Willys-Overland Motors Jeep CJ-2A 1946 – Boyer Hearth Equipment Jeep J-140

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My curiosity in Jeeps began again after I was in highschool, within the early Seventies. A college buddy of mine, named Jim Little (who remains to be a good friend of mine at the moment) had a 1953 Willys Jeep CJ-3A in his household. It was used primarily up at their cottage within the Laurentians, north of Montreal, Quebec. As was typical, it was a utility car, used to: pull gang mowers to chop the garden; haul reduce wooden for the fireside; carry tree trimmings to the compost pile; and so on. Aside from having wider and softer tires than the unique tires, it was an unique Jeep, genuine and with out main alterations, from what I bear in mind.

I ceaselessly visited Jim’s cottage and have become accustomed to the effortful chores required to keep up such a big cottage property. The Jeep was concerned in most tasks across the cottage and it at all times appeared to run with none issues. Getting to make use of the Jeep recreationally was probably the most enjoyable nonetheless.

There was a golf course that ran alongside the facet of Jim’s household property. At nightfall Jim would problem his brother and I to drive the Jeep by way of the course, vaulting the sand traps and blowing by way of the creeks. The one rule they stipulated was to: “Keep off the greens!!” Jim’s complete household had been wonderful golfers, so I used to be by no means certain if the rule was to stop being recognized by the distinctive tire markings, or to make sure that they might nonetheless anticipate an incredible spherical of golf the subsequent morning. To my recollection, nobody was each caught with the Jeep on the golf course.

Close to the cottage, there have been additionally numerous dust roads and trails into the woods, which had been enjoyable to discover. I used to be in awe of how secure this car was. We trusted it to ascend nearly any steep elevation, undeterred by rocks, roots or fallen bushes. This Jeep appeared to get pleasure from powering by way of rutted and boggy wooded areas or rocky creek beds. The reminiscences of carefree and reckless occasions with Jim’s household Jeep are all about youthful adventures and heat Canadian summers. Immediately, 40+ years and a era later, the identical Jeep remains to be getting used to keep up Jim’s household cottage property.

About 5 years after restoring and promoting a 1972 BMW 2002tii, I acquired the itch to hunt out one other car venture. For the reason that 1953 Jeep CJ-3A had such fond reminiscences for me, I started conversations with my good friend Jim, to see if he could be keen to promote me his household Jeep, to make use of as a restoration venture. Initially, he gave it some thought, however ultimately, my heightened curiosity in his Jeep appeared to stimulate his ideas of holding it and maybe sometime finishing his personal restoration venture.

So, with a give attention to post-war Jeeps, in April of 2017, I started a seek for my very own classic “diamond-in-the-rough” model Jeep. Very early on, I linked with a retiree, simply outdoors of Ottawa, Ontario, who was a collector of Jeeps. He had at the least thirty-five of them, and Jeep components too, lots of which had been army. In my preliminary phone conversations with him, I let him know that I used to be on the lookout for a non-military or civilian Jeep. Luckily for me, he stated that he had just a few and that he wished to do away with them. He started sending me photos of the civilian Jeeps that he had. It appeared that he may nicely have one thing that will match my standards.

As we had been narrowing down our conversations to at least one Jeep specifically, I seen a brilliant inexperienced Jeep within the background of one of many images that he had despatched. This inexperienced Jeep had not been a part of any of our prior dialogue. As we had been closing in on a verbal settlement for one in every of his different Jeeps, I made a decision to ask concerning the inexperienced one. I’ll always remember his reply.

“Oh! That is a really distinctive and particular Jeep. I had fully forgotten about that one. I feel you may be actually involved in it.”

“Why is that?” I stated.

“Properly, it is a 1947 Willys Jeep CJ-2A, nevertheless it was additionally a Boyer Hearth Jeep and it solely has 8,842 unique miles on it.”

This Jeep had been pushed a mere 8,842 miles (14,229 kilometers), which implies barely ‘damaged in’ by some requirements. Whereas he was explaining all the fascinating particulars, I used to be madly scouring the Web, making an attempt to confirm what he was telling me. Inside minutes we had a verbal, images solely, deal.

The Willys Jeep has an attention-grabbing historical past. What would later turn out to be “Willys-Overland Motors,” began as an automotive firm in 1908, constructing largely luxurious automobiles. In 1941, Willys-Overland gained the bid to provide a light-weight truck-style army car, for the US Struggle Division, introducing MA-MB fashions. It was to be the world’s first mass-produced 4-wheel drive. Throughout World Struggle II, the army discovered this car to be robust, sturdy, versatile and really succesful as a recognisance car. In 1943 Willys-Overland trademarked the time period “Jeep.” Some say that the origin of the identify Jeep stems from the abbreviated GP for “Normal Objective.”

In a considerably determined have to discover a marketplace for the Jeep, publish warfare, Willys-Overland developed the primary full-production civilian Jeep in 1946. The CJ-2A was produced in Toledo, Ohio. These versatile, ‘go anyplace’ automobiles had been marketed to ranchers, farmers, hunters and utility firms. The CJ-2A regarded very very like a civilianized MB, besides it had the addition of a tailgate and side-mounted spare tire. The noticeable distinction between the army Jeeps and the CJ-2A civilian Jeeps had been the grills of the 2 automobiles. The MB had recessed headlights and a nine-slot grill, whereas the CJ-2A had bigger headlights, which had been flush-mounted and a seven-slot grill. Rather than the MBs T-84 transmission, the CJ-2A was outfitted with the beefier Spicer T-90 three-speed transmission. The CJ-2A was nonetheless powered by the dependable Flathead L-134, or what has turn out to be often known as the Go-Satan engine, producing 60 HP.

CJ-2As had been being offered for a number of makes use of. At one level, the Boyer Hearth Equipment Firm of Logansport, Indiana, obtained a letter from Willys-Overland Motors, suggesting that they might be keen to transform 50 Willys Jeeps right into a small kind of fireplace car, with the assistance of the Boyer Hearth Equipment Firm. They agreed and the Boyer Hearth Equipment Firm went about making or buying the mandatory supplies to assist full these conversions. A few of the typical tools would have included: large-scale, facet mounted toolboxes; fireplace hose bins; ladder racks; fireplace axes; hoses; nozzles; lights and a siren. Probably the most substantial piece added to the Jeep, was a Barton Hearth Pump U-40, made by American-Marsh Pumps, of Battle Creek, Michigan.

Mounted onto the entrance bumper, these fireplace pumps linked to the Jeep’s engine, with a driveshaft, a pulley and a separate, grill mounted, engine throttle management. These pumps had a 4½-inch water consumption, together with a gate valve for 2 2½-inch fireplace hose outputs. Nearly all of the Jeeps transformed by Boyer had been offered by way of Willys-Overland dealerships all through the US. Nevertheless, historic data point out that just a few Boyer Hearth Jeeps had been instantly exported to Canada by Willys-Overland. The Jeep I used to be about to buy had initially belonged to the Division of Pure Sources, in New Brunswick.

Primarily based on my overview of the images the proprietor despatched me, the Jeep was in exceptional situation. It had nonetheless, been stripped of all issues regarding the fireplace Jeep and had been painted ‘tractor inexperienced’, in what I name a ‘barnyard, rattle can’ paint job. Sadly, inexperienced paint had been over-sprayed in all places. Many of the unique outdated Boyer equipment was additionally made out there to me. Luckily, the house owners earlier than me (there have been three) had the sense to carry onto this stuff. The Jeep got here with one of many two toolboxes, the hose field, and the ladder racks, nevertheless it was lacking the coveted Barton Hearth Pump. I can solely assume that it was eliminated previous to public sale within the late Seventies, by the New Brunswick Division of Pure Sources.

I’m nonetheless passively looking for the lacking objects that will full the total fireplace Jeep restoration, in case I determine to revive it absolutely sooner or later. After discussions with different auto fanatics, Jeep consultants and an skilled historian, I made a decision that my focus would first be on restoring the car portion of the Willys Jeep, with the concept that in a while, I’ll select to steadily restore the Boyer Hearth Jeep parts as nicely. Most significantly, I used to be decided to return the Jeep color, to the “Harvard Purple” that Willys initially used to color it.

On the suggestion of the vendor, the Jeep was transported 20 minutes from the proprietor’s home, to “Ginn Restorations,” in Ozgood, Ontario, which to my luck, specialised in restoring outdated Jeeps, with a give attention to the army fashions. Jason Ginn, the admiring restoration specialist, remarked that he had by no means seen a Jeep of that yr with such low mileage, nor had he ever seen a hearth Jeep. Initially, I had him look over the Jeep to supply me with an evaluation of what it would want mechanically, to make it street worthy. Surprisingly, it wanted little or no.

Jason, the Jeep’s restoration mechanic, beneficial that I change your entire brake system, entrance to again. So, a brand new grasp cylinder, brake drums, sneakers, springs, wheel cylinders and brake traces had been put in. Subsequent, just a few dried out felt oil seals had been changed, largely on the switch case and differential places. There have been additionally some electrical points that wanted addressing, because the Jeep had been upgraded from 6 volts to 12 volts, nevertheless it had not been accomplished nicely.

Whereas Jason was making these changes, I researched all I may discover on outdated Jeeps, which led to an excellent longer record for him to work on. I recommended that he flush and clear the fuel tank, re-build the carburetor, flush the cooling system and change all fluids and filters. Lastly, we agreed it might be greatest to exchange all the tires and tubes, because the seventy odd yr outdated originals had been severely cracked and by no means street worthy.

As I looked for the specifics about this specific Jeep, I noticed by the serial quantity, that it was truly a 1946 Jeep, not a 1947, as had been recommended to me by the earlier proprietor and indicated on the precise possession. It seems that automobiles offered again then had been registered within the yr they had been offered, not the yr that they had been manufactured in. It is potential that the Boyer Hearth Equipment equipping would have required extra time and was possible the rationale for the discrepancy within the yr. By means of a fast name to the Ministry of Transportation, I found that I may alter the possession, supplied that I undergo them adequate proof. So, my subsequent name was to Fiat Chrysler Vehicles (FCA), who now owns the Willys Jeep model. Luckily, they had been capable of affirm the serial quantity I supplied, deeming it a 1946 Jeep. A consultant from FCA despatched these particulars to me on their firm letterhead, which I then forwarded to the Ministry, so the Jeep is now formally registered within the yr it was manufactured, 1946.

That step then allowed me to accumulate a ‘yr of manufacture’ (YOM) licence plate from a collector that focuses on restoring classic licence plates. Assembly the requirements and approval processes, as set out by the Ministry of Transportation; the licence plate was then deemed an appropriate addition to this classic car. For the 1946 yr, there was just one plate produced, as there have been nonetheless post-war metallic shortages. Now my Jeep has a real 1946, black with white 56W61 plate, proudly mounted on the again of the Jeep.

The following essential and main determination wanted for the restoration venture, was paint. I knew that the ‘tractor inexperienced’ needed to go. I wished the extra genuine fireplace Jeep purple color. That was a simple determination. I needed to determine if a “physique (tub) on” or “tub off” strategy to portray made extra sense and I imagined that we would wish to hunt out any rust or sheet metallic repairs within the course of. Nevertheless, discovering the suitable location with a paint sales space, proved to be a extra daunting process. After some native analysis, I once more turned to Jason Ginn to debate portray. He was simply winding up the mechanical repairs and he was excited to speak about offering his experience with car portray, as a subsequent step.

The restoration course of was falling into place seamlessly. I wished to see the Jeep in individual earlier than he began portray it, so I drove from my residence in Burlington, Ontario to Ottawa. The earlier proprietor had given a alternative tailgate to Jason (the fireplace Jeeps had no tailgate). He had already welded or bolted on the brackets and hinges, mounted the tailgate after which base-coat painted or primed it, earlier than I arrived. Jason additionally identified a sheet metallic tear within the heart of the hood on the location the place the siren was mounted, in addition to two different tears on the grill plate, the place the ladder racks had been bolted on. The siren weighs about 6 kilos and I believe that absolutely loaded racks would possible weigh rather more than that. Years of vibration had torn by way of the sheet metallic. He had seen that there was a small quantity of rust in a help channel, below the drivers seat, that would use some consideration, in addition to some drill holes within the tub, the place over time, earlier house owners had mounted non-typical Jeep components, like flip indicator indicators on the entrance fenders.

After some dialogue, we determined that it made sense for him to make the repairs and do a “tub on” model paint restoration. That meant he would take away all the physique components, strip the inexperienced paint off, fill undesirable holes and tears, prime after which paint. It meant about one other month earlier than I might have the Jeep in my possession, which I used to be already anxious for, however after seeing his work in individual, I trusted Jason to do the perfect job potential on the bodywork and paint as nicely. In fundamental phrases, there are 4 varieties and hues of paint on this mannequin of Jeep. The most important chassis parts, springs and drive assemblies are painted in semi-gloss black. Many of the Jeep’s equipment together with steering column, pedals, and bumpers are both gloss again or chrome. There have been 21 tub colors within the Willys 1946 palate, however “Harvard Purple” was the unique color used for the fireplace Jeep.

As a part of the settlement with Jason, he despatched me common picture updates of every section of the portray a part of the venture. Now, I had no concept that when portray a car purple, the primer coat used is pink. With my earlier experiences, I had solely ever seen a flat grey color used as a primer. Think about my shock, when images arrived with your entire tub painted this bubble gum pink color! Nevertheless, with a smoother end, repaired surfaces and the inexperienced gone, it was already an enormous enchancment. In October 2017, Jason trailered the Jeep to my place in Burlington, bringing with him, bins of components to be re-assembled. I used to be thrilled to be lastly taking possession of a Jeep that actually regarded model new!

Over the course of late fall and early winter, I re-assembled the unique components that had been eliminated for portray, together with a roll bar. Whereas not typical to a hearth Jeep, the roll bar was an essential security consideration for any model or mannequin of civilian Jeep. One other, considerably important process, was to fully re-build and get better the seats. Time, climate and mice had performed havoc with the horsehair padding in addition to the seat covers themselves, which had just about disintegrated. I changed the horsehair with dense marine (absolutely waterproof) foam and obtained new genuine CJ-2A seat covers, to provide them a contemporary new look.

I then acquired and absolutely restored a rear mounted energy take off (PTO) unit. Once more, whereas not typical to a hearth Jeep, it was very a lot in step with a civilian Jeep. PTOs are available in three components: a Spicer shifter gearbox that mounts on to the switch case and a driveshaft that connects to a rear mounted PTO drive field. The PTO can be utilized whereas the Jeep is in movement or standing nonetheless. With a purpose to function the PTO, one merely has to shift the switch case gear into the suitable place and interact the PTO itself. There have been many equipment out there for the workhorse PTO, similar to grass cutters, cultivators, noticed blades and irrigation water pumps, to record only a few.

My final issues had been the diploma to which I might restore the Boyer Hearth Equipment that got here with the Jeep and the way a lot or how little of it I might re-mount to the Jeep. My selections had been pretty straightforward to make. Since I had no entrance mounted Barton Hearth Pump, it appeared to me that it might be just a little overboard to re-install toolboxes, hose bins and ladder racks, and so on. with out the ‘crown jewel’ of a pump. I made a decision as a substitute, to tastefully theme the Jeep with fireplace division memorabilia from that period, utilizing a few of what I had, in addition to buying what I may, to create an attention-grabbing dialog piece. I relocated the siren to the entrance fender, the place there’s extra structural help. I then added flashing purple lights, a hearth axe (product of latex by a film prop firm out of Hollywood, California), fireplace nozzles, a hearth extinguisher and conventional fireplace division membership stickers. I even acquired and tossed into the again of the Jeep an genuine interval fireplace helmet, with a leather-based badge that states, “Drive Operator 1.”

In July of 2018, I entered my first automotive present, which was a local people fundraiser right here in Burlington, Ontario. The Jeep drew fairly a crowd, as folks had been fascinated with the fireplace division theme and the story of how this outdated Jeep had sustained the check of time, after 73 years earlier, rolling off of the meeting line. Past the plain fireplace associated questions, the subsequent most ceaselessly requested query was:

“What are all of the shifters for?”

There are 4 of them:

1) Switch Case, 2-wheel drive, impartial, 4-wheel drive

2) 4-wheel drive low, 4-wheel drive excessive

3) Gear Field 1.2,3 R (reverse)

4) PTO engaged, dis-engaged

Secretly, I like that complexity. It appears to intimidate others from leaping into the motive force’s seat, which is in any case, ‘my’ seat!!

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Source by Ron Foss