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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

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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.

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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.”

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1942-10-02-soldiers-jeep1

1942-10-02-soldiers-jeep2

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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.

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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

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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.”

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1946-vec-cj2a-woman-boy

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