duffer
Rodent Power, Bozeman, Montana
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
Through some mishap in reality, I have ended up with David Eilers "49 CJ 3A" "race Jeep". As it presently sits, only the windshield frame is a 3A part. The frame is from an intermediate CJ 5 with custom, out boarded 2.5" wide, long leaf springs, the fronts being 46" long, the rears 50". Stock intermediate axles, centered flanged D44 rear and D30 front. The rear sports a Detroit Locker, front is open. 3.73 gears. Transfer case is a D20 with the D18 2.46:1 gear set and Bronco sliding gear. Transmission is a T18 with what appears to be a Novak transfer case adapter and is directly bolted to the 231 even fire bell housing. The tub is fiberglass, probably a Bobcat version with a few doodads I could do without but give the history, will remain. The fenders may also be Bobcat but David extend these to match the 84" wheelbase. There is a tailgate opening but no tailgate. David had the tire carrier sticking out there. GM tilt column, Saginaw 800 box mounted on AA's mount-well done
My impression is this has a lot of potential but just about everything needs some attention. The person I purchased it from (and who purchased it from David) left it out uncovered for at least a year. The T18, sans shifter with only a paper towel in the hole, had about 1 1/2 cups of water in it and both the carb and exhaust manifolds were missing from the engine. I have not yet determined if I can free the 231 but it will not be staying under the hood anyway. It is going to get replaced with the warmed over 381 sbc I pulled from the 3B (the tub appears to have been molded with a sbc in mind as there is 4" from the back of the block to the firewall indent).
The six point frame mounted roll cage was decently designed and put together. It also appears it will fit under a TigerTop.
It currently has fiberglass "race" bucket seats, the covering for which is presently in the dumpster. They are positioned really well but i'm not to keen on the mounting and will mount new seats off the cage. There is also zero for other creature comforts, not surprising given David's intended use but it appears like another Vintage Air Gen II will fit well under the dash.
My intent is to make this into a viable trail rig. The current CR, being 59:1, should be totally adequate with a sbc under the hood. It is going to obviously need new seats/mounting and I will be replacing the grill for one a little closer to stock (not fond of David's 5 1/2 headlight conversion).
As received:
And I have NEVER, EVER had this much space to play with---------
The project did include a really nice Griffin radiator, but the electric fan is going to be discarded for the mechanical variety. I have 50 years worth of parts either shucked, not used, or replaced from the 3B that are directly applicable to this so the expense shouldn't be too astronomical.
My impression is this has a lot of potential but just about everything needs some attention. The person I purchased it from (and who purchased it from David) left it out uncovered for at least a year. The T18, sans shifter with only a paper towel in the hole, had about 1 1/2 cups of water in it and both the carb and exhaust manifolds were missing from the engine. I have not yet determined if I can free the 231 but it will not be staying under the hood anyway. It is going to get replaced with the warmed over 381 sbc I pulled from the 3B (the tub appears to have been molded with a sbc in mind as there is 4" from the back of the block to the firewall indent).
The six point frame mounted roll cage was decently designed and put together. It also appears it will fit under a TigerTop.
It currently has fiberglass "race" bucket seats, the covering for which is presently in the dumpster. They are positioned really well but i'm not to keen on the mounting and will mount new seats off the cage. There is also zero for other creature comforts, not surprising given David's intended use but it appears like another Vintage Air Gen II will fit well under the dash.
My intent is to make this into a viable trail rig. The current CR, being 59:1, should be totally adequate with a sbc under the hood. It is going to obviously need new seats/mounting and I will be replacing the grill for one a little closer to stock (not fond of David's 5 1/2 headlight conversion).
As received:
And I have NEVER, EVER had this much space to play with---------
The project did include a really nice Griffin radiator, but the electric fan is going to be discarded for the mechanical variety. I have 50 years worth of parts either shucked, not used, or replaced from the 3B that are directly applicable to this so the expense shouldn't be too astronomical.
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