Wakefield Willys Update 8.1

So it has been 2 months since I have posted, but work has been steadily been getting done.  Since my last update, I have been patching and welding rust spots on the Jeep Tub.  It sometimes feels like I fix one spot, and 5 more previously unknown problems appear.

The biggest shock was the floor panels.  I knew they were bad, but I thought I could patch it like others had done before.  Boy I was wrong, they needed to be cut out and replaced.

Today, I cut out the driver side floor panel.  It went well.  The frame looks good, thanks to the caked on Pennsylvania Clay.  When I went underneath to inspect the floor, I was stunned to find wood supports.  They are original, from the factory.  They will be taken out and replaced with steel.

The replacement panels come from Classic Enterprises.  They look great, and hope to put the first one in with floor supports very soon.

Wakefield Willys Update 7.2

So I am hoping to get the Willys on the road in 2015.  And days like today tell me it is not going to happen.  Let me explain.

In repairing the tub, I want to fill in all of the holes in the tub from someone drilling into it to attach a top.  And there are a lot of holes.  It is tedious work.  Prep the hole, weld. grind, and then maybe weld again, then grind.  It takes hours to do this work.  In the pictures you can see the process, the holes, the welds and the grinding.  I like doing it, but it takes a lot of time.

Wakefield Willys Update 7.1

So it has been over 2 years since I have created an update.  And that means that for 2 years little work  has been done to the 1960 Willys Jeep.  The main reason for the lapse, is that we just completed major home renovations.  And that included building a garage.  So now, we can for the first time work on the Willys Jeep in the Winter.

So I have set a goal of having the Willys on the road by the summer of 2015.  And I have a lot of work to do.  First up, is the restoration of the driver side of the Jeep.  In the pictures you have the beginning work of removing the paint, and cutting out the bad panels.  

Farewell to the 1957 Willys Jeep CJ5

Compare & Contrast : Rear of the Willys

Annual Fall Wrap Up

Every Autumn I wind things down with the Willys as Winter approaches.  To cold to work on the Jeep, and most of the work is body work which does not get done when the temps are under 50F.  So winter brings a break.

So here is where we are, Fall 2012

Rear Valance Installed!

Great stuff.

The Rear Valance is the last piece to be installed.  The Rear Valance is what holds the Tailgate and the rear floor.  It attaches to the rear bumper and is welded to the sides of the Willys.  The welding part has not happened yet as it is being held on by clamps.  But we are close.

The clamps are straightening it out.  It came from the 1957 Willys and it is a bit out of shape.  I had to fix it up when I took it off.  So it was not perfect. 

Once I get some welding in, I think the clamps could be removed.  Can't wait to attach the Tailgate!