Camaro Mike
Well-known member
Awesome find and great addition to the family. Congratulations.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
gazza
Well-known member
Hi Thomas, great news on the new vehicle, it looks so at "at home" beside your chevys.
I'm guessing that you already have in your mind exactly what your going to do to your latest addition to your garage, if I can suggest that you ensure your signpainter is experienced enough to reproduce the existing signs exactly, this will help date the willys to the original era of your workshop.
If I didn't live so far away I would gladly offer to help out.
cheers, Gary
a 38 yr signwriter (sign painter) from Melbourne
I'm guessing that you already have in your mind exactly what your going to do to your latest addition to your garage, if I can suggest that you ensure your signpainter is experienced enough to reproduce the existing signs exactly, this will help date the willys to the original era of your workshop.
If I didn't live so far away I would gladly offer to help out.
cheers, Gary
a 38 yr signwriter (sign painter) from Melbourne
The silver on silver 64 is a rare color combo. My Dad had one in the mid 60's with the same colors, SS , 327 with a Engle solid cam and 12:1's and factory 4 speed. I was 4 years old at the time and when the car was parked on the hill at my grandparents I got in and pulled the e-brake driving it down the hill jumped the curb and narrowly missed the LP tank and trees
MetalMangler
Well-known member
Thomas -
As soon as I saw the pics of the truck I started dragging family in to see and I was positively gushing! I'd say that you have the luck of the Irish, or whatever nationality that might be luckier, but I know that this is more a matter of your having proven yourself a good steward and seeing the increase as a result.
I initially started picking out all the discrepancies between the '49 and the "new" '48, and was wondering if you were going to do things like swap the square mirrors out for round, add the ridge to the hood, etc, etc... But within a minute I realized that was totally unnecessary. Everything you've done to date is more homage than simply trying to recreate the original in exact detail. I look forward to following the newest chapter in this great saga.
MM
As soon as I saw the pics of the truck I started dragging family in to see and I was positively gushing! I'd say that you have the luck of the Irish, or whatever nationality that might be luckier, but I know that this is more a matter of your having proven yourself a good steward and seeing the increase as a result.
I initially started picking out all the discrepancies between the '49 and the "new" '48, and was wondering if you were going to do things like swap the square mirrors out for round, add the ridge to the hood, etc, etc... But within a minute I realized that was totally unnecessary. Everything you've done to date is more homage than simply trying to recreate the original in exact detail. I look forward to following the newest chapter in this great saga.
MM
Amitygravel
Well-known member
Hello Thomas
The Jeep is too cool !
Very nice score to add to the shop.
Happy Holidays to you and the family !
Craig
The Jeep is too cool !
Very nice score to add to the shop.
Happy Holidays to you and the family !
Craig
realvc
Well-known member
Congrats. on your new shop truck. It is cooler than cool the way you are putting the your shop back together all new combined with the old theme.
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BigAl62
Well-known member
Way cool "new" truck! Congratulations on a great find!
mdbeck1
Well-known member
Thomas,
I came to this forum from a Jeep forum (http://www.earlycj5.com/). They're pretty nice guys and seem to have a LOT of information about the old jeeps and even some newer stuff. I KNOW that they have a ton of information about the engine (I've got a '55 Willys jeep). So kick around there and I'm sure you'll find a bunch of information to help you out.
On a side note... Apparently Willys was into a LOT of stuff. I once saw a reference to Willys tractors. Apparently they took the running gear of the CJ's, changed the rear ends and marketted them as tractors. These guys have also found L134 engines used as air compressors and a hundred other things.
-Enjoy.
Firefighter315
Well-known member
[cue Field of Dreams theme music]...
Mr. Johnson returns to have a look at the hard work Thomas and Chris have done.
Mr. Johnson: "Is this Heaven?"
Thomas: "It's Illinois."
Mr. Johnson: "Illinois? I could have sworn this was Heaven."
Thomas: "Is there a Heaven?"
Mr. Johnson: "Oh yeah, it's the place where dreams come true."
(Thomas turns around to see Chris and his son looking over the new Willys addition in the immaculate barn)
Thomas: "Maybe this is heaven...."
OK, enough of that. That scene gets me all misty.
Thomas, being a tried and true Jeep guy, your newest addition just took your shop and collection even further over the top! Great job! Here are a couple of build threads on a couple of '49s done by the same guy that I read quite a while back. Even though your '48 is quite pristine, I thought you may find them interesting.http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/1949-jeep-truck-restoration-587910/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/dads-truck-734932/
Motown 454
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,359
Sweet purchase Tom, I love the early Willy's pick ups and wagons.
BigDaddyUSMC
Well-known member
Y MANIFOLD GANG
Thomas
LOOK WHAT I FOUND ! ! !
STREET RODDER online magazine recently posted an article on old flathead Ford manifolds & to my amazment there was another AL JERAULD Y Manifold. I contacted the magazine editor & he put me in contact the guy that owns this collection of manifolds. Unfourtunatly the guy did not want to sell it.... But he said he know a few other guys the have big manifold collections & he thinks one of them may have a JERAULD Y.
Jacob has his , it would be cool if I could get one ,so I wouldn't have to show friends the photos of the one you gave to Jacob when i tell the twisted Y manifold saga...& yes I tell that story every chance I get....
It goes with out saying, the second one - if I can get it- Will just be a copy , the one you had will always be the HOLY GRAIL of Y manifolds.
Here is a link to the article if anyone wants to check it out
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1048srp_ford_flathead_intake_manifold_collection/viewall.html
Thomas
LOOK WHAT I FOUND ! ! !
STREET RODDER online magazine recently posted an article on old flathead Ford manifolds & to my amazment there was another AL JERAULD Y Manifold. I contacted the magazine editor & he put me in contact the guy that owns this collection of manifolds. Unfourtunatly the guy did not want to sell it.... But he said he know a few other guys the have big manifold collections & he thinks one of them may have a JERAULD Y.
Jacob has his , it would be cool if I could get one ,so I wouldn't have to show friends the photos of the one you gave to Jacob when i tell the twisted Y manifold saga...& yes I tell that story every chance I get....
It goes with out saying, the second one - if I can get it- Will just be a copy , the one you had will always be the HOLY GRAIL of Y manifolds.
Here is a link to the article if anyone wants to check it out
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1048srp_ford_flathead_intake_manifold_collection/viewall.html
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hobbitss
Well-known member
Gus must look forward to being the official future Airfield / Drag Strip vehicle...
I've had no problem mixing up mechanical jacks. Jack isn't close to Thomas.
FYI, I built my own shop back in '95 (24x40 Gambrel Roof two story Barn). If I can find my build pictures, I'll start a thread documenting how I built it pretty much by myself. It was done all before GJ was around. It's a working shop also and houses on the lower floor a '63 1/2 Galaxie 500XL driver, '65 Mustang restoration project, and a '56 F100 which I've been street rodding and customizing.
I don't think it will be in 2012 that I can make it to your shop as I already have other plans for my long distance motorcycle rides. The closest I've recently been to your shop was when I picked up my '99 SHO in Ft. Wayne back in 2001.
I'll be looking forward to your next find. BTW, I love airplanes and my garage was originally planned to be able to build a FLYBABY in and has a fully clear span first floor. We also live 1 mile north of the end of the runway under and between 16C and R at SeaTac airport.
Tim, you should try to get those shop build pictures posted here I'm sure there would be great interest. We all learn from each other and I have no doubt you'll have something to offer as well.
This nice thing about where this shop is located (besides it being the center of the whole universe
) is that it's pretty much central to the country. If you're head east or west you probably won't be passing all that far away.Well, welcome again and keep in touch here as something always seems to be popping up.
Thomas
I probably shouldn't do this as it no doubt will slow the archeological dig just beginning in the old Tool Shed, but....
You know there looks like a lot of prep work needed before POWDER COATING those jacks!!!
Joe
I thought I'd get a call from Don as soon as those jacks were posted. He'd probably tell me he was thinking about buying a new car or something and with the work those jacks would provide for him he could now afford it.
Thomas
I think that's the article that Charles posted a link to, post # 3935. Sharp eyes as it was indeed another Jeruald "Y" manifold pictured in that article. That makes only the second one most of us have seen.
As for Chris and her test, she's been muttering something to the effect of a "special" Christmas present or words to that effect for all our good friends here. At least it's suppose to be multiple guess, er, I mean multiple choice. We might however, be be posting information faster that she can accommodate. Don't be lulled into complacency though.
Thomas
Oh you meant a ratchet toe jack, well that makes perfect sense.
Thanks for tracking that down for us. There are many mystery items still lurking about. A couple more years and who knows, we might see some light at the end of a very long tunnel.
Thomas
MisteR Tee please do post a picture of it if you get the chance. Whenever some of my friends in the UK know I'm headed that way they usually suggest I might be able to accommodate some "Americana" in my luggage as the pickings are a little thin over there.
Much as I'd like to help out, I just can't seem to fit a flathead V8 in my baggage. 
Thomas
Spareparts
Well-known member
Thomas: been lurking here since page 23 and really enjoy seeing the varity of projects you take on, and the professionalism and pride you take in all the details of every one of them. But let me warn you about your newest find, the JEEP, if bitten by the JEEP BUG it causes strange behavior, finding dirt paths to explore, any excuse to take the JEEP for a ride, and it's contagious, the wife is surly to get bit. Enjot it and have fun. Check this web site out for some very useful information on the early Jeep's " The CJ3b Page". Thanks for sharing your projects and especially all the pictures.
Thank you for the kind thought. Someone needs to carry this forward for another generation and with any luck this thread will spark some interest in doing the same. Restoring/refubishing has it's own rewards so I highly encourage others to at least give it some thought before just dismissing an older structure, tool or piece of equipment. I know that at least a few Walker floor jacks are living for another day because others have taken up the challenge.
Welcome skibovr6 to the family as it were.
Thomas
Gus was living outside Philadelphia near Pottstown, somewhat out in the country fittingly enough. The former owner did request that he get first right of refusal should I ever find myself parting with Gus in the future. With a growing family, lack of space was the primary reason he was put up for adoption, not because of anything Gus had done.
The timing worked our exceptionally well and I've never let distance or hardship keep me from a special vehicle or piece of equipment. It all goes back to the late 70's when my father would travel all over the midwest attending auctions featuring woodworking equipment. I remember several of those trips and still have and use that equipment more than 30 years later.
Thomas
Hi ya Gary and thanks. You're right, Gus did fit right in here, part of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop family now. Even more so once the lettering gets done. With that in mind, you are correct about getting a sign painter with experience. That will be the next challenge. I'd like to replicate that old shop truck as close as possible, but don't want shiny new. Now that I think of it, you're not all that far away. Let's see, Qantas to LA - (LAX), connecting on Continental to Chicago (ORD), then American Eagle to Champaign (CMI) where I can pick you up at the airport only 26 hours after you left. Nothing to it really. After all, I commuted to Guam flying for...
...Air Micronesia/Continental for a couple of years. Hey that'd be swell Gary, thanks for volunteering. I'm sure you'll do a great job of it.
You're the best! Hey Chris get the guest room ready, you'll never guess who's coming for dinner.......
Thomas
bluestripe67
Well-known member
Thomas,
Love the Jeep. In the '70's I had a '65 CJ-5 w/5:38 gears. Pulled my 21' boat in and out with ease. I noticed the tailgate on your Jeep. Does the OW stand for Willys Overland. What's the connection to Jeep? Really enjoying your story. Dennis
Love the Jeep. In the '70's I had a '65 CJ-5 w/5:38 gears. Pulled my 21' boat in and out with ease. I noticed the tailgate on your Jeep. Does the OW stand for Willys Overland. What's the connection to Jeep? Really enjoying your story. Dennis
The silver on silver 64 is a rare color combo. My Dad had one in the mid 60's with the same colors, SS , 327 with a Engle solid cam and 12:1's and factory 4 speed. I was 4 years old at the time and when the car was parked on the hill at my grandparents I got in and pulled the e-brake driving it down the hill jumped the curb and narrowly missed the LP tank and trees
Holy smokes, if you had scratched your Dad's Impala he'd have snatched you bald headed, never mind the LP tanks! That car sounds very similar to mine. Great story and a lasting memory that obviously stayed with you, thanks for sharing it.
When I was just a bit older than that, I saw my first Silver/Silver Impala SS that made a life long impression on me as well.
A few months back the National Impala Association- NIA- asked me to do a 4 page article in their Impala News on both my Silver exterior/Silver interior '64 Impala SS cars. I didn't know how rare they were till I bought my first one and then purely by chance I wound up with a pair of them. The one with factory air is my favorite driver, hands down. I never get tired of looking at it ....
...or Chris for that matter!
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That '49 is a real nice find. I did a quick search for local examples for sale, the only one was a couple hours south in Salem, and it was a U-build-it kit.
Yours is way better.
Now, we just need to figure out what G.u.s. stands for . . .
Yours is way better.
Now, we just need to figure out what G.u.s. stands for . . .
There you go MM, you understand. I don't want to slavishly duplicate the old shop truck even though I could. With the whole restoration of the shop, equipment and such, I'm paying homage, as you put it, to the past; to those who have gone before me. Gus will stand on it's own merits and will be awfully close to the other truck when done, but somewhat different none-the-less. Mr Johnson was always tinkering so I bet the original shop truck or the entire old shop for that matter, never looked the same for more than a few months anyway. It was dynamic, always changing out there. I have these very vivid memories of the old Jeep truck always being out there and I feel the shop just needs it back. It's purely an indulgence on my part but one I'm pretty sure I'll be glad I did.
Thanks for your understanding and interest.And so the saga continues........
Thomas
Thanks mdbeck for the link. I'm sure it'll come in handy. Never hurts that they're a nice bunch too. There's not enough of that in this world IMHO.
You're right about Willys, they did a lot with a little.
Thomas
ZRX61
Well-known member
So ya saying you'l need a bloke who can paint like this..? This paint is about a year old...
More here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1015344275958.2002163.1595621878&type=1
More here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1015344275958.2002163.1595621878&type=1
A good question. This should answer that for you Dennis.
Willys-Overland History
The name that's meant JEEP for decades.
1908 John North Willys buys the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company.
1912 John North Willys renames the Willys Overland Division to Willys-Overland Motor Company.
1936 Coming out of bankruptcy following the Great Depression, the company is reorganized as Willys-Overland Motors, Inc.
1940 Working from a Bantam Car Company design, Willys contracts to build military Jeeps for the war and produces about 360,000 vehicles by 1945.
1945 Willys-Overland begins producing the Civilian Jeep (CJ) line, with the introduction of the CJ2A model.
1946 Production begins on the Willys Jeep Wagon. Over 300,000 are manufactured between 1946 and 1965. Initially the all-steel wagons are only available in a burgundy and cream color scheme, the appearance of which suggested the "Woodie" wagon look typically found on wagons of this era.
1947 Production begins on the Willys Jeep Truck. From 1947 to 1965, more than 200,000 are manufactured. This includes Gus!!
1948 Production begins on the Willys Jeepster. Only 19,000 vehicles are manufactured from 1948 to 1950.
1949 CJ3A is introduced, and more than 132,000 are made before the production ends in 1953.
1949 Willys Wagons become available with 72 horsepower six cylinder motor, and four wheel drive - thus creating the first "sport utility vehicle".
1952 Willys CJ3B Jeeps go into production, with a raised hood to accomodate a taller "F" head engine with 25% more horsepower. By 1968, over 155,000 are sold.
1953 Kaiser buys Willys-Overland and changes name to Willys Motor Company.
1954 CJ5 debuts at the start of its three-decade run.
1954 Four wheel drive versions of the Willys Wagons and Trucks are now available with the "Super Hurricane" 115 HP 6 cylinder motor.
1956 Kaiser-Jeep announces the FC-150, a "cab-forward" style pickup truck based on the CJ5 chassis.
1956 Kaiser-Jeep announces the CJ6. Based on the CJ5, the CJ6 has a 20-inch longer wheelbase, adding to the passenger and cargo room. Roughly 50,000 units are produced between 1956 and 1983. The CJ6 proved more popular overseas than in the US, and to this day remains the "forgotten model" between the CJ5 and CJ7.
1957 Kaiser-Jeep announces the FC-170, smiliar to the FC-150 but with a 103.5" wheelbase and L-head 6 cylinder engine.
1963 Company changes name to Kaiser-Jeep corporation.
1965 Kaiser-Jeep discontinues production of Willys wagons and trucks, retiring the Willys name with the line.
1970 American Motors Corporation takes over Kaiser-Jeep.
1972 CJ5 wheelbase is lengthened to accomodate the AMC straight six engine.
1975 Willys-Overland resurrected as a wholesale/retail parts business.
1983 By the time the last CJ5 rolls off the line in 1983, more than 610,000 of the vehicles have hit the highways in the U.S. and around the world.
1987 American Motors is purchased by the Chrysler Corporation.
1998 Daimler-Benz merges with Chrysler Corporation to form DaimlerChrysler, the fifth largest auto maker in the world.
1998 Willys-Overland Motors started marketing its “Repli-Tub” replacement body...a true bolt-on replacement for both military and civilian Jeeps built from 1941-1986
2001 After 60+ years building Jeeps in the same plant, DaimlerChrysler built a new assembly facility just two miles north on I-75... still in Toledo, of course
2001 The last Cherokee rolled off the assembly line...
2002 Replaced (supposedly) by the Liberty (KJ)
2006 The Jeep Commander (XK) was introduced. And already, in 2007, making news of its possible discontinuation.
2007 A busy year...The completely redesigned Wrangler (JK) is introduced in both a two door, and for the first time ever, four door versions.
2007 Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass (both MK) also make their first appearance
2007 DaimlerChrysler sells an 80% stake in the Chrysler division to Cerberus Capital for a mere $7.4 Billion, creating Chrysler LLC
BigAl62
Well-known member
Wow Tom, thanks for the history lesson! There is always lots of good information on your thread.
bluestripe67
Well-known member
Thomas,
That was a first class history lesson on the Jeep, I learned quite a lot. Many thanks. Dennis
That was a first class history lesson on the Jeep, I learned quite a lot. Many thanks.
Dennisrlwhitetr3b
Well-known member
You had to give her more information to put on the test! Interesting to read.
provecruise
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2011
- Messages
- 5
Man really you done great work for garage.I would like interior and out side location of garage.I joy your garage pics.
[cue Field of Dreams theme music]...
Mr. Johnson returns to have a look at the hard work Thomas and Chris have done.
Mr. Johnson: "Is this Heaven?"
Thomas: "It's Illinois."
Mr. Johnson: "Illinois? I could have sworn this was Heaven."
Thomas: "Is there a Heaven?"
Mr. Johnson: "Oh yeah, it's the place where dreams come true."
(Thomas turns around to see Chris and his son looking over the new Willys addition in the immaculate barn)
Thomas: "Maybe this is heaven...."
OK, enough of that. That scene gets me all misty.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/1949-jeep-truck-restoration-587910/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/dads-truck-734932/
Aw, very nice indeed Firefighter315, many thanks for that thought.
You just might be on to something there. I have to admit when people ask me how am I doing I usually reply "I'm living a dream" and I'm sincere about that. I can't think of anyone more blessed than me or my family. Just bountiful, honest and truly. My life has turned out much and in some ways better than I had envisioned it and Chris had a enormous amount to do with that. I may be the original optimist, I'm always trying to find the good side of everything whenever possible. I am a big believer in your life is what you make of it.I did take a look at those links you sent and found them quite interesting, thank you. It reinforced my belief to pay a little more, but buy the best vehicle possible (within reason of course). Bringing something back from the dead- say like an old work shop
- is a hugh undertaking. You always underestimate the time, money and effort that it will take. Ask me how I know. As I mentioned before Gus isn't my first Willys...
...my first one, a 1949 Jeepster that I owned before I was married...
... and had it about 20 years or so. Gus is somewhat familiar because of that. These pictures interestingly enough, were take less than a mile from Mr. Johnson's shop, back in the 1980's.
Thomas
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Y MANIFOLD GANG
Thomas
LOOK WHAT I FOUND ! ! !
STREET RODDER online magazine recently posted an article on old flathead Ford manifolds & to my amazment there was another AL JERAULD Y Manifold. I contacted the magazine editor & he put me in contact the guy that owns this collection of manifolds. Unfourtunatly the guy did not want to sell it.... But he said he know a few other guys the have big manifold collections & he thinks one of them may have a JERAULD Y.
Jacob has his , it would be cool if I could get one ,so I wouldn't have to show friends the photos of the one you gave to Jacob when i tell the twisted Y manifold saga...& yes I tell that story every chance I get....
It goes with out saying, the second one - if I can get it- Will just be a copy , the one you had will always be the HOLY GRAIL of Y manifolds.
Here is a link to the article if anyone wants to check it out
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1048srp_ford_flathead_intake_manifold_collection/viewall.html
Very nice picture Charles and with a velvet background no less!
It's kind of erie to see another one after all this time. Wow, so at least two are in existence now and possibly a third, way cool. Al would be proud, don't you think? Thanks for the link, I did read the article, some amazing stuff out there. Good luck on your quest and keep us in the loop. We want to know! Thomas
Joe I can always count on you for a day brightener. Let's make Gus an official "Restored 1930's Auto Shop Staff Vehicle" or RASSV shall we?
Thomas
Firefighter315
Well-known member
As I mentioned before this isn't my first Willys...
...my first one, a 1949 Jeepster that I owned before I was married...
... and had it about 20 years or so. Gus is somewhat familiar because of that. These pictures interestingly enough, were take less than a mile from Mr. Johnson's shop, back in the 1980's.
Thomas
As if I needed another reason to think you were, as we say in Kentucky, "good people!" It's my feeling that anyone who receives happiness in life is one who is deserving of it, and most importantly, appreciative for it. Thanks again for sharing your incredible story with all of us.
Here's to hoping there is never a last page...
Spareparts if you've been around since page 23 you know how much we like lurkers here! Thank you for your encouragement and warning but too late! I was bitten almost 40 years ago with the Jeepster. It was a hoot then and I'm looking forward to many more with Gus.
I went to the CJ3b site and had a look around and found the production figures for 1948. Seems Gus was born it the first 1/4 or so of production that year with almost 21,000 built. There's a fun fact that I'm sure you won't see on the test!!
Thomas
Vernmotor
Well-known member
Next page is the big "200" party time LOL