CJ-3a Build

Started the tear down of my 3a over the weekend, and thought you all would like to come along for the build up.

1951 Willys CJ-3a, Chevy 153, T-18, Model 18, stock D25/44 with 5.38's, 12v., Saginaw, 11" drums up front, 1" Rancho springs, 31's.

Plans for the next few months include: boxing the frame, 3" YJ lift, narrowed Wagoneer front D44, off-set narrow track Wagoneer rear D44, each with Detroits and 5.38's, 33's, pedals from an XJ w/hydraulic clutch, new wiring harness, cutting rear fenderwells for more leg room, etc. The goal is to get it done in 3-4 months. Here are some pics.

 

Come on now. Don't stop there.

 

Thats a nice CJ3a. Hate to see you start hacking that thing up , but to each his own I guess. As long as you enjoy it, thats all that counts.

 

great! looked better than mine before you started

 

x2....
But gud luck with the buildup

 

Come on now, I'm not hacking it up...I'm improving an already proven design. As you all know, it's a can't do one without the other type of thing...and I don't want closed knuckles, drum brakes, two-piece shafts, 1 3/4" springs, single master cylinders, and no leg room. R)

 

I say have at it! Better to see a modified flatty on the trail than a restored one in a garage, or even worse, in a museum.

I met Moses Ludel in Moab a couple of years, and even he who is one of the biggest fans of OEM engineering told me that when he "restored" his '50s CJ-5 that he needed to upgrade stuff to make it usable and safe. He basically said "if you're gonna use 'em, you gotta bring 'em up to specs."

 

I hate to see any of the old CJ3A's cut up or heavily modified. When I started my 3A project, I thought I would be wheeling it... but the more research I did, the more interested I got in restoring it. I'll admit it's a "Garage Queen" but it still runs around town and up and down the local dirt roads! Willys Overland produced less 3A's than any of the other Flatties (2A's & 3B's) so that makes them just a little more special IMHO.

After the resto on my 3A, I started turning a '93 YJ into a wheeling rig. After that I'm going to work on a Scrambler. This Jeep thing is kind of addicting!:twisted:

Bottom line is: build it like you want it... just don't throw away any of those original parts!R)

 

chasm,
Saw your rebuild article in jrations,congratulations what a great article.
To each his own,lets face it these things are hardly "rare" so use them as you like em I say.
I do appriciate someone like yourself that takes the time and effort do build one up in its original condition, thanks for the great read and the effort.
I will be watching this build closely,the DJ is always looking for upgrades!
Donnie

 

I say built whatever way you want, beats letting it sitting and rotting as an original.

 

Time for an update. So I've spent the last couple of weeks pulling everything out, with lots of cutting, grinding and so on. I've spent more time than I've wanted to with the wire brush attachments on my 4" grinder and die grinder, but the results were good. I was considering having the frame sandblasted, but I have more time than money. If I had to do it over again, it would be off to the blaster. The frame is as clean as it's going to get at this point. Removing the spring/shackle hangers were time consuming, but not that bad overall. I also mocked up some stock YJ springs in case you guys wanted to see the comparison lengths. The rear bumper and crossmember were removed, and I'm planning on doing a rear gas tank, so I cut out those support pieces. Going well so far...

 

hey good pics. im planning the same build and all the info i can see and here is great. keep those cameras rolling. p.s. you planning on shackle reversal? christian hazels' flattie project is great info also.

 

Thanks, I'm still 50/50 on the shackle reversal. I'm tenatively planning on using 3.5" YJ springs, so a reversal wouldn't be a bad idea since I'm going to have to mount new spring hangers anyway. Probably will, just not sure yet. In theory it really seems the correct move with springs past 2.5" or so, as long as your driveshaft is modified, with the only downside possibly being under braking.

 

Remeber the shackle reversal will lift it as well so the spring front to back cant be the same without some height conflict.

your build is the pretty much the same as mine 3.5 lift I am shooting for BDS springs but havnt bought them yet.

I have decided against the shackle revesal but am hoping to be on trail more than street in general.

We all seem to building the same project kinda funny really.

V6, sm420, D18, D30, D44, YJ Springs, Saginaw, 33" tires.

 

True for the most part, although M.O.R.E. offers a "weld on" shackle reversal that provides no lift. I didn't want to run into trying to mix and match springs on my CJ-6, so I was about to give up on the shackle reversal until I found the one that M.O.R.E. has.

 

Thanks "godevil"! I got an '83 CJ8 as my next project...

Good luck with your build Ragnar2xx2!

 

Looks great! I gotta get over there and see it in person....
Nickmil

 

I've spent the last few weeks cleaning up the drivetrain, painting everything, and am in the process of getting it all sealed back up. I've been using Permatex's "The Right Stuff" along with a gasket kit, which may be redundant, but I'm just being thorough. It's a bit expensive, but really easy to work with. The PO used a Novak kit to adapt the T-18 to the Dana 18, and I'm assuming used the Novak kit for the 1 1/4" intermediate shaft, so all looks good.

My springs arrived today, which I'm very excited about. I decided on BDS 3.5" YJ springs, all four are 5-leaf front springs. While not on their website, I talked to the BDS customer service, and they said the spring rate for the 5 leaf version is 370 lbs, and the "soft top" rear 4 leaf version is 310 lbs. I went with the 5 leaf since I'll be running a winch and heavy tire carrier, but still have the option to remove the 5th leaf if things are too stiff.

I'm in the process of finding the spring and shackle hangers that I want to use, but am contemplating building my own main eye spring hangers from some 3.5x3.5x.25 so as to have a smoother "ramp" effect to the frame.

 

hey, good to hear from you. i thought you got lost in the craziness of "fabrication land" and couldn't find your way out. keep those pics coming on those mounts. R) hey by the way you said your using all front springs? hows that gonna work in the back?

 

Nice Job, keep the pics coming.

I'm for keepng a 3A as original as possible but if your going to mod it I still want to see the pictures