1949 CJ3A on the Georgia Coast

[Bob W]

One thing that concerns me is the oil filter. It is not original. If it is a "full flow" filter it will starve the engine for oil. It needs to be a "partial flow" filter for these engines.

[stony]

Well basically it works like this.  You need about 3 Ohms of resistance in the ignition circuit to limit the current flow so the coil doesn�t get too hot with the 12 volt system.  Two ways to do this, either an internal resister in the coil (3 Ohms total) or a 1.5 Ohm external resistor + a 1.5 Ohm coil (3.0 Ohms total).  Problem was that when starting a cold engine the amperage draw by the starter dropped the battery voltage and gave a weaker spark with the 3 Ohm coil.  To solve the problem they use your setup (and with a solenoid or starter relay) to bypass the resistor (giving 1.5 Ohms total) when the starter is turning, so the coil gets full battery voltage and gives you a hotter spark.  As soon as you release the starter, the resistor kicks back in, and since the running engine will put out about 14 volts you have a plenty hot spark.  That�s all there is to it LOL!

[Joe Loehle]

So what oil filter are people using for these?

Joe

[1955CJ-5]

This is the smaller of the canister type, which were original. It uses a Wix 51010 filter.

There were other canisters used that were larger, but they look similar.

You might be able to look up that spin on filter number and see if it is a partial flow. The filter assembly might have a number on it too....

Though not original, spin-on filters are easier to change.

[1955CJ-5]

I just went through the pictures again and realized that you have a rear seat! That is huge as they are scarce as hen's teeth...

I was going over the post to see if there was any mention of the almost inevitable "box of spare parts". The old oil filter may still be around...you never know...

My Model A Ford came with a box of parts....one of which was a rare and hard to find toilet seat hinge!

[Joe Loehle]

I have some extra windshield hold downs (don�t know real name), an extra center vent panel, and a bug screen.

You can also see in the first photo that I have an extra hood.

Digging into some interesting history right now too. Will post after the weekend about it.

Joe

[Joe Loehle]

So last week while I was looking over the body to see what kind of work I had to do, I noticed something on the tailgate. With the right light you could see that it used to say something on the back. It looked like painted words that were then painted over with this brown paint.

Here are a couple of photos. I also took one of the photos and increased the contrast and clarity to see it a little better.





It looked to me like "?AUSTFIELD" or possibly 2 words "?AUST FIELD" with "NEW BRAUNFELS" under it.

I started looking into New Braunfels, Texas and using BAUSTFIELD, CAUSTFIELD, DAUSTFIELD... until I got FAUSTFIELD.

Faust is a big name in New Braunfels. Owners of industry, etc there. I thought maybe it was a Factory or Farm Jeep for one of their Textile mills or something.

I contacted their Chamber of Commerce who set me up with a local Doctor in town who was head of the local Car Club. I also contacted the local museum there. They both came to the same conclusion. Joseph Faust was a mayor of New Braunfels and also a pilot. There was a Faust Air Field at one point in the 50s and 60s.

The Doctor is trying to contact the son of Joe Faust who is still in the area. Who knows what he will remember about an old jeep at the air field.

Anyway, a cool piece of history and another very logical use of a CJ3A for the time.

Joe

[1955CJ-5]

Very cool! 

With any luck you'll turn up an old B&W picture of the jeep at work...

[SteveKfl]

Maybe this site can help you find info on Faust Field.  I just found it yesterday looking for a private field here in Miami in the 50's.  Found It!  I tried some Texas searches, but not knowing Texas I was just skipping around aimlessly...  They may even be interested to find out there was another air field for them to investigate.  Good Luck!
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX.htm

[Joe Loehle]

Thanks Steve,

No luck on that site.

Joe

[athawk11]

Very Cool! 
I'm a little jealous.  Even if it is a boring and insignificant history, I still wish I knew where my Willys Jeeps had been.   

[Joe Loehle]

The color of the paint behind it is bright green. That is on the original gray paint.

I used a pressure washer on it and have been knocking off the flaking metal to see how much bondo there is underneath. That area showed green paint.

When I do the sand blasting on it to get ready for sheet metal work, I may just try that area with something lighter like walnut shell and see if I can take off the brown paint and leave what is underneath.

Joe

[athawk11]

It would be kind of neat to restore it back to the 'air field' era.

[Joe Loehle]

I wonder if the clipboard top mounted to the dash had anything to do with the air field stuff? 

Joe

[Joe Loehle]

So this weekend I pulled my gas tank out. It is in great condition inside. Sending unit or Fuel gauge do not work right, so will replace the sending unit  and see what happens. But that's later.

I wanted to get at the riveted-in patch panels in the footwells. They drilled out easily and I removed them. Pretty beat up underneath.



Replace the whole floorpan and hat channels in one piece? Like this: https://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/body/repair-panels/floor-panel-repair/complete-front-floor-pan-with-welded-braces-fits-46-64-cj-2a-3a-3b

Or do each side's floorpan individually like this: https://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/body/repair-panels/floor-panel-repair/floor-pan-repair-panel-for-drivers-side-fits-46-64-cj-2a-3a-3b-m38
and then have to replace the hat channels with this: https://www.kaiserwillys.com/front-floor-brace-for-drivers-side-fits-46-64-cj-2a-3a-3b-m38

Pretty close to same price, just don't know which method will be easier to do and/or better in the long run.

Any thoughts?

Joe