1957 DJ3A

[48willys]

I picked up this 1957 DJ recently. The important DJ stuff is still there, side shift T96, column shifter and the 2wd axles. The windshield and doors came with it but  the top and sides are missing. Fortunately I have two tops to hopefully build one good one .
Unfortunately the engine has a bad cylinder that looks like a broken ring, I have a generator engine that probably will be a decent runner so everything is getting swapped to that block.

[48willys]

Everything is switched over and bolted together, hopefully I can get it in the Jeep and get it running soon.
The transmission doesn’t look to bad, just a lot of grinding done on 1st gear and reverse.

[SteveKfl]

Yea, another DJ being rescued.  Have fun.

[Rus Curtis]

Saw an image of the top you were referencing on the 2A forum.  Hopefully, the sliding doors will be functional!

[48willys]

Saw an image of the top you were referencing on the 2A forum.  Hopefully, the sliding doors will be functional!

That’s what I’m hoping for. I have three sets of the sliding doors, so I’m hoping there’s enough parts between them to make a decent matching set.

[48willys]

Engine is back in. Interestingly the clutch bellcrank is backwards from a cj , if it isn't something Willys did specifically for the DJs, I would have to guess someone put one from an FC in it.To make it work with the cable on hand I swapped it for a CJ bellcrank and made a new shorter clutch rod with clevises. In the end the clutch works and feels pretty good.
I had to drill holes further back on the t90 mounting plate and move the transmission mount for it to line up. I may need to order the correct mount later but this should work for now .

[48willys]

Got it to start today. It sounded pretty good, I didn’t notice any oil smoke beside the assembly lube and it looked like 40lb of oil pressure at idle. I need to run it longer to evaluate it better, but I’m hopeful it’s going to be a decent runner.
I haven’t been able to find the correct radiator locally so I’m going to see if I can add the side tabs to one of these rough cj2a radiators I have so I can run it longer and make some adjustments.
https://youtu.be/egYM5vj9_gw?si=EAkf5HSbaC2tkg03

[Rus Curtis]

Got it to start today. It sounded pretty good, I didn’t notice any oil smoke beside the assembly lube and it looked like 40lb of oil pressure at idle. I need to run it longer to evaluate it better, but I’m hopeful it’s going to be a decent runner.
I haven’t been able to find the correct radiator locally so I’m going to see if I can add the side tabs to one of these rough cj2a radiators I have so I can run it longer and make some adjustments.
https://youtu.be/egYM5vj9_gw?si=EAkf5HSbaC2tkg03

Nice!

[48willys]

Refreshed a generator for it. It needed a good cleaning, a mounting ear repair and few other little things. I mounted it to the engine and polarized the generator, a quick test with a drill confirmed that its putting out power. Amazingly the Amp light in the gauge still works.

[48willys]

Making some progress. Patched together a cj2a radiator and added some mounts to the sides, though it isn’t pretty it does hold water and I can run it for extended time.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with the carb. After putting a kit in it, it wouldn’t run right unless choked and gas would run out of the bottom of the carb. I had it apart too many times to count, adjusted the float, swapped the float, put a new needle and seat in it, recleaned every passage and every time I had the same results. Finally cleaned and swapped another body to it and all the problems went away, now it runs great!
https://youtube.com/shorts/M51nYSZ2Zc0?si=EoBxJOg7wF0Fvipz

[Rus Curtis]

Making some progress. Patched together a cj2a radiator and added some mounts to the sides, though it isn’t pretty it does hold water and I can run it for extended time.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with the carb. After putting a kit in it, it wouldn’t run right unless choked and gas would run out of the bottom of the carb. I had it apart too many times to count, adjusted the float, swapped the float, put a new needle and seat in it, recleaned every passage and every time I had the same results. Finally cleaned and swapped another body to it and all the problems went away, now it runs great!
https://youtube.com/shorts/M51nYSZ2Zc0?si=EoBxJOg7wF0Fvipz

Nice work! 

[Mark W.]

Did you retain the DJ's Vacuum advance distributor? did you retain the draft tube rather then opt for a PCV system?

I have a 58-59 DJ engine in my 2A

[48willys]

Did you retain the DJ's Vacuum advance distributor? did you retain the draft tube rather then opt for a PCV system?

I have a 58-59 DJ engine in my 2A

Yeah I put the vacuum advance distributor back on it. It seems to work because it moves with vacuum change, I haven’t really done much to it but the engine runs pretty well with it.
This engine had a PCV on it so I put it back together with one. I have a draft tube I could put on it to make it correct, but from my understanding the PCV is a better system so I’ll probably stick with it.
 I’m also going to add a oil filter even though they were supposedly optional , so even though I’m trying to stick to mostly original some things in my mind are worth deviating from especially if it may extend the life of the engine.

[48willys]

I tried building an air cleaner for it . It didn't come out as nice as I had hoped, my metal working skills aren't quite there yet. But it does filter the air and it fits under the hood, so it should work for now.

[48willys]

It’s together enough now to drive a little, So I took it out in the pasture and did a few laps. It’s running pretty good, just a little stumble off idle but I haven’t really timed it or did much tuning. Some correct plug wires and give the distributor some attention it’ll probably fix the issue.


https://youtu.be/Gc10xOrofaA?si=sssXEKh-abJG1759