Team-BHP - CJ3B: What's the best way?

For the last year or so I have been regularly visiting Team bhp on a regular basis reading and lusting about Jeeps. First, I though I wanted to get a Willys MB or a Ford GPW. I looked around and found a 1942 Willys but the asking price was too high given the Vintage status and so I have put that plan on the back burner for the time being.

I really liked a CJ3B that Deepak in Hyderabad got after seeing the pictures he had put up on forum.

I started visiting the classified section to see if I would find something. To be honest, I am high on interest but low on knowledge about what is under the hood and quite clueless on how to go about restoring something. I have also read enough on how frustrating the process is and how many folks like me ended up with the Jeep Mechanic becoming their best friend. Well despite all that, the search continues….

This afternoon I took the first concrete step and went to Mayapuri and saw two CJ3B’s. One was a 1972 model and the other a 1990 model. Here are some pictures

Okay the following info. is from recently gained first hand information.

Step-1 Find your Mechanic, restoration partner. This will be the most important decision you will make in your jeep journey.
Step-2 Get the Jeep from Mayapuri inspected by the above said individual.
Step-3 Verify Chassis markings with the auction papers to make sure the deal is genuine.
Step-4 Ensure this is a original Cj3B, there are many chop shop examples at mayapuri running anything from Inter engines to 2.1-2.5 lt diesel engines and mismatched chassis and tub.
Step-5 Haggle, Haggle, Haggle Depending on the condition of the jeep expect to pay between 55-85 K if it is a as is auction jeep. Cant judge the condition of your jeep as I am unable to open your attachment, please upload using team-bhp Manage Folders function.
Step-6 Ensure the seller is able to register your jeep for it to be legal.

This is just the begining. It would be great if you have a running jeep as it would have aged better. My jeep was a still one and hence ended up spending more than I budgetted to restore the mechanicals.

Being in touch with a jeep club such as NIOC would be great as you would have help in finding spares and precious advise would be at hand.

My jeep was restored by Jasvinder goes by the handle of diesel_maniac
You may PM him for further details.

Hey buddy
Ive seen the pictures
Its very difficult make out anything from the pictures, but from the looks of it the vehicles have been prepped up for sale and do not appear in their original condition.
now please be sure and understand that I am no expert and am just learning like everyone else. I may totally be wrong here. Like everyone else I am just expressing my views and opinion on a public forum and may/ will be partially and/ or totally wrong in my comments. So please read/ accept/ understand them at your own risk
Regards
Harjeev

The following opinion/ comments are in respect to the 1st vehicle.
JEEP CJ3B

The 1st vehicle (in the 1st set of pictures) do not have the 4x4 levers, but it has the front diff. Did your mechanic check for the transfercase and the front propeller shaft???
Also I can't make out from the pictures whether the starter motor and the alternator are there in the vehicle. Check for these too!!! and get these things in good condition. This if working will save you atleast a couple of grands
It does not have the swing type spare tyre mount too. I am not sure whether CJ3B JEEP had this. Experts pl comment. If they did you should get that too
I am not very sure of the handle bar (in front of the passenger) to hold on to!! Appears to be too long. Maybe from a MM550??? i am not sure!!! As the one on the IInd vehicle and also on the other CJ3B's are short. Maybe this was changed, if not then the original one might have been damaged in some mishap or something.
Also the handle bar apears to have been affixed on the windshield frame. I doubt that the CJ3B came like this. The handle bars are always affixed on the body tub and not on the windshield frame
I think that the rear spare tyre mount is off a MM550 and not of a CJ3B. It appears to be too big for a SWB
In the engine bay I am not able to see the battery mount and stand
Check for the fuel pump too. Though not very expensive but if you can get an original, then why leave it.
Also check the carb it should be, SOLEX, I think. Not very sure!!!
Check the underbody for chassis damage, propeller shafts, transfer cae etc
The engine vis a vis the rest of the engine bay appears to be very old. Seems like it has been put in afterwards. So please get that aspect verified. You see there's a lot of rusting on the engine. If this engine belongs to the vehicle itself, then why is there so much rust on the engine only and not on the other parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque-ative (Post 1660371)

Thanks. I spoke to Jasvinder and he will call me on his return to Delhi next week. The Mayapuri guys said they will get the Jeep registered for a charge of Rs 15,000.

I am looking at a Willy's Vintage Jeep today as well. Will post some pictures of that later today.

Red Liner, I would have picked up Harjeev's 550 but I am looking for a SWB 4x4.

NDMS: The price quoted is between 70-90 grand.

Harjeev: Thanks for that detailed review after looking at the snaps. I agree with you that the enjine and body of the jeep don't go togeather. The engine looks very rusted compared to the body. Also, the 4x4 in the jeep has been removed in jeep with the no 331 which is the better body in my opinion and a couple of other things are missing which the dealer himself admitted.