Cj-3b Fire Engine

I just bought a 19?? Cj-3B fire engine and it has no data plate up front. It looks pretty rusty but most of it seems to be intact. Big plus is , it has a brass property of the navy tag with number on the dash. But my question is, can I tell the year by F-Head engine stamp number 4J309129 ? I know its a 3b engine and I'm thinking its a 1953. I've sought a few older links here, but they have expired I think. No picture right now, I just got back and didn't take any (Duh) . Its a dry chemical engine and power by CO2 tank I believe, but I'd like to fill with water for demo purposes. Still has the air tank inside and all plumbing. Let me know if I have the year correct. Thanks.

 

M606 ? I've been digging around on the net and from what I can tell, it might be a M606. I'm rethinking my water project on this and maybe turn it into a traveling beer tap. Whatcha think ?

 

Beer always makes things better! And if you bring a tank full of it you will be quite popular!

 

Restore it as a fire jeep!

 

The 53 3B my brother owned, had the separate fuel and temp gauges like a 3A had. I am thinking in 54 or 55 the 3B started using the some speedometer cluster as the cj5 had in 55. ??

 

I knew you were going to say that. Might pick it up today. If you get a chance, you should stop by.

 

With a beer tap!

 

My 55 had individual gauges. The B didn't get the cluster until 57.

 

Ah, I was not sure, I just knew that our 53 3B had the small gauge set. and the 64 3B I had used a cluster. Thank you.

 

looks pretty cool. You might consider going over to cj3b.info and poke around. They have a lot of fire jeeps there. They would appreciate photos of what you have as you acquired it. And more photos here would be sweet.

Ansul Chemical Fire Jeeps on CJ3B.info

 

The passenger side of the halftop looks like it has a makers tag. Some brands have a date imbedded in the serial number.
Yes, '57-up got the single-gauge speedo cluster when 12V became standard. The later 3B years had a round fresh air intake ahead of passenger door opening, but I don't know when it appeared (maybe '62-ish?). You have something there in your photo.
Interesting Jeep, and looks pretty solid.
-Donny

 

interesting. I have seen those as well. The 64 3B I had did not have it. I wonder if it might have been a factory option. .

 

Both the 1960’s I had were equipped with the fresh air hole. The tub I have now has it also. It has the T handle parking brake so it’s a 61 at the earliest. The fresh air hole came out in 59 according to the CJ3B page.

 

Optional? My 62 never had it.

 

My guess is that it was part of the fresh air heater option. If you didn't get a heater or perhaps got a recirculating heater there was no vent?

Fresh Air Heater

 

I would assume optional.

 

Most "later" 3B's I've been around have either a square plate blanking the hole when no heater is present, or there is a wire screen inside the cowl panel leading to the under-dash heater assembly.
Just about all the later 3B's ('62-up?) I have seen have a hole in the side of the cowl. Interesting to have a date around '59 for it. Thanks Doug!
Like many 50+ year old Jeeps, the tubs could have been swapped out.
-Donny

 

This is supposedly the factory blanking plate.

 

This might be going to the Willys picnic on June 13th. Might also be for sale. Just found another project/driver I want more then this one. If anyone is going , stop by the fire truck and say hey.