My Willys 3A and 3B Community
3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: 3aJeeper on March 03, 2012, 08:48:32 AM
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Thought I'd share a little progress.
Took the day off and worked on the jeep. Still in tear-down mode, but got the body off and cleaned what looks like 30 yrs of Georgia clay off the frame. Cleaned up the garage which makes The Boss happier too. � ;)
Getting the body off the frame and really taking a look confirmed my fears that I've been lying to myself about saving the tub (see pix below). Too much is gone....if I got rid of the rust on what's left of the front floor there would be nothing left....the rear floor was already a roughly done replacement. So I'll save the ID plate off this one and eventually get a replacement tub.
The frame looks to be in good shape except the back end. The rear cross member was damaged at some point and some fine red-neck engineering was done. The PO welded in some angle iron to reinforce it. They also deemed it necessary to weld the tub to the frame and put a new rear bumper with tow-hitch. �:P I'll be cutting all that off and installing the new cross member from Walck's when it arrives to get back to standard.
And yes, that's a cooler of live crawfish that came today :) ....we're having a crawfish boil and the mud bugs will be swimmin' in da spice! Pinch the tails and suck the heads! Thems good eatin! :D
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/carneyjb/Tub1.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/carneyjb/Tub2.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/carneyjb/Clean_frame.jpg)
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AAAAh, JB,
That underside is painful to look at. I feel for that old beast. Georgia mud must be acidic.
I am a little jealious. Your trees and shrubs are blooming. Your grass is green. Couple more months of crap weather here before spring really rolls in.
Are you going to try to find an old doner tub, or are you going for a new one? From what I read, the new tubs are getting a little better when it comes to fit and finish.
Good luck with the project. Keep the photos coming. Makes me want to do another Willys resque. (I'm already looking, but if my wife finds out, I'm toast.)
Tim
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Tim,
I plan on looking for a donor tub if I can. But yea, a brand new tub from the Philippines may be the way to go even if I have to do a little adjusting, to me that's easier than a lot of body work and I get to start from scratch in fighting rust.
And we've had a very mild winter here to say the least and this Florida boy really appreciates it. Last year we got a several days of below freezing temps and couldn't leave the house for a week due to the ice. I'll take March 1 and high 60's any time I can get it.
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Hey JB, Is that a F head? But what I really wanna know is "what kinda beer is that on the counter?" :)
Matt
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Looks like Yuengling to me...
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Looks like the underside of my tub!
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx125/willyscjmj/1952%20Willys%20CJ3A%20Jeep%20Restoration/100_4972.jpg)
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You're both right - that's an F-head that the CJ3a got somewhere in its' past. Runs pretty good, and I am of the school of "If it ain't broke-don't fix it." so it'll stay where it is. �And yes that is Yuengling on the workbench. How'd that get there? �It's suppose to be in the cooler! :D
garage_gnome - wow, that does look like mine, but at least you have the original rear floor, mine was replaced with sheet metal long ago. You gonna get a donor or new to replace that?
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Here's a pic of the rear cross member and the additional bumper and tow hitch. Gonna be happy to cut that off as I don't have a lot of room in the garage and won't miss catching me knee against that ball hitch.
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/carneyjb/Cj3aRear.jpg)
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You're both right - that's an F-head that the CJ3a got somewhere in its' past. Runs pretty good, and I am of the school of "If it ain't broke-don't fix it." so it'll stay where it is. �And yes that is Yuengling on the workbench. How'd that get there? �It's suppose to be in the cooler! :D
garage_gnome - wow, that does look like mine, but at least you have the original rear floor, mine was replaced with sheet metal long ago. You gonna get a donor or new to replace that?
Mines been done for 3 years now, just took me forever to join this board. �;D
Maybe I should post up a restoration thread on it...
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JB- that's pretty cool having a F134 in a 3A. Do you have any pics of the right side engine and air cleaner?
�A prevoius owner of my Jeep had modified the rear of the frame too. I just finished grafting on a draw bar from a CJ6. Here' a before and after shot.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/1z3o68k.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2q3x4xt.jpg)
"Yuengling?" What is this "Yuengling"? I must try some. Drat! they do not sell beer in Connecticut on Sundays! Time to move! >:(
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Yuengling! I'm still laughing...don't know what is more disturbing - warm Yuengling sitting out on the counter or the fact that Comanche County knew exactly what kind of beer it was. Yikes!
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Matto - I haven't come up with the proper air cleaner yet. The PO was using the stock Carter YF carb with a small round air filter mounted directly on top....of course with the obligatory hole and scoop on the hood. :(
I put on a Holley 1901 which is a much lower profile which leaves me about 1 1/2 inches of clearance under the 3a hood to fab an air horn to a filter. I'll also have to cut down the breather on top of the valve cover.
I do like the new back end...nice!
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Yuengling! �I'm still laughing...don't know what is more disturbing - warm Yuengling sitting out on the counter or the fact that Comanche County knew exactly what kind of beer it was. �Yikes!
I am experienced in these matters sir. 8-)
JB, have you decided how you're going to tackle that? I haven't done much to my tub yet, wish I had the "sheet metal" gene but its absent from my DNA and probably best I stay away from any classic Jeep tub. Your fender wells, cowl and outer skins look alright and Classic Enterprises has all the replacement panels it looks like you need.
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Boys, there is a 2A for sale on CL in St. Cloud MN, its got a pretty decent looking tub, but doesn't run. If you need a tub this might be a good one and I would bet it would go pretty cheap.
Todd
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Comanche_County
Yea, the cowling is in good shape and the Fender wells too...however, all the side panels have been redone with bondo, sheet metal and not much remains. I too, don't have the sheet metal DNA and think it would be easier to replace the tub altogether. Making a few cuts and bolting things together is more my skill level than sheet metal and welding.
Whether with a donor or new repo is yet to be seen. I've got a lot to do before I get back to the body, so for now I'll keep my eyes open. Will take a look at the CL ad that Gunslinger mentioned.
I think I may just go with a whole new repo.
This thing is already a Frankenstein already between the Cj3a frame and cj5 engine, so whatever else I do won't hurt.
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Mines been done for 3 years now, just took me forever to join this board. �;D
Maybe I should post up a restoration thread on it...
Yes, please do post up a restoration thread. We'd all love to see the steps of your restoration. Those of us who have been there can reminisce, and those still looking forward to such can take heart.
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JB, I can't send a PM reply for some reason, Jeep Gods must be angry with me lately. I can receive pms but can't send any.
On the 2A.....Yes, the floorboard is repairable, and its better than yours as in its not quite eaten up so much evenly, it does have larger holes up front in both floorboard areas though. �The back bed portion is good and seems solid, that being said, I still think it would be an equal sized headache to repair. �But it is repairable. �I've got to go to Houston next week, but when I return, I'll send more detailed pictures of it to you. �I make the I-20 ride quite often from TX to Savannah. �If you like the pics I'd gladly haul it to GA for ya on my next trip. �I also have got a lead on a couple other tubs around here locally, if I find a decent one I'll let you know. �
Jay
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C_C,
Yes, please send some pics, that would be great. If that works out, hopefully we can coordinate on one of your trips out this way. I'll send you my gmail address in a PM since you can receive but not send.
Thanks!
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I'm chompin at the bit to get my frankenjeep project underway, good luck with yours. �I was on Vacash and offered a fella a can of Pennsylvania's finest lager and in all seriousness he askes me where I got the chinese beer. ::)
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Ha! - I've heard the 'Chinese beer' comment before.
I've had my project underway for 3 years. Clearly I over-estimated the amount of time I would have to work on it. Glacial speed at best. But I sure am having a lot of fun when I do make a little progress.