Wakefield Willys Update 3.19

Well as the air gets colder, the work on the Jeep slows down. But before it gets ridiculous, I am plugging along on some tub repair.

Body Work

Since the Front End is done, my next year or so will be focused on the tub, the rear section of the Willys Jeep. It is in bad shape and since I don't have $3K for a new one, we are going to fix this tub up. I am going to quite literally work by way around it starting on the driver side.

As previously mentioned, the floor under the gas tank was problematic and I thought with a few welds, I could repair it. I can not, too much damage and it really needs to be replaced. Fortunately Quadratec has a lot of floor replacement panels, so it looks like I am going to be picking some up over the winter. It will be a major project, so for now I will let it go and focus on other parts of the tub.

In the picture is the front tub corner where the windshield attaches. Both of my corners are in terrible shape and need to be rebuilt. I am starting on this corner, and so far so good, cutting away the rust and thinking through the steps to rebuild the first corner. I might have it done this fall, we will see.

Wakefield Willys Update 3.18

Fuel System

Well, the restoration has taken a bit of a detour. And there is a simple reason for that. The Willys has not been running.

I narrowed it down to the fuel system and began replacing parts. Started with the fuel filter (unbelievably dirty), replaced a fuel line, still nothing. Tested the fuel pump, working fine, it had to be the tank itself.

The tank was full of clay and that was the problem. It also had some pin holes on the top, so I thought I would replace it with another old fuel tank that I had repaired. I had purchased it some time ago when I bought the tailgate.

And this has led to a new axiom.

Axiom => Never replace vintage parts with vintage parts that need to hold fluids.

Even after my repairs, it is leaking somewhere else. I could try and repair it there as well, but will that do it and will I find another leak?

Given that the gas tank sits under the driver seat, and right over the exhaust system, I am going to install a new polyethylene tank.

Lesson learned. Wish I had discovered this when there were sales this past summer. Oh well.

Wakefield Willys Update 3.17

Salvage

The Rear Bumper is off. That should be obvious given the picture.

I broke a couple bulbs, but other than that, it is intact and in good shape.

This came off like the front bumper. Cutting some bolts, grinding, and a gentle touch with the sledge hammer.

And when I mean gentle, I mean that sarcastically.

The top will be the hardest to get off, but this was no easy removal. But it is off, and that is what counts.

Wakefield Willys Update 3.16

Other than a few small jobs on the 1960 Willys, the majority of the work is on the 1957 CJ5

Salvage Work

Stripped the Front Bumper of all unnecessary steel. It is fairly close to being ready to be restored, need to take the electric lights off, and we can begin grinding and sanding the bumper down. It could really use it before Winter as there are some serious rust flakes.

Started working on the windshield. Not liking what I am seeing, but am hoping to get it off to take a better look at it and see if it is restorable.

The Rear Bumper, like the Front Bumper is going to require a lot of effort to remove. My initial work and inspection tells me it is going to take several attempts. I am going to have to take the rear tires off, jack it up as high as I can get it, and then we may need the torch. Fun times ahead!

Salvage Work

When this project started 2+ years ago, this was the Willys we were going to restore. Since then it has been demoted to the "Parts Jeep" as it had a bad frame.

It has become a very valuable resource, and for the next few weeks I have plans to remove a number of components. The rims, the front bumper are already removed.

In addition, I need to get the rear bumper off, the top removed, the dashboard and windshield all need to be taken off and stored indoors.

So for most of the Fall, we will be doing salvage work. Rust! Here we come!

Wakefield Willys Update 3.15

Not much to share.....

From now until it gets too cold to paint / work, I am focusing on small jobs. Little projects to get me through the rest of the Fall. For now, the Jeep Tub will have to wait until the Spring. Too tired to start a major repair.

So a perfect example is pictured in this update. The 1957 Gas Station Willys had a heavy duty spare tire bracket that I thought was cool. The studs were rusted and it needed cleaned up. So I removed the studs, welded the new ones on and primed it. I will set this aside until I am ready to mount it on the Jeep.

These projects are fun, usually simple, and take a day. I spent just a few hours on this project. Not a bad way to spend part of a day.

Front End Project Completed (for the most part)