My Willys 3A and 3B Community

How To Join => Once You've Joined => Topic started by: GaryM on June 30, 2019, 12:20:54 AM

Title: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: GaryM on June 30, 2019, 12:20:54 AM

Hi everyone! It's a pleasure to be here on the 3A Page. I'm a refugee from the CJ3B Page--thanks for giving us a place to hang out and talk Willys.

I just finished restoring a 1957 CJ 3B that I bought as a carcass in 2009, shortly after I retired. I started working on it in October 2010 and finally got it on the road September 29, 2018. It currently has 293 miles on it and is in the shop for a rear differential rebuild. Something went POP! and all of a sudden any kind of deceleration caused a horrible grinding vibration. Turns out the outer pinion bearing self-destructed in the almost 300 miles I've driven. I originally cleaned the diff, flushed it out and replaced the pinion seal. Everything felt smooth at that point but I guess some crap ended up in the 62 year old bearing...so time for a complete rebuild. I can't wait to get it back on the road as it is a blast to drive. This first photo is of what I started with. It was a great 8 year (with some long breaks) adventure building it.

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: GaryM on June 30, 2019, 12:45:28 AM

This photo shows what I have finished with. Of course, there are a number of things I will be adjusting/changing because they are never really finished!

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: Rus Curtis on June 30, 2019, 10:06:06 AM

Gary,
Welcome!  That's a big difference from what you started with!  I've also had issues with the back axle (mine's a PO swapped D41 vs. a D44).  I initially wanted to shim the side gears but upon disassembly found brinelling on several bearings.  My conclusion was it was a good thing to have it taken all the way down.  You're way ahead of me so far enjoying it (I've only got .2 miles on the odometer).  How does the engine bay look?

I'm looking forward to seeing more 3B's here as the details get ironed out (I'm waiting on posting my build as well).

Glad to have you here!

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: GaryM on July 01, 2019, 09:47:45 PM

Thanks, Russ! Here is a photo of my engine. This was taken before I installed the air cleaner, which I converted to a dry medium instead of oil bath. The engine is a 38,000 mile good runner that I bought from Terry's Jeep Farm in upstate New York before Terry passed away.

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: GaryM on July 01, 2019, 09:54:13 PM

Here is a photo of my dashboard. The instrument cluster was purchased from Vietnam and is a NOS piece. The Fender bottle opener was given to me by my friends at The Brantford Music Center and covers a couple of holes that I forgot to fill! It is also a real conversation piece--along with my studded spare tire!

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: Rus Curtis on July 01, 2019, 10:08:24 PM

That's a looker!

Title: Re: Hello from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Post by: squidtone on July 02, 2019, 09:17:34 PM

Beautiful Jeep! I love the Fender bottle opener...