CJ-3B

[Bob W]

I installed a gusset inside each rear wheelhouse, similar to the spare tire reinforcement gusset in a CJ-3A. These were to give the wheelhouse more strength for the roll bar. Well they need to be trimmed on the bottom, the tires hit them hard. I also need to change the rear seat bracket attaching bolts which are in a bad place for tire contact.

Soft springs are best for off-road, more flex = more traction. I'm using stock replacement springs on this Jeep. Stock springs are not known to be soft but these are performing well.

[aboyandhisdog]

Bob, I have a set of ten leaf rear springs I don't need.  if you come to the FCT, I'll give them to you to try out.

[Bob W]

Bob, I have a set of ten leaf rear springs I don't need.� if you come to the FCT, I'll give them to you to try out.

I appreciate the offer. These springs are working good, I really need to modify the body to solve the problem
And it would be difficult to fit a pair of rear springs in the overhead compartment of the airplane.

[Bob W]

You can see the gussets in this earlier photo. I made the mistake of measuring a CJ-3A gusset and placing these in the same location. CJ-3As had 6.00 x 16 tires   After they were all welded in place I noticed that the gusset on an M-38 is different - to allow for 7.00 x 16 tires    I was kinda hoping it wouldn't be a big problem, but it is.

[Bob W]

So I did make a few modifications to my CJ-3B, other than the front sheetmetal. Most are to improve the off-road capabilities.

The stock rear axle vent hole is welded up and a new vent installed on the top of the tube with a hose extending up high.



As mentioned above the tires are 7.50 x 16. To make them fit better in stock wheelwells the body has a 1" lift. The steering is upfront Jeep manual Saginaw. The steering box is mounted up high for clearance and the shaft goes over the front crossmember. Jeep optional front tow hooks are mounted on the frame rails. And there is the 12 volt electric Ramsey winch.




Frame mounted dual master cylinder with remote reservoirs. The front axle is a Jeep narrow track Dana 30 with disc brakes. "Narrow track" is actually wider than the stock D25 which allows for smaller turning radius, even with larger tires. 11" drum brakes are on the rear.



Since the body is raised one inch, the brake and clutch pedals are also moved up, providing a flat frame rail that's less likely to get hung up on rocks.



And the entire powerplant is up, along with the transmission crossmember for better ground clearance.



For safety there are seat belts and a roll bar.

[oldtime]

Bob,
Very interesting details !
Did you have to offset the electric Ramsey to clear the Saginaw gear ?
Got a frontal view of the steering tie rods and axle etc ?

With your removable floor pans and 1" body lift it becomes an excellent candidate for a Borg Warner T98.

Wonderful idea to move the pedal pivot up with the body lift.
I certainly never thought of that one.
I think the tall skinny 7.50 x 16 is really the optimum tire at roughly 31" actual height.
Any taller of tire mandates cutting of the sheet metal since the rear wheelhouse opening measures 31".

I suspect that it still has the stock shock absorber mounts ?
How did you fit the shocks to the D 30 spring plate ?

Is this your first modified CJ ?
It is simply amazing how many ways a person can change and improve upon various aspects of the universal Jeeps.

[Bob W]

The winch is offset toward the passenger side to clear the steering box.



Here is the steering linkage. The drag link is steeper than I'd like it to be. I'm planning to do a tie rod flip to get it up higher and also move the drag to the top of the steering arm to level it out. Right now they need to stay where they are since my snow plow frame will interfere. I'm using stock shocks, mounts and spring plates. The U-bolts just need to be massaged a bit to convince them to fit into the holes due to the larger tube size of a D30.

With your removable floor pans and 1" body lift it becomes an excellent candidate for a Borg Warner T98.

I'd like to have the 1st gear of a T98! The 1" powerplant lift eliminates any clearance gained by the body lift. A "Warn" underdrive would be the perfect solution. 

Don't tell anyone but I have been modifying Jeeps since I purchased my first CJ-5 in 1978. 

[Bob W]

I keep thinking of more Bubba Bob modifications I have done to this Jeep. The transmission/transfer case vent is routed up higher with tube and hose to the firewall. The fuel tank is plastic because the bottom of a metal tank begins to rust out the second it's installed here in the rust belt. The wheels are M-38 because they have a bead hump, unlike other early Jeep wheels. The tires are siped and running tubeless.

It's 12 volts with a Delco alternator. There is an aluminum radiator and custom fan shroud. It has turn signals with a Sparton turn signal switch.




I've got a few more modifications planned, we will see if I ever get a round tuit.

[oldtime]

Not really sure why you decided to lift the tub up to fit 7.50 x 16" tires.
I successfully ran 35" tall tires on a nearly stock 2A using 3" lowered shackle brackets and a pitman drop adapter.

Raising the axle and transfer breathers is a probably a good idea.
I ran a stock 3B for many many miles in deep water during the great flood of 1993.
Axles took in no water and I kept it below the floor pans so the transfer case was never effected.
The muddy river water entered my front propeller shaft splines and by the time is discovered that, it was ruined.

Are you able to get the full 27-1/2* steering angle with your Dana 30 and tall tires ?

My stock 3B has 14" clearance to the skid plate.

Over the years I've only seen one old Willys with an underdrive unit.

5" wide M38 wheels are the exact same thing as the factory optional heavy duty wheel for the 3B.
So technically those are a stock option.

You say your NDT's are tubeless?
How tall do they actually measure ?

[Bob W]

I had not checked the steering angle previously. Looks like it's about 26*. There is plenty of space to bump it up to 27-1/2*



I went out to the barn and checked the skid plate clearance on a few stock configuration Jeeps. Here is what I have...
CJ-3A = 9"
CJ-3A with 6.50 x 16 tires = 9-1/2"
M-38 = 10"

I'm running these NDTs tubeless. The measured height is 30-1/2".

[Bob W]

Not really sure why you decided to lift the tub up to fit 7.50 x 16" tires.
I successfully ran 35" tall tires on a nearly stock 2A using 3" lowered shackle brackets and a pitman drop adapter.

It's more than just tire clearance. The steering shaft fits between the front crossmember, grill, and radiator. The powerplant and transmission crossmember are also up higher giving more ground clearance in a couple places. The clutch/brake pedal pivot is above the bottom of the frame and the pedals still come through the stock holes in the floor.

[oldtime]

Assuming a Jeep is basically stock; the height of the skid plate seems to be mainly dependent upon tire diameter and the amount of spring arch.

I'm running 6.50 x16 " STA Super Traxions.
Those particular tires run quit large for there size.
They measure 30-1/2" tall mounted on the 4-1/2" KH wheels.

My springs are original re-built Mathers.
They are not re-arched springs..
I disassemble old spring packs and salvage the good leafs.
I assemble my spring packs by only using original leafs with good arch.
50 to 70 year old Mathers were exceptionally well made springs.

With D25 and Rzeppa shafts at 29* maximum angle my Super Traxion tires are just touching the leaf springs.

[oldtime]

Looks like the treads were maybe siped using a box knife ?
Never seen that trick done on NDT's before...

[Bob W]

I used a heated grooving tool and put the blade in backwards. I think a box knife would also work.

[athawk11]

Hi Bob,
How deep did you cut?

Tim