Family treasure - 46 CJ-2A all original

Doug,Really nice original you have there and like the others I'm glad you're interested in keeping it stock. She's a real beauty, especially since it has family history for you... something you just can't go out buy. One would think that it's odd that such a nice jeep could be bought in Northern WI, but some of my cleanest and most original jeeps have been bought in WI. Guess it's all about how they are taken care of and your wife's grandfather was apparently was a master. Have fun with it.  

Edited by Joe DeYoung - 15 Nov. 2013 at 8:08am

Edited by JM-46CJ2A - 17 Nov. 2013 at 6:57pm

On tightening up the very loose steering: The prime offender is the bell crank -- it wobbles. The pin is 34/" and seems to be still in spec with no worn areas. So the two bell crank roller bearings at the least are probably done-for. Q: Do they need to be pressed in hydraulically? The only source for these bearings I've seen (without getting the whole kit) is from Omix-Ada. Are these any good? Steering is kind of important...

JPET visited us in Wisconsin this afternoon -- a very nice gentleman with a lot of jeep knowledge and experience. We took an evening drive in our '46 and later shared stories and strategies over pizza. Our conversation cemented the decision to not attempt to "restore" the original canvas tops but leave them in their beautiful state and obtain a full winter set from JPET. That way we have the best of both worlds. A no-brainer, really. And, I'm thinking more seriously about an overdrive, provided I can install it without cutting permanent metal. If we do, Herm will get the call.

Leaks. Early jeeps aren't really designed NOT to leak. Nobody cared much in those days about the occasional drip, or even glop, of oil on the ground or driveway.

As you all know there are many lubrication points on a jeep.

I can't believe how clean the metal is for living in a salt state. Grandfather must have stayed off the roads in the winter.

I'm suprised your old tranny worked at all looking at the pics.

JM-46CJ2A wrote: And once again I made the decision NOT to do a cosmetic resto and keep original/as-is. To me it's just more interesting to see it with its "history" intact. And, we still USE this jeep. Long ago I learned it's too easy to restore a vehicle to a point where you don't want to ever get it wet or dirty!