Working on a 51 CJ3A

[JerseyDave]

I got my hands on a 51 CJ3a which runs and drives, if you consider brakes optional lol.� My plan is to fix it up to look and run like a factory jeep with NDT's, dark blue paintjob, and black seats.

As I began taking of layers of dried mud, dried grease, and oil I've noticed a few other things that needed work.� Rear bumper is banged up pretty bad, uknown style of air filter, wiring is pretty rough with multiple crimp connectors in each length of wire, and a broken heater element.

It appears that Im missing a bracket for mounting the tub, three on divers side two on passenger side.

[Kirkski]

Sweet Jeep

[JerseyDave]

As you can see from the photos,
1.� There is blow by oil everywhere!�
2. There was so much grease around all the fittings I had to chip it off and wire brush it to find the mettle underneath.

Problem #1 appears to have been caused by the crankcase vent just having a rubber hose and a very oiled up foam filter, nothing like origional or any other car youve seen.� The engine does come with a mosquito defense feature (blue smoke) when revved hard, leading me to think this engine may need a rebuild (it defenitely needs to be cleaned and repainted).

Eventually I want to mount the jerry can and spare tire on the rear like an M-38.

[1955CJ-5]

Looks like a great candidate to start with...

I've never seen an oil filter like that..not even a picture...

It looks like you already have an M-38 bell housing...what is your engine number?

The engine number is on the flat area between the top of the water pump and the head..it may take a little cleaning to read clearly...if it starts with an MC then it too is from an M-38

[Ryan_M]

It looks like you already have an M-38 bell housing...

I think that's an M38 shift tower I see there too.

[JerseyDave]

Wow, M38 engine and shift tower?  I never wouldof guessed?  Thanks for the heads up, that info will come in handy I'm sure.  Lots of surprises in this jeep.

641087 - L - W7 A N1 CR

Thats off the side of the engine, its partially obstructed by stuff.� The spot by the water pump I have to check again tomorow in sunlight.� The engine has alot of crud on it.

The oil filter is a racing type filter, apparently it uses a flat disc and has an idiot light (explains the mystery light on dash) that lights up to tell the driver "Congrats. Your engine is shot" if it senses a loss of oil pressure.� Im gona order an old school looking filter from Kaiser Willys next paycheck.

Right now the wire brushing of the frame is 95% done.� Rear bumper rebuild is next, followed by replacing all brake lines, then gas line, then electrical, then maybee the body can go back on, followed by tooling around in jeepish splendor.

My NDT's are all mounted and ready to go!

[JerseyDave]

Ok the number off the waterpump is J835905

The engine number off the bottom passenger side is

                                                 CC
7 28           641087-L-W7  AN1 - CR - N2

[bretto]

Nice Jeep and an overdrive to boot!
I don't think you got a M38 engine but the rest may be.  Do you see a breather on the transfer case that screws in?
What kind of carb is that?� I wonder if it's the carb people seek when they do a f-head swap.
Is that a fiberglass tub?
If you want to know if that's a M38 shift tower, there will be a small dome that unscrews from the top of the shift tower then you can pull the cane out.
The window frame looks like a possible reproduction.� The tubes look round?

Looks like a fun project as all of them are!

[Bob W]

the number off the waterpump is J835905

That number seems a bit high. Are you sure about the 8?

[Ryan_M]

....scratch my original opinion on the shift tower. It is not an M38 style one.

[JerseyDave]

the number off the waterpump is J835905

That number seems a bit high. Are you sure about the 8?

Yea that is the number:

[JerseyDave]

Nice Jeep and an overdrive to boot!
I don't think you got a M38 engine but the rest may be.� Do you see a breather on the transfer case that screws in?
What kind of carb is that?� I wonder if it's the carb people seek when they do a f-head swap.
Is that a fiberglass tub?
If you want to know if that's a M38 shift tower, there will be a small dome that unscrews from the top of the shift tower then you can pull the cane out.
The window frame looks like a possible reproduction.� The tubes look round?

Looks like a fun project as all of them are!

Ill take a look at the carb and the trans tomorow.  The tub is fiberglass, and Im suspicous that it was intended for a 2A because the two rear body mounts "float" in free air and are in the wheel well, I remember reading here somewhere that the 3A had slightly more leg room than the 2A?

I really dont want to replace the tub now, but I may have to.  It does bother me that there isnt any "Willys" stamps on the hood or the tailgate (no tailgate at all lol).

The winshield is authentic, or at least the correct age, I know that because even without taking a wire brush to it the mettle allowed daylight through its so corroded.

These things fit the defenition of "Project" lol

[Bob W]

Thanks for the excellent photo of the serial number! That sure does look like an 8 but it's the wrong font. I think it is actually a 2 with an extra \ mark on it. Engine J235905 would have originally been in a 1948 CJ-2A.

[JerseyDave]

Wow thanks for the info!  After looking closely at the photo, I see what you mean bob, that does look like a 2 with a / mark over it.  So its a 1948 engine?   Hmm the story unfolds before us lol.

[JerseyDave]

Made some more progress, and found a few more things to fix.

The rear bumper is uglier than expected, but the rest of the frame was ready for the first coat of POR15, so I slapped it on except for the bumper area.�

The preformed steel brake lines arrived, and they dont appear to even be close to fitting, unless I bend the hell out of them.� The frame brake line (front to back long one) arrived in a horse shoe shape... Im not sure if its a good idea to hand bend it straight, but the old one is toast so Ive got to do something.