Hello everyone, thanks for checking out my page, if this isn't the right place for it, mods feel free to move it.  I'm specifically looking for some expert advice while I tear this down and attempt to rebuild it.  My goal isn't a restoration, but more of a frame off rebuild using the tools I have at hand.

I bought what turned out to be a 51' CJ3A, my first vintage Jeep.  I didn't know exactly what it was when I bought it.

Here goes...here's the original thread of the discovery....http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/topic20747_page1&EN=TS.html

I'll just post some pics of the progress and where I'm currently at with it....I do need some advice on where to buy replacement parts.



The back story is that a previous owner used it in a liquor store hold up, while on the run he hid the jeep in an plum grove. He went to jail for nine years and the jeep ended up sitting in a Texas plum grove completely grown over for close to 20 years. The current owner found it when he was bulldozing clearing the land. He brought it home, there is no title.

Lots o pics....I didn't know what it was at the time, but here's my cousin and I negotiating for it.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! JEEP ON!!!!















The bent original D25, bent at the housing...
















And bringing it home after 15 bucks at the car wash..










The PO stored it with the plugs out, the rear cylinder was rusted badly.




The tear down begins with slave labor from my brother and my cuz..










The tank isn't too bad, trying to conserve funds so I'm attempting a clean out and rebuild of it.


Not too bad under the tank/driver's seat.


Tub is off...

Nice looking project(s) you have there!!!! I get most of my parts from Walcks 4wd. They have great service, pricing and fast shipping. You can talk to them and ask questions too.

What is the serial number of your CJ-3A?

Do you want to sell one of the rifle holders?

Thanks!

Quote:



The serial number is: 451-GB1 23947.

I do want to sell one or both of the rifle racks.  But honestly since I've posted this on a couple of forums I've gotten so much interest that I'm getting a little stressed about em.  The reason is, normally I'd give these away but I do need to recoup some costs of the Jeep since its got other issues I wasn't counting on.  I've promised one to a guy, just waiting on a response.  If I don't get anything back soon, then I'll probably put them on Ebay at no reserve.  I do Jeeps for fun, now as it turns out these racks are a hot item and I've got more people that want them then racks to give away.  So I'll only hold them for a decent price for someone that needs them for an MB/M38 restore.  I saw the prices for these things on other sites, we're talking 179 for a repro before shipping to over 300 bucks,,,,,,jeez louis!!!   I just don't like mixing business with pleasure.  I think 175 shipped, is a fair price for originals....these aren't rusted out either.

I was thinking about this wiring harness from Walcks....at first I was just going to make my own, but this may save a day or two on the build time.

Has anyone bought one of these before?  http://walcks4wd.com/wiring-harness-cj3a-no-turn-si.html

Thanks for the serial number! I totally understand about the rifle holders. Ebay will probably be your best bet to get extra Jeep $$$ 
I have used Walck's wire harnesses and they are top notch.

Well I slowed down a little because I've got about a grand worth of parts to order sitting in my Walck's cart and other places online but I've been too scared to pull the trigger.

Then I saw this 74' CJ5 sitting on the side of the road, 300 bucks later, it and two Willys truck frames, 2x 226,T90,D18 combos and two sets of axles (2x D25s, 1x D53, 1x D44) and two PTOs were mine.  If I can't find a buyer for this stuff then I may scrap the frames and engine blocks, although it would pain me significantly to do so.

The 74' was low hanging fruit.  After pulling seats from an 89' Isuzu Trooper (best set I could find in the local yard) and fabbing some brackets, grinding and burning the sometimes 1" layer of Bondo off, new Carb and a new clutch, not to mention about 10 rattle cans later --- its now a driver and the 232 purrs like kitten.  Looking to sell it soon and push to profits back to the 51'.  Needs a little attention to the brakes and some seat belts (minor issue haha).  Not too bad for a five day turn around.  

Gunslinger wrote on 10/04/11 at 17:36:54:



haha, Actually MJCommando is my handle on other forums - also my xbox name.  I chose Comanche County because my first heavily involved build was my Comanche and I'm from Comanche County, TX.   I'm a 37 year old former Army Infantry officer, did two tours, got out as a Major, then the housing crunch bit me hard, had to go back as a contractor and lost my right leg....still on workman's comp right now.  I was moving pretty slow last year, but I'm getting faster physically, but also faster with the Jeeps,  I've got a little help too from my cousin.  Its probably just my 'function over form' mentality and nature, I don't care how something mechanical looks as long as it works perfect,  I have no patience for things that break or don't work right - I have to fix them.  I'll eventually get out of Jay's Jeep World and back to the workforce fairly soon - hopefully back overseas or back in the service.

I've got this massive order ready on Walcks, but I'm trying to find other options.  I was at the JY today pulling a roll bar off a YJ to fit on that CJ and ran into a guy who directed me to an older WWII vet in Brownwood, TX who reportedly has a warehouse of NOS Willys stuff.  I'm going there tomorrow, hopefully it would be cheaper than ordering everything I need for the 51 which off the top of my head is:

windshield and moulding/gasket
gas tank
all 4 spring shackles and 4 spring eye bolts
Every piece of brake hardware, drums, cylinders, shoes.
hard lines
dual reservoir MC
steering wheel
recover the seats, mine are bare frames
all new kingpin bearings, I may reuse them though, they look pretty good, no brinelling on any of them.
perhaps some engine work, which will be a grand I'm sure.

Commanche,
I want to thank you for your commitment and your sacrifice, its people like you that make our country what it is, the best place on earth.  Cary on.

Todd