My Willys 3A and 3B Community
3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: steves on September 09, 2020, 06:37:59 PM
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The tub on my CJ3A has pockets to hold the top bows, like a CJ2. It appears to be an original body, but it's possible that a past owner put a CJ2 tub on my CJ3A. Or, perhaps, someone welded the bow pockets on the original CJ3A tub. One of the welds is rather amateurish. Does anyone have a suggestion for finding out if I have a CJ2 or CJ3A tub? Besides the bow pockets, I understand that there are a few other small differences between the two tubs, including the dimensions of the cargo space, but I don't know what they are.
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Check the OAL of the top panel on the rear wheelhouse.
34” = CJ2a
32” = CJ3a/b
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Thanks. It’s a 3A tub, based on that measurement. It’s a mystery to me why someone wanted to put the pockets on it, but apparently that’s what they did. I’ll have to repaint if I ever remove them, so they’re going to stay for a while.
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Our 64 CJ5 had the pockets for the top bows on the out side corners when it came to us. I removed them to put aluminum diamond plate corners on. It had a steel half cab on it at that time. I do not think this will help you identify your body. But Jeep bodies still had the pockets in '64.
The book "The Civilian Jeep Model CJ-3A" By Bob Westerman would be a good source of information for you.
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The 2A top bow pockets are the only thing I wish Willys Overland would have continued during 3A production. I did consider doing this same modification to one of my 3As. I decided not to.
I say...Keep the Mod! ;)
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On the 2A, the horizontal bows fit in clamps under the windshield and the vertical posts go in the pockets, right? On the 3A, where are the horizontal cross bows stored?
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There are no provisions to store any part of the top bows on a 3A. A friend made a custom bag for his bows, and keeps the set in his cargo area. This is about as good as it gets for a 3A.
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Our 64 CJ5 had the pockets for the top bows on the out side corners when it came to us. I removed them to put aluminum diamond plate corners on. It had a steel half cab on it at that time. I do not think this will help you identify your body. But Jeep bodies still had the pockets in '64.
The book "The Civilian Jeep Model CJ-3A" By Bob Westerman would be a good source of information for you.
I may have created some confusion. The “pockets” I was referring to are mounted on the outside of the body on the driver’s side and hold the vertical bow pieces in storage. I was not referencing the “sockets” into which the vertical bow pieces are placed to erect the soft top. So my 3A has both “pockets” and “sockets”, like a 2A.