J.a.s. Strikes Again

As many of you know Jeep Acquisition Syndrome is an incurable condition, but thankfully treatment is available.

I went down to Georgia today for some therapy, and bought another old Jeep.

 

Yes, it appears to have had an engine replacement using a military surplus engine, which were widely available up into the 60s. The reason I think this is the engine has the military lift plate and OD paint shows underneath the black paint and grease. It hasn't been started in a while, but he said he did have it running a couple years ago and it ran good. I won't know much about the condition of engine and drive train until I get it home and running, but it looks pretty good under the hood. Steering is sloppy as can be, which is just about always the case, but I already have everything needed to put that back in shape, brakes are still the 9" Lockheeds, which I always replace with 11" Bendix anyway.

 

Congrats! Looks solid. I kinda like the tractor tires.

 

I have the same addiction, but I don’t want help getting delivered. Lol. Guns and old jeeps….

 

The tractor tires aren't coming home with it, he wanted those, and I didn't. It is a lot more solid than most of these old Jeeps in this part of the country. About the only real damage to the body is the driver side tail light panel which is caved in as if from backing into something. Easy fix. Other than the front floor patches, which were done well, the body is sound.

 

He had already installed a new 12v Starter from Walcks, a new gas tank, new lines (correct ones) and new fuel pump. Also has new seat frames, but passenger frame is MB, driver CJ, so different height backs.

It has a Solex which I will replace with a Carter WO if the engine runs good enough. I have a fresh engine, transmission, and transfer case ready to go if I need it, but want to check this stuff out before I start swapping anything.

He has about a half dozen other Jeeps, from junkers to restored, and I counted at least 8 winches on shelves in the back of his garage, most were Warn, with a couple of PTO winches. So, he has been infected with J.A.S. too, but doesn't have time to work on them due to the Job he has which is why he is selling some.

 

It is getting to the time in my life I need to scale down on the projects, and spend more time driving old Jeeps instead of always working on them. I certainly will keep the 67 CJ5, and want to keep one good flat fender. Counting this one, I now have 3 CJ2As. I may focus on fixing up this one, and let go of the other two.

 

Looks like a good one. Your 2A I saw last year looked pretty darn good too. I didn't even want to ask what you wanted for it for fear I'd be taking it home too! Good thing my wife was with me! Hopefully this one starts up easily and runs good

 

The 47 CJ2A you saw last year looks better from 20 feet away than it does up close, but it runs pretty good, steering and brakes are right. I'll probably sell that one after I get this "new" one road worthy.

Here is a picture of that 47.

 

That 47 will be for sale for a reasonable price by winter or spring.

 

I need to come visit your collection next time I’m up there visiting my daughter

 

My "collection" isn't much, but bring a trailer and I'll set you up.

 

I wish, but probably a lot less than that .

I am thinking more along the lines of $2500 - $3500 depending on what goes with it.

 

I got the old gal home Sunday right before a storm hit, so the picture is a little "cloudy".

Was hoping to give the engine a try this evening after it cooled off, but another bad string of storms hit, so no go. Looked up the serial number which shows it to be a late 1946 Jeep. Weather is supposed to be clear for the next few days so maybe I can try to get it running tomorrow.

 

Spent about thirty minutes today working on the "New" Jeep.

First try it wouldn't turn over, turned out it did not have a good ground. The negative cable was attached to the frame, but the grounding strap from block to engine stand was missing.

I moved the cable to a temporary mount to a water pump bolt and it fired right up with just some gas poured down carb. Some smoke on first try, then I added some fuel to the tank, found no leaks, tried again and let it run a few minutes. Couldn't let it run long because the fan belt is missing, but it cleared out and almost stopped smoking.

I did discover it has a cracked exhaust manifold which someone had tried to weld up unsuccessfully, so I will have the joy of replacing that and hoping I don't break the rear stud.

It revs up and sounds strong. Tomorrow I will haul it down to the barn and put a belt on it so I can drive it around on flat ground (no brakes) to test the rest of the drive train.

Then while it is still hot I will soak those exhaust studs/nuts with some Kroil so I can get ready to fix that part of it. Think I will pull the driver side fender for that job and while it is opened up replace the steering box which is slap worn out.

 

I have never bought a running Jeep. Every single one I have bought has not been started in years, and getting one started first time is always the most fun part of this stuff for me.
Solving all the problems and getting one in serviceable shape is something I enjoy a lot too.

I am very excited about this one.

 

There is an 87 year old man who stops by here every time I have a flat fender Jeep visible from the road.

He has been after me for 2 years wanting to buy my other flat fender 47 CJ2A.

With this one sitting on the trailer in my driveway he stopped by again today, wanting to buy it.

I talked to him about what he wants. He wants to build a rat rod with a Chevy 350, auto transmission, and Chevy axles (not sure what he plans to do up front). He doesn't want any of the Jeep running gear.

We talked about prices, and looks like I may be selling him just the body and frame of the 47, which leaves me with an extra good running L134 engine, a refreshed Dana 41 rear axle, a nearly new military surplus front axle (with 11" drum brakes), completely new brake system, a freshly rebuilt steering box, and a good radiator, all of which will come in handy for getting this "new" Jeep road worthy.

 

Got the old gal off the trailer and moving under its own power for the first time in over 20 years.

Didn't drive it much because I haven't gotten a belt on it yet, just took a run around the barn. Squirted some Kroil on the manifold nuts, which I will do every time I get it warmed up for a while. Next up will be a new alternator and fan belt. Once I have coolant circulating I can drive it a little to find out more. I did get it to shift into reverse, first and second gears, it shifts good, and no terrible sounds yet. Clutch needs adjustment, and maybe some new linkage parts as it is fairly wonky, but it disengages and engages okay.

The black stripe on the hood is Duct tape, not a racing stripe. There are some places in the seam where it leaks so that is to try and keep water from filling up the spark plug wells. It will be under cover soon as I clear some junk out of the way.