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| DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE; RESEARCH THREAD | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 6 2013, 05:39 PM (10,292 Views) | |
| F Bill | Dec 10 2013, 08:00 AM Post #16 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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I'm thinking like you the back seat area was reserved for tennis rackets and the like, no seats allowed. Which means an original convertible may not have the floor brackets for the rear seat legs.
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| binthere | Dec 10 2013, 05:43 PM Post #17 |
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You gotta be kidding me!! A 3B windshield on a 3A body? Boy, those tennis players must be 5ft or less!! I'm 6'1, and had to lower the seat in my 3B as low as I could, and I still can't see to far down the road because the top of the windshield is to low!! Learn something every day!! |
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somedays your the windsheild--somedays your the bug Chuck - Cherryville B.C. Canada 53 3b [0IIIII0] stock except for wheel's and seats " a fistfull of dollars" 49 willys jeepster " a few dollars more" and a few other retirement toys | |
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| PapaC | Dec 10 2013, 08:41 PM Post #18 |
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Papac
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Apparently there are dozens of variations of the two wheel drive, many of them just to use up extra parts. Dj's came with at least three different variations of windshields. Perhaps (at least in my mind) the short windshield was a poor mans version of.....this......which the company also dropped the ball on. http://stevemckelvie.wordpress.com/2012/07...ass-sports-car/ That's right, Americas First Sport Car, even before the corvette. I suspect somebody tall would be scrunched up in one of these too, same as they would be in a corvette, or if they were tall a two wheel drive jeep with a short windshield. I can find quite a few photos of the ones with the shorter windshield. To date, I have YET to see even one with a recognizable piece of channel across the top of the windshield frame. Edit: I am also aware that some of these came without any top at all! So, I still don't know. Guessing because of lack of other evidence.......for the convertible...Snaps. Edit: this has proven to be common sense fasteners with evidence as supplied by FBill below Guessing because of some evidence.........At least one top bow that the height can be adjusted Guessing because of 'some evidence'......both top bows will fold back without taking them apart Guessing, well, guessing because of my gut.....I believe on the soft top convertible that the top could be unsnapped from the windshield and folded back without completely taking it loose from the bows, 'perhaps' the sides too Here's a new one On my bed floor just behind where the front seats would be. (None of that is rust. Grease and dirt mixed together. If anything and in spite of everything, my old dj was kept greased and serviced its early years) (the stuff is like concrete and has been a nightmare to clean off) ![]() Three depressions. Each depression has three holes. The end holes of each one have a Philips head screw plugging them with a nut and washer on the bottom as seen. The center hole of each one of these depressions is still open. I don't know what the purpose of these are or why???! |
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| F Bill | Dec 10 2013, 09:17 PM Post #19 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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How does the screw spacing compare with a set of footman loop screws? |
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| PapaC | Dec 10 2013, 09:31 PM Post #20 |
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Papac
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[/i] Good question and that was my thoughts too except for there's three holes in each depression. Measurements of the outside, machine threaded screws are between 2 1/8 inch and 2 3/16 on center. Leaning more to 2 3/16 with the center, unplugged hole squarely between each one. |
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| SteveK | Dec 11 2013, 08:41 AM Post #21 |
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The three indentations are for the loops with a drain hole in the center. They are there for the Half Tops to hold the rear window section. Mine has two more (without drains) on the top of the fender wells to tie down the top. |
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SteveK 62 Dispatcher South Florida | |
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| PapaC | Dec 11 2013, 01:17 PM Post #22 |
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Papac
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Thanks Steve. I don't seem to have any signs of them being on the fender wells themselves soo, I guess I'll just have to install the lower loops and use them to strap down my tennis rackets or my beach ball if anybodies got some I can borrow:D Still looking for more info.........HELP before I continue to make a complete fool out of myself with my conjectures!!! |
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| F Bill | Dec 11 2013, 08:21 PM Post #23 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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Patience......we are definitely making slow progress, or at least YOU are. Good find, the brochure with the top folded. It looks like the convertible was not supplied with doors? |
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| PapaC | Dec 11 2013, 08:49 PM Post #24 |
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Papac
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I think there were doors. Not only does mine have holes in the windshield frame, it still has the door hanger channel on one side. On the drivers side the channel is missing but the spot welds for where it was are still there. _______________________________________________________________________ This factory photo does show doors. It also shows that the rear window has been removed......and then something else hung underneath and covering the hole. I thought a while on this. Then I guessed (see, there's that word again) Anyway, I guessed that at that camera angle the window would have messed with the flash or the look of the photo or something!!! http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Photos/Dis...FactoryRear.jpg |
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| F Bill | Dec 11 2013, 09:58 PM Post #25 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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Great shot... I can't tell if you are looking at the back panel with a very shiny plastic window reflecting the sky, or a missing back window showing a contrasting inside color. This is the first pic where I noticed the little band of material at the top of the window area. And yes, I see doors. Good find! We are getting quite a thread of convertible pics. Any other pics anyone has of factory convertibles around?? (Or period pics of fairly new Convertibles?? |
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| PapaC | Dec 12 2013, 12:35 AM Post #26 |
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Papac
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Here's another non-tailgate dj with the holes in the windshield. http://www.ewillys.com/wp-content/uploads2...clinton-oh1.jpg http://www.ewillys.com/category/dj3a/page/3/ And here's the 92nd dj ever built. (Identified as such thanks to Colin. 1955 dj3a...channel for the top, but tall windshield and the extra bow brackets at the back http://www.ewillys.com/2011/09/26/1957-dj-3a-ukiah-ca-ebay/ |
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| F Bill | Dec 12 2013, 11:17 PM Post #27 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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I got to make a side trip to the house for ONE day. Guess what's on the list? PICTURES!! I'll post up a few in the AM. |
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| F Bill | Dec 13 2013, 02:22 PM Post #28 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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Conclusion: I don't know half what I thought about the Convertible model! I went and took pics. Here's some conclusions: The convertible DOES NOT use the top bow socket of the Surrey and CJ2A/3A model. It is totally missing, not just there and unused. BOTH of my convertibles have no top bow sockets on the wheelwell top. Both of my Surreys DO have them. PapaC is totally correct about the lack of a windshield channel on the convertible model, and the use of common sense fasteners. They are held on with threaded studs and nuts thru round drilled holes. Surreys used the higher windshield and they had a channel for the front of the top. I may actually have found an original top bow bracket remaining on my V6 convertible. There is a picture in the album of it, see what you think. It does explain what those holes are for.. I could believe that the bows fold down and remain in position on top of the body sides. We need an original set to take pics of.....if we could find one!! Here's the pics I shot today. I gotta get on the road again tomorrow so if you need any more pics get back to me soon.... URL HERE: (Cut and paste is not working , search Photobucket for fbills jeeps and album name is DJ3A COnvertible Vs Surrey) Maybe this will work?? http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/FBilljee...y?sort=3&page=1 |
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59 convertible 15933 needs drivetrain 60 convertible 17052 has a V6 and 4WD 60 Surrey 17509 went thru Katrina and looks it. 60 Surrey 17918 started it all...Toyota axle, BW Wrecked Surrey Tub with fenders and grille 56 tub, from 11826 And a couple parts DJ's with no ID left. All my jeeps are projects....only runner is my DJ with doors.. | |
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| PapaC | Dec 13 2013, 06:54 PM Post #29 |
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Papac
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"I've got ALL of them same 'holes' in my convertible where you have brackets!" Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. And unless we start seeing more of them I concur with one of your earlier statements.....and I've been thinking....... Survivor convertibles are becoming sparse. Dare I say it but I can find pictures of at least two or three Surreys for every convertible pic I can find . Going to go back and look at the rest of the pics now. THANKS BILL Ps. Betcha there's a marking like this on your convertible frames ![]()
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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| PapaC | Dec 13 2013, 09:06 PM Post #30 |
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Papac
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Allow me, if that's ok Bill's dj3a convertible windshield with common sense fasteners. ![]() This shows the piece of channel and a bracket I'm missing on the drivers side.
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Charles Tate....North Mississippi 1956 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible Doing ground up nuts and bolt restoration by almost entirely reconditioning original used or a few NOS DJ3A parts. 1962 WILLYS DJ3A Convertible. (For research and parts only) | |
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![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)
Which means an original convertible may not have the floor brackets for the rear seat legs.







7:37 PM Jul 10