This Willys CJ-3B spent its life as a ranch vehicle in South Texas. I found it in a barn outside Austin where it had been for 15 years. It took 2 years to complete the frame up restoration, but now it is like new again. The family I bought it from were truly surprised. I built it to take to Big Bend NP, which is the largest of National Parks and very hot. Therefore I added a larger cooling system, rerouted the fuel line away from the exhaust manifold, beefed up the brakes to 11″ with a duel master cylinder, and added an overdrive for better gas mileage. I hope to make the trip soon.
Willys Jeep Life Story – John Hooper
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Beautiful CJ-3B rebuild!
Beautiful CJ-3B rebuild!
Big Bend is not the largest National Park in America (per his statement) minor point, just needs correcting. Wrangell-St Elias in Alaska is.
Big Bend is not the largest National Park in America (per his statement) minor point, just needs correcting. Wrangell-St Elias in Alaska is.
You do beautiful work. Great restoration. Congratulations!
You do beautiful work. Great restoration. Congratulations!
Too bad you didn’t keep that sweet roll bar.
Too bad you didn’t keep that sweet roll bar.
Nicely done and is that engine the original and rebuilt?
Nicely done and is that engine the original and rebuilt?
I rebuilt everything. Every bearing and seal on the jeep has been replaced. That part alone took about a year. The engine needed two sleeves, bored .040, all new pistons and a new oil pump. I have the roll bar, and intend to use it, but first want to do some modifications.
Currently I am still breaking in the engine. Only have 150 miles so far.
Big bend is not the largest park , it just feels like it.
It’s as much fun to build as it is to drive.
I rebuilt everything. Every bearing and seal on the jeep has been replaced. That part alone took about a year. The engine needed two sleeves, bored .040, all new pistons and a new oil pump. I have the roll bar, and intend to use it, but first want to do some modifications.
Currently I am still breaking in the engine. Only have 150 miles so far.
Big bend is not the largest park , it just feels like it.
It’s as much fun to build as it is to drive.
What a great looking Jeep. I keep it on my screen just so I can see it every day. It’s inspiring to finish my CJ3A 1950. very clean that’s how I restore them too. Keep Jeep n on! CHEERS!
What a great looking Jeep. I keep it on my screen just so I can see it every day. It’s inspiring to finish my CJ3A 1950. very clean that’s how I restore them too. Keep Jeep n on! CHEERS!
Update; I have added an upgraded roll bar, and a winch, two things i hope i never have to use. I enhanced the electrical system with a better fuse box and relays for the lights, electric fuel pump and electric fan.
I have driven 600 miles so far and I am still working out kinks, so i stay close to home and the tow bar handy. Nothing serious, faulty fuel gauge reading caused me to run out of gas. I had a bad temp gauge on the electric fan which caused a heating problem when the radiator hose blew off and dumped my coolant on the road. Once, an oil line broke. I herd the rocker arm clatter and shut it down and towed it home. No harm done. I made a bracket for the duel master cylinder that was not quite right and caused the front brakes to lock up. My electric fuel pump oil pressure switch shorted out on the drag link every time i made a sharp left turn. That took a while to trace down.
The last 200 miles have been uneventful. Maybe its time to make a big trip into the back country.
Update; I have added an upgraded roll bar, and a winch, two things i hope i never have to use. I enhanced the electrical system with a better fuse box and relays for the lights, electric fuel pump and electric fan.
I have driven 600 miles so far and I am still working out kinks, so i stay close to home and the tow bar handy. Nothing serious, faulty fuel gauge reading caused me to run out of gas. I had a bad temp gauge on the electric fan which caused a heating problem when the radiator hose blew off and dumped my coolant on the road. Once, an oil line broke. I herd the rocker arm clatter and shut it down and towed it home. No harm done. I made a bracket for the duel master cylinder that was not quite right and caused the front brakes to lock up. My electric fuel pump oil pressure switch shorted out on the drag link every time i made a sharp left turn. That took a while to trace down.
The last 200 miles have been uneventful. Maybe its time to make a big trip into the back country.