1949 CJ3A Willys Jeep - Restoration

[greg67]

Edit: I am retaining Greg67's original For Sale thread as my build thread to maintain a history of this restoration.

Any helpful input is greatly welcomed; however, to save those interested in filtering through any unwanted Chit Chat I will delete posts as I see fit.

Cheers

FC.

ITEM: 1952 CJ3A
TO SUIT: A new owner
CONDITION: Fair
REASON FOR SELLING: ?
PRICE AND PRICE CONDITIONS: ?
LOCATION: Queensland.

I have a 1952 Willy's jeep for sale. One owner, Housed and in fair condition. Owners manual and 2 spare wheels.

[andy_n]

It was Greg's Grandfather's, it is in Country Queensland. His Grandfather bought it new hence the manuals. Would have been a very early conversion to Australian roads I guess.

Ring Greg if you are interested. His Grandfather does have a price he will let it go for, and since he is over 100 I think it can be allowed to be a make an offer thread.


This will however be the one and only of it's type.

And I still have first dibs once I get some more pics :D

[andy_n]

More pics.

It has the original canvas doors etc, and an what looks like an interesting winch.

[Simsy85]

Hrmmm If i had a decent shed to store it in i'd grab it!

[Fat Chili]

SOLD http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/ausjeep/EMOTICONS/p145333.gif

[OIIIO]

So now there's a Chillie Willy?

Nice score FC, can I come around and check out your Willy s

Drum brakes, mountain range, skinny tyres, wet roads....bwwhhaaaa new Sunday morning sport...

Down hill willy's time trials:D

[blujeeper]

Hrmmm If i had a decent shed to store it in i'd grab it!

Don't let that stand in your way ( it certainly didn't stop fc );)

[Fat Chili]

After a bit of research, several emails to and from the US to the guy who runs the CJ3A Page site with pics attached and the serial number details - the ID plate is stamped - CJ3A 17122 I have discovered that it is not a 1952 CJ3A.

It is actually a 1949 CJ3A - Even better :-)

Did a bit of cleaning today, pulled the seats today to find that the ugly covers are removable and concealed the original seat cushions, the passenger side is in very good condition but the drivers side has suffered from nearly 60 years of use and has the horse hair falling out.

Removed the tank which not original and needs tossing, the floor pan has a bit of cancer (rust) in the corner along the rear this was concealed by the tank, this will be cut out and replaced. The toolbox under the drivers seat (normally the passenger seat, pre-steering conversion) and the drivers side foot well have also received a dose of cancer :-(

Also, picked up a few bits and pieces for her today at the Queensland Military Jeep Clubs swap meet and show held in Canungra. Bought a repair manual with wiring diagrams etc. a mirror stork thingy and the matching mirroe for a Willy's plus some windshield hood blocks.

So now I have officially started the resto.....

Pics to follow.

[cj4a nz]

well you have had a week wots happening
and you are doing a build in the build up section arn't you ?
am really looking forward to watching this with interest and watching your progress
keep up the good work :)
Warren

[Fat Chili]

Yeah, thought no one was interested...

I will be doing a build thread but my first priority is to build the walls around the shed she is now sitting in. This may take some time as I am still finalising two large decks and some other reno's around the house. Got to keep the boss happy and it was the deal if I bought the Willys.....:wall:

So for now I have been tinkering with the Serial Number plate and the Body plate -- only the 1949 CJ3A's came with Body Plates, as they were made by ACM, in 1950 Willys started making their own body's and the Body Plate was dropped.

Will post up some before and after pics shortly. On that note, does anyone have any wonder tricks to help clean 59 years of grime / paint etc. off a very very fragile piece of alloy. So far I have soaked them in brake fluid for a week and am trying acetone at the moment. The serial no. is stamped into the plate, however the rest of the plate is raised so any heavy abrasives are definitely out. Currently contemplating a diluted acid based product but have been told it is too risky?

Here's some pics of her being saddled up for the long haul back to her new home.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Willys-onherwaytohernewhome.jpg

This is where she now resides (below) - with new front bar resting in place, its the same front bar as an MB Willy's except I need to fill the 4 gusset mount holes on the top and bottom of the bar (not visible in pic), these holes were originally designed for the MB chassis. I will then need to add 4 holes to mount it to the CJ3A.

The difference is that the chassis section on an MB was an open 'C' section and requires a large gusset to affix the bar, opposed to the CJ3A which has a tab folded over the end of the 'C' section with mounting holes.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Willys-inhernewhome.jpg

I believe that the right headlight bezel is the correct bezel only originally they had more bling to them, and the one on the left is off a later model CJ, need to research more ;-)

Cheers

FC.

[andy_n]

What about simple old Coke???

[Fat Chili]

Tried that, no real luck...the alloy has a small amount of pitting like something has eaten at it over time.

[TOYROX]

Acid will attack the alloy and won't touch the paint.
Paint stripper or glass bead blasting at lower pressure.

[Darius]

molasses...

[Fat Chili]

molasses...

Hi mate, I read on here - http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27393 that molasses is great on steel, plus I know it works as my old man used it all the time when restoring his 1930 Buick 6. Although, further down the above thread their is a word of warning about using molasses on alloy products - it reportedly dissolves the lot?

[ian]

paint striper and steel wool, pit the striper on with a fine brush, than remove one layer at a time with steel wool, then you bring it to me and i put it in my ultrasonic cleaner

[Fat Chili]

Hi Ian, paint stripper was the first product used (didn't mention it earlier on...woops), not keen on the steel wool as when I say it is "very very fragile", I mean exactly that. The script 'Willys Overland' would more than likely disappear with very little effort and the remainder is almost lost already, it can only be read when tilted to catch the light. The only really defined writing is the stamped in serial number 'CJ3A 17122'.

I'll bring them over next time I come around, i.e. when the TJ's front locker has been rebuilt.

Before (but after the paint stripper and some degreaser)

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Serialplates-Before.jpg

After (tilted in the light to get best effect)

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Serialplates-After.jpg

[Darius]

So thats why I cannot find those alloy parts that i thought I put in my molasses tub a few weeks ago.

Only kidding, I'll have to put some alloy in some to see what happens.

I've been playing around with the molasses for a few months now, throw it in and forget about it for a month or so, then wash it off.

I have got some unknown chemical that really ripps it off in 24 hours, plus the paint, turns the rubber to sludge, not real good for h&s though, but good when in a hurry.

[Fat Chili]

More info and pics added to post # 10 (above).

Darius - when you get your magic potion down pat give me a yell, as I'm still reading up on molasses mixtures.

[ian]

mabe just the ultasonic cleaner, with some actavax, jewellery cleaner and hot water.

[Aaronsjeep]

looking forward to this build, seeing how it comes along.. should be a fun project

[cj4a nz]

Hi
didn't mean to stir you up like that ;) but good on you from my experiance with my p i t a Check your front brake cyclinders before you remove them check they don't have to go back on the same side as the cj4
i've just worked that out the hard way :( and can't find a right ( but i have blown the budget :( )
and take lots of photo's to help with the reassembly
would you make a replica plate if you had to or do you want to stay orgianal
will be following with great interest
Warren

[Fat Chili]

Nah! Needed the motivation to get my ass into gear and post something.

Will probably use a replica (plenty available on Ebay) on the vehicle and save the originals for rainy days, depends on how well Ian can clean them up. I would like people to be able to read what the car is when the hood is lifted.

FC.

[cj4a nz]

hi any more progress ????????:)

[Ben]

looking forward to this build, seeing how it comes along.. should be a fun project

Looking forward to following this too, I've got my 44 GPW sitting patiently in the garage waiting attention. Like FC I've got a list a mile long to fix around the house, and a wedding to save for before my heep gets a look in.

Thinking about asking whether Marathon Spares has a wedding registry.

[Jeepology]

I am patiently waiting for an update......

[cj4a nz]

hows the walls etc going and still waiting

[Fat Chili]

Ya going to be waiting a long time ;-); recently found out that a certain stork is dropping off a couple of identical twin boys, so everything has had the brakes applied.

At least by the time I get started I'll have two little Jeep helpers....how cool is that!

[killa]

Congrats FC

I think they'll be more help losing bits of the Jeep before they become any good at helping put back together though ;)

[Fat Chili]

Thanks Killa.

Well played with it for several nights last week (the CJ3A http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Emoticons/wank.gif), managed to pull out the old Thomas winch that had been embedded into the floor of the tub....talk about a heavy piece of junk, but the leaf springs didn't even move (that I noticed) once out.

I started to strip out the dodgy side bars that had been cut into the read side panels and then bolted on through the sides....talk about bloody awkward, the old style square nuts used were a prick! Had to heat one up to get it started but it finally came out, still have the other side to do before I can rip the whole lot out.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/Rearbarworkremoval.jpg

I also identified during all of this was that all of the areas where the old fella had either affixed mods or attempted repair had been brazed, not welded as I thought so removing the brazing is going to be time consuming :wall:
Anyone got any tips other that grinding, which is the obvious choice...any special discs to choose?

Another thing found, was that the previous owner had used the precursor to the modern zip ties to attached the winch electrical cables out of the way, they had been tied onto the winch safety screen (the alloy security door section behind the winch :-) ) with ye olde baling twine....and it was effective!
The gravity fed aftermarket,which market??? fuel tank pictured above (the small white tank behind the front seats) was also removed. Need to source a replica tankfrom Marathon or the new MB/GPW place in Ipswich.

Will post up the actual pics of the works opposed to the old one above tomorrow...;-)

[cj4a nz]

yaaaahooooo i'll stop nagging like an old woman now:)

great to see you are starting before your assistants arrive to "help" you

don't do what i forgot take lots of photos and save them to disc so when you start putting back toget you can look at where everything goes

good luck i will be following this build and u might even beat me to get on the road

Warren

[Fat Chili]

good luck i will be following this build and u might even beat me to get on the road......Warren

Very much doubt that! ;-)

Pics of progress....not much.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/DSC00349.jpg

Heavy ass Thomas Winch - to be donated to a mates tree felling business.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/ThomasWinch.jpg

And then it was bare, now to organise a new floor.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/Fat_Chili/TubHole-fullview.jpg

[cj4a nz]

na
me made redundant :( and not going to spend money where i don't need to till back working so it sitting in the shed with little bits being done ie lights tieding up the wiring etc but need new windscreen and water pump before i use it:( and thats money:(
but yours is comming along(read apart) nicely
Warren

[Fat Chili]

Sorry to hear that :-(, not good, hope things pick up for you soon.

I am in two minds at the moment, given the extent of the body damage and the fact that I have no experience panel beating I am contemplating buying a replica (MD Juan) CJ3A body kit as this one is way beyond my abilities and would not be cost effective to outsource to some pro's. But at the same time it is original and to me that also counts for a lot, and some features can't be replicated.
The more I clean it up the more damage and cancer I find :-(.

What to do? I really want to fully restore her back to her left hand drive glory.

[cj4a nz]

well done anymore?????????
how long before your assistants arrive??

[Fat Chili]

Nothing at all :-(, too busy trying to get the house ready for the arrival of the future assistants. They should be arriving around mid August and I am running out of time and energy.

Lately I have also been concentrating on getting the TJ on the road again....nearly there :-)

Still um-ing and erring about whether or not to go for a full replacement MD Juan tub in the future?

[cj4a nz]

hi hope the assistant arrived ok are they helping you in any way or slowing the build right down
Warren

[adrianchopper]

i got a willys cj3b for sale $600 good for parts or resto
0404226327 in brisbane