New to me 1953 CJ3A

1945 - 196*, Willys CJ series, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the post war jeep.®
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pookie
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New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Tue May 24, 2022 5:40 am

This past weekend I purchase a 1953 CJ3A in pieces for a project with my son. Body is sold, passenger floor has a hole and a previous patch that will need fixed. It came with a L-head but it is not original to the Jeep. It previously had a S10 engine in it and was converted to 12v. So we have our work cut out for us.

First, we cleaned the body with CLR and was able to remove a lot of the surface rust. Mostly because I don’t like dirty stuff, and because when it came home he couldn’t wait to work for it.

Next, I pick up the grille later today then I plan on doing an inventory of what we have and what we are missing. I’m sure I’ll need more help then.

I’ll add pics when I figure out how.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A


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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Tue May 24, 2022 6:05 am

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I think I got it.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

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dpcd67
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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by dpcd67 » Tue May 24, 2022 10:12 am

Nice jeep. Step one; get a MIG welder. Step two; get rid of those wheels and tires and put original NDTs on it.
Actually step one is get the Jeep Universal manual and read it. Come over and I'll show you a few jeeps and how to restore them.
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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by 70th Division » Tue May 24, 2022 2:35 pm

pookie wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 5:40 am
This past weekend I purchase a 1953 CJ3A in pieces for a project with my son. Body is sold, passenger floor has a hole and a previous patch that will need fixed. It came with a L-head but it is not original to the Jeep. It previously had a S10 engine in it and was converted to 12v. So we have our work cut out for us.

First, we cleaned the body with CLR and was able to remove a lot of the surface rust. Mostly because I don’t like dirty stuff, and because when it came home he couldn’t wait to work for it.

Next, I pick up the grille later today then I plan on doing an inventory of what we have and what we are missing. I’m sure I’ll need more help then.

I’ll add pics when I figure out how.

Hello,

That looks like a great jeep and project !!

Parts and engines are plentiful !

Be sure to make restoration update posts here on the G , as you go !!

Everybody likes restoration efforts and posts on projects !


Good luck, and Keep 'em Rolling !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Tue May 24, 2022 4:06 pm

Dpcd67, where are you located? I’d love to learn more. I’m in Knoxville TN. I have an old school Lincoln tombstone stick welder, but have a friend with a MIG who can help.

70th Division, I’ll try to post a lot. I have no clue about these things so I’m gonna post lots of stupid questions.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by 70th Division » Tue May 24, 2022 9:28 pm

pookie wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 4:06 pm
Dpcd67, where are you located? I’d love to learn more. I’m in Knoxville TN. I have an old school Lincoln tombstone stick welder, but have a friend with a MIG who can help.

70th Division, I’ll try to post a lot. I have no clue about these things so I’m gonna post lots of stupid questions.
Great !!


To start with get yourself a wire feed welder, it can have a mig kit or not.
That stick welder is no good to work on the body.

Get some full face shields, a good grinder, a small rotary tool grinder, I would recommend using for small cutting disks, Dremel EZ Lock disks found on ebay, for $1 each, get packs of 50 at a time. Also get the EZ Lock attachment bit !
These are great for cutting areas away that you are patching, and also to finish welds up nice and smoothly after grinding down.

Get some welding clamps, Harbor Freight carries a very good line of them !

Always wear eye protection, and ear protection as well.

If you do any sand blasting yourself, don't use sand, get recycled glass Clean Bite blasting media.
It has no dangerous free silica dust like sand does.
Northern Tool sells it.

I recently got a power washer blasting attachment ($30) that goes on my gas powered power washer, to blast my jeep with the clean bite blast media.
(Ebay or Amazon)

It works great, just use a plastic home depot bucket with the media dumped in it, and a tarp to cover it to keep any water out , and keep it dry.
You get a little wet, but no dust, and a great blasting result.

You can also spread the wet media out to dry, sweep it up, screen it, and reuse it !
If you blast on a driveway that is :D


It will be a great project, just learn as you go and ask plenty of questions here on the G !

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by dpcd67 » Wed May 25, 2022 6:37 am

I am ten hours NE of you in NE Illinois.
Come on up.
On the welder; once you use wire feed welder flux core, you will want to throw it in the trash and get the gas kit for it; welds are 1000% better and any 13 year old girl can do it.
Stick welder, yes, that is now a boat anchor.
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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Wed May 25, 2022 1:44 pm

I have a buddy with a mig who is going to weld it for me. I’m going to go ahead and let him do that.

Next I’m cross shopping engine options and have some questions:

#1 will a 4cyl from a 67 cj5 fit mine?

#2 Would I need the trans and tcase too?

#3 would a dauntless v6 from a 69cj fit? I saw the need for Novak advance adapters, and possibly a bell housing change.

#4 my engine is missing distributor, plug wires, fuel pump, and has two broken exhaust valves. Based on just that, what am I looking at cost wise to rebuild mine?

Thanks
1953 Willy’s CJ3A

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by dpcd67 » Wed May 25, 2022 2:52 pm

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Do not put an F head engine in it. Or a V6. Keep it flat head. If you want a CJ5 or YJ, buy one.
I can't help you with any of that. You will have to cut a big hole in your hood so the carb can stick out of it.
Just my opinion.
Engines cost $4-5k to rebuild if you pay someone to do it; I get the machine work done, and do the assembly myself. About $2k.
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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Wed May 25, 2022 6:21 pm

Dpcd67, lol. Thanks. I’d like to but even since my last post o realized when I bought it the seller said it previously had a S10 engine in it, which I think means the bell housing and input shaft may have already been changed. I need to figure that out too.

And just for giggles I set the grille and windshield on
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1953 Willy’s CJ3A

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Thu May 26, 2022 5:11 am

My post last night made me realize if they previous previous owner put a S10 engine in, I assume the 4.3, then the bell housing and input shaft may have been changed. I don’t know what a stock T90A bell housing should look like. Here are some pics I took this morning.

Anyone know what I have?
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1953 Willy’s CJ3A

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Re: New to me 1953 CJ3A

Post by pookie » Thu May 26, 2022 9:11 am

Here is my parts list so far:

Patch panel for the passenger floor
Taillights (at one point some rough holes were cut in the tub and if nothing else I need to fill the holes)
2 Data plates (has a title but looks like plates were removed to add a heater?)
2 LH thread lug nuts
Distributor
Alternator
Spark plugs
Spark plug wires
All 3 shift knobs
2 Windshield catches
Windshield seal
Windshield
1 hood block
Temperature gauge
Fuel guage
4? Hood latches
Gas tank strap
Gas tank (I found some pin holes in mine)
T-case shift boot
Transmission shift boot
Horn
New windshield to cover strip (have one but it’s kinda banged up)
Fuel pump
12v regulator
12v coil (I have one but don’t see a parts number or any info on it)
One windshield mounting bolt
Lots of other bolts
4wd stencil
Probably new tailgate
Battery

Whew.
1953 Willy’s CJ3A


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