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| DJ3A DISPATCHER CONVERTIBLE; RESEARCH THREAD | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 6 2013, 05:39 PM (10,286 Views) | |
| PapaC | Jan 3 2014, 07:16 PM Post #106 |
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Papac
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 07:24 PM Post #107 |
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Papac
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Here's one of the zippers that showed up on the parts list. It's got the canvas zipped around the top bow.![]() ![]() ![]() remember, despite these pictures the color was bright red more to come |
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 07:31 PM Post #108 |
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Papac
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![]() ![]() Not through yet |
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 07:37 PM Post #109 |
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Papac
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 07:47 PM Post #110 |
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Papac
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There were no fasteners or straps on the inside of the tub anywhere holding the top down. Only the rods and clips on the outside.![]() ![]() ![]() The back bow hinges off of the front. Still more pics to come |
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 07:55 PM Post #111 |
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Papac
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![]() ![]() ![]() Didja notice the strap in the last picture? Sorry, he didn't have the doors or a boot for the top either. |
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 08:09 PM Post #112 |
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Papac
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![]() ![]() ![]() I just love having things pointed out to me!!!!
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 08:30 PM Post #113 |
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Papac
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A few quick thoughts. (There'll be many more as I take time to absorb what I've seen) The gentleman who owns this said willys made lots of prototypes while trying to keep their head above water. He said that MANY of them never actually went into production, various reasons, but mainly because they couldn't afford to tool up the machinery to put them into production. Thus the use of existing parts whenever possible, and also that there were many many changes just to save a dollar. I also asked him about the windshield channel. I'm not kidding here, he said that to 'him' the channels were not only ugly, but there'd be almost no way to pull that top forward and stuff it into the channel without a bunch of people helping. As for the pivot bracket. It does look a lot like Bills, but even more so, to me it looks exactly like the one Bruce found on a convertible that he had purchased!!! Heavy duty, and so are those bows. I could just feel the heft to them when I put my hands around one of them!!! Whew, it's been a exciting day for sure and I can't wait to get the seat information and the serial number information, along with a tape measure and better camera and go back....earlier the next time!!! One more thing. That cover over the rod that attaches to the brackets on the sides and back was TIGHT. I just didn't feel comfortable pulling the cover back or prodding on it to see exactly how it's hooked to those little brackets like the ones on Bills convertible. Also I hope when I do go back he still doesn't have that defroster hose hooked up under the dash. I would absolutely love to crawl under there and hook it up for him!!!! |
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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 | Jan 3 2014, 10:52 PM Post #114 |
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Papac
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Oh, I forgot and I need to write it down somewhere. Here will do for now. One the gentleman I met today is looking for a hard top for a DJ. And.... Not all replacement Brand New in the box ALA tail lights comes with a 'plastic Prestolite Lens like my first one did. I know because my second Brand New NOS ALA tail light came with a 'plastic' Stimsonite # 30 lens! Luckily, awhile back I found a couple of NOS in the willys package 'GLASS' Stimpsonite #30 lens, along with a couple of clear lens to illuminate the tag on the passenger side. All of my lens have chrome (or stainless, not sure exactly) bezels. Both of them are heavy cast and have the casting part so that the bulb twists into them and are cast where the two lens screws fasten . I just don't have the wiring socket that twists onto the back All one piece heavy casting for each. Only one problem. Both of mine are passenger side, neither has the cut out for the tag lens. Anybody that wants to trade a drivers side for a brand new passenger side......lens not important, give me a shout. Otherwise I'm eventually going to wind up having to CUT a window for the tag lens in a brand new ALA housing! Also I still need a spacer for the drivers side and a tag bracket. Just thought I'd throw that out there to see where it lands while I'm thinking about it. |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 03:38 PM Post #115 |
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Papac
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I should have said I could at least feel the rods that were either sewn, or slid into the canvas on the sides and back. EDIT: my memory may have played tricks on me. Now I'm not sure if the rod across the back was one piece or two pieces. I was in a hurry and I realize now I didn't investigate that fully enough. Also I thought of something else today. 3 turn fasteners on each bow beside the doors, (total of 6) and 5 over the top of the back panel. For a total of 11 CLOTH to CLOTH turn fasteners. hmmmm. Where have I seen that number 11 before??? Again, I still saw absolutely no sign of tacks or wood. Now I wonder if maybe they might have had something to do with the boot. (still haven't seen one of those yet) Many of my theories throughout this thread have been proven wrong. That doesn't matter to me. The questions in my mind had to be asked and the thoughts put out there. It was all interesting and fun and I'm truly glad that most of my answers have been found. Once again , thanks to everybody who has helped. Charles |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 06:56 PM Post #116 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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Wow, cool stuff. I just KNEW the bows had to be set up like that. At some point if you can trace the outline of the bows on a large piece of cardboard if he would let you.... they look like we can make them. We will also need the diameter and if you can tell from looking at the ends the material thickness. If you know how to measure the inside radius of the major bends that would be cool . I have feeling the material is the same as the 3A /2A bow and I bet the bend radius is similar. If he has any 2a bows there or if you can borrow one from someone it would be worth comparing them as we have all the dimensions for a 2A 3A set. The 56337 prefix is a 2WD DJ prefix but does not tell us anything other than that. The serial number puts it in the 1961 range IIRC. It is only 3000 above my 1960's.....but there is a chart somewhere.. Also the paint and trim tag is very unusual to find still intact.. Again, the rear charts online but I don't know where.. I will have to look. I wish I had gotten those seat pics for you, perhaps Colin or Bruce or Glen can get pics of the 60/ 40 seat setup and the attachment brackets so you can help the guy out. Looks like Willys heaven there.. Was this the convertible from Lindsay? |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 07:19 PM Post #117 |
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Jeep discovery and aquisition specialist
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Just when you thought you'd seen it all, another factory pic comes up. I own this manual but it is hiding somewhere right now....and I had seen this pic before but never noticed the front of the top before..Check this out! http://www.jeepsurreygala.com/wp-content/u...12/04/om2-3.jpg www.jeepsurreygala.com is BA's website...he has a section on the seats and making the SUrrey top that you may find useful for your seat questions.. |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 08:17 PM Post #118 |
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Papac
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EDIT. Yes , this is the one that came from Lindsay and the top is absolutely ORIGINAL END EDIT The color was original. ONLY the body had old but fresher red paint. Underneath the hood was still original old and not near perfect RED paint. Same for the floorboard, dash, firewall, and underneath. OLD and scratched somewhat.....and original red paint. Thin....very thin in places. Down to the underlying metal in other places. This red convertible had NOT been restored. Only the outside tub, outside fenders, and TOPSIDE of the hood had been painted. The seats were missing when he bought it. The wooden blocks for the hood were missing. The canvas had been on there a long long long time. Still, underneath both it and the stitches were in amazing shape. He said he picked it up once at a car show. It was NOT for sale there but he still asked the owner if he would sell it. The price he paid, I can't reveal here, but if I could, would make you CRY! It about did ME anyway. He smiled when he told me. I think in the real world very, very, very few people know what these short windshield DJ's actually are.....how extremely RARE they are......and that more and more of them are getting cut up, parted out, or butchered, or converted to four wheel drive all of the time. Ever since late 2009 or early 2010.......not one of which I'm almost sure I've identified on E-Willys or other sites has been recognized for what it actually is. ie.....short windshields with holes......solid back panel with holes in the right place.... = former Willys Fastback Convertible!!! I mentioned to Dave that somebody should run the numbers. ____________________________________________________ 1. Take ALL the dispatchers he's listed for sale the past three years or so. 2. Eliminate the repeats 3. Make a list separating identifiable characteristics a. tall windshields with tailgates b. delivery body's c. surreys d. low profile dj,s with back panels (convertibles) 4. Run the numbers and work them up into percentages Over a three year period of all DJ's listed for sale, as a group, the separated percentages SHOULD give a pretty good indication of where they all fall in the percentage Willys actually produced....or sold of each type. |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 08:35 PM Post #119 |
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Papac
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Bill. You can bet when I do go back I'll come back with a LOT more detailed information. Sadly I have no access to any top bows, but I do have very very detailed pictures that I can compare the characteristics of. Also he has a meeting there every morning for his jeep buddies. Betcha I could get myself invited. Like I said, he's an amazing guy. I WISH I could tell more of what he told me about him, his career.....and groups of KIDS, but he asked me not to. Same as I can't reveal his name.....or any other pictures of his collection. Like I said, we talked almost an hour before I got in the back. I wouldn't dare break that trust. As for the red convertible though....in the end ....he gave me free reign as to pictures and details. I tell you it's FATE that I met this gentleman!!! |
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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 | Jan 4 2014, 10:18 PM Post #120 |
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Papac
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Unrestored engine compartment![]() ![]()
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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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7:36 PM Jul 10