1956 DJ3A "Patterson"

[Bob3b]

Hi everyone, I'm the proud owner of 1956 DJ3A 10366 "Patterson," that belonged to David Eilers. He had quite a few issues when he came home that I working on solving. Brakes, steering, etc were the first to be addressed but he will need a steering box rebuild, maybe a throwout bearing and the shift mechanism needs some attention.

I'm looking for a few things too, like the original top bow and the top for the air filter if anyone has leads.

[Rus Curtis]

That's a healthy collection of stickers!

What does the air filter top (that you want) look like?

[Bob Christy]

I don't actually know! It's the dry element air filter vs the oil bath.

[Rus Curtis]

Ah....
Ok, googled and it pointed me to a thread of 48willys' DJ rebuild on the CJ2A forum (I've been following along over there and his posts here) but there a comment was added by 47 deuce alpha, 11 Nov 24):

https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/dj3a-build_topic54377.html

Is that what it's supposed to look like?

I also forgot that 48willys got around to making his own (14 Dec 24):

https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/dj3a-build_topic54377_page2.html

What are the dimensions?

[SteveKfl]

First pic is Patterson when for sale before Dave bought it.  Second pic is the proper air cleaner dry element standard.  Third pic is the "folding top" Patterson would have had originally as a "convertible". Fourth pic is another "folding top", and fifth pic is the bows for it.  Hope that helps, and good luck finding the parts.
SteveK

[Rus Curtis]

That "for sale" image showing the air cleaner, seriously looks like a pie plate!

Your image of the correct filter housing looks a lot like deuce alpha's image on the 2A link.

I did google that and found some classic vehicle offerings online but oh boy, it was a lot of chrome!

One detail I noticed on the bows is there's some type of padding on the outer edge that would contact the fabric.  Interesting.

[SteveKfl]

Hey Rus,
 
If I remember right, the air filter is 9" diameter, and what appears to be the "padding" is actually rounded wood pieces attached to the hoop that allow a "sleeve sewed into the top to pivot with the folding operation.  The "pivot brackets" are different too, for the ability to fold the top back.  Charles Tate did a lot of research quite a while back for his convertible restoration project.  I have lost contact with him in the last few years since covid.
 
Patterson also had some other rare options.  It had a floor button windshield washer system (pic 1) and a storage bag for the water (pic 2).  Also, a remote mounted "vacuum-boost" to power-assist the brakes (pic 3).  I put one on my Dj, (from Australia) but my project has never made it to drive-status.  Patterson also had a unique for my eyes, of a neatly tucked away to the back wall "rear seat" when not in use (pic 4).  I hope all of those things are still there.