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Offline 1955CJ-5

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Old jeep, New questions..
« on: January 29, 2013, 02:08:46 PM »
Brought home a new-to-me 3A yesterday. I'm going to have lots of questions, but I need to figure out exactly what I have first...I bought it from a family that has had it since 1959, i have the '59 title, and some other docs. Engine is a 3J and appears to be original to the jeep. Needs work of course...but pics for now...






Randy
1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline F Bill

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2013, 02:12:58 PM »
Nice looking and unmolested by Bubba.. I like it a lot! It does look lonely in its new storage unit. And you got a PTO as well!!
Owner of the world famous?? Pintojeep 3A and one yet to be named stock project 3A.
Based in central TX and upstate NY.

Offline 1955CJ-5

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2013, 02:17:38 PM »
Thanks! Yes, fairly unmolested, but kind of rusted....First off I'll see if I can make it run..and then I'll need a welder!!

Look at that cool jumpseat. It just rests on the main seat frames. Has a sticker on the back, Dumas corp., Oklahoma...patent pending!!

Where can I get gauges rebuilt? They might work, but...

1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline F Bill

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2013, 02:45:53 PM »
If they work just clean them up and use them. For what the gage rebuilders get for redoing gages it isn't practical unless you are making a showpiece.  Ammeter and fuel gage will need new insulation on theterminals, new fiber washers, etc.., rest of them you can just clean up. Broken glass can be replaced but it is tricky to do without tweaking the bezels. Carlsjeep did a good post on removing and replacing the speedo bezel.  Speedo is a case of cleaning out the old lube and relubing....again, removing the glass and bezel is the tough part.

There is a guy in WV I think on ebay that has decent gages at a good price. Stay away from chromed bezels, they look really WRONG in a nice jeep.

One more note on gages....the temperature sender bulb that resides in teh side of the head is one piece with the gage line that goes to the tempoerature gage. It is all a fragile steel tube and easy to bust, especially if things are stuck in the head...Use lots of penetrant and patience when removing and be careful not to twist off the end. Most used jeeps have replacement temp gages because someone broke the old one off..
Owner of the world famous?? Pintojeep 3A and one yet to be named stock project 3A.
Based in central TX and upstate NY.

Offline Macgraham

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2013, 03:50:26 PM »
My Dad had a 1950 3A with that kind of jump seat. I learned to drive by puting the jump seat on the drivers seat so I could reach the pedals. I have a photo somewhere, will try to find it. Nice Jeep.

Offline garage gnome

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2013, 07:04:27 PM »
Wow, that is clean. If it was mine, I wouldn't restore it. I would drive as is, like I am with my '49. It is mechanically perfect, but is an all original 3A like yours.
Nate in Western MA 1953 3A #3268, The Jalopy, '47 2A Wheelin' rig, '49 3A, #37071, unmolested, bone stock named Ted

Offline 1955CJ-5

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2013, 08:15:33 PM »
Quote
Wow, that is clean. If it was mine, I wouldn't restore it. I would drive as is, like I am with my '49. It is mechanically perfect, but is an all original 3A like yours.

Thanks for that! It looks a little rusty to me...I don't really plan to restore it. I'd like to make it solid enough to drive. It spent a lot of time in Ohio and Iowa, and has suffered from the salted roads. Everything from the toe boards back is pretty rusty. But, I need to do more exploring. We got about 3" of snow last night and today most of it melted and it is just a slushy mess out there. �I need to tow it home to a nice warm garage and do some looking underneath.

I dusted off the gauges and the faces look pretty good. The temp gauge is pegged on the high end, above 220...does that mean the bulb or capillary tube has a leak?

The head is off and the #3 piston does not look good. But, on a positive note the #1 piston had STD stamped on it so it's not been rebuilt, and there is very little ridging at the top of the bores....
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 08:36:29 PM by 1955CJ-5 »
1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline 1955CJ-5

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2013, 08:23:38 PM »
Here is a picture of the #3 piston top.

The seller took it to a reputable local shop to try and get it running. They took the head off as the engine was seized, and soaked it with penetrating oil. It turns free now, but the #3 just doesn't look good to me....

1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline p3ferris

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2013, 08:45:03 PM »
I would replace it and as long as you have it that fr  I would do the rings and valves   Tear it apart once.

Offline 1955CJ-5

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2013, 08:57:22 PM »
So, do you think I can just replace the one piston and rings? I'm thinking that I should pull it and rebuild it...but I'm here for advice....
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 09:00:43 PM by 1955CJ-5 »
1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline athawk11

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2013, 09:50:16 PM »
Hey Randy,

That looks like a terrific score. �See? �Good things come to those who wait. �You are going to have a blast with that one. �Congratulations!! � [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
2-1949 CJ3As
1-1946 CJ2A

Offline 1955CJ-5

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2013, 10:27:06 PM »
You are absolutely right....I've been going to call on the other one and make an offer for the past several days, but something kept me from doing it....then this popped up Saturday morning, I looked at it on Sunday, and brought it home yesterday....can't wait to get it over to the house so I can get to work...

Randy

1955 CJ-5, A friend for 58 years....1951 CJ-3A, a new addition. 1929 Model A Ford Closed Cab Pickup...

Offline bretto

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2013, 11:32:35 PM »
Congrats!, the adventure begins..........
Brett Orem, UT� [size=14]PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD[/size][/URL]

Offline Carls_jeep

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2013, 11:58:49 PM »
Randy, pull the engine and rebuild it, don't patch it up. How many miles are on the speedo and does the speedo work?

Offline p3ferris

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Re: Old jeep, New questions..
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2013, 07:59:59 AM »
Quote
I would replace it and as long as you have it that fr �I would do the rings and valves � Tear it apart once.
Rebuild is what I am saying too