My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: F Bill on January 30, 2013, 03:52:45 PM

Title: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: F Bill on January 30, 2013, 03:52:45 PM: I've been working on a project that involves replacement sheet metal for the wheelhouse tops and patch panels for the floor on my jeeps.. Here's something I never realized...

(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/FBilljeeps/jeep%20floor%20an%20wheelhouse%20top%20ribs/DSCN1453_zpsbadfad86.jpg)

Look how assymetrical the ribs are...almost like they wanted them sharper towards the right side of the jeep for some reason.
(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/FBilljeeps/jeep%20floor%20an%20wheelhouse%20top%20ribs/DSCN1454_zps782ed1b6.jpg)

You guys that have original floors still, if you have time, can you check out your wheelhouse and floor ribs to see if they are the same as mine? Those pics are a DJ3A, my 3A has been modified a BUNCH and ~~I do not think the ribs are even there any more. )~~

EDIT: Just checked the Pintojeep, my only 3A (that I know of ) and the long rib goes all the way to the front edge, just like the 2A ones do. I actually do have the wheelhouse top ribs but in lousy shape. I'd b einterested in seeing what the rest of the 3A population has.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: garage gnome on January 30, 2013, 06:33:49 PM: I can look at my 49 tomorrow. That is the only original one I have.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on January 31, 2013, 06:03:34 AM: I just looked at my fleet. The long rib goes all the way to the front on both 1950 tubs and is about 1/2" back on both 1952 tubs.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: bretto on January 31, 2013, 06:33:26 AM: My M38 tub ('51) measures out the same as your pic.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: athawk11 on January 31, 2013, 10:56:06 AM: 1949 tub...long rib goes all the way to the edge.

Tim
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: F Bill on January 31, 2013, 11:21:29 AM: Thanks everyone....

Bob W is this yet another data point we need to date a 3A tub with? You don't happen to know the month they changed the ribs?

Seems like sometime in 1951?

If you guys have a profile gage to check with I'd appreciate knowing if the floor ribs are the same as the wheelhouse ribs. From what I have seen tentatively they are the same as the passenger side wheelhouse. On the drivers side wheelhouse they are slanted the opposite direction. The spacing is different.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on January 31, 2013, 12:31:05 PM: Quote
Bob W is this yet another data point we need to date a 3A tub with? You don't happen to know the month they changed the ribs?

I do not know when the ribs changed. From what I am seeing it probably was late 1950 to early 1951. We need to hear from more people with 1950 and 1951 CJ-3As to narrow it down.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Ryan_M on January 31, 2013, 01:13:55 PM: This is my 1951 3A and from what I can tell the serial number dates it to around May of '51. The body work done as part of the overhaul affected the ribs (long story) so I would not trust measurements now. Here's the best pic I can find of the area in question prior to it being introduced to a maniac with a cutting torch.

(http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z403/rmurdock2121/51%20Willys%20Jeep%20CJ3A%20Rehab/ribs_zps34f6fc0c.jpg)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on January 31, 2013, 01:39:33 PM: Thanks Ryan. It looks like your 3A has the later rib that ends about 1/2" from the front.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Pats4WD on January 31, 2013, 06:11:31 PM: F Bill

My 51 3A Ser # 451 GBI 27079 (for those that can tell when it was made) Has the same ribs on the wheel housings ending about 1/2 inch from the end. The ribs are also like in your picture in that the edges are steeper on the side to the outside of the body and more gradual to the inside. The floor looks to be same hight ribs as the wheel housings ( smidge over 1/4 inch) but the sides of the ribs are the same.

Hope that helps.
Pat
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on January 31, 2013, 08:02:23 PM: Here is the drivers wheelhouse on a 1950 tub. The long rib is flush with the front. Unfortunately I do not know the serial number for this tub.

(http://www.cj3a.info/temp/wheelwell.jpg)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: garage gnome on February 03, 2013, 09:54:57 AM: The two long ones on my 49 go all the way to the edge. They don't stop just short.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on February 03, 2013, 09:09:26 PM: My '51, #152XX has the long rib that goes all the way to the edge...short rib appears the same but there is a hard top and I can't get a ruler under it....
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on February 11, 2013, 07:10:21 PM: The long rib on 451-GB1 24316 is a 1/2" back from the edge. ~~Looks like the change was between 24316 and 52xxx~~. Anyone else have a 1951 CJ-3A to help document this change point?

Edit, Looks like I got that second serial number wrong. 1955CJ-5 can you verify your serial number for me?

Thanks
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on February 12, 2013, 06:41:38 AM: Okay, I'm going to try this again, maybe I can get it correct this time :-[

Looks like the length of the long wheelhouse rib changed between 451-GB1 152xx and 451-GB1 24316. That narrows it down to the early 1951 model year.

Anyone else out there with an early 1951 CJ-3A to help with this survey?

Thanks,
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: 3aJeeper on February 12, 2013, 08:51:56 AM: Serial number 451-GB1-29540. Wheel housing ribs same as first picture. One long, one short.
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Stack_O_Lee on February 12, 2013, 10:13:12 AM: Here's a very late 1950 CJ-3A tub. ï¿½#59,359. ï¿½(I don't know where the tub serial number is.)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr348/joshinpollock/2013-02-12_07-27-03_42.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr348/joshinpollock/2013-02-12_07-26-50_446.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr348/joshinpollock/2013-02-12_07-28-31_989.jpg)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on February 12, 2013, 12:55:20 PM: Thanks for the replies guys!!!

JBCarney I have one question. Does your long rib end flush with the front edge (bottom photo) or is it set back by about 1/2" (top photo)?

(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/FBilljeeps/jeep%20floor%20an%20wheelhouse%20top%20ribs/DSCN1453_zpsbadfad86.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr348/joshinpollock/2013-02-12_07-26-50_446.jpg)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: 3aJeeper on February 12, 2013, 03:15:09 PM: Mine is set back about 1/2" like you show in the top photo. Hard to see for the rust/paint so I outlined in red.

(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/carneyjb/Wheel_house_ribs_zps568bcc3e.jpg)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on February 12, 2013, 03:39:26 PM: Excellent, thanks very much :)
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Quebec Jeep on February 19, 2013, 10:12:33 AM: My jeep is a CJ-3A 1950. I estimated the built date around late August 1950.
Serial # is 56908

(http://pages.videotron.com/lavoip/index_files/IMAG0585.jpg)

(http://pages.videotron.com/lavoip/index_files/IMAG0586.jpg)

Hope this help
Title: Re: Floor and wheelhouse ribs.....
Post by: Bob W on February 19, 2013, 03:35:23 PM: Thanks!