RI Willys

[Kirkski]

RustnGrease My Uncle will be 91 in a week, haven't got much time to loiter about, if I want to drive him around in it.

Thanks all for the positive feedback, it is a labor of love for me for sure. Looking forward to getting it on the road. Next summers dilemma will be what do I take to work and pleasure rides the Jeep or the Harley

 

[bgarrett]

I've never seen red wheels on a jeep. What is your thinking on that?

 

[Kirkski]

bgarrett The original color of this Jeep was Hamphire Green with Blue wheels, almost a sky blue.

I thought long and hard as to what color combination to go with, knowing I did not want the original color at least for the wheels.

I decided on Hugger Orange (GM) and the Anvil Grey (2013 to 2015 Jeep)

I also knew I did not want a military color as this was never a military Jeep. In the end it just came down to my liking

 

[Kirkski]

Headlamp buckets repaired, repainted, rewired and reassembled what a pain...

 

[BUGTHUG]

I have almost the same color of rims on my car trailer, love that color.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I've never seen red wheels on a jeep. What is your thinking on that?

The early column shift harvest tan CJ2A's had orangish wheels called sunset red, not too dissimilar to kirks color. Later models could be had with that wheel color as well.

 

[customtronic]

From one RI'er to another - awesome project and good luck! Also, nice yellow tool cabinet there in your last pic!



Dave

Another Rhode Islander here. Cool project. I always thought those old jeeps were cool.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

And yet another RI native! I grew up in Providence, Federal Hill to be exact. I left after high school in 1986 to join the Army. Retired from the Army a few years ago and now live in Washington state.

The truck is coming out great!!!!

 

[Kirkski]

Well, here it is the video of the first drive, I wish it were better but holding my iPhone and trying to drive a vehicle I have never driven in my life was not easy.. LOL

What a blast though, very happy no issues to report. After I took the video I was able to drive around again in all three gears and no issues. No strange noises or anything.

I am sure I have more work to do, but I am satisfied!

 

[RustnGrease]

Outfreakingstanding!

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Way cool! Can't wait to see it all together. I'd love to come see it when it's done... But that'd probably mean I'll have to find one too! So cool.

 

[frankush]

Nice work. You're over the biggest hurdle now.

 

[Kirkski]

Here is the ride from the shop to the house... still working on my GoPro video...

 

[Allaround]

I was going to say. A couple pairs of pliers and an adjustable wrench and you can do a frame off on that bad boy. Real vehicles from real times.
Gidder dunn.

 

[Cypherian]

Here is the ride from the shop to the house... still working on my GoPro video...

Awesome that would be a fun rebuild and the bones were damn nice to start with makes it that much more fun :}

Cypher

 

[Stooge]

i could have sworn i subscribed to this thread when it was started, but I've missed it up until now!
Rolling chassis and driveline is looking great! love the wheels/ tire combo and the color your using for the body, just all around cool! thanks for taking the time to document and share it!

 

[madoc1]

any updates? looks great so far. i had a 501/2 willys pu that i got the frame and axles and 11" brakes done, then sold unfortunately.

jim

 

[Kirkski]

Thank you for the replies... been busy here new grand baby and all, I hope to get to the tub very soon, should not take long. It really is in good shape overall. Hopefully within the next two weeks or so I will make real progress... more pics to come

Here is the GoPro version of the ride home... please excuse my driving abilities... been a long time with a standard let alone an old Willys...

 

[Kirkski]

Well not too much to report, what I thought was going to be a very productive May turned out to be a bust.

Got sideswiped on my Harley on the highway little over a month ago, at least my injuries were non-critical, nothing broken even... I am very fortunate. With that said, still dealing with pain and limited movement.

Could not bear it any longer asked my wife to help me get the fenders on, hoping to do a little body work on those soon...

 

[kbs2244]

Life is a *****

 

[Kirkski]

Life is a *****

True enough, but things could be much worse, still counting my blessings

 

[chrispyny]

Subscribed. Sunno how i missed this thread. Epicly epic!

 

[Kirkski]

Finally felt well enough to start some body work, had to quit early but I got some done.

Brought the tub to the shop to start that as well..

 

[Kirkski]

Started my body work and was able to get some things done, while not what most people do on here, its a start for me.

I was shocked to not find ANY wood in my hat channels. In fact there was some metal surround to keep it from collapsing instead.

My "Crud Thug" found more holes than there initially appeared to be.

I'll have to work around the tool box, since they lowered the right side to allow easier access, there is no way to get to the spot welds at the top.

 

[Kirkski]

I received my shipment of panels from Classic Enterprises and I really have to say I am impressed with the materials. They appear to be well made.

There was one mix up in my order and the website says 24/7 your call will be answered, I just called and sure enough I believe that the owner answered...

Promised the issue would be taken care of with out issue... And I have no doubts.

Refreshing to deal with a USA manufacturer no get excellent service.

I highly recommend them

 

[Strouty]

Glad to hear things are still moving forward, sometimes projects take a lot longer than we want or think they will.

 

[vwracer]

I used body parts from Classic Enterprises when I fixed the tub on a CJ3B I used to own. They worked very well and fit without having to alter them.

 

[jeepntxj]

Update?

 

[Kirkski]

Jeepntxj well body work going slow, trying to fab with out the correct tools, and trying to weld with no experience...

Working out ok, in my opinion.... For what I can do myself

I guess the bottom line is, I am having fun, and the Jeep is getting completed along the way.

Thanks for asking!

 

[xtremek]

Looks good to me. Get good penetration without blowing a hole through it and a grinder will take care of everything else.

 

[vette66bob]

I just finished reading all of your posts, nice job it always is more work then we expect.
It seems to be a very unusual Jeep and I am sure you will enjoy it when completed. I am looking forward to the completion.

 

[Kirkski]

Vette66bob, xtremek

Thanks for the support, also I belong to a Jeep forum for the 3A's as well. The guys on that forum are experts on these things.

The consensus is that this vehicle was made under license somewhere other than Toledo Ohio.

1. The unusual body design, apparently factory
2. The lack of wood in the "hat channels"
3. The odd tag that no one else has seen on a Jeep

I went and got the plaque out of my garage and the plot just thickens... I was always under the impression that this vehicle originated overseas... Not sure if this implies that or not. But, the plaque is very hard to read but here is what I got..


Jeep
Marca Registrada Marque Deposee

This vehicle manufactured under certain of the following patents
AFRICA ITALY GREAT BRITIAN CANADA

(BUNCH OF PATENT NUMBERS HERE)

WILLYS OVERLAND MOTORS INC, TOLEDO OHIO

 

[SVE Performance]

Had a 60's diesel CJ6 with a similar tag on it . I believe your Jeep was built in Toledo but intended to be exported. Bill

 

[Kirkski]

Muddling through with my metal work... welding sure does get better with every strike it seems. Not that I feel I am a welder or anything, but at least I am more comfortable with it. I get a little aggressive on my initial grinding.

As you can see in the pics I still have quite a bit of welding to do, the more metal I get tacked the more areas I can spread out my welding tacks.

The hat channel is just clamped for reference...

 

[Kirkski]

dkroth Thanks!

 

[Kirkski]

Finally completed most of the passenger side floor and side panel. Hope to get some friends to flip it over to the other side tonight so I can start the drivers side...

Took another ride on the frame last weekend, running great.. can't wait to get on the road!

 

[Stooge]

certainly looks like its coming along as well as being a fun project! buying an old jeep to putz around town in keeps creeping back into the back of my mind and this isnt helping much!

 

[Kirkski]

Got a bit accomplished this week, I got some friends together and flipped the Jeep over onto its passenger side and started to get the drivers side kick panel and floor ripped out.

Lack of overtime at work has helped with the progress.

I can't believe how often I lull myself to sleep over this thing, dream about it, and then wake up with it on my mind...

 

[Kirkski]

One thing to note, when I started this project I had no welding experience with MIG. I thought all of the issue I was having was me and my technique.

Turns out after burning through a 2 lb roll of wire that my boss got me from "Advanced Auto Parts" my welds looked no better, had little penetration and I had to grind my backside off to make them look decent..

Well after using an entire spool of wire, I went to a local welding supply house and I picked up a new roll of the same spec wire size, grade etc... and what a difference it made..

Beautiful welds, nice penetration and easy clean up... Boy did I learn a valuable lesson... Don't buy crappy wire...

 

[madoc1]

i talked to a welding supply guy once about that. i was buying from hd i think and he said sometimes their stock would be old and that you need relativaly fresh wire to do the best welds. before i didn't know flux core wire aged. good luck

jim

 

[Kirkski]

Well front floor pans in, now to tackle the rear floor pan...