it to a mechanic to fix.While waiting for parts I dropped by the shop and discovered that the mechanic had removed the left front fender to have easier access to the steering gear box. I thought that was cool, it didn't take much to remove the fender.

Recently I have been working on some electrical parts which are also located near the left front fender. In the end I too had to remove the left front fender. I discovered that three of the bolts were missing, two on the frame and one on the tub (body). The mechanic had not put the fender on properly, probably because it took a long time to line everything up. Three bolts are used to attach the fender to the grill, five to attach it to the frame, and four to attach it to the tub. I needed to use a die to chase the threads on the frame. I got new bolts to replace the missing ones and also to replace several that were too worn to use anymore. As I write this I think I will replace one more worn bolt and chase one more thread in the frame. Then everything will be hunky-dory.

Oh yes, and when I straightened the bent part stuff flaked off and I discovered the real Normandy blue color BG was originally painted. It is much darker than the blue it has now. I always suspected that but was never able to prove it.

Dimmer Switch - How Could Something So Easy Turn Out To Be So Difficult

When I bought BG, although I didn't know it at the time, the dimmer switch that controls the high/low headlight beams didn't work. One set of beams did work, the other was nothing. So I bought a replacement dimmer switch. It came with three small (and I mean really small) bolts that connect the wires to the terminals. In the process of putting the wires on the switch I dropped a bolt into the bowels of the engine compartment. One hour later I found it. Two hours later I recovered it. In the process of putting the wires on the switch I dropped a bolt again into the bowels of the engine compartment. One hour later I hadn't found it. Two hours later I hadn't found it. By that time I had removed the left front fender assembly. I finally came to the conclusion that it had dropped in a little hole on top of the steering column tube down near where the steering column enters the steering gear box.

To slide the steering column tube up I had to remove the steering wheel. Whee, what a chore! After a couple of false steps I rented a axle puller from our local rental store. It took two hours and several abortive attempts to get it off. When I finally got the steering column tube slid up the bolt did indeed fall out on the floor. Up until that point I had only circumstantial evidence that the bolt was there. I have the steering column tube back in place but haven't put the steering wheel back on. The new dimmer switch is now in place and operational. I have high and low beam and the Tell-Tale lamp on the dashboard that indicates when the high beams are on now also works. It needed a new lamp and to be wired properly to the dimmer switch.

I still have more electrical work to do. It has to wait until the parts arrive. They include installing a new terminal block, a new dashboard toggle switch which turns on the dashboard light and installing the new dashboard light with its clam shell hood.