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The Resurrection of CJ2-26

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Fred Coldwell View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Oct. 2021 at 4:50pm
Originally posted by Todd Paisley Todd Paisley wrote:

Hi Fred.  Do you have the rear floor rib ends near (the front) hammered down for the toolbox (as does CJ2-37)? 

Hi Todd:

I finally got 2 photos of the front end top and bottom of the passenger side rear floor. Yes, the raised ribs have been hammered down to make room for welding the flat flap on the rear top of the enclosed tool box, as seen in these two photos of the bottom and top respectively:



The rusty strip below was still underneath the tool box rear flap when the body was sandblasted, so it will be cleaned up before attaching the original tool box to the body.



Enjoy!
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 4:53pm
Progress by Others.  Even when I'm not making progress on CJ2-26, I've hired others to make progress on my behalf.  So last August I dropped off 2 speedometers at a Deluxe Speedometer, a local Denver speedo repair and restoration facility.  I told John to clean them up and get them working, which he has done. I kept the original face plates as both were fine and retained their original but aged appearance.  I did not want sparkling new speedos or gauges in my wartime civilian jeeps. This morning I picked them up and here they are for your viewing pleasure.  



The olive drab trimmed speedometer on the left is an Autolite 10403-A that will go in my 1944 Agrijeep, CJ2-09, and replace the inoperable speedo now there. The eggshell black trimmed speedometer on the right is a King Seeley KS-40363-BN that will go in my 1945 stamped JEEP, CJ2-26. I still have to clean up the other instrument panel gauges for CJ2-26, but they have been tested and selected for their nice face plates and only need their bezels repainted an eggshell black. 

In December I had the machine shop remove the exhaust and intake manifold studs and put a helicoil in the one hole that had become slightly egg shaped, so engine block MB-504693 is now ready to be assembled when the weather gets a bit warmer in Denver.  Happy New Year to all!
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Bruce W View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 5:08pm
  Thanks for posting and for the pictures, Fred. It’s always good to here from you. A question; (even tho the answer is probably “in the book”, and I am starting to read it for probably the sixth or seventh time Big smile) were the CJ2 engines MB-number stamped? I would think so. Is this (likely - I’m  there’s no way to be sure) the original engine for CJ2-26?
BW 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oilleaker1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 5:54pm
Great Fred! I know your Agrijeep is rare and cool, but this one that says Jeep has always hit me as being the one. Holy Grail, etc. a very cool Jeep and I'm glad someone like you with the knowledge are it's caretaker/savior. I like people to have and do what they want with their Jeeps but this one is a exception. It needs you. 

Keep the updates coming Fred, Thanks, John
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 8:23pm
Originally posted by Bruce W Bruce W wrote:

  Thanks for posting and for the pictures, Fred. It’s always good to here from you. A question; (even tho the answer is probably “in the book”, and I am starting to read it for probably the sixth or seventh time Big smile) were the CJ2 engines MB-number stamped? I would think so. Is this (likely - I’m  there’s no way to be sure) the original engine for CJ2-26?  BW 


Hi Bruce: Yes, all CJ-2 engines had MB engine serial numbers. These MB engines were modified for use in the stamped JEEP CJ-2 by replacing the standard late war MB cylinder head W.O. 639660C with a new early civilian non-ribbed cylinder head W.O. 640161; adding the bracket for and the King-Seeley engine speed governor and controls; using a new civilian Carter carburetor 596S instead of the MB 539S carburetor; and on the stamped CJ-2 JEEPs replacing the late war MB dust-proof distributor with a smaller and cheaper Autolite 4117 civilian distributor. The military generator and voltage regulator were also replaced with less robust civilian parts. Hardly any of this information was  included in my Preproduction Civilian Jeeps books because it was mostly discovered after publication.

My engine MB-504693 is not original to CJ2-26.  Its original engine was MB-503605, determined by adding 1 numeral to engine s/n MB-503604 installed in CJ2-25, as documented by this receipt for that jeep discovered by Jim Rohr in Minnesota many years ago:



When I first saw and later purchased engine MB-504693, I knew it was the closest I was ever going to come to MB-503605 during my lifetime. In fact. the engine serial numbers are only 1,088 numerals apart, which is only a 0.25% difference given the total 437,000 or so MB engines produced by Willys-Overland during and just after WW II (excluding later replacement MB engines). So I'm very happy with engine MB-504693.  :)

John:  Great to hear from you too!  I hope to accelerate the progress on CJ2-26 once the weather warms up again here in Colorado.
 





Edited by Fred Coldwell - 18 Jan. 2022 at 8:26pm
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 8:39pm
Jeez Fred ya think you could check in a little more frequently than every 3 months? You stay out all night with who knows who, you never call.. heck the letter from the war dept said you were lost at sea!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Todd Paisley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 8:51pm
Looks great Fred!  I have a couple speedos I need to get rebuilt.

I would be curious as to how you rebuild the temperature gauge.  I have been collecting nice face temperature gauges with bad bulbs on them hoping to find someone who can rebuild these!

Don't forget the E-38308 experimental head!  (This is what is on CJ2-37.)


Todd Paisley

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan. 2022 at 10:46pm
Originally posted by Todd Paisley Todd Paisley wrote:

Looks great Fred!  I have a couple speedos I need to get rebuilt. I would be curious as to how you rebuild the temperature gauge.  I have been collecting nice face temperature gauges with bad bulbs on them hoping to find someone who can rebuild these! Don't forget the E-38308 experimental head!  (This is what is on CJ2-37.)


Hi Todd:

Better get those speedos rebuilt sooner than later.  The craftsmen who can do this work are retiring or becoming a dying breed.

I have two NOS temperature gauges acquired decades ago that don't need new bulbs, so will use those.  However, a few Europeans have posted on G-503 lengthy instructions for repairing bulb type temperature gauges.  I'm lucky I don't presently need to follow them. :) 

That E-numbered Experimental cylinder head is a real treasure and right at home on CJ2-37. 

Muley: I'll try to check in more often as my progress improves.  :)
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Daron Wanberg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 June 2022 at 8:27pm
Keep going Fred. Your post are educational and perfect as usual.
Ramble on
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug. 2022 at 8:52am
Assembly of engine MB-504693

My good friend Chuck Chapman of Detroit, Michigan, visits his son in Colorado a few times each year. Chuck restores MB and GPW engines as a hobby and know how to rebuild them. Two weekends ago he came over to my house to help me get started assembling engine MB-504693 for CJ2-26.  We got the cam and valves installed and adjusted on Friday, then looked forward to installing the crankshaft and pistons on Saturday. But the crankshaft would not drop into the lubricated bearings, and we could not see why. 




So the next week I dropped off the block, bearings, caps and crankshaft at my machine shop to get it fixed. Five hours later they called and said the engine was fixed and pick it up, which I did. They explained the crankshaft fit when they installed 90 degrees from our attempt, but it would not fully rotate. So they kept working it until it did. They also could not see what prevented the crankshaft from rotating initially, but said they fixed that problem nonetheless. So my next task is to install the pistons and proceed from there. Progress might not be smooth but at least is forward in direction. 


Edited by Fred Coldwell - 24 Aug. 2022 at 8:55am
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug. 2022 at 9:17am
My body and paint guy, Lou Ferra, is also making progress on restoring the body.  I bought CJ2A/3A/3B front floor patch panels from Carl Walck. Lou has installed the drivers side one with a little modification. I will be using a floor shift instead of a column shift transmission in CJ2-26, so the lack of a slot in the floorboard for the column shift mechanism is not a problem but a positive feature. The hat channels are for an M38 but fit the CJ-2 nicely.

  


The welds will be cleaned up soon.  Here is a better view of the original factory welds enlarging the transmission hump for the T90A transmission and the drivers side patch panel attached to it. Enjoy!



 





Edited by Fred Coldwell - 24 Aug. 2022 at 9:18am
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO
1944 CJ2-09 - X-33
1945 CJ2-26 - X-50

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lowenuf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug. 2022 at 10:13am
Fred, I have a nice column shift steering hole piece here if you want it to graft in now before moving forward.... Mike
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug. 2022 at 11:57am
Mike:  Yes, I will take that column shift rod steering hole and ask Lou to graft it in while the floorboard is very accessible. Thank you so much! Big smile
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Fred Coldwell
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chicodave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug. 2022 at 1:46pm
I had a slow day at work and read this post. Never knew of the early "Jeep" cj2a"s.  So what ever happened to that cool old 1968 Dodge W300?


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug. 2022 at 3:47pm
Originally posted by Chicodave Chicodave wrote:

I had a slow day at work and read this post. Never knew of the early "Jeep" cj2a"s.  So what ever happened to that cool old 1968 Dodge W300?

Hi Chicodave:

I sold the 1968 W300 fifteen or more years ago to buy a 1992 Dodge 3/4-ton 4X4 Cummins turbo diesel pickup truck that now has an 8' Alaskan non-cabover camper on it. The newer Dodge get 18 mpg while the 1968 Dodge with a 318 cu. in V-8 got 8 mpg empty or loaded.  Love my 30 year old Dodge Cummins!
Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tom in RI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2023 at 8:34am
Fred, did you ever get a chance to gtaft that column shift floor hole into place?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fred Coldwell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 May 2023 at 6:28pm
Well, with the weather warming up in Denver from our winter freeze, I have begun slowly working on CJ2-26 again.  The first order of business this spring was to clear a space in my large garage next to my work bench.  That space has been occupied by my 1944 Dodge T233 Command Car, so I first had cut cut up a number of boxes in the adjacent space (to the right) next to my storage shelving to make room for the Dodge. Here is what my large garage looked like before cleaning up:



and here is what it looked like after I moved the Dodge to the right on car dollies:



Now, a guy has to keep some boxes around to pack sold goodies mailed to their happy new owners . . . but this clean up now gives me some room to work close to my tools.

I also brought down from the rafters a used MB inner windshield frame that I bought at Big Four Auto Parts in Pueblo, CO. around 25 years ago, knowing it would come in handy someday. That day has finally arrived for CJ2-26! It was quite dusty when retrieved from the rafters, but a quick dowsing with the hose cleaned it up for disassembly and painting:      



Now, let's see some progress here, Fred. Tongue


Happy Jeep Trails,


Fred Coldwell
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joe Friday Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 May 2023 at 6:41pm
Wow that's nice. Itsy was holding out on us... I never saw them down there.
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