Features Research Archives

To Top

Fixing Patterson’s Seat Mounts And The Extra Channel

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: Add are some instructions (thanks Terry!) for installing DJ-3A seats:

1956-06-15-dj3a-seat-install-directions1-lores 1956-06-15-dj3a-seat-install-directions2-lores

======================

ORIGINAL POST UPDATE MAY 2017: I’ve added a couple pics at the end and included a discussion on the extra channel DJ-3As have.

Last fall, when disassembling Rusty, I thought it was odd that the 2/3 1/3 seats had been mounted on wood blocks. I assumed this had been done by the previous owner to raise the seats.

Yesterday, I discovered that Patterson’s passenger seat was loose. When I examined it more carefully, I learned that it was loose because one of the wood blocks under the seat had broken. I can only conclude that all DJ-3A’s with 2/3 1/3 seats were mounted on wood blocks? Or maybe only the early ones?

The photo below shows the passenger seat tilted forward. The front of it is mounted in a way that allows it to pivot forward. The mounts are bolted through a piece of wood, then through a piece of cloth, through the body, and into a welded bolt. The rear of the seats rests on the two mounts at the back of the well. The long piece of wood is a well-seasoned (at least 45 years old) and stained piece of oak that will work perfect for replacement blocks.

2017-05-20-seats6

Unlike the passenger seat, the rear of the driver’s seat rests on two posts; slide onto the ends of the posts are rubber feet. Those rubber feat sit on blocks of wood also. 2017-05-20-seats7

A close up of the rubber foot. The hole is 1 inch in diameter, so I ought to be able to find rubber feet to replace these tired ones.2017-05-20-seats8

This shows how great the floor on this DJ is.

2017-05-20-seats9

Another angle. Blocks 1, 4, 5, and 6 were the same size. Blocks 2 and 3 were larger and screwed down to the body. The rear 2/3’s seat rested atop those blocks.

patterson-seat-blocks

I’ve drilled cut and drilled the blocks. They are ready for installation. I plan to add a thin piece of rubber under the blocks. Once I remove the rusted end of one bolt that broke, I’ll be able to reinstall the seats.

If you take a look at wood block #1 and block #6 there’s something curious. While the body area under wood block is similar to a CJ-3A, the body area under #6 has an additional channel (btw, we’ve yet to document any under DJ-3A body channels with wood in them).

This is the passenger side with the extra channel and a welded bolt.
patterson-dj3a-underside2

No channel on the driver’s side even though there is a bolt welded there. patterson-dj3a-underside3

Finally, the DJ-3As used wood blocks between the frame and transmission crossmember.

patterson-dj3a-underside1

 

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Rusty’s T-96 Transmission Rebuild

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Another thing I got accomplished recently was the rebuilding of Rusty’s T-96 transmission. It’s been a couple decades since I’ve rebuild a T-90, but I think a person could follow a T-90 side shift guide when rebuilding the T-96 (I didn’t think of this until after I was done — instead I used an old rebuild manual from the late 60’s that has rebuilds of 35 different styles of transmissions). Once again, I thought I had more pics, but I didn’t. So, this isn’t a step-by-step overview.

I took this photo at the beginning of the tear-down to remember which way the speedometer gear should face. The lack of a transfercase is part of what makes this rebuild different from most other jeep transmissions. 
2017-05-20-transmission1

Here’s the transmission with the input shaft pulled forward. My first gear and second gears were a bit worn. 2017-05-20-transmission2

Once I removed all the gears, I discovered the reverse gear had a broken tooth. 2017-05-20-transmission3

Close up of broken tooth. Thankfully, Charles Tate had sent me a box of T-96 parts that included a reverse gear. I was also able to replace the entire bottom cluster, first gear, and second gear. That saved me some money!

2017-05-20-transmission6

To remove the side shifters, a pin has to be tapped out. I was able to remove the 2/3 gear shifter, but not the first/reverse unit. Since there was no critical reason I could see for removing the first/reverse mechanism, I left it as is and cleaned up the housing.2017-05-20-transmission4

Normally, I’d paint the housing before assembly. However, with time being an issue and lacking enough warmth on the rebuild day to properly paint it, I will paint it at a later date. 2017-05-20-transmission5

One other unique thing about the T-96: it requires the use of a special speedometer cable that is also used for Jeepsters and wagons.

2017-05-20-transmission0

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Assembling a DJ-3A Column Shift

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Yesterday I assembled Rusty’s column shifter. In my head, I took all kinds of photos. One in particular I took (again in my mind) showed the layout of all the parts prior to assembly. Alas, somehow that photo never made it onto my phone!

The DJ-3A shifter is slightly different from a VEC CJ-2A shifter. I can’t say how much it differs from a Jeepster or wagon column shifter. But, i can say that following these VEC CJ-2A instructions were very helpful.

After laying out the parts (and not taking a photo) I began the assembly process by learning how to install the horn wiring. After looking up how to do it on a 3B (thanks CJ-3B Page!), it turned out to be quite easy.

Step 1) Thread some of my grandfather’s wire through steering shaft.

2017-05-20-column-shift-assembly1

Step 2) Attach the wire to the horn wire end. In this case, I ran it through wire connector and then bent it so that the wire would not pull back out of the connector. 2017-05-20-column-shift-assembly2

Step 3) Pull the wiring carefully through the end of the shaft.  2017-05-20-column-shift-assembly3

With the wire installed, next on the list was assembling the shifter. The first step involved installing a washer, a spring, and a second washer onto the column shift tube Next, the interior shift lever must be screwed onto the shift housing. Then, slide the shift housing onto the column shift tube, pushing it far enough up so that a special metal pin can be inserted. Once that is done, you have to weld the end of the tube to the pin to secure it.2017-05-20-column-shift-assembly4

Continue reading

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Fixin’ Patterson’s Windshield

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Another item I tackled yesterday was Patterson’s windshield, specifically the twisters and a rear view mirror.

It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized Patterson didn’t have a rear view mirror. Fortunately, I had the mount from Rusty and a nearly correct mirror thanks to Chris McKay. This is before I added the mirror:

2017-05-20-windshield1

And after the mirror. 2017-05-20-windshield2

Next I addressed a couple of broken twisters. These are one of the unique features of a DJ-3A Convertible. The windshield is nearly like a CJ-3B, accept for the way the convertible top is supposed to attach to the windshield. Instead of a sliding mechanism, it uses those twisters. Two of Patterson’s twisters were broken. I had a few that I removed from Rusty (most of Rusty’s were broken), so I installed two of those onto Patterson. 2017-05-20-windshield3

The windshield is now complete and ready for a convertible top.

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1942 Photo of Pilots and Jeep in England on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Neat photo that includes names and places of origin.

“1942 Press Photo Lieut. Wesley T. Ballard & Lieut. John Kamer pile into Jeep. This is an original press photo. Piling into and upon an Army Jeep, crack American pilots head for a flight dispersal point in England. On hood (left to right): Lieut. Wesley T. Ballard, of Victoria, Texas; Lieut. John L. Kamer of Marion, Ohio; Lieut. Edwin Dalrymple of San Antonio, Texas, and Lieut. Monroe Smith of Jackson, MIss. The driver is Capt. Frank Hill of Hillsdale, N.J., Lieut. Gillas Johnson, of Willow, Okla., has his feet draped over Rear Jeep wheel. (In Rear left): Lieut. Charles Van Reed of Reading, Penn. and Lieut. D. Smith of Waterloo, Ind. Photo measures 9 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 10-02-1942.”

View all the information on eBay

1942-10-02-soldiers-jeep1

1942-10-02-soldiers-jeep2

[fb_button]
 
To Top

DJ-3A Column Shifter

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Just a few updates tonight. We’d changed plans slightly when we left Klamath Falls on Monday. We were supposed to go to Renton, but Ann was suffering from some brain fluid issues again (pressure, head ache, nausea), so we hightailed it straight to Pasco. I guess this trip was just a little too long for her. Once we got her home and she could lay down, she felt a little better.

On Wednesday, she still wasn’t feeling great, so I brought Patterson up to Renton by myself. Yesterday, I had the time to do some work. Unfortunately, I discovered something a little disheartening. More on that later ….

I began the morning with a simple task: remove the column shifter handle and replace it with Rusty’s.  The lever at the top is Rusty’s (it should be chrome rather than black, but that will have to wait). On the bottom is Patterson’s broken one. Patterson’s may be repairable, but it will take some time.

2017-05-18-column-shift4

For comparison, here’s a CJ-2A shifter (this site shows how to assemble a CJ-2A column shift mechanism). It’s got a little more primitive looking end:

cj2a-shifter

One of the first things I had to figure out was how to mount the anti-rattle spring.

2017-05-18-column-shift5

This spring is slightly different from the spring used on CJ-2A column shifters.

For comparison, here is a CJ-2A spring drawing:

cj2a-forum-spring

Continue reading

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1946 Photo of Married Couple Taking CJ-2A on Trip on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This married couple has quite the age difference: 61 years to be exact! The 2A is a column shift.

“This is an original press photo. Mrs. Mattie Lyons Large Sprouse, 79 and her 18 year old husband are ready for their 100 mile jeep trip to a Huntington amusement park tomorrow. It will be the first trip out of Lawrence county for Mrs. Sprouse, a widow for 17 years before her recent marriage.Photo measures 10.25 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated –1946.”

View all the information on eBay

1946-vec-cj2a-woman-boy

[fb_button]