VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

1945 - 196*, Willys CJ series, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the post war jeep.®
Post Reply
pookie
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:13 am
Location:

VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by pookie » Sun May 01, 2022 4:01 pm

Random, so bare with me, but I have a 71 VW Beetle for sale, and a guy offered me a 1946 Willy’s (everything but a complete tub). The trade has the dash and front of the tub, engine, axle, wheels, transfer case, and a hard top. My son and I were doing the VW but he said he’d rather have a Jeep or old truck. My oldest Jeep has been a 80 CJ5 but I did restore a Willys MBT and M416 trailer. I’m hoping someone has more knowledge of CJ2A than I do, and can tell me what I need to look for on the trade, and what (besides a tub, windshield and seats) that I might need. Are wiring harnesses easy to come by? How hard is it to restore the brakes and axles on a CJ2A? If the engine spins freely what is an estimate of what a rebuild will cost?

I’m sure I’ll have more ???? But that is what I have for now
1953 Willy’s CJ3A


Bruce W
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1678
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2003 4:45 pm
Location: Northeast Colorado

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by Bruce W » Mon May 02, 2022 8:28 am

Everything you may need is available. Finding parts is not too hard, finding GOOD QUALITY parts, not so easy. The owner of this site, Ron Fitzpatrick has a fair selection of CJ2-A parts, a lot of CJ2-A parts are the same as MB. Walck’s 4WD has a great selection of parts and offers good friendly service. They have beautiful wiring harnesses. Kaiser-Willys Auto Supply has a fancy catalog.
The L134 engine is not terribly difficult or expensive to rebuild, it does have some quirks as any engine does, its good if a mechanic working on one has some experience with them. Except for the camshaft drive system, they are the same as MB. I haven’t checked prices on complete rebuilds lately, but Id expect one to get near $4000. Of course if you can do the disassembly and assembly yourself, you can save quite a bit.
You can get plenty of answers to your questions (some good, some not so good - THINK about what you’re told) here and on the CJ2Apage.com. Ask away!
BW
G Trp 2nd Sqdrn 3d Armored Cavalry Ft. Lewis 1970-71. 43GPW(Sarge?) 47CJ2A(Teddy) 47CJ2A(Rusty) 47CJ2A(Zak) 48CJ2A(Lefty) 48CJ2A(Uncle Linden) 53CJ3B(Bulldog) 88XJ(Pluto) NE CO

DogDoc
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Arkansas

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by DogDoc » Mon May 02, 2022 8:53 am

It sounds like a lot of stuff needs done on the CJ. If you could get some pictures and post them, that would help a lot. You will have to compress the file size to post. Getting parts is similar to the bug (I’m doing a 68 convertible right now). The tub for the CJ is a little more problematic. They are out there and some decent repros are out there but you may to to travel a ways to get it. Get the pics and post them before you trade. There is a tremendous wealth of info here.

Good luck,
Jay
43 GPW 110748
52 M38
44 Bantam T3
45 GPW 277391

pookie
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:13 am
Location:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by pookie » Mon May 02, 2022 11:19 am

8807C498-4F11-4E8B-83B3-3FFA7004B218.jpeg
1
EF6B4427-545F-4371-AD42-0C99BF9CB1A4.jpeg
2
03C0FFD8-0430-4A6D-B3A9-278DA3BA8AFF.jpeg
3
6EB6C705-2B0D-4A5B-B244-F75090944220.jpeg
4
4CD7871C-E536-4744-9606-5BCAB420ADC9.jpeg
5
D2E9AA0F-E7ED-4690-A77C-813F0DCCBAEF.jpeg
6
There is one more I’ll upload in a sec
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

pookie
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:13 am
Location:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by pookie » Mon May 02, 2022 11:24 am

AA0E52E9-2C85-490A-B903-C45E2509C681.jpeg
0D14F0B8-C292-4D48-B969-511D5EFB6AA8.jpeg
There were 2 more.

There should be some more coming and I’ll post those as well.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

pookie
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:13 am
Location:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by pookie » Mon May 02, 2022 11:27 am

I’m glad to know parts are available. Probably like the VW stuff you have to wade through to make sure you aren’t getting Chinese junk. Wiring has always been my downfall, so a new east harness option would be awesome.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

Steve Webb
G-General
G-General
Posts: 16659
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:40 pm
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by Steve Webb » Mon May 02, 2022 12:35 pm

Harnesses are out there. I got my 3a from Vintage Wiring of Maine, I know Walcks sells them and I think they make theirs, Check out what Ron has now. He didn't have a lot of CJ stuff when I did mine. Boy you can go down a rabbit hole on this. With luck and skills I would say 5k minimum, but easily you can spend 10k
Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross Psalm 55; 9-11

DogDoc
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Arkansas

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by DogDoc » Mon May 02, 2022 1:19 pm

Vintage Wiring for sure. It looks like you have some pretty good bones there. I have no personal experience with the repop tubs but I have a friend who has used them. He prefers to fix one if you can find one. If you find a tub, Classic Enterprises has real good replacement panels. I'm not sure if they make a tub or not, might be worth a call.
43 GPW 110748
52 M38
44 Bantam T3
45 GPW 277391

User avatar
W. Winget
LTC, U.S. Army
LTC, U.S. Army
Posts: 4438
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:37 am
Location: USA, Virginia, Carrollton
Contact:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by W. Winget » Mon May 02, 2022 1:38 pm

Life's short, you're buying a basket case...literally someone else disassembles, mixes everything up and gets tired of it then hands it off to destroy another vehicle.
Your Son may be fully grown and through with college if you do not have a plan here.
Research it first. Surf the sites that sell parts. If you're planning on a finished piece (in his lifetime) it will take many, many hours of both cleaning and sorting what is useable, then locating parts and fitting. Do not enter this lightly, finding a poor old jeep in need of work is a LOT better time management than buying into a basket full of parts and loosing enthusiasm/time you could have spent driving around together.
A complete one can be rendered safe (brakes, tires, seats) and enjoyed while receiving paint, body work, new wiring, etc. in the down time.
Attend a show like the Hagerstown, MD next week/weekend and see what's for sale/available, or your local area military vehicle shows, talk with owners that have done this multiple times.

If you have money, a repop body would simplify the process greatly, just consider heavily what you are taking on and get a PLAN first!

V/R W. Winget
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

DogDoc
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Arkansas

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by DogDoc » Mon May 02, 2022 3:30 pm

Having said what I did earlier, I want to be clear. I agree 100% with everything Winget said. It is a HUGE commitment.
43 GPW 110748
52 M38
44 Bantam T3
45 GPW 277391

Adam
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4513
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:03 pm
Location: Little Meadows PA

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by Adam » Mon May 02, 2022 3:52 pm

Whats your vw worth?? that pile of cj is worth less than a grand. does your state need a title? what is the jeeps serial number, should be a tag on the frame of firewall.

worn out tires,
scrap the top, they are ugly,
frame is fishplated and front end looks welded on
body kit 4 grandish
early cj or mb or earlier engine, what is its casting and serial number, may add a grand to its value, make sure it is not cracked, or early americar engine, worthless
m38 tapped head
it will need every rubber piece, and all the consumable parts that wear, sandblasting and painting, you cant see inside the axle assys, they may be fishtanks.

easy 8 to 12 grand, and it goes up is engine needs lots of work,, and the tranny and t case, no fancy paint.......



i c a pto on the tranny, 150 smackers

Adam

pookie
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:13 am
Location:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by pookie » Wed May 04, 2022 5:38 pm

Thanks gents. I passed on the trade. Which hasn’t stopped me from looking for CJ2A and CJ3A but, that trade didn’t make sense based on the value of the VW
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

Chuck W.
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5820
Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2002 11:00 am
Location:

Re: VW trade for 1946 CJ2A?

Post by Chuck W. » Sat May 07, 2022 4:25 pm

Smart. Even if it costs you a little more, buy the most complete, running jeep you can find.


Post Reply

Return to “CJ Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests