CJ3a

[skawt]

just purchased 1962 CJ3a. but serial number is saying different? having hard time confirming it. 57348 87120 are numbers on firewall see pic in attachment. any clarification would be muchly appreciated
thanx

[bmorgil]

Welcome skawt! I would say that looks pretty original. The screws look pretty un-molested. That sure has that original look.

Here is a link that might help decipher your serial number.
https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?2464-JEEP-Serial-Numbers-Production-Figures-amp-Models

gmwillys might be along here to help. 10 digits seems to be right for the 60's era Jeeps. The serial numbers after the mid 50's can be 10, 11, 12 or 13 digits.

[LarrBeard]

Let's start with a look at the original assumption. By all accounts, CJ-3A;s were 1949 to 1953 vehicles - with L-134 (flathead engines). If the model year is to be trusted, it probably isn't a CJ-3A. What engine does it have?

Most serial number lists for CJ-3A's show serial numbers starting with "3J" prefixes - not the 5 by 5 serial number you show. BUT - there have been many, many cases of serial number plates being swapped between vehicles for reasons varying from simply getting a title cleared to - gasp - selling a stolen or misappropriated vehicle.

As in many Cases of Jeep - you start out with a mystery and clear up details as you go along.

Post us a few pictures so we can see this mystery critter....

[gmwillys]

Welcome Skawt,

Looks like your Serial number tag is off of a 1959 CJ5, with a 225 V6 engine. To decode, you can follow the link below;

https://www.jeepfan.com/tech/decoding-jeep-cj-vin-numbers-1955-1971/

Please post some more photos so we can determine exactly what you have verses the serial number tag.

[skawt]

10814108151081210813here are some more pics, this was used to plow snow in saskatchewan so a cab was added with heater. front signal lights were added up top because of plow. could be a CJ3b but still a mystery about ser.#? I will be picking this up early next week so will be able to find out more?

[TJones]

Welcome Skawt
What you have is a CJ3B, the taller hood is the 3b’s and the short hoods are the 3a’s
One of the Experts will jump in to figure out the exact year it is for you.
It looks like a Great start for a project for the winter!!!

[bmorgil]

A deeper look and the tag looks like it is a CJ3B. The hood and grill are a 3B. In the info gmwillys posted earlier, though its second number looks like a 59' CJ5, it looks like the prefix used from 1954 until 1971, identifies it as a 3B. The 57 = Universal, the 34 indicates it is a 3B and the 8 indicates 4 wheel drive. The second number group may be more difficult to pin down and is going to indicate the year, but it looks like it fits in with the '62s' in the link below.

https://cj3b.info/Photos62.html

Lets see some pictures of the body and frame. What you have posted so far appears to be a 3B. Starting in 1954 there is some mystery on the 3B, here is a link to the 3B page that clears it up a bit. As you venture into the information one thing will become clear, Willys records were very sketchy to say the least after the war. I read in a different forum once that someone felt the Willys records were good. They are very, very wrong! The records are often hand written and unverified. The best information comes from those who used to work there and are still alive. Their are still a few left to meet at the Jeep fests in Toledo. Man do they have information!

https://cj3b.info/SerialNos/OB54SerialNos.html
(https://cj3b.info/SerialNos/OB54SerialNos.html)
https://jeepwillysworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Vehicle_Indentification.pdf

From the 3B page:
"The 57348 prefix which was used starting in 1955 has the following meaning, according to Service Bulletin 328 dated October 18, 1956, provided by Todd Paisley and titled "Identification of Willys Vehicles": First two digits 57 represent the Universal Jeep line. Third digit represents the body type (3. CJ-3B Open Body, 4. CJ-3B Stripped Chassis). Fourth number represents the engine type (4. 4 Cyl. 134 cu. in. F-head). Fifth number represents the drive (8. All 4WD)."

[gmwillys]

After looking closer at the photos provided, I found a comparable CJ3B that checks off a lot of the boxes that yours has as far as options. The items that struck me as interesting are the safari single piece windshield, (somewhat rare to find) the large original dash opening for the speedometer, (since filled in with sheet metal and a smaller aftermarket unit installed) and the CJ5 style pedals.

http://www.ewillys.com/2021/01/10/1964-cj-3b-virginia-beach-va-bat-auction/

At first, I was convinced that the body tub was a mix match of different models, with the large speedometer being the biggest indication. I had thought that the 3Bs only used the traditional five gage cluster, with only the DJ series running the large speedometer, but after doing a little digging, and the above link to back it up, I was proven incorrect. One learns something new every day.

As Bmorgil stated, there is a lot of discrepancy in the records that were kept by Willys and later Kaiser, so it is no wonder why the decoding is confusing. Regardless, you have a great start at a project. I am a usually not a big fan of the 3Bs, but this one has struck a cord with me on the way it's set up.

[GreyWilz]

That's one special project! Enjoy

[bmorgil]

I agree GreyWilz! A lot of unique things in the skawt project. gm spotted a few things there.

[skawt]

1083710838

[skawt]

original speedometer in above post.

[bmorgil]

Sure looks like a CJ5 speedo\gauge cluster to me. That sure throws an eyebrow in the air! What are your thoughts gm?

[gmwillys]

It is the correct Stewart Werner speedometer for the CJ3B/DJ/CJ5/FC/Truck & Wagon of the post '57 vintage.

Here is some good information for the evolution of the speedometers used and the vintage courtesy of eWillys.com.

http://www.ewillys.com/2020/06/16/the-four-large-speedo-clusters-for-universal-jeeps/comment-page-1/

[bmorgil]

Definitively some great info gm! I did not realize that cluster showed up in anything but a CJ5. Things were really in "flux" at Willys / Kaiser Willys from 1950 on. I see by your link, there was a round speedo cluster starting in 1955. So in 55' everything started to get the new speedo cluster phased in.

[gmwillys]

I didn't know much in regards to the speedometers until researching. I knew that the DJ series going back to DJ3A had a round speedometer, but I didn't remember any of the CJ3Bs having it. We all learned something out of all this.