My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: Rob on December 01, 2014, 09:12:45 PM

Title: What did I buy?
Post by: Rob on December 01, 2014, 09:12:45 PM: Recently purchased a 1952 CJ3A, however it is different than most others. It has the higher hood for the Hurricane engine however the headlights are in the lower position.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: athawk11 on December 01, 2014, 09:44:58 PM: Wow. I've never seen anything like it. I've seen a number of concept Willys Jeeps, but nothing like this.

Possibly an early Mahindra? The frame looks completely different too.

Can you post more photos?

Tim
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: F Bill on December 01, 2014, 09:52:32 PM: If you look at the backside, I'm betting you will find a seam on the back of that horizontal line above the slots..I'm thinking someone wrecked the jeep, which accounts for the damaged /modified front frame and they couldn't find a 3B grille at the time so they modified a 3A grille.

Post a pic of the backside of the grill if you can. Definitely a unique look.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: athawk11 on December 01, 2014, 09:55:29 PM: I'm beginning to think that grill was modified.ï¿½ The rust lines just above the lights are right where the original 3A grill would have been.

Edit...Bill spotted the same thing I did.

Tim
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: macrisel on December 02, 2014, 11:58:41 AM: I would have to agree also with the Bubbified 3a grille. If I'm not mistaken, I thought the 3B grille had WILLYS stamped in the center also?
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: oldtime on December 02, 2014, 12:46:30 PM: Check the serial numbers but I'm guessing it's a 1952 CJ-3A.
The trans-model modifications include the engine, the tub or at least the cowl section, the windshield, the hood, and the worlds ugliest grill /guard.
It might make a nice candidate for a sloped hood 3B.

See: http://cj3b.info/Photos/Proto/Willys141041Left.jpg
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: SteveW on December 02, 2014, 03:27:59 PM: Didn't they modify some jeeps that were used as tugs with newer F heads? I don't think that is it but have seen some pic's somewhere of planes being pulled with ugly modified jeeps.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: johnrb3b on December 03, 2014, 03:12:27 PM: Yes, more pictures - engine compartment, sides, rear end, windshield, dash.
At the risk of offending you about your new toy, it does look kind of uglified. But hey, it's an old Willys and you can have imense fun with it so don't let anybody put it down.
If it runs and stops safely, get out there and enjoy.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: calvinhunt on December 09, 2014, 12:20:04 AM: We must have lost Rob. It's been a week since he posted his one and only post asking about his purchase. I've been returning to see the additional photos that have been requested.
Come on back Rob.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: oldtime on December 09, 2014, 11:29:17 AM: Yeah Rob we all have questions.
Take no offense to my "worlds ugliest grill" comment.
Hey that's actually a compliment !

Anyway, what I think we all want to know is ...
Was the grill spliced or is it formed from a single sheet ?
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: bretto on December 09, 2014, 09:38:00 PM: It's his 1st post, hopefully he'll remember he came by here and come back.
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: athawk11 on December 10, 2014, 07:31:44 PM: Okay,ï¿½ which one of you guys angered Rob? ;)

This is one of the hottest topics going.ï¿½ I don't think he understands how exciting this kind of stuff is for guys like us.ï¿½ I wish he'd come back with more photos.ï¿½ The suspense is killing me.

Tim
Title: Re: What did I buy?
Post by: garage gnome on December 14, 2014, 08:50:32 PM: I think it is a modified 3A grille. You can see the seam above the lights.