A friend just bought a '52 Willy's and it has a OHV engine in it...
We don't think this is the original engine:confused:
Any of you Willy's gurus know the answer?
We thought it should have come with a flathead in it
TIA

Is it a flat fender, should be if it's a civilian model. 49-53 It is a CJ3A, and came with the L-head, the 134 flat head engine. If by chance it is a round fender, and I think you would have called it a CJ5 in your post, then it's the military, M38A1, and 1951 was first year of production, and it has the F-head with overhead valves.
Also you may have a swap, as this was popular to do it seems,where someone swaped in the more powerful F-head.
And if you have a high hood CJ3B, then you have a confused title for your jeep.
Look at the firewall name plate with the serial number, and do a search on the web for willys jeep serial numbers. You can at least pin down the engine date.
Oh and one more thing , I am assuming CJ, if you have a pickup, wagon, or jeepster, then your engine may be correct.
Hope this is some help. Andy

Sounds like you probably have a CJ3B which would have a F-head engine.. This engine has the intake valves in the head the exhaust valves are still in the block like the L-head(flathead)..

can't find any plates....def a flatfender cj body style.....def not a highhooder either...gonna try to find some #'s on engine or body somewhere

Okay the web page I wanted to direct you to is not online at the moment. But go to The CJ3B page and start. This is the largest website of it's kind on the internet. It is here: http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B
Next go to the the this Universal Jeep History page http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/UniversalJeeps.html
I believe the pictures and such will speak for themselves and answer all your questions.
Oh and here is a serial number page that is listed there: http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/WOfigures.html
This should get you started, and look at the links from this page. You will learn a lot.
Also the Serial numbers should be stamped on a tag affixed to the passenger side firewall.
The CJ2A, CJ3A, and CJ3B, are all flat fender jeeps. The CJ3B is a Highhood jeep, due to the hieght increase in the hood for clearance of the F-head engine.
Andy

thanks Andy

Sounds like somebody installed an F head 134 into a 3a or M38.

Andy...wasnt 52 the 1st year for the A1? Along side the last year of the M38?

Originally posted by MilspecXJ
Sounds like somebody installed an F head 134 into a 3a or M38.

Andy...wasnt 52 the 1st year for the A1? Along side the last year of the M38?
the m38a1 was built on the same assembly line as the cj3b
http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Photos/Finds/3BAssemblyLine500.JPG

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Photos/Timeline/Timeline.gif

Cant dispute that pic, thanks HighHooder.

1BDYJ, does the dash on this vehicle have seperate holes for the gauges or a square plate where the gauges reside? You can also take a look at the side of the tailgate, you may find a serial number. Does it say Willy's on the tailgate?

Originally posted by MilspecXJ
Sounds like somebody installed an F head 134 into a 3a or M38.

Andy...wasnt 52 the 1st year for the A1? Along side the last year of the M38?

Yep your right, the poster I have from Walck's says Model MD-M38A1, year mfg. 1951- 1968. Looking in the "Illustrated Buyers Guide Jeep" I see that the development for the model MD, or M38A1, began in 1951, but the first model didn't roll off the assembly line until April of 1952. Sorry, the book also list years of mfg as ending in 57. I will double check my source next time.
Andy

1BDYJ, look here......... http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/engine/

That site has pics of all the different engines for Jeeps. See if
the one in yours looks like one of the pics.

get the serial and go here:
http://specialtyparts.com
Steve has a sweet vin code checker deally for jeeps.