Messages

1

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: July 14, 2026, 03:53:45 PM »

On the home stretch now, just a little more to do and the tub will be finished with metal work.
Addressing some rust in the fender and riser area.

2

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: July 04, 2026, 09:59:43 AM »

Got some of the rear floor repairs done. I've come to the conclusion it would have been better to completely remove the floor, make the repairs and then reinstall it. The rust was worse than I initially thought it was and the patch was bigger than expected, so ran into some shrinking issues. But its getting there and hopefully is the last of the tub work.

3

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: April 28, 2026, 09:20:53 AM »

Worked on the cowl today, rust had gotten behind the bracket and there was some rust holes. Cut the area out, cleaned the rust out and made up some patches. Originally it wasn't welded at the seam like cj2a bodies, but I decided to weld it up to keep water from getting in there again. Still have the driver side to do.

4

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: April 28, 2026, 09:13:49 AM »

Decided to change things up and rebuild the heater.
The core pressure tested ok but needed a new bracket soldered on.
Sandblasted the whole thing and painted it,replaced the motor with a new 6v motor, and added some mouse proofing.

5

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: March 03, 2026, 08:43:46 PM »

Finished up the back hatch repairs.

6

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: February 05, 2026, 09:20:25 AM »

The way the regulators work is a little like a garage door, a spring balance. So even though the window will stay in any position while the vehicle is stopped, I have a feeling when driving it will creep open or closed depending on what position its closest to.
With the correct window felt it may have had enough friction to stay when new, but the felt I used is loose and  let’s the glass float in the track so that could be part of the issue.
There’s no service information about this type of window regulator that I can find, so there’s some guessing going on 

7

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: February 04, 2026, 12:14:27 PM »

A little more progress on the passenger door. The window regulator, door latch and inner panel are repaired and installed. I think I'm finally past the worst of the front doors and can move on to the rear gate now.

8

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: November 25, 2025, 08:56:20 PM »

Put the skin on and got some primer on it.

9

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: November 21, 2025, 08:11:28 PM »

Working on the passenger door now.
Made and welded in some reinforcements for the roller bolts, replaced the bottom of the frame, made lots of adjustments and started making a new skin. Lots to still do but its looking like a door again.

10

"Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations / Re: Drawbar identification

« on: November 16, 2025, 12:14:59 PM »

Starting to think maybe it’s after market or a dealer replacement from the AMC time. It shares some features of the cj5 hitch, no PTO box cutout, bolt on braces, and a small piece of angle welded to the center .
The lack of 10 holes is still a little odd.

11

"Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations / Drawbar identification

« on: November 16, 2025, 09:31:07 AM »

Just a little stumped by this Drawbar. All the ID plates were missing off this jeep but the title says its a 1952, and I'm pretty sure its a cj3a frame.
I've never seen one with only 6 holes and bolt on braces. Any thoughts on if its the correct one for a cj3a?

12

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: October 14, 2025, 10:53:31 AM »

Yeah the handle is used to raise and lower the window. The “lift” as Willys called it, essentially works as a spring balance , a little like a garage door .
It’s a odd choice for a vehicle but Willys found a solution for the windows opening on their own, they added a little wire stop on the inner panel you can turn to lock the window in the up position  .

13

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: October 13, 2025, 08:52:27 PM »

Drivers side window works again.
 Tried something different for the window tracks, instead of buying new window channels/felt. I got some self adhesive felt, cleaned/painted the channels and installed the felt. Hopefully it continues to work well, the beaded window channels used on these are difficult and expensive to source.
The handle is all guess work, the only photos that show them are all fuzzy and only show the outside. I made these from an old piece of stainless, they fit tight enough to stay on pretty well but the plan is to put a little glue on them when installed on the new glass.

14

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: September 16, 2025, 08:54:38 AM »

The door latch has been a decent project all by itself. Being that these are impossible to find new. I had to completely disassemble it to build up the pivot holes , reshape them and straighten the housing.
The original coating was completely gone so I went with a zinc plating on all the parts. The passenger side will have to wait until another day.

15

Your DJ-3A Project / Re: 1957 DJ3A

« on: September 06, 2025, 09:29:37 AM »

The driver door is coming together, looking more complete with a new skin.