CJ3B door channel bolted onto cowl replacement needed

[rkmiller]

Hey, My 1959 CJ3B had a Sears hard top on it and the front door canvas channel that bolts onto the cowl was missing.  This channel appears to be longer than the CJ3A/M38.  Does anyone know where to get a replacement part?  I am planning on putting a canvas top on.

I did check with several US top suppliers but at $6K for a complete top, I am unfortunately looking at that supplier in India that has been talked about on the CJ2A forums.

[Rus Curtis]

I fried a few brain cells trying to find them thinking, surely the vendors will call it by its name: Retainer, door curtain, or use the Willys part number: 681373 (L), 681374 (R)

Nope.

Then I dropped a few search words and found a very familiar post right here on this forum:

https://www.cj3apage.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5547.0

It appears KW DOES have them, but leave it to the experts to change the name and the part number (yeah, I forgot I posted this).



Originally, these were spot welded to the inside of the frame.

Measuring my original w/s frame, the retainers are 20.5" from top to bottom.  That initially makes sense since the 3A w/s frame is taller than the 3B frame.  I would think cutting them to size should work just fine.  Just make sure the top hinge is at the correct height so the door frames sit like they should.

[rkmiller]

Hey, yes I bought the channel that is welded to the inside of the windshield frame.  Now I just need the lower channel part that bolts to to the side of the cowl for the front lower part of the door.

From looking at photos it appears the 3B lower door channel is longer than 3A.  I have contemplated purchasing the windshield door channel replacement and cutting it down.

[rkmiller]

Does anyone have a CJ3B with the lower door channel bolted onto the cowl they could measure?

[Rus Curtis]

Oops, my bad!  Says right in your first post, "bolts to the cowl"

I got real lucky and visited a junk yard in Oklahoma and got a pair off a 3B tub just sitting on the ground.  Mine measure 13.5" end to end.

Yes, those are available too.  But my critique on name and part number still applies:

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/us-made-lower-door-frame-rope-channel-pair-fits-49-53-cj-3a-m38/

Call and verify first they're 14" long.  I have no idea how a product can be between 9" and 14"  **Could they maybe have a long and a short version and just don't know enough to figure out they may be for two different models???

If those are too short, these for an M38A1 could be used (may need to alter the mounting strip to ensure it reaches the cowl holes - then cut to size):

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/us-made-upper-door-frame-rope-channel-pair-fits-52-66-m38a1/

Hope this helps a bit more.