DJ3A Just Purchased

[zooke581]

Well picked up this last week.  Got there a little late as the owner parted out the starter and carb and 16 inch wheels.   

The first time I saw it he had backed into it and took out the grill, radiator, alternator and generator bracket and mangled the front fenders.

I was contemplating starting it when a fellow Jeeper stopped by and we got to looking at it.  He noticed the tag on the block as I did and said this is a Supersonic.  I wiped off all the buildup on the head and sure enough it was.

My starter wouldn't fit as the bolt holes are too small.  So I put the word out and a fellow 3Aer came through with an NOS one.

[zooke581]

Motor is free and not stuck.  Four wheel drive has been added over the 2 wheel.  So far just need a carb.  Hope to get a compression reading.  I could use the carb of my 2A for now.  Tub is in really good shape.  It did come with a 46 2A grill and I have a 3A radiator in my 2A. 

Hmmmmmm. What to do, what to do.

Building a 42 GPW Salad Jeep right now.  But this would be fun.

[Quebec Jeep]

Nice find. Body look in good shape.

Add it on your next project list!

[zooke581]

Old locked up front brakes are a PITA   Need to get the front loosened so I can move the Jeep over to the shop.

[zooke581]

Got them freed.     That just took me back 27 years. 8-)

[zooke581]

Going to use this old DJ for my military clone so I can take my time with the real GPW stuff on my modded CJ2A frame. 

Got a little done on it today.  Took the front wheels off to remove the brake shoes that were binding.  Removed the front fenders and Bubba'd radiator brackets.  Cleaned up the bed and mocked up the GPW grille to see what it looked like.

Starter still is not here.  USPS is very happy to give an early delivery time so you will go with them.  They actually deliver it about 5 days later.  Hope that will be Monday.  Until then I can do other things.

[zooke581]

Well, today was a good day, outside of the fact I broke my left foot big toe at work. Thumbs Down  Gives a whole new meaning to big toe.

Starter arrived today.  NOS Autolite 6V from Ryan_M.  Thanks.  Put the starter on and cranked the engine for the first time.  Did a compression test and 95 on the back two and 105 on the front two.  Used the 12v battery to do this. 

Put on the carb from my other Jeep I had rebuilt and put in some gas.  Jumped the starter with the positive off the coil - nothing.Unhappy

Cleaned the plugs (did this before I put them back in and tried the first start).  Checked the points in the distributor and no spark.  Cleaned points and now has spark.  Tried again and starter whines.  Put in 6V starter and tried again.  Motor comes to life. Big smile

Ran for few seconds and sounded good.  All in all a good investment.  Looks like I will have a Jeep to use while I am doing my Military Clone with real Military parts.

[zooke581]

Video of the DJ3A running after I added a few more things from the 46 2A  (radiator, generator, fan belt).

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3430309773896&set=vb.1754910983&type=2&theater

[Ryan_M]

Sounds good!  That's at least 2 Willys this week that we know of that have returned from the brink of extinction. I love the oil filter set-up. Have you made any attempt to drive it yet?

[zooke581]

Not yet.  Want to clean the rear mounted gas tank first, then fill it and I will try to drive it then.  Won't be till Sunday probably as this Friday I am picking up a GPW block, grill and assorted GPW parts then on to the East Coast Flat Fenders Swap Meet on Saturday.  Hope to trade some stuff and sell some.

Awesome you got yours running too.  And Military to boot.

[zooke581]

Actually got the DJ to move under it's own power.  Shifted through all gears nicely.  Now I need to do the brakes and set up a fuel tank system that will work well.  All I have is a CJ2A tank that would need modified as there is now side panel opening for the fill neck on a DJ.  It is a rear tank mount system.

[zooke581]

Well, between Ron Fizpatrick's and Debella's (the most affordable from each {and both guys were great and helpful on the phone}), I got the brake parts I needed to put this project safely on the road. Wheel cylinders, hard and soft brake lines, brake lining and rivets, gaskets and lock nuts (as the PO used a drift to get the old ones off). The springs, shackles axles and all look in great shape. Need one set of new 6.00 x 16 tires for the roller and I'll be good to go.

Going to take the body off and repair bad spots. While off I will replace the trans cross member as it has the trans too high up and off to the side. Must have used the DJ two wheel drive trans cross member when they put in the 4 wheel drive.

[zooke581]

Did a little work on the Jeep today and boy am I sore.  Got the body off and the underside is in pretty good shape.  Some patching, replacing hat channels and straightening it should be good.  It had be completely undercoated at one time is why it is in such good shape.

The transmission hump will need to be adjusted to fit the T90 as the DJ wasn't four wheel drive.

[zooke581]

Needed to do some adjustments once the body was off.  The PO did some strange things in fitting the four wheel drive to the DJ.  The trans and transfer cases mounted on the an M38 cross member were too far to the passenger side. and too high up.  The clutch control tube had an extension to welded to it to reach the frame rail and also modified clutch control frame bracket.  I used ones from my stash of parts to correct this.  CJ2A frame cross member brackets were added (DJ3A ones were removed).

Exhaust will need to be rerouted as when the rear suspension moved it hit the exhaust and collapsed the right rear brake hard line.  And I found out my CJ2A master cylinder will not match up to the bolt holes for the DJ3A.

[zooke581]

Well the idea was to get this one on the road quickly.  Just do a brake job, correct the mounting of the transmission and transfer case, repair some bad linkages, minor body repairs and have a Jeep to drive while I restored the GPW/2A the right way.

Things just don't seem to work out that way.  When you go so far you see another are that needs fixed while things are apart and it just snowballs from there.

Little more work done today with the biggest thing, getting the Jeep in the shop.  Had to kick some of the bikes out to the curb to do so though.  Poor bikes.



Working on the brakes (and a little bit more).  It really looks good inside.  Have new brake lines, master cylinder, brake cylinders and shoes.