My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: polara6t on July 13, 2013, 06:23:39 PM

Title: 51 Tail Light Combinations
Post by: polara6t on July 13, 2013, 06:23:39 PM

So I have a question regarding tail lights and have attached a picture. I have seen CJ3as with top tail lights or bottom tail lights but not both. On our Jeep the top lights are turn signals and the bottoms are brake lights. The top lights are Yankee Thins the bottom lights say ALF Teaco IBI. Is this a possible combination? Was one set added later?

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer. I had a small crack in the passenger side tail light lens. I bought from Walcks the chromo ringed replacements only to find they don't fit tight to the housing. My assumption was that the lower light housings were original and somewhere a chrome lens broke and a new matching set of lenses without chrome rings were added maybe before we bought the Jeep in 1961. The chrome ring replacements don't fit tight to the housing because the screw mounts are too long. So maybe the lowers were added later?

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/polara6t/RJHCJ3a_zps46d01933.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/polara6t/media/RJHCJ3a_zps46d01933.jpg.html)

Title: Re: 51 Tail Light Combinations
Post by: F Bill on July 13, 2013, 06:27:55 PM

Top lights are incorrect for any 3A but it is a common modification, partly to have turn signals and partly so the lights aren't so easy to damage.

I have never heard of that name that is on your lower lights. They look like a common jeep and trailer replacement tail light, but none of the parts got the ALA light will fit them.

The replacement light that has a chrome trim ring on a painted body is the most commonly available correct looking light.

Here's some good reading for you if you haven't seen the 3B page write up on flatfender tail lights.

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Dating/Taillights.html

BTW you can access that and many other good articles by clicking on our main page link at the top left of the forum pages, and clicking thru to the tech tips page.

Title: Re: 51 Tail Light Combinations
Post by: polara6t on July 13, 2013, 07:07:11 PM

Thanks Bill..yes I had seen that article but having been involved extensively with Forwardlook 55-62 Chryslers you find out that there is not such thing back in the day as standard and so many one offs were able to be ordered. I am still of the belief that this 51 was a maybe a company mule given the background. I know my father did not add any lights and the Jeep was moth balled and owned by a Willys worker Victor Platt. Interesting Bill and thanks for your help.