Finally, after 8 years

[HillBillE]

About 8-9 years ago, my dads neighbor picked up a 'new' Jeep for plowing duty.

He had been using a '52 CJ3A since '88, and found a '65 CJ5.

I told him to let me know when he got the plow set up swapped over, as I was interested in buying the 3A.

Little did I know it would take over 8 years for the plow swap to happen

Well, just over a week ago, Bernie called my dad, and asked if I was still interested in the old Jeep!

If I wasn't, he was going to scrap it.  (scary thought!!)

All he wanted was 'scrap price', and he figured that scrap was about $225 a ton, so $200 seemed fair.

Seemed really fair to me!  He also threw in a Ramsey PTO unit with the deal!

And the best part?  I drove it back to my dads place!  Yep, a running driving 3A for $200!!



Engine bay is fairly complete:



PTO he threw in. It had one broken bolt on the shift cover. I was able to drill it out and re tap it:

[HillBillE]

I didn't care for the top, made it really hard to get in/out of.

So off it came:





It was welded and riveted to the tub and windshield frame:






No idea what the top was for originally, it was much longer than the 3A, and was shortened to fit it:

Here you can see where there were window openings in the sides:



They cut out a chunk from the middle, then welded and riveted the rear piece back on:



The sad part is, they cut the top of the tub rails, and the tail gate completely off.

Best shot I have of the back end:



I do have a parts tub from a 2A, and a tailgate, so hopefully I can make it look presentable again.

Not going for a full resto on this one, but I will be keeping it stock.  I have a '00 TJ for playing in the rocks! 8-)

[Bob W]

Nice!!! Do you have a photo of the dashboard showing the gauges and the area around them?

Thanks!

[HillBillE]

Nice!!! Do you have a photo of the dashboard showing the gauges and the area around them?

Thanks!

Not off hand, but I'll grab some soon.  Other than the 'amp' gauge, they appear stock.

The dash light even works!

[HillBillE]

Some more pics.

Dash pics:




The key is hiding in the shadows, above the steering column.

Back of the tub, where it was 'cut' to fit the funky top on;





You can see part of the top that I still need to remove.

[HillBillE]

Floorboards:





Seats, not in bad shape!

[HillBillE]

The PO was using a boat motor tank for fuel:



We had a tank from a 2A in the shed!!

The fuel connection was loose, so I pulled it out:



I cleaned up the pick up tube and fitting, and using some 50/50 solder I use for radiator repair, I soldered the tube back in, then the fitting to the tank.



Got it the first time! No leaks!!  (rare for me! )



And as a bonus, when I hooked up the wire to the sending unit, the fuel gauge works!! 8-)

[HillBillE]

Tank fitting soldered back in:



Had to evict some mice. Hopefully they don't set up shop in my shop!



And I think this may be the original color? �Kind of a maroon/purple:



Taking it back out to my dads place, and fabbing some sort of tail gate for it. �Pretty sure we have 2 2A tailgates, so hope to use one for this.

Then it's off to the cabin, and hopefully use it to haul in some deer!!

[Bob W]

Thanks for the photos! Your Jeep was probably Luzon Red. The ammeter and temperature gauges are not original. Very nice project  

[HillBillE]

Thanks for the photos! Your Jeep was probably Luzon Red. The ammeter and temperature gauges are not original. Very nice project �:)

No problems on the photos, everyone likes Jeep pics, right!!

I knew the ammeter wasn't right, it's also hooked up backwards to

Had a feeling the temp gauge was not original, as i found a faceplate on the floor while cleaning it out.

The wiring is still factory, 'POS to POS' and hasn't been swapped to a POS to Ground like many older 6V Jeeps, so that's cool.

Tonight I evicted the mice (dang meece's don't pay rent on time!) ground off the sharp edges from removing the top, wire wheeled some rusty spots, and primered everything I ground/wire wheeled.

Tomorrow it's heading back to my dad's, where we'll figure out a tailgate, then it's off to the cabin for deer season, and to be stored in the barn for the winter.

The '46 CJ2A project is taking up the small heated shop at my dads, and my Jeeps are taking up my shop (much to the chagrin of my wife, who wants to park inside now that winter is coming-can you believe that? )


After checking it out, I think I'll end up doing a resto on this. The tub isn't real bad, and it did spur my dad and I to get moving on the '46!

And, my youngest son JP, named it "Old Sarge", he wants to paint it camo

I told him that's fine....for now.  I'll just get flat spray, and every time we clean up an area, let him prime and paint it.

[HillBillE]

D'oh!  Too many forums I'm on!

Posted this in the 'mutilation' section (and it probably belongs there too!)

I cut up an old rusty 2A tub, and used the parts to fit a tailgate to the 3A









Not show room quality for sure, but functional, and original still!

[HillBillE]

Well, done with it for now. Tomorrow she's on the trailer, and off to the cabin for the winter.

Seeing as my youngest son not only loves helping wrench on the Jeeps, he'll most likely end up with some when I kick over.

decided to let him name this one. He decided on "Ol' Sarge". Well, seeing as how I was cutting out a stencil for the tailgate, figured I'd do one for the other side too!



Got the tailgate on, and it sure ain't no beauty!  Didn't bother with any body filler, as any serious tub work will be down the road a ways.  Just wanted to have a functioning tail gate, seeing as the Jeep will be pulling utility duty at the cabin for a spell.



Also wired up a tail light, and got the head lights working. (dash light was working good already)

Found a shift knob that fit, and installed a gas tank strap left over from our parts 2A.



Took it out and ran it through the gears, did about a 2 mile trip. Felt Awesome!! 8-)

The spare wheel even has the pin stripe on it still!





The 4 on the Jeep have been painted over, multiple times by the look of things.


After deer season, and the snow flies, we may bring it home and pull the drive train. Go through it over the winter, and have it rockin smooth by spring!