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New To Me T3-c

Discussion in 'Jeep Trailer Tech' started by mickeykelley, May 22, 2016.

  1. May 22, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    On vacation to Yellowstone and decided to stop and look at a trailer in Idaho which was on the way home. Originally the idea was just to get a hands on, in person research on the trailers. Well, yes, you guessed it, I'm now dragging the thing home. It's in pretty good shape with everything there, except at one point someone turned the tailgate into a top hinge dump truck type. The tailgate is all there but the hinges were cut off and the bed has a metal liner added. From underneath the original bed doesn't look too bad but time will tell. Some air in the tires and some grease to the bearings (made easy by a PO adding grease jerts) we were on our way. I did the typically stop at the first block, then mile, then 5 miles, etc. Going from Idaho to Texas. So far made it to Durango and looking good. Actually amazed just how well it trailers and at up to 75 mph. No data plate so the first thing is trying to date it.

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    Last edited: May 22, 2016
  2. May 22, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    From what I've read, the serial number is stamped on the frame somewhere. Can anyone give a pic of where to look. I found one pic on the web but for the life of me I can't figure out exactly where that is.
     
  3. May 23, 2016
    gunner

    gunner Member

    Washington state...
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    Dec 4, 2012
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    Go to the CJ-2A page. They have a section of the forum for Bantam trailers.

    Tags, if it still exists, is on the front panel; facing the trailer from the front, it would be on the upper right hand side. I think only the early ones had the frame stamped.
     
  4. May 25, 2016
    Chris Insull

    Chris Insull All roads lead me back to the beach... 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chesapeake, VA.
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    Congrats on the trailer purchase; looks like a good one!

    "
    American Central MFG. made the tub/frame assembly. They put a number on the gusset plate under the left front spring hanger so remove it and wire-wheel the gusset looking for numbers about 7/16" in height. You may find a "B" or "W" in front, behind or below the number."

    That said, I've never been able to find an exact reference as to the start/ stop dates for the ACM number stamps... No guarantees that after the work required to check for an ACM that there actually would be one! IMHO, the effort would only be worth it in the case of full restoration.

    My recently sold early T3C (ID'd by four side tub tie downs, two front tub tied downs, holes in the front/ rear spring mounts and round tube rear tub supports vice a panel) had an ACM number only, and I never was able to actually align it directly with a factory data plate S/N as it did not come with one when I bought it.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2016
  5. May 26, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    I guess I'm a little confused. The spring gusset plate is the triangular piece the spring is attacted to in my first picture? So remove the spring and I'm assuming there is a bolt or 2 holding that triangle on to the frame?
     
  6. May 31, 2016
    Chris Insull

    Chris Insull All roads lead me back to the beach... 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chesapeake, VA.
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    On my recently sold unit, the fwd spring hanger was riveted to the triangle truss. I had to grind off the rivets to remove the hanger then wire wheel the truss to find the ACM number (154291). I did not do that with my current '46.
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    Last edited: May 31, 2016
  7. Jun 2, 2016
    48cj2a

    48cj2a http://bantamt3c.com

    Central Illinois
    Joined:
    May 4, 2003
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    526
    I've yet to find a T3-C trailer built after using up the left over T3 surplus parts tubs with an ACM number stamped. The tell tale sign has been, if the early tub has 4 side tie downs it should have an ACM number on this gusset plate...if it has 3 side tie downs it probably will not. But would love to see this this theory changed. Also if the spring mounts are riveted you would also have a good chance for the ACM but the spring mounts themselves would have the rivet bucking tool access holes.



    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Jun 2, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    So assuming that's the case, and assuming what I've read that these were only made from 46 til 53 when they went bankrupt, is there any indication of the time frames of the 3 different hitch area? Although I've read somewhere that some think they stopped making them by 50 and it just took time to sell the inventory due to war surplus. My hooks also appear to be original but don't look like what I've seen posted before. Also my knob looks different than any others I've seen. I guess it could have been changed out at some point. Mine hangers are bolted on and when I pull it apart for blasting, I'll look to see if a number there.

    But based on the style of hitch, I'm going to assume it's a towards the end of production. The original plate was not there and in its place an AZ motor vehicle assigned number.
     
  9. Jun 7, 2016
    48cj2a

    48cj2a http://bantamt3c.com

    Central Illinois
    Joined:
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    Actually production started in 45 using up the surplus Military T3 parts as is the case in the photo above with the 4 tie downs on the side and the spring mounts with the rivet bucking tool access. These all would have the WWII Combat wheels in 45 carried into early 46 and then the solid KH wheels and eventually the CJ2A KH wheels...

    If you visit my website and review the database you can see when some of the production changes took place in the serial number sequence.
     
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