CJ-3B steering column bracket

[54-27329]

Rod Zaedow (delayed restoration) here.  54  CJ-3B.  Chassis, drive train, brakes, wheels and axles done.  Starting to work on the body. Three quick question (if there is such a thing): (1) I have the bracket that goes around the steering column, but not from the bracket to the dash. Can someone send me a drawing showing the shape of these brackets? I am assuming, the brackets are offset from screw hole to screw hole?  I don't know if the offset is at an angle or 90 degree bend?  (2)  Master brake cylinder access plate: When I took it apart, it was on top of the hole with one screw in it. The three screw holes line up only when the access plate is put in from the bottom with the flat side towards the transmission with the raised round area flush with the floor.  Is this correct?  And if correct, what screws/bolts are used?  (3)  Unable to find the lower door rope brackets (brackets screwed into the cowl for the soft door). Already called NUMEROUS salvage yards, no luck.  I am looking into having them manufactured. Or, can I use lower door brackets from a CJ-3A and weld two of them together and cut to the correct length?   

[Rus Curtis]

Rod,
Good to hear about your progress. 

Run-of-the-mill salvage yards won't be much help.  I have been going to Harry Sheets for years, but I've also visited a yard in OK City, Oroville, CA and Talladega, AL.  He has been going to our Willys Reunions for quite some time also. 

http://www.midwestwillys.com/

He will no doubt have the steering column bracket you need saving time on bending/cutting etc.  The edge of the instrument panel is angled to keep it aligned but the legs are spread out a bit as the holes are a bit wider - especially compared to 2A or MB style.

He may even have some original door side channels for your doors, but I also noticed that Walck/s has a listing for a CJ-3A/ M38 :

https://walcks4wd.com/LH-Door-Channel-Side-Cowl-CJ3A-M38_p_1351.html
https://walcks4wd.com/RH-Door-Channel-Side-Cowl-CJ3A-M38_p_1352.html
( what I see is the mounting holes appear to be offset to one side)

Looks like the same part here:
https://www.willysjeepparts.com/Canvas_Top_CJ.htm


If you want to be sure call and see if they'll work, mine are 13/5" long but the two mounting holes are spaced 8" centered along the full length (I got lucky and found a pair mounted on a 3B tub in a salvage yard)  - the original body had those holes already in place down the side of the cowl.

Took me a bit to "re-find" what they are (they're found in the WINDSHIELD section (GROUP 31-03) of the Parts Manual:

681380     Retainer, door curtain to cowl side panel....2
                Screw, nut and lockwasher, pan. hd. No. 10-24 x 1/2" {door curtain retainer to cowl panel}....4

Notice they are the same for the CJ-3B vs. a left and right like above.

On the m/c cover, you're correct about the flat part being on the right (nearly flush with the raised toe-board portion under the gas treadle (gas pedal) or towards the transmission.  My toe-board only has 3 holes but my cover plate has 5 (I wonder if mine is actually a fresh air cover plate???) so two holes are not used.  I believe the holes should line up where only one way fits and I've always had mine on top of my floor (toe-board) not under.  FWIW, I drove around forever with just one screw holding it (made it easier to get off so I could get the cap off to add more brake fluid).  One possibility is your cover plate may have come from a floor of a different model (just guessing) where the screw hole spacing may have been different.   To me, center it and mark the holes and re-drill.

The PM lists those screws as pan hd.  No. 14 x 1/2".......3 needed


This is a dated list that I've used and some of the places have closed.  Couldn't hurt to see if one near you is still available:

https://www.public.asu.edu/~grover/willys/parts.html