'48 cj2a

[DanB2]

I'm new to this forum but not new to CJ's as this is my third. Or is it the second... As my first was a '43 Ford GPW. Technically not a CJ, but... My second was a '73 CJ5 .

Anyhows, I now own a '48 CJ2a . It may have had a Ford V8 in it before I bought it. The previous owner bought it non-running - no engine or bellhousing - but he found a small block Ford intake manifold in the back. Now I own it and I find the Transmission is a Ford 4-speed toploader mated to the Dana 18 Transfer Case with an Overdrive on the tail end. I suspect it had a 289 or 302 Ford in it.

I don't plan on putting another Ford engine in it as I have access to a Chevy 4.3L V6. Also going to upgrade the all electrics to 12v.

Has anyone seen or know of a small black Ford installed in a CJ2a ? I'm curious to see how it fit. The firewall has been worked on and the headlight tubs cut (badly) on this CJ.

I plan to make it appear as a stock vehicle, but want the extra power to get it down the road. I live in the country and the first speed limit sign I see is 50, the second is 65. Putting along at 45 won't cut it.

One oddball thing on this, it appears the body tub is hinged at the rearend. Like the whole body will tip up like a dump truck bed. I have more pictures I can post, but want to start out slowly in a new forum...

 

[johnnyreb]

post up more pics. Dad had a CJ3a that he put a ford 200 inline 6 in.

 

[SlowPocono]

Welcome DanB2.

I can provide no help, but your Jeep and the decisions you need to make are very interesting to me.

It's easy for me to imagine being in a similar situation.
Good luck and let us know how your project goes.

 

[gert]

Welcome aboard nice jeep, I have sen some pics in JP magazine where they used to do all kinds of swaps in those things back in the day, google images shows several with flathead V8 in them

 

[Sasquach]

Problem with adding more power and wanting more speed will be keeping it between the lines and gettin it stopped safely. Brakes in perfect rebuilt condition have Limited capability and the steering the same, add lots of wear to them and top speed is around 45 to 55mph at best.

 

[DanB2]

So far I've called it Old Blue. Blue paint on top of olive drab green. My avatar is actually a picture of the top of the hood. It is a silhouette of a wolf against the moon. My cell phone doesn't take great pictures, but it is always around.

 

[DanB2]

Like all projects, things will change over time. Right now I have it stored in an out building to keep the snow off of it. It has 2 Willys wheels and 2 unknown, possibly Ford or later model Jeep wheels. Tires are mismatched with 6.00x15 (JCPenneys) on the front with 7.00x15 (Armstrong) on the back with the spare being (racking my memory) a 6.70(?)x16 Forgive me on that, i must have a few a gray hairs growing the wrong direction.
Wheels are on my shopping list as I want 4 that match. A proper Transmission is there as well. AS well as a new steering gear. The power steering gear that is there now is right up against the front bumper with the tie rod resting on the leaf spring (pass side). It is frozen up solid so removing it is something that will have to be done and I will replace it. Not sure if it will be manual or another power steering unit, but it won't go where this one it. This one is just ugly.

 

[DanB2]

Oh, I realize the handling of a short wheelbase vehicle will be marginal on a good day. When spring comes and I can work on this, the rust bucket of a tub will come off and I will start from the ground up. Not so much as a restoral, but more like in replacing worn parts with new. The brakes will get a new, later model master cylinder so I won't have to trust the 1940's design of the brakes.
When the tub comes off, I'll snag the V6 from my brother and make a few temporary - adjustable - motor mounts to see where everything is going to go. Hopefully by then I'll have a T-90 to mate with my Transfer Case /Overdrive unit.
Someone wanted pictures - I have those on my laptop and will post a few more pictures tomorrow.

 

[DanB2]

Okay of couple of more pictures of this rust bucket CJ2a ...
First one (if they go in order) is under the hood - passenger side - things to note: Instruments under the hood, one horn located on each inner fender, cut up headlight buckets, oddball motor mount with steering shaft passing thru it. Fender are not attached, just sitting on the frame - bungie cord is holding fender together otherwise if would fall off.
Second, is a close up of the tranny assembly - Ford toploader on the left, Transfer Case center, Overdrive on the right, the four speed shifter in the center is hiding the Transfer Case .
Third is firewall minus the fenders. I'm sure everyone has seen a shot like this before. The bottom edge is the front bumper, right side on that is the froze up steering gear. They notched the bumper to make it fit. Motor mount on the right you can see the steering shaft passing thru the motor mount.
There is an oddball socket on the firewall making me wonder what plugged into it.
Last shot is a side view showing all the body cancer this has. Patches first, a new tub maybe in the future. Tub is crooked on the frame - right side hinge at the rear is rusted out. I'm still trying to find out why the tub is hinged. Will probably install a different steering column, not wild about the one it has now...
This CJ project will be fun trying to get things in order. Ground up - I have four used tires to mount - then onto the brakes, wheel bearings, differential, drive lines, etc...

 

[SlowPocono]

I admire your ambition and your courage too.

 

[johnnyreb]

you said the rear of the tub was hinged. All I see is the tailgate.

 

[Hedgehog]

Ooooohhhhh my. Is the frame as bad as the rest of the body? Sorry guy, it looks more like a donor vehicle than a project. The tub actually looks like it's broken in half or hinged in the middle. I really do want to be encouraging to you, but my my my .... if you go ahead and eventually finish this old girl my hat is off to you sir.

 

[Petescj]

Thats a heck of a project but Im not going to be a naysayer on someone saving a Cj 2a. You have your foundation , build upon it. I bought a 48 way back when I didnt know much. It had a ford 302 with the stock drivetrain behind it. The guy was selling it cause it kept blowing transmissions. It had a fiberglass tub but the frame was shot. I got as far as buying the frame but ended up selling it.

 

[Hedgehog]

Now please don't get me wrong, I love the fact that your willing to save this old war horse. There's a lot of work there, but I would enjoy the heck out of bringing life back to Jeep history.

 

[mstar]

Just a couple of comments.
1. a CJ2a can be driven well past 50 mph if in good condition.I had a CJ2a w/ built 283 sbc and t-10 4speed,5.38 gears and warn Overdrive .Buried the speedo many times. Short wheelbase doesn't have much to do with it.
2. The ford motor has a front mounted distributer making firewall clearance less of a problem.
3.The 4.3 chev. can be bolted up to the toploader ford tranny with a couple modifications.
4. I have seen these old jeeps with about every combination you can imagine. Chevy II 4cyl, chev 292 inline,chev. 4.3,283-400, 427bbc,Dauntless Buick 225 V6 ,v8,flathead ford ,amc 4.0l in high hood,boss 302 ford in CJ2a ,etc. You are only Limited be your imagination.
5. Sorry to hear about the overall condition of your project jeep. A lot of time a person is better of to spend a little (or a lot)more money in the beginning and start with something that will give you a solid foundation to build on. I can understand if a guy wanted to restore granpa's jeep or something regardless of condition for sentimemtal reasons . Otherwise it's the story of diminshing returns on your investment. Mike

 

[Sasquach]

Just a couple of comments.
1. a CJ2a can be driven well past 50 mph if in good condition.I had a CJ2a w/ built 283 sbc and t-10 4speed,5.38 gears and warn Overdrive .Buried the speedo many times. Short wheelbase doesn't have much to do with it.
2. The ford motor has a front mounted distributer making firewall clearance less of a problem.
3.The 4.3 chev. can be bolted up to the toploader ford tranny with a couple modifications.
4. I have seen these old jeeps with about every combination you can imagine. Chevy II 4cyl, chev 292 inline,chev. 4.3,283-400, 427bbc,Dauntless Buick 225 V6 ,v8,flathead ford ,amc 4.0l in high hood,boss 302 ford in CJ2a ,etc. You are only Limited be your imagination.
5. Sorry to hear about the overall condition of your project jeep. A lot of time a person is better of to spend a little (or a lot)more money in the beginning and start with something that will give you a solid foundation to build on. I can understand if a guy wanted to restore granpa's jeep or something regardless of condition for sentimemtal reasons . Otherwise it's the story of diminshing returns on your investment. Mike

And yes the keywords are "in good condition". We are a few notches below that here but with several thousands of dollars and many hours that could be the case.

 

[mstar]

Sasquach, sorry about that. Yes you did qualify condition.I had to go back and read your post. I guess i'm a little sensitive about drivability of these old jeeps as I have spend so many thousands of miles bumping along
the trails and hiways enjoy the feel of driving old cars as I remembered them. My first experience with a jeep was in the army tooling around fort knox on guard duty in 1963.I suppose that's why were all here.
We love our jeeps. Best Regards, Mike S.

 

[Sasquach]

Sasquach, sorry about that. Yes you did qualify condition.I had to go back and read your post. I guess i'm a little sensitive about drivability of these old jeeps as I have spend so many thousands of miles bumping along
the trails and hiways enjoy the feel of driving old cars as I remembered them. My first experience with a jeep was in the army tooling around fort knox on guard duty in 1963.I suppose that's why were all here.
We love our jeeps. Best Regards, Mike S.

Hey no worries.
And I'm In the club too with a 64 3b that has gone thru a complete and I reiterate complete rebuild to factory specs.

 

[DanB2]

you said the rear of the tub was hinged. All I see is the tailgate.

I'll post a picture next time I roll her out. But today started with a light snow so I'll have to hurry or it might be spring.

 

[DanB2]

Ooooohhhhh my. Is the frame as bad as the rest of the body? Sorry guy, it looks more like a donor vehicle than a project. The tub actually looks like it's broken in half or hinged in the middle. I really do want to be encouraging to you, but my my my .... if you go ahead and eventually finish this old girl my hat is off to you sir.

I showed off the worst side of her. There is a lot of body cancer. But the frame appears to be solid. But she is in the shed right now and nothing major is going to happen until spring. Making myself a list and I'll check it twice.

First question, what gauge is the steel that makes up the tub? I can get a sheet of steel (4'x4') for around $25-$30 depending on the gauge. I have a welder and have used it a few times. A few more will be in order for O.B. (old blue for those that don't know)