Newby 49 CJ3A

[Paddy]

Great forum.  I'm a complete newby.  I bought a 49 CJ3A that is unmolested and complete, but never restored, and the plan is to restore it with my 2 boys.  It runs, shifts, brakes etc. and the best part is there is very little rust, none through the pans but a touch in the back of the bed by the tail gate and then  two spots on the rear quarter panels where the half cab used to attach by the middle bow stand.  In any event, I thought it best to change all the fluids, oil, radiator flush, trans, differentials, and then slowly learn the vehicle and begin the process of pulling the body off over the winter when it's too cold to drive.  Regarding the fluid change any thing I should look out for that isn't common sense?

[Farmass]

Congrats on the purchase.

Do you have the serial number by chance?  I have a 49 as well.  CJ-3A 11247 with a body tag of CJ-3A Body 11348

Any chance you can upload some pictures?

Fred

[Paddy]

The body tag on the fire wall says: CJ3A 11674.  I'm going to try to get photos up on the holiday.  I haven't been able to clean off the water pump boss to see the engine serial number but I bought the car from the original owner who said it's the original engine.  Starts up and runs quite well, though it burns a little rich, and the final stage of the exhaust is missing.

[Farmass]

Wow our Jeeps are very close to one another.  Yours only had one tag on the firewall?

[Carls_jeep]

Welcome to the site. How lucky can you get to find a '49 Jeep in such good condition and bying it from the original owner as well. I hope he kept a log on what was done when.

[glennstin]

Hi Paddy,  Several of us are watching your posts about your nice original CJ3A.  We want to see that engine number.  Go real careful here. NO WIREBRUSH.  WD-40 or another penetrant and a toothbrush, use several applications and don't hurry.  CJ3A engine numbers started at 3J10001 with block casting #641087.  In 1952 there was a block casting change to 804380 @ unit # 452-GB1-30973 with engine # 3J130859.  Get us pictures.  Thanks for adding to CJ3A knowledge.  Glenn

[Bob W]

The engine block casting did change in 1952 but the casting number remained 641087.

[glennstin]

Thanks Bob, I thought I had a Service Bulletin with that number change. �I'll have to go back and see where that info came from. If I'm not mistaken, I remember a starter change with that block change. Right? �

[Bob W]

The starter and engine block did change at that serial number (or very close). For some reason the block casting number did not change to 804380 until later. It seemed that some of the last CJ-3As would have received the 804380 block but data from surviving vehicles indicates otherwise.

[glennstin]

Ok Bob, Found the source of my thinking and where I went wrong:  http://www.cj3a.info/cj3a/date3a.htm   In the discussion about engines it was stated that several transition blocks had been found, and then you chimed in that in your new book there are several more inconsistencies that have surfaced.  I missed getting your book at Hershey.  Need to get with the program.  Someday we will all learn not to take Willys Production Data too seriously.  Just when we think something is cast in stone,-------.   Thanks for all you do,  Glenn

[Bob W]

Ok Bob, Found the source of my thinking and where I went wrong: �http://www.cj3a.info/cj3a/date3a.htm � In the discussion about engines it was stated that several transition blocks had been found, and then you chimed in that in your new book there are several more inconsistencies that have surfaced. �I missed getting your book at Hershey. �Need to get with the program. �Someday we will all learn not to take Willys Production Data too seriously. �Just when we think something is cast in stone,-------. � Thanks for all you do, �Glenn

When I wrote that web-page I was assuming that the 804380 casting number appeared earlier than it actually does in the 3J prefix engines. I thought about updating that engine information but it is factually correct as is, unfortunately as written it does insinuate that some CJ-3As had the 804380.

[Paddy]

Ok here are the numbers on the jeep: Serial number = CJ-3A 11674   Body Number CJ-3A 11794 and the Engine number can be faintly read on the water pump as 3J 12006.  Oh and I went out to start her in the barn this evening to bring her into the garage to change the oil and the battery died on me.  I have it hooked up to a 6volt trickle overnight.

[Bob W]

Hi Paddy,

Sorry about hijacking your thread with all that other engine stuff! Seems like you have a very original early CJ-3A. Can you measure the distance between the hood block mounting screws and the hood's center seam on both sides for me? When you take some photos can you get one showing this area of the passenger's fender well?



Thanks!!

[Paddy]

Help me orient on that picture.  I see the shock but for some reason I can't figure out the rest.  What are trying to figure out?

[Bob W]

The photo is taken from just behind the right front wheel looking under the fender generally toward the front. The area inside the circle is what I would like to see. The battery is located on the engine compartment side of this area.

Thanks!