Blue engine w/ 4FR engine code

The engine in our 63 Tux is blue (see album for color photo). The engine number on the water pump boss begins w/ 4FR followed by six numbers. I searched the Early CJ site and the 3B site for this engine code. I noticed a few other engines on the 3B list w/ that engine code, but did not find any info on the code itself. I know that blue is supposed to mean "low altitude export" on the wagons and trucks list. I also remember reading somewhere that blue might indicate a reman engine, but I can't find that reference now. Anyone know what the 4FR engine code tells me about my engine?

 

Well, it doesn't look like there's much info on the meaning of the 4FR engine code out there, so now I'm really interested to find out more about it!

I posted the question on the Early CJ5 site and the 3B site. Over 150 viewers read the question. Oldtime from the 3B site responded to suggest it might mean factory rebuild, but he said he wasn't aware of any documentation to support that. I appreciate the reply Oldtime! I emailed the 5 owners from the 3B database w/ 4FR engines. I've received back two responses. One said he didn't know, the other said his guess was that it might indicate a rebuilt engine, but he didn't have any info to support that either. Rebuild or reman has been my guess too. Now I just need to track down the documentation to support it. I'm working on finding the identities of previous owners so that I can question them. I'm also going to take a picture of the jeep with me and visit the repair shops from the area where the jeep has been since 1985 to see if anyone remembers anything.

As I was finishing writing this, Bob W over on the 3B site just added: 4LR prefix engines are WO part number 647711, a factory new short block. 4 cylinder L head Replacement. I will go out on a limb and say a 4FR prefix engine is a 4 cylinder F head Replacement short block.

Cool! Thanks for that info Bob!

Anyone else have anything to add? Send it in and help add to what we know about our old jeeps.:driving:

 

After seeing the documentation that Bob W. brought forth on the 3B site and after the discussion between he and Oldtime, I'm convinced that the 4FR engine code was put on new factory shortblocks that were shipped from the factory to be used in the field as replacement shortblocks. I'm grateful to Bob and Oldtime for helping to answer my question. For those who are interested, you can view the thread on the CJ-3B Bulletin Board.

 

I'm glad you got an answer to your question.

Nothing really to contribute to this - just letting you know we aren't ignoring you. Like Lincoln said - "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

 

timgr,

Thanks for your reply. No need for concern over the lack of responses. This was just one of those obscure little questions that there just wasn't much info on out there.
I continue to be grateful to you and the others for the time and effort you devote to this site and for being there to help those of us with more questions than answers. Keep up the good work!

 

This has turned out to be a great week with regards to info on our '63. In addition to the info on the 4FR engine code, I was finally able to track down the complete ownership history of the jeep. Turns out it was purchased new at a (now closed) jeep dealership in the county where I bought it. It has stayed w/in 15-20 miles of that dealership since new. I'm meeting w/ the second owner this coming Wednesday. Now 80+, he has info on the original owner, the engine replacement, and more. He said he thought he might even have the original owners manual which contains some original purchase documentation. That would be a nice bonus! I also spoke to another local who said he could get me some photos of the jeep dealership building from the era when our jeep was purchased there. I'm going to attempt to track down family members of the original owner to see if they have any photos, history or interesting stories of the jeep while it was in their family.

 

If you do the name of the dealership post the info over at the CJ3B site. The were working on a dealership database.

 

mortten,

Appreciate you mentioning that. I found it the other day after I learned the location of the dealership where ours was purchased. Unfortunately, whoever was running that project has posted a note saying they are no longer able to accept new info for the list. They've left the current list up as a reference.