question Re: How easy to convert a CJ to a Willys??

[Danny152]

Not my normal cup of tea but away at the moment in the US and came across a knackered CJ I believe it is?? I know the tub is different but how similar is the rest of the Jeep, chassis, engine, axle etc?

 

Can send you a pic if you wish to check the model, my email address is burt.danny@yahoo.co.uk

 

Any advice from you Jeep experts out there?

 

Cheers for your help?

 

Regards

 

Danny

[N.O.S.]

Depends what model CJ you are looking at. Assume you plan to fit a repro tub on a later chassis? I'm not a Jeep expert, but I can tell you that among the differences between a CJ3A and a wartime model are:

 

 

 

1. Radiator mounted each side to front grille on CJ3A - at bottom on crossmember on wartime so if using wartime tub need to fit mounting plats to front grille
   
2. Heavier gearbox - may need to tweak floor pan ever-so-slightly on a wartime tub to fit (and modify centre crossmember??)
   
3. Rear shock absorbers mounted differently (not a big job to make new brackets)
   
4. Rear axle is heavier duty
   
5. Brake drums are slightly wider
   
6. Fuel tank is side fill - if using wartime tub then fit a wartime top fill tank
   
7. Driver's seat frame about 4" higher on CJ3A (more comfortable )
   
8. Engine is a bit tougher too
   

 

 

Probably more but you'll need to wait for an expert to come along :blush:

Edited July 29, 2012 by N.O.S.

[deadline]

The most notable differences are (in addition to whats been covered)

 

The grill: CJ has 'bug eye' headlamps, MB/GPWs were recessed behind the grill.

The windshield.

Rims (CJ rims are slotted, combat rims were sold disk)

The drivers side on a jeep has indents for the shovel/axe mounting.

The MB would have had a the pintal hook and bumperettes.

 

Mechanically you have to get pretty deep into the workings:

 

gear driven cam vs chain (certain parts will run 'backwards' compared to a GoDevil jeep engine)

the electrical harness will be different

If it has the original engine there will a large cantankerous governor

Controls (choke/throttle etc) will be in different locations

The steering wheel will have a significant cutout in the dash.

Probably the biggest change was the steering linkage was moved off the axle and onto a cross member to alleviate the 'brake induced steering' of the original jeeps

 

 

Get those things converted and you will pass the 10 foot test.

Edited July 30, 2012 by deadline

[Nick Johns]

Here is a CJ based conversion to a WW2 lookalike already done

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/willys-jeep-/320953186553?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aba4cf8f9&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:101&clk_rvr_id=369587822045

[RattlesnakeBob]

and a visual one that nobody has mentioned.....

CJs have 7 slots in the radiator grill whereas wartime ones have 9

 

PS @Nick...are you assuming that one is a CJ convert or have you further info??..just wondered.......I know they say it is a 1953 chassis but...could it be a Hotchkiss chassis or..?

Edited July 30, 2012 by RattlesnakeBob

[JonP]

But why? Why would you want to? A CJ would make a nice base project for a, err, CJ? I can think of umpteen CJ projects which would look really cool - Santini Air finish (airwolf), Arizona State Police (with light bars) to name a couple. To convert it into a Willys MB just because.. nope, don't go there!

[deadline]

Here is a CJ based conversion to a WW2 lookalike already done

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/willys-jeep-/320953186553?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aba4cf8f9&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:101&clk_rvr_id=369587822045

 

That looks like an MD Juan body kit. Nothing on the body looks CJ at all. If all you want is a frame then there are few differences. But even looking at the front axle its not a CJ axle, but an MB/GPW one (the location of the steering arm is the give away).

 

I also agree that a well restored CJ3 can be much more valuable than a jeep-mix-master. A mix matched jeep will be always pointed out, a well done CJ3 resto will simply be a well done CJ3 resto.

[mcspool]

Agree, and if it is a military jeep you want, all CJ types were used by Armed Forces across the globe.

[RattlesnakeBob]

Also....didn't all CJ models have a tailgate?...

I guess everyones 'ideal' is the typical 'wartime Jeep' but personally I'd happily settle for a CJ..or a Hotchkiss...or a M38 or...

[N.O.S.]

Yes RSB, tailgate. And the Willys stamped logo on the bonnnet. Although Danny wasn't asking about the body as he knew it was different, just about the mechanicals :cool2: :laugh:

 

I started to turn one into a wartime looker 'cos I couldn't afford a wartime one and had the offer of a really cheap (but excellent mechanically) military CJ3A. Yes I'd agree now that it would probably be worth more as a restored military CJ3A, but not at the time it wasn't. I got all the parts ready (e.g. plain pressed panel to tack weld into the tailgate hole).

 

A friend now has it and has just completed the transformation, but in such a way that it can very easily be converted back its original spec :angel: