1946 Willys CJ2A

[Terri]

Hi everyone! I was so glad to find this site. My husband got his dad's Jeep when dad passed away. We have moved it from Arizona to Colorado and are replacing all fluids, fuel tank, carburetor, brake master cylinder, and the starter before getting it painted.
We have had nothing but problems getting the out of state VIN inspection done. All VIN numbers are so worn down. Also the title VIN number doesn't match to the numbers it should be according to manufacturing. I am wondering if at sometime maybe dad had to do a Bonded title and Arizona assigned it a new VIN number?

We are near Grand Junction, Colorado and looking for a rear seat to put in the Willys.

[LarrBeard]

"We have had nothing but problems getting the out of state VIN inspection done. All VIN numbers are so worn down. Also the title VIN number doesn't match to the numbers it should be according to manufacturing. I am wondering if at sometime maybe dad had to do a Bonded title and Arizona assigned it a new VIN number?"

A state can and will assign their own VIN if they can't decide on the original. My '48 truck 2T 21865 became MVIN23841IND because the Tennessee title had the original motor number, not the vehicle number.

Good luck with the paper.....

[gmwillys]

Welcome Terri,

Willys was not real consistent when it came to serial numbers when registrations. As LarrBeard said, Colorado may have a way to assign their own VIN number to help you out. On our 2A Heep, the serial number plate was good enough to read on the right side of the cowl, behind the air cleaner assembly. Ours was missing the frame serial number tag that was riveted to the front frame horn behind the driver's side bumper, but the body serial number sufficed in registering.

The link below is of the rear seat frame that I used on our 2A;

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/rear-seat-frame-fits-46-49-cj-2a/
https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/seat-cover-cushion-for-rear-seat-frame-upper-2/?sku=B2301-6-CVS-BLK
https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/seat-cover-cushion-for-rear-seat-frame-bottom/?sku=C2301-6-CVS-BLK

The last two links are for the seat covers that I used. I liked the black canvas seat covers, but if you want vinyl, they are available on the same link, with a choice of colors.

The following pieces, (2 required) are for if your Jeep never had a rear seat, or if they are too rusty to reuse.

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/products/rear-seat-frame-pivot-bracket-fits-46-64-cj-2a-3a-3b/


Also, here is a link to when I installed the rear seat in our 2A. It had never had a rear seat, so I had to punch out the floor plugs to install the seat catches for the rear legs of the seat to engage. Other than that, the front legs just slide into the pockets in the floor.

https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?1790-46-CJ2A-Parts-Runner/page12

[bmorgil]

Welcome Terri! Good luck with your registration, I am sure you will get it figured out. Shoot some pictures of that baby, I think you are going to enjoy this project.

I don't know how it will be for you but here in Ohio I was able to use my own VIN plate. I had the original and it did match the title but, no one cared. I went in with a new VIN plate attached to the firewall. I had a Jeweler match the engraving on the old tag. The DMV here simply checked the title to the VIN.

I would order a new VIN plate and match it to your title. Its amazing but its the title that counts here not the car!

[LarrBeard]

KWAS has a variety of nameplates for CJ-series, trucks, wagons and just about anything. Willys-Overland changed nameplate styles often enough that no one is exactly certain what style went with which model and year.

Pick one you like, take it to a trophy shop or jeweler and get the number that the Colorado DMV wants to see engraved on it, screw it to the firewall and call it good.

This is the one I had to re-create for the truck, and KWAS buys about two dozen of them a year from me.

[bmorgil]

That is a nice VIN plate LarrBeard!

[TJones]

That is a dandy Larrbeard, I may have to change mine out:confused:

10491

[Terri]

Thanks LarrBeard I think AZ assigned a VIN number and now CO won't accept it.

Thanks to everyone. Very nice group here.

[gmwillys]

That is a great looking 2A. It looks exceptionally clean. The southwest dry air has done a lot of good for preserving the body. The windshield ducting sheet metal has me a bit puzzled, but it is functional. The early '46s are my personal favorite with the bullet marker lights in the grille.

I looked into Colorados requirements for registration. As I read it, if you get an authorized dealer or a State Trooper to run the VIN that you have, (you may have already tried this route since you said that it was rejected). After that, I'm not sure where you can go from there. Was the Jeep titled but not registered in Arizona?

[Terri]

The jeep was titled and registered in Arizona for many years. I finally figured out how to post a picture of it! In Colorado if they can't verify the vin # you have to get a Bonded title. You have to buy a bond for 3 years. Then if no one shows up contesting ownership you get your regular title. This is not cheap believe me.

[bmorgil]

What a ... messed up deal! Every time I think I hear of the worst screwed up Department of Motor Vehicles, there is a one up!

[gmwillys]

I agree. That's ridiculous. Alabama is almost too easy. I had the title for my 2A, but as long as they had a bill of sale, all was good. Alabama didn't title vehicles before 1980, so they don't even want to look at a title when they see the vintage.

[LarrBeard]

Indiana can be almost as screwed up.

When I tried to register the ’48, I could not find my Indiana title. I asked for a duplicate title, but I was told that titles prior to ’58 had been flushed out of the system – so I would have to apply for a new title.

Being too logical, I asked; ”So, you guys threw away my title and now I have to start over to correct your screw up, Why is that?” I thought the DMV clerk was going to call security. She printed about a half-inch of paper I needed to complete, get notarized and take to a Judge. I said; “Well – dang” and left.

The paper got lost, and I went to another DMV branch. It was a slow morning and I had a clerk who wanted to help. I told her about the half-inch thick pile of paper and she said; “Oh, that is required only if a vehicle cost more than $5,000 new.” “Well, I guess I’m screwed because I have no way to know what this truck cost in 1948”.

I was floored when she said; “Oh, I can find that in the system”. A minute or so later she told me that my 2WD Jeep truck cost $1,850 new in 1948. (I think that is the number – somewhere in that range – the 4WD was only about $250 more, so that helps explain why most folks opted for the 4WD). Since the truck was less than $5,000, I just had to fill out a one page form, get it notarized and I would get a new title.

I was curious – so I asked “What did a Ford pickup cost then?” The answer was “about $1,450”. A Jeep truck was an expensive vehicle back in the day.

Just about every state has their peculiar DMV Bureaucracy – I’ll bet New York can top either of our stories…..

[Terri]

bmorgil when I ordered all the parts I needed from kaiser willys I ordered the VIN plate. We will see if it works here. Thanks for the advice.

[Terri]

The trophy shop did the engraving. Tomorrow is the big day. But I don't see how they will accept a shiny new plate when the vehicle is a 46 and the steering plate showing a diagram of shifting is so faded???????????????

[gmwillys]

Most DMV personnel will be happy that they can read the tag without issue. The poor girl that registered our 2A almost was tempted to have me take a paper and pencil and do a rub of my plate. I can read it, but she wasn't too inclined to get close to the Heep. I had the title, but since this state doesn't issue titles on anything older than 1980, they were only interested in the bill of sale.

[bmorgil]

I cant wait to hear how this goes! I think you have exactly what you need. The VIN matches the title. I would say, "It looks like you did a great job restoring the plate".

[LarrBeard]

" ...but she wasn't too inclined to get close to the Heep."

She might not have been current on her tetanus shots. The Heep could have been overwhelming in its original state.