UPDATE II: There are additional updates throughout as several folks suggested other drain holes in various bodies and windshields. 

UPDATE: Barney Goodwin noted that MBs/GPWs also have drains on the gas tank sump, front and rear. He also shared some pics (thanks!). Also, some MB/GPW bodies had 3/8″ drain holes in the tool boxes (seem more here).

A couple months ago Chuck asked a question about drain holes, so I collected the information below. It’s hardly exhaustive, so if I’ve missed something, please comment. Also, I did not find any drain strategies for Wagons, Trucks, Jeepsters or FCs; did they have any interior drains? I’m also unsure if the prototype jeeps had drain strategies.

MBs & GPWs:

MBs and GPWs did have drain holes in the far left of the driver side and far right of the passenger side corners, stopped with brass plugs. There seems to be some debate about whether the plugs should have square tops or slotted tops. You can imagine it might not be easy to locate and remove a brass plug once the floor of an MB was full of dirt/mud/water. Here’s a photo of a square plug from G503 in the left corner of the floor:

Arrow points to the drain plug on the driver’s side of this MB.

Fun fact, the drain plug for the floor is reportedly the same size as the drain plug for the MB and GPW gas tank.

Here’s an example of the square plug alternative, a slotted plug. I would think this could be especially difficult to locate when filled with water/mud:

I didn’t know about the fuel tank sump drain holes (of course, on hindsight, it makes sense they’d have them). Barney Goodwin adds, “MB/GPWs had 2 large drains on the fuel tank sump to clear water out, especially after fording. They are basically a radiator cap and gasget without the temp pressure spring. Even the neck on the drain looks like a radiator neck.  There was one fore and aft of the sump.  It was especially important because there was  felt or horsehair insulators between the tank and the body that would be prone to retain moisture and rust the tank if not maintained.”

CJ-2As/CJ-3As/CJ-3Bs/DJ-3As:

These jeeps had drain holes on the sides near the outside step on either side of the body. When purchasing a jeep, If the body is missing the drain hole, then it’s worth examining the body to see if it has been altered in some fashion. Sometimes the lack of drain hole is also a sign that the body is an M-38 or that the body is fiberglass.

Drain hole for CJ-2As, CJ-3As, CJ-3Bs, and DJ-3As.

Continue reading →

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3800.

Has working neon.

“Willys Jeep porcelain sign with an original can single sided. 70″ X 35″ X 10″. No touch ups.”

UPDATE II: There’s a reference to the shield in a 1943 Tech manual (pg 23). Still no part number.

UPDATE: Another heat shield on an industrial WWII L-134 spotted today (at bottom).

Barney Goodwin from Barney’s Jeep Parts shared a pic of this rare heat shield (he has several in his parts inventory). It mounts between the carb and the intake manifold. We’ve been trying to document a part number, pics, or other evidence of its use. The only evidence so far are two industrial engines with heat shields.

Here’s the heat shield Barney has in stock. Anyone have a part number for this?

As sometimes happens, when I know what to look for, things sometimes pop up. In this case, after writing this post, I ran across a WWII Industrial engine for sale in Santa Cruz that has a heat shield installed. It’s hard to tell how far the wing sticks out.

When searching the industrial equipment archives, an image from 2015 of a civilian industrial engine with a heat shield with a heat shield popped up. The wing is more easily seen. Whether this heat shield is the same as Barney’s or not I couldn’t say for sure:

This Navy unit is powered by a L-134 with a heat shield:

Example of a glove box and data plates from Tom’s collection. Each have a serial and date of delivery on the glove box lid.

Tom Furrer’s prized collection of GPW and MB glove box lids and tags were stolen as part of a robbery. Contact him through G503 with any questions: https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=311501:

“To all my friends and fellow hobbyists in the Jeep world I need your help..

On November 1 Friday I was in Santa Rosa California helping my elderly mother who is 95 prepare to evacuate from the Kindle fire , we were one of 180,000 people told to prepare to evacuate. While I was down there my house that is in Columbia California was robbed and ransacked. I hadn’t even moved in yet yet these thieves got into my house ransacked the house and stole a lot of personal belongings of my mothers and myself ..

For many years by Elder father a World War II vet liked to tinker with jeeps and one of his hobbies was he collected data plates that where from both Ford and Willys Jeep‘s that were junked. When my father passed I continued with his hobby. By the time that he passed he had collected over 60 sets of these data plates most of which are still attached to the glove box doors.

Well these thieves got off with almost all of them and I need the help of every person in this hobby to be on the lookout for these plates. The thieves obviously know cars very well as they were able to move a locked vehicle out of the way to complete their crime. These plates will be extremely easy to identify and eventually I believe they’re going to end up in the hands of somebody who knows what they are and what their value is.

Please everybody keep your eyes open watch eBay watch swap meets. The identifying feature of every single plate is on the glove box door: the serial number and date of delivery written in black ink.

Please everybody keep a watch out I do believe over time they’re gonna turn up we’re too big of a family to let this kind of crap happen.

I Thank each and everyone of you.. Local sheriffs and law-enforcement are well aware of this and crime reports have been written.”

Tom Furrer

This article appears in Jalopnik on Friday. He’s struggling (emotionally) with selling two of his jeeps: A CJ-2A and a DJ-5. I don’t currently see the 2A listed for sale on FB.

https://jalopnik.com/im-trying-to-sell-two-vehicles-i-love-but-im-having-suc-1839718020

An article was published late last week about a WWII veteran who restored a jeep. It’s a touching tribute by the daughter of the veteran about her father’s restoration of a WWII jeep. The one glaring issue is that the jeep isn’t a WWII jeep; it’s a CJ-2A.

https://www.limaohio.com/features/lifestyle/382930/restoration-of-workhorse-veteran-labor-of-love