1953 Off Road Rescue/recovery Jeep

Heads up for those who have been wanting to know about my previous build.
During this cold season I have time to give some of the details. Feel free to follow along as it’s posted over here:
https://cj3apage.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5749.msg42389;topicseen#msg423

 

That is a beautiful 3B!

 

having a reliable jeep that you know in and out is always a comforting feeling. even if it lets you down, you know how to fix it quickly

 

Thanks guys and yes exactly.
I’ll know if I messed up on anything.
We’re off on our maiden voyage right now.
Have to go 25 miles to find the closest station with ethanol free fuel.
So for the time being I’ll be hauling my spare gas cans whenever I make a run for fuel.
Jeep has both OEM NOS fuel pump and also Carter carburetor. Really don’t wanna change any parts inside them.

 

I'm curious, what would have to be changed to run ethanol fuel? Here in CA, it seems to be impossible to find non ethenol fuel. My fuel pump (new reproduction) and Weber carb are newer though.

 

Just got back from my gas run.
Will be posting my results on the CJ-3 site when I can.
Daniel….
Would have to put ethanol safe accelerator pump inside the Carter YF. Also would need to find and install an ethanol safe diaphragm and check valves for the AC 4693.

 

hm... I might need to see if the pump I have on my F134 has a diaphragm that is ethanol safe then! I assume it probably isn't then, since what I have is a reproduction not an actual new design

 

That is fun! And I salute you for having it be your primary vehicle!!!

I suspect you might be looking for an OEM front bumper weight before you lift anything too heavy.

 

Good one Pete. We’ll get to that a lil later on.

Getting more interest here than anywhere else.
I can duplicate my cj3 forum postings over here if you all like. That way you can respond a bit easier.
Let me see if I can make that happen…

 

Completed in late summer of last year and setting idle in my garage.
Only just now to come out of hibernation for its DEBUT RESCUE MISSION.

You see my freebie mini truck that I had been dependent upon the last few years has now bit the dust at just over 200K miles.
My intended future daily driver a CJ3-A, is still in progress with yet a few months labor remaining.
I thought the Somoma would hang tough; but no it fell a bit short of my expectations.
With nothing else to drive and used car prices so ridiculous I just need a daily driver and I need it NOW.

I’ll have to SELF RESCUE from my current situation. And that is exactly what I built this Jeep to excel at, RESCUE !
More specifically I built this Jeep for remote “OFF ROAD RESCUE”.

Even if it does not travel interstates well; I just gotta have something DEPENDABLE to drive.
And just like so many Jeeps before, I assembled this rig virtually all by myself.
I know it intimately inside and out.
To me that intimate build knowledge “IS” my dependability.

Setting untouched for the past year.
Here it is fresh outta the garage and yes it started right up as soon as the fuel pump could push gas up to the carburetor.
For all my Jeeps, Dependability is job ONE.

Pics are fresh from today…





So now is the time to get it safety inspected and put tags on it right away.

I know you’re all wondering about what makes this 3B such a special Rescue and Recovery rig to me.
And so next I present you with the build story as best I recall.

 

My mini truck died this morn and it had to be towed home.
Got my Willy inspection, got my insurance swapped over and got plates from the DMV all in one day.
So I’m officially back to driving a Willy full time as my one and only daily driver.
Been almost 20 years since last time I was 100% dependent on a Willy.
This one can certainly do it as long as I can find non ethanol fuel for it.

 

Maiden voyage !

Beyond just driving up the street to get an inspection, my Rescue/ Recovery Jeep went on it’s maiden voyage today.
For the present time I don’t want to upgrade the OEM NOS AC 4693 fuel pump nor upgrade the OEM NOS Carter YF 938 SD carburetor.
So today I prepared to buy the closest non ethanol fuel in my neck of the woods.
Filled the jeep bed with empty gas cans.
Removed the passenger seat and loaded my yearling aussies.
Was their very first time in a Jeep.



It’s a full 50 miles round trip to get the fuel.
A mile through town then about 5 miles of interstate with the remaining majority of road being 60 mph hiway.

First thing I noticed as I got on the interstate was a slightly notable lack of power as compared to what I’m used to for strong running old jeeps.
I attribute the power problem to being a fresh engine and cold differential gear oil.
This is the first rig I have ever built not having free wheeling front hubs. I think the front end when always turning is robbing the Jeep of some power.
I did not wanna push the fresh engine so I kept it below 55 mph in overdrive.


Next problem I noticed was that the outside rear view mirror head is too loose and needs be tightened up. The wind gusts would re-adjust it. So that’s on my primary list of repairs along with a retorque for the head bolts.

Made the non ethanol station and filled the tank up plus put an extra 20 gallons in my cans.
On the ride back I decided to officially call the Jeep
“R and R”. Read into that what you will.
Further along during the ride home I heard two definite metallic rings when I was going around a fast bumpy corner. Thought hopefully it was a sound unrelated to my Jeep. But when I arrived back home I noticed a missing hub cap on the right rear.
Any body have a spare D44 hub cap to sell me !


Otherwise all went well. No carb nor timing adjustments ; nothing !
I feel confident the Jeep is already showing to be as dependable as the day is long.

Thanks for following along and I’ll get to the build details shortly.

 

Very nice Ken!

 

Thats a nice B. And the best color for a Jeep. Curious to see more of the boom.

 

X2
Love that color

 

THE 1ST REINCARNATION

Whether or not you believe in reincarnation, it matters not. But I can attest that it is so.
I personally rebuilt this 1953 model CJ-3B twice myself, so that it may endure on and on.

During the mid to late 1970’s I had rebuilt my very first jeep, a standard 1948 CJ-2A.
Yes at the time I was quite pleased with the 2A as my sole daily driver.
However by the early 80’s I knew it would only be a matter of time and the national speed limit would increase.
I loved the Go-Devil but simply knew I would soon need the power upgrade that a Hurricane engine could provide.
I first spied this 3B back in 1982. It was exactly the model of jeep I had been searching for. As you know the 3B is essentially just like a 2A but having more power plus many other minor upgrades.
The 1953 was barely running and somewhat worn down at the time but the body looked real good and so I bought it.
I know not of its earliest incarnation from 1953 to 1982. But I have come to know it intimately from that time onward.
Like my previous 2A, I decided an extensive full frame up rebuild was in order.
I spent ample time in the outdoors and the initial build direction reflected my ideals.
Pics from those days are extremely few.
"This pic was taken after the Jeep was well into it’s second life.
The initial tires were a set of 6.00 x 16” Denman NDT’s that lasted just over 30K mikes.
By this time they had already been replaced with a second set of 6.50 x 16”s.



The 1953 CJ-3B is seen hauling a load of 20' long Lodgepole Pine (tipi poles) up from my canoe which is somewhere down below along the Missouri River.
I spent ample time using my Jeep and canoe on the river back in those days.
Attached to the half cab and to the drawbar are my custom built canoe racks. (the front bumper rack was not normally used.)
Easily fastened, a 17’ canoe would rest on top for many miles. Front of cab rack is bolted at windshield -- as the cab itself is thick gauge.
"The Koenig Deluxe halfcab (with additional quarter panel windows) is kept warm in winter with a 'fresh air heater' and is trimmed inside with wooden door and roof panels. The seats are covered in grey cordura nylon.

The shift tower dust boots are leather, and a custom map holder was mounted to the dash. Note the custom outside rear view mirror for use with the hard cab, and the windshield is correctly painted black. The doors are easily removed for the summer time breeze.

As you can see I always like to put the Universal to use in outdoor activities. "Here I am in about 1986 running a mink trapline with my trusty '53.



"Note the rear mounted spotlight that makes reverse in dense dark woods a pleasure. Also a whip CB antenna mounted to the rear rack. That's right... a 3B with a CB! The CB radio was mounted onto the center of the cab's roof.

This 3B has original ALA marking lamps installed as blinkers on the rear. The spare wheel is mounted to the rear of the cab inside the mini bed. Rear corner bow sockets and the side spare mount were removed.



Seen here the chaff screen can be unsnapped in the winter months and replaced with a vinyl cover. Radiator air flow is controlled by adjusting the cover (not shown) for really cold weather. The headlamp stone guards are a heavy-duty custom fabrication. No hood blocks were needed as the W/S was never folded down.

"The 1953 had been modified using 12-volt Willys electrical components. It has both front and rear Powr Lok differentials. The transfer case has the 1-1/4" intermediate shaft and the Jeep also sports a Warn overdrive unit."

And yes in the late 1980’s I got it up to 81 mph wide open throttle on flat ground. That comes out to 4000 rpm.

I’m this pic the Jeep sports its 3rd set of 6.50 x 16” tires and has racked up over 80K miles both on and off the road as a daily driver.

A lot of good memories from those days. Like attempting to drive the Jeep solo across the flood plain back during the great flood of 1993. My county sets between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Nothing but telephone poles rising along the roadbed to guide my way in a sea of brown waters for the next 10 slow wet miles. Water half way up up engine I turned back after a couple miles of nerve racking anticipation.

The Jeep was eventually ready for a second complete frame up rebuild in 1995 due to a rod knocking. The rod journals had never been sized when I built that engine a dozen years prior.

Since 1995 the 3B had sat for many years while I collected more Jeep parts and built additional 3B’s. As time passed my ultimate Willys daily driver plans changed many times over. Since 1995 I sold off 2 fully rebuilt 3B’s with lots of rare options. But this was my first 3B and felt I might just hang onto it until my ultimate Jeep projects are complete.

So yes this jeep has sat in the garage fully completed as my emergency back up plan until my final jeep goals are realized.

For now it has come to my rescue; with me being in need of dependable transportation.

Although I had initially envisioned its current incarnation for serious work. Mainly log skidding and possibly for off road rescue and recovery work.

So what’s it take to build a Willys log skidder / off-road rescue recovery Jeep ?

Stay with me and we’ll address it’s current details next.

 

This is great stuff!

 

Nice rear winch setup!

 

I like the trapline picture. See evidence of some success, and what appears to be pack baskets like I once upon a time used in my canoe.

Canoes and Jeeps bring back some memories from the 80s of my own. I don't have any pictures but I had a canoe rack on the Jeep I had back then. The tube of the front rack set on a post mounted to the front bumper and would pivot, so to unload the canoe I removed the tie down straps, lifted it off the rear rack and pivoted it to the side so I could get under it to lift it off. Had two baskets that I lashed in forward of the center thwart loaded with enough camping gear to even up the weight which was important for crossing the large lake when the wind picked up.

I too think that shade of green is a great color for a Jeep.

Friend of mine needed to have his Jeep "recovered" last week after he let it roll down a ravine where it wedged between two trees at the bottom. He got a neighbor to pull in out with a 4WD John Deere.