CJ3A I.D. numbering

[tomcattoy]

Just registered with the forum, and looking for some info on I.D. numbering. �I am in position to buy a '51 CJ3A (offer has been accepted) on Saturday. �The registration VIN number is listed as 3J91964. �The engine block serial number is 3J105341. �There is no plate on the firewall. �Am I getting into a bad situation, since the numbers don't match, or do I buy a reproduction plate, punch in the numbers from the registration, and move on. �Can anyone identify the engine from the number? �Any thoughts?

[F Bill]

I'd ask your local motor vehicle guys what to do.. It appears the title was issued using an engine number which no longer resides in that jeep, so you really have no paperwork matching your jeep. Serial numbers begin with CJ3A and changed format to 451-GB1 -xxxxxx starting with 10001 in the 1951 model year.  The last 1950 CJ3A number issued was CJ3A63784  so just adding a CJ in front of your number still leaves you with a bogus number. That's according to BobW's book.

The only other option I see is stamping the number on your engine ....but even that is questionable.

[tomcattoy]

Is there anyway to know the year of the engines based on the two numbers  (registration #3J91964 or the current engine #3J105341)?  Wondering if either of them are from 1951.....

[F Bill]

Hi again..take a look at the home page database .Click on the picture in the top left corner, that will take you to the home page. Then, click on the database button. Scroll down thru the engine number entries, and you shoudl find your answer there. Unfortunately we do not have a large amount of original engined 3A's in the database around your numbers but you can get a rough idea of its production by tossing the obvious oddballs in the list. Ignore those with engine numbers that are obviously from something else, like the ones that begin MC, 4T , etc...There are also several that do not fit the pattern, because they are 3A  engines from other  3A jeeps that were transplanted at some time in the past.

I took a rough look and it seems you are pretty good with your year but like I said it was a real fast look. You might want to PM Bob W and see if he �has better data point to rely on in his data for his research. He has a lot more info than we do here about numbers..

[athawk11]

I would ad to Bill's comment that the engine number will never match the actual Willys that it's installed in.  Even if all is original.  There were more engines made than 3As.  

As Bill mentions, Bob W is the numbers guy.  Assuming the title is listing the original engine number, Bob may be able to give you an approximate data number.  But DMVs don't much care for approximations.

You may get a few good ideas for getting it retitled.  Others here have had to have the same issues.  Hopefully someone will chime in.  It may be a real pain, but these little gems are well worth the effort.  

Good luck with the purchase.  Post some photos if you can.  We all like photos.

Tim

[Bob W]

Is there anyway to know the year of the engines based on the two numbers �(registration #3J91964 or the current engine #3J105341)? �Wondering if either of them are from 1951.....

They are both 1951 engine serial numbers.