I have wanted a flat fender since my childhood. Ended up with a free CJ3A, but it had horribly rusted rear tub, bad transmission, questionable engine, but with a pto. By chance, ended up with a free , but butchered CJ2A with freeze-cracked engine. Im currently knee deep in the restoration of my Marmon Herrington 4wd Ford, so performing a miracle on a Jeep was way down the road. Then lucked into this. It has a Warn OD, which will be replaced with the pto. I haven’t heard it run, needs fuel line installed and correct shoes put in front brakes. Has the usual rust in hat channels. But am going to get it running, street legal, and enjoy as is for now. The “tall” Dualmatic hubs are a bonus. If anyone has a junk hub with a good lever, pm me, please. Luckily, my butchered Jeep had a nice windshield and perfect tailgate.
Congratulations on the jeep and looks like a fun project. What’s great is the abundance of body panels for the cj3 . I know there is a joint in IN that sells complete bodies as well and pretty cheap too
Sorry to hear that you have caught the disease !! You can't have just one. Really neat that you have a Marmon Harrington project. I p***ed on one Ford based one about 20yrs. ago....woulda...coulda....shoulda. But....back to the Willys flat fender addiction. I found a 1953 CJ3B on a ranch in Wyoming in 2013. Had an awesome trip from Iowa/Wisconsin to retrieve it. Just couldn't have just one. I since ac***ulated about a dozen at mostly farm sales. Got a lot of spare parts.....just in case. All but two are now gone on to people with more time and energy than me at 79yrs. old and battling prostate cancer and lower back issues. My Willys is original and looks to be in about the same condition as yours. Our one and only now 6yr old grandson and I use it to putt putt around our subdivision and down to the lake. I totally agree with a few fixes and then get moving . Also....there is an adapter that will allow using the overdrive and PTO. You would need to shorten the driveshaft of course. I have all the stuff to install my PTO but will not need the overdrive I have since all I do is putt putt. I have a right angle adapter with belt pulley as well. My grandson and I are in the 2024 and 2025 Kaiser Willys catalog so he will have a little keepsake when he inherits the Willys. I am trying to set up a small onsite and online auction next Spring to get rid of all the parts and two remaining original needing work CJ3A's. More than anything.......have fun.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. As stated, I always wanted one. My main mistress is the MH, but the Willys will get some love. Just thrilled to have what is SUPPOSED to be a runner. Will be fun tooling with it. Good luck with the auction. Please tip me to it when you get it going!
Nice find! I agree, you can't have just one. I had several early CJ5 models over the years, but just recently got a couple flat-fenders. My CJ2A was so bad I just saved the drivetrain and a few body parts, the frame and tub were junk. The other was an M38, which I got running and put back in solid condition. It's a bit of a "Jeep salad", but fun to drive. Someday I'll build the CJ2A back up when I find a frame. I'll be watching for that auction tractorguy!
Did one for a buddy years ago . It had been totally under water numerous times , every mechanical part had been full of river mud . I rebuilt what I could save and replaced what I could not . Parts were easily found . The OD is a super nice piece to have on hand . Only way they can get much street use . 5.38 is a rather tall gear ratio .
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