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New Member W/'53, Cj3b
Topic Started: Oct 7 2009, 10:32 PM (702 Views)
5foxes
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Hello from Minnesota,
I own a '74 CJ5 and am planing to pickup a '53 3B this weekend. Both trucks are in equally very nice condition. I'm thinking of transfering a few of the upgraded items I installed on the CJ5 and then sell off the 5 this spring or summer. I'd like some feedback and input from the folks here who I consider to be far more knowlegable than I. Some of those items on the swap table are:
1). Front & Rear bumpers; The 5 front includes an old Warn 8724 in great condition (inherited from my older brother, now deceased), I figure I'll need to convert the 6v to 12v sometime in the future. The rear includes a nice swing away spare tire carrier which also holds the High-Lift, I built this setup myself and don't care to do it again.
2). The Tires & Wheels; tires are new BFGs 33-10.5 MTs mounted on Outlaw IIs. I do plan to hold on to the steel Kelsey Hays wheels, maybe swap the old rubber to a u-pull-it yard set of wheels if I can find a matching set of 5.
3). Lockouts; the 5 has a set of Warn premiums whereas the 3B lockouts are Selectro and I'm not familiar with that brand.
I've also thought about swaping the axles and diffs but the 5 gearing is 3.73:1 (D30 & D44 open open) where the 3B is 5.38:1,,,I'm on the fence with this one.
There are more items I'll consider but I think this is a long enough post for now.
Here are some pics of the two: http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u54/5foxes
Please tell me what you guys think of what I've got so far.
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1954cj3b
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love the 3b and Posted Imageto the 3b page
3b'ers do it on all 4's
Posted Image
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Daryl
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The bumper and winch is not a problem with the 12 volt conversion. The tires will be too tall without swapping in some lifted springs. The locking hubs on your 30 front end are 27 spline and the 3-b has ten splines so they wont swap. Don't sell the old hubs short unless they prove to be broken, as many of the old hubs are very stout and reliable. Hope this helps and Good Luck.
Lotsa Jeeps, and a few extra parts
In Bonney Lake, Washington
Always willing to look at a Jeep for you BEFORE you buy it to check it out.
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Bob
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I'd keep the old hubs anyway, they look great on a vintage jeep. I'd swap the bumpers as that would be relatively easy. I think I'd stick with the 5:38s. I'm no expert but I think 3:73s would be a bit too tall a gearing ratio for an otherwise stock 3b. 4:88, 4:56 maybe 4:27 would be fine.
Bob
1953 CJ3B
1965(?) CJ5
1949 Jeepster
1947 Cj2A
2004 Kubota l3400
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oldtime
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5foxes,
Welcome to the CJ-3B page Bulletin Board !

I don't feel the 3.73 gear ratio is a good thing if retaining the relatively low HP Hurricane.
Depends on intended useage but most will find the 5.38 final drive ratio (early standard) to be nearly ideal with the F-134.

FREE LOCK hubs function well.
These same hubs were sold under various other names including SELECTRO...DUALMATIC...DANA

I am generally in favor of moving the spare tire placement from its original standard location.
Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
Rock Crawler using factory parts from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963)

http://s4.zetaboards.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_Board/topic/30228766/1/#new
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5foxes
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Thanks everyone for the advise, I appreciate it.
Oldtime, you sure get around, seems I'm benefitting from your knowlege on a couple of forums of late. It's appreciated.
(I do have an original SM 1002 R 3 that I plan to sell.
It is copyrighted by Willys Motors Inc. 1960)
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Larry (TX)
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That's one good looking '53 3B that someone obviously has taken very good care of, so pat yourself on the back for finding such a nice one. Now that you'll have it, take the word from someone who has owned three 3B's since the mid '60's and NEVER let it go.

My first two were completely original and excellent in every way (after I totally restored them) at the time I sold them. Why I let the first one go, I'll never know, and the second was even a greater mistake that I still kick myself over. Luckily, this third one is very nice, but it has an aftermarket tub on it, something I'm not overly fond of, but there's nothing I can do about that and the little jeep is in excellent condition, both mechanically and cosmetically.

I too recommend as the others, keep your axles and hubs the way they are; change your bumpers to your liking as it's your vehicle.

Regarding the 3B Page website, it's the best you'll ever find and very user friendly; the guys are friendly and willing to share all they know with you, so here's another welcome from way down here in southeast Texas near the Gulf of Mexico!

Larry S.
Larry Steed
Pearland, Texas
'53 Willys CJ3B
'52 Willys M38
'86 Chevy M1009 CUCV (K5 4x4 Military Blazer)
M100 1/4 ton jeep trailer
M416 1/4 ton jeep trailer (2 ea.)
M101 CDN 1/4 ton jeep trailer
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5foxes
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Thanks a bunch Larry!!
I've been surfing the 3B page for a couple of years now, and refer to it often.
I get a real kick out of looking at the pictures of the owners rigs and reading the Technical section.
When I bought my CJ5 in 2005 what I was really looking for was an older Jeep at the time, I grabbed what was in decent shape locally and for a fair price. It's been fun restoring and driving it but I've allways kept my eyes open for the right one. My wife & I will travel 600 miles tomorrow to look this one over. I got good vibes from the contact, He's a stand-up guy as far as I can tell over the phone and I hope everything pans out well. I'm told the Jeep has been idle in the garage since grandpa died 10 years ago. The Uncle repainted it, appearantly he was a street rodder in his youth, hopefully he had skills. He passed away two years ago so no one has touched it since. Grandma is 95 and wants it gone, I hope she didn't drive it too hard. Grandson is selling it for her and we're going to hook-up this Saturday morning.
I'm with everyone regarding leaving the axels and gears alone, I needed to ask. My goal would be to keep everything as stock as possible, or change only what can be easily undone to bring it back to perfection. I'm confident once I find the right one, it'll be with me for a long time. Thanks again, I'll keep everbody posted.
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Bob
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Good looking 3b. The black grill is kind of funky but can be changed. I like CJ5s, always have, but the problem with older ones is that you just can't tell how old they are at a glance, so you might have a 1955, most people don't know it.
Bob
1953 CJ3B
1965(?) CJ5
1949 Jeepster
1947 Cj2A
2004 Kubota l3400
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