Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers

  1. Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers List
  2. Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers Lookup
What Type of W.W.IIjeepdo I have?
Identifying your W.W.II jeep: Willys MB orFordGPW?

I did some searching on the internet and found that J87202 would be a correct Willys L134 engine serial number for a late 1946 or 1947 CJ2A. I believe the block's date code indicates it was cast on May 23 1957, and the date code on the cylinder head indicates it was cast on November 13, 1957. The first CJ-3A engine serial number should be 3J10001 and then increase through out the remainder of production. Serial number lists of other models of Willys vehicles indicate that engine serial numbers increase at a faster rate than the vehicle serial numbers.

The CJ-3A Page provides information and history for Willys CJ-3A Jeep Owners. It also provides information about and links to other Jeep and Willys websites. CJ-3A Owner's Photos & Serial Number Database. The Willys-Overland CJ-3A was introduced in 1949, and was in production until 1953, when replaced by the CJ-3B. It was powered by Willys' 60 hp (45 kW; 61 PS) L-134 Go-Devil four-cylinder engine, with a T-90 transmission and Dana 18 transfer case, a Dana 25 front axle and Dana 41 or 44 rear axle. It featured a one-piece windshield with a vent. MB Engine article on G503. Ford GPW casting # 6050 Variation of GPW head from John Dallimore. Willys MA & pre-war casting # 637014 (Possibility early MB Slat Grills may have used this head) Willys MB early-war (1941-42) casting # 639660 or 639660C No Willys or Jeep cast on head. Willys Engine Identification. For a 1960's CJ-5 with a F134 engine, the part numbers are the same. From certain venders for the L134 and F134 engines.

It looks like you have an engine from a Henry-J automobile in your CJ-3B. 3503231 is the engine serial number which should also be stamped in the boss between the water pump and cylinder head. Willys made engines for the Henry-J so they are very much like a Jeep engine.


At first glance, the Willys MBandFord GPW look identical in appearance, but with closer observation,hundredsof differences can be found. This page will point out the majorandmost obvious differences only. The purpose of page is to aid youin determining which model W.W.II jeep you have.
It is important to know that thepartsused on Willys MB and Ford GPW jeeps are completely interchangeablemechanically. When your jeep left the factory it was either 100% Willys or 100% Ford,but from that moment on, motor pool mechanics, government rebuilddepotsand civilian owners have been swapping parts without regard to whetherthe part is a Willys or a Ford part. This means that thejeepyou have is likely a combination of the two types. Often jeepownerswill refer to their vehicle as a 'GPW with an MB motor' for example.
What this means is that in order toaccurately identify your vehicle, you need to look at many clues. Generally the vehicle is divided into three major components: thechassis,the engine and the body (also referred to as the 'tub' on jeeps).Ideally,you will find that your jeep will have matching engine, frameand tub. This is often not the case. The sections that followwillhelp you determine the manufacturer of your engine, frame, and tub.

Engine Block
This one is easy. Examine theserial number stamped on the engine (see serialnumber page for location). The number prefix will tell youthemanufacturer. Willys engines have numbers that start with theletters'MB' (MB123456) whereas Ford engine numbers usually start with'GPW'(GPW123456)
If your serial number is not locatedas shown on the serialnumber page, then you probably have a post-war replacement orcivilian engine block in your jeep.

Frame
The easiest way to distinguishbetween the two frame types is to inspect the front frame crossmemberthatis beneath the radiator. The FordGPW frame uses an inverted 'U' shaped steel member here. It is openon the bottom. The WillysMB frame has a steel tube or pipe type member in this location.
Another detail to check is themachine gun mount. In the center of either frame, mounted to acrossmemberbehind the transmission, is a large, roughly circular plate withfour holes drilled in it . This is the machine gun pedestalmount. Only W.W.II jeeps have this feature, and all W.W.II MB/GPW jeeps wereequippedwith this plate. The plate differs in design between Fordand Willys and can be used to identify the frame if the frontcrossmemberis missing.

Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers

Body or 'Tub'
This is a more complex determinationowing to the variations in bodies used throughout the war. Before late 1943 Willys and Ford used separately manufactured bodies. Startingin early 1944 one manufacturer (American Central Manufacturing Co.)beganbuilding bodies for both Ford and Willys. These bodies arereferredto as 'composite' bodies because they have characteristics of theearlierFord and Willys bodies combined into one body type. It is recommendedthatyou consult a reference book (see the Howto Get Started page) to pinpoint exactly which body type youhave.
It is possible to identify certainbody characteristics that are associated with either Willys or Fordhowever. Starting at the rear of the vehicle: The early jeeps had themanufacturersname stamped into the left side of the rear panel, eithera script 'Ford' or a blockletter 'Willys'. This practice was discontinued early in the war(bymid 1942).
Moving forward to the rearwheelwell toolboxes:Ford bodies have a rectangular depression where the toolboxlockbutton is installed, Willyshave a circular depression here. (note: composite bodies have acirculardepression also) Another toolbox difference was in the toolboxlidsor covers. The Willys MBuses a plain flat cover whereas the Fordhas an embossed lid.
One more significant detail are thetoeboard gussets. These can be viewed under the hood. Theyare the roughly triangular braces that extend from the firewall down tothe frame. Fordstyle gussets have rounded corners and have 3 large holes in each.(note: these style gussets are also used on composite bodies) Willystoeboard gussets are very angular and flat-sided with five holes ineach.
If your body has round toolbox lockbutton depressions (like a Willys) AND it has rounded, three-holedtoeboardgussets (like a Ford) then your body is probably a composite type asdescribedabove. A composite body installed by Ford on a GPW would haveFordtype bolt-on items attached to it (embossed tool box lids, for example)whereas a composite body installed by Willys on an MB would have Willystype bolt-on items attached to it (plain toolbox lid, for example).


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Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers
What do the Engine
Casting Numbers Tell?
Basic information about your jeep...

Because the 134 cu. in.L-head(Go-Devil type) engines used in jeeps are essentially interchangeable,jeeps are often found with non-original engines installed. The castingnumbers on an engine or block can be used to help determine what engineyour vehicle has. The casting numbers are part of theenginecasting and are not stamped onto the metal of the block like a serialnumber.(See serialnumber page). Generally, the block casting numbers are foundon the right side of the engine block below the distributor. The blockcasting numbers are raised-not stamped. The head casting numbers arenormallyon the topof the head in the right front corner. Head casting numbers areeitherraised or recessed, but not stamped.
It is helpful to know thecastingnumber needed when searching for correct replacement blocks or headsforyour MB or GPW.

Note: This table is underconstructionand may contain errors -(Ren Bernier, 12/9/02)
(Information contributed by JoePotter, Alisdair Brass, Jon Rogers, Mark Tombleson, Jim Kilborn, FredColdwelland others.)

VehicleBlock#Head#Images of CastingNos.
MB 1941-45638632639660
GPW 1942-45GPW 60156050
CJ2A 1946-49641087 (Very earlyblocks - 638632)640161CJ2A Engine CJ2AHead
CJ3A 1950-53641087640161CJ3A Engine CJ3A Head
M38 1950-52641087 through s/n MC74419
804380 after s/n MC74419
800376
















Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers List



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Willys L134 Engine Serial Numbers Lookup