Full canvas top - early style to CJ 3A ?

[bayo500]

My 3a has no lid, i've found a used full canvas top minus the stays for a 1944 type jeep, but it's a 1000 k's away ( i'll have to have it shipped) so i can't trial fit it.       I think the cj3a windscreen is maybe a couple of inches taller than the early style split screens, and as i would have to design and make the stays i'm thinking maybe this could work, unless i'm overlooking something obvious, anyone had any experiance in this area,  thanks Steve..

[Carls_jeep]

I don't know if it will fit or not but, where there's a will, there's a way.

[aboyandhisdog]

I have a 3A. �I bought the hinged stay and the 2 mounting brackets on line as there were none on the jeep. �I bought a couple of yards of canvas from Beechwood which matched the seats they made for me. �Once I got the brackets mounted where I wanted, I took the jeep and canvas down to my corner auto upholstery shop and they fitted the canvas over the stays. �They sewed in the rope for the windshield, hemmed the edges, put in some grommets for a couple of rubber bungee cords, etc. �It definitely isn't "Willys issue" but it looks great and is very functional. �It is more of a flat canopy and doesn't have the back wall. � � If I had to guess, I think you will be disappointed with the fit of the '44 top on your 3A, but if you're willing to make alterations, then I would think you could get it functional. �My suggestion though is to get some material and build your own.

[bayo500]

Well i had no one local that can supply me the canvas or has an industrial machine to knock up a top so i went and bought the whole kit second hand and had it shipped down to me. The only problem i can see is the spare wheel and the R/H swivel bkt are going to be in each others way, other than that it looks like an easy Sunday fit.

[rocketeer]

Here's a 1950 CJ3A with a WWII top and bows, but using a CJ2A windshield. It can be done but you will have to get accurate measurements and drill the holes for the top bows in the exact right place at the correct angle or you'll never get the canvas to fit. The real problem will be attaching the canvas to the CJ3A windshield. The WWII top doesn't have the correct features to match up to the windshield. A WWII windshield has a series of individual buttons along the top of the windshield frame. There are matching holes in the top to hook over them. A CJ3A windshield has a horizontal slot across the top with a corresponding ridge in the canvas to slide into it. Completely different. Then there is the issue of windshield height. The CJ2A is approx 2" higher than a WWII windshield and a CJ3A is approx 2" higher than a CJ2A windshield. As you can see in the photo, the WWII canvas top runs in a perfectly straight line from rear bow to windshield. A WWII would drop down slightly from the center bow to windshield but on a CJ3A it would angle upward which, in my opinion, would look odd. And finally, the top edge of the WWII and CJ2A windshields are flat, straight across, but the CJ3A windshield is curved. I just don't think there is any way to make it look decent.

I wouldn't do it but that's just my $.02.



Larry

[bayo500]

We spent 2 hours measuring before we drilled and it looks good, i see what u mean about the ends of the screen, its tight on the capstan pins so i'll look for a cj2a split screen at the swap meet later in the year, but for now i'm out of the tropical sun...