High Hood 453-GB1

JJS2

Bigger Hammer
Oct 4, 2020
109
Grand Rapids, MI
First Name
Jim
Willys Model
  1. CJ
Willys Year:
  1. 1953
This CJ sits in a friend's barn. It was parked, reportedly in running condition, 15-20 years ago.
It has a Go-Devil engine installed - which was swapped by the prior owner to replace the stock Hurricane with a "bad head" - which came with the purchase and also is in the barn. [Edit: 9/25 - There are two F-head engines in the barn, the numbers on one match the original registration.]

The firewall tag says "453-GB1 18xxx". The owner believes it is a CJ3B, and with the high hood, it certainly looks like it.
He never re-titled or licensed it - only drove it on trails and country roads, but he has a Title, someplace.

The frame appears solid. Some body rust. Driver's floor patched. The windshield opening is for a one-piece; it presently has two pieces of Plexiglass.

He'd be interested in selling it. What are opinions as to what it is its approximate value? Is it a CJ3B with that data plate?
453-GB1 (2).jpg453-GB1 (1).jpg
 
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Welcome.

That is indeed a CJ3-B and so is the serial number plate. If your friend can title it, that will increase the market price. Mechanical bits can be re-do as you mention. Body work often dissuades some buyers. How bad is the other rust? It looks like it has a lot of potential in the picture.

As far as value, here are some comparables: http://www.ewillys.com/category/cj3b/
 
Thank you for the reply and confirmation that it is a CJ3B. He received a title upon purchase, which he filed away, but believes he could find with a little looking. The front seat frames are there, and there's a lot of other stuff stacked in and around it, which makes it difficult to assess - especially with crowding and four flat tires. Valuation can wait, but next we'll see that the engine is free, then get a battery (6 Volt), and fresh gas, and change fluids. It'd just be fun to get moving again.

Next would be to check-over the Hurricane engine, which sits on a pallet in the barn.
 
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Looks good, I bet that black paint probably helped preserve this thing a bit.

It looks like it could be a really cool CJ.
 
Scramboleer - Thanks, again for the reply/confirmation. The barn is in a somewhat remote location, with no power, and it has become a catch-all for lots of stuff. Consequently, it is crammed full, and difficult to navigate through. The owner did say that one rear corner of the Jeep has some damage (with bondo?), and it looks as if the driver's kick panel may have some fiberglass patching, and some other areas needing work. The patch on the driver's floor (and areas beneath) needs further investigation. I became interested when I got access to the barn in this past Spring, but now as Winter approaches, it'll likely sit another year, unless I find a nearby garage to rent. In the meantime, I may run out and put some oil into the cylinders. Possibly also close a deal with the owner, if he doesn't want to keep it.

Timd - Thanks. I've offered to help my friend get it going, but he seems to have several other distractions. Also, I suspect that areas of the black paint may not be adhering that well, which would be neat if the original (?) green and patina could be raised.
 
I just perused through the 3B's on @scramboleer 's link. There was quite a selection, and $$$$ pricey.
There was one for sale in Mansfield, Texas, for $15k. Not of interest to me really, But, what I did see under the hood so inconspiculously, was an AC Delco power steering pump. yep, running stealth:

1953-cj3b-Mansfield-tx w ACDelco PS pump [1].jpg
Above photo: nice clean looking install on the AC Delco power steering pump.
 
JJS2 said:
Hi again,

Either way 3A or 3B, it'd be fun to try to get it going.
Click to expand...

Without doubt, a 53 CJ 3B. Unlikely an engine rebuild is not going to be required with the go-devil and, if me, I would spend that effort on the original F head. Certainly not a power house but significantly more drive-able than the L head.
 
Thanks for the input. When I go there, I'll make a point of crawling through the barn to find the Hurricane, take some photos, and see what info I can gather. Have I mentioned that this barn is haphazardly stuffed full of all kinds of stuff? I'll also try to interest my friend to get motivated, but frankly, this barn holds so many potential projects, I can see where he's struggling . Otherwise, I could probably find space here at home to work on the F-head. I'll advise what I find.
 
It's been over two years since I posted. My friend decided to sell me his 3B this past week. It still sits in the same place, still with four flat tires. He and I were able to get the cylinders moving after soaking with some oil. We got a battery and the engine spins freely, and next we're chasing a no-spark issue.

The sale includes the two F-134s and other parts - including an extra rolling 3B frame, some sheet metal, the Title and original bill of sale. It's a 1953 model - as you folks probably knew from the "453" on the data plate.

The barn is no less cluttered, and just now, other than the one on hinges, the doors are frozen in-place until Spring. It's too cold and too dark to work in there, now

Since my first post, I am grateful for the knowledge which I have gleaned from these pages, and for what I will extract in the future - Thanks!
Jim
 
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I apologize for any misstatement. To clarify: this Willys presently has an L-head "Go-Devil" engine. Also, part of the sale to me includes two F-head "Hurricane" engines. These were also part of my friend's purchase from the original owner (OO). At the time the OO said that one of the two [the original engine?] had a "bad head"; the other, "in running condition". That being the case, I agree that after the thaw, when doors can be opened and the barn's contents moved around to get to the Hurricane engines, the sensible thing would be to concentrate on the F-head. In the meantime, I will mess with the L-head which presently is in the 3B, especially now that it's rotating freely.
 
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JABJEEP said:
Are there any differences between the 3A and 3B frames? I tried looking it up and it seems like they're the same frame. The 3B body lends itself to a greater selection different engine choices, but these days I'm a "go back to stock" guy.
Click to expand...
There may be some very minor detail differences but essentially the same frame. And yes, while still tight compared to a CJ5-6, a lot more room for "stuff" under the hood. And stuffed mine is-----
54108345819_2a044a20a2_b.jpg
 
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