Builds Research Archives

To Top

1991 YJ + 1954 Wagon Fenders =?

January 5, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The Israeli bureau (Or Shahar) found this interesting project. I think this build works better than I might have expected. The builder blended the truck fenders with the front clip of the YJ rather nicely. There’s still plenty left to be done; I look forward to seeing the final product.

“Ed started with a 1991 YJ with 4” lift, 15×10 alloys and 31×11.50 Thornbirds. While using the YJ’s hood, grill, tub and inner fenders he gained access to a 1954 Willys pickup and was able to blend the old Willys front and rear fenders to the YJ body giving the Jeep that retro “flattie” look. He said “you won’t believe how well the 2 meld together. I was going to build flat fenders (myself), but after a friend of mine who has a Willys Pickup, Wagon, and a Jeepster said he had some extra fenders (that cinched it).”

See the rest of the pics at http://www.4-the-love-of-jeeps.com/jeep-project.html

To Top

Builds: Jim’s brother’s Weekend Build

January 4, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Reader Stories, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Sometimes you have the luxury of 25 years to work on your M-38. Other times, you only have the weekend. Jim and his brothers show how much work can be done in only a weekend — and what a difference another body can make.

You can read all about this weekend adventure on Jim’s brother’s blog: By the Numbers. It’s a funny bit of writing, including the addition of aliases to protect the innocent from thesungoddess perhaps? :-). You can also catch Jim on his blog, Bus-Plunge (he’s got a cool bus & hat). Finally, you can see all three brothers at the bottom of this list of Jeeps, courtesy of the jeepjunkie himself.

Here’s the before — a very cheaply purchased, rolling pile of rust:

And an after shot — all the body parts changed in another low budget purchase of parts … all except for the driver’s side fender. I’d say that’s a 1000 percent improvement. Not bad for a weekend.

To Top

Builds: Mike’s 3B build

January 1, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Nice. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Mike emailed me pics of his beautiful custom build this morning. He’s taken his time over the past few decades to build something nice. I especially like the heated seats :-). But, this build isn’t just pretty; Mike takes it out on some ‘severe’ trails in the Northwest with his friend Phil, whose CJ-3A you can see here.

“Here are some photos of a CJ3B that I have worked on over the years. I have had this jeep for over 20 years. The frame started life as a 1950 CJ3A but the body was shot and I really like the 3B style. I purchased a new steel body kit from 4 wheel parts wholesalers and at the time it was on sale and cost $900 complete.

The way it is now is the final version. The color is Impact orange, The motor is an all aluminum 5.3 L33 engine that only had 6 miles on it. The transmission is a turbo 350 mated to a Dana 300. The rear end is a 1975 CJ5 Dana 44 with full floating axles and disc brakes with 4:56 gears. The front end is a dana 30 with the same gears and disc brakes. It has power steering and an aluminum radiator .

The interior is 2008 Corvette buckets with power and they are heated (great in colder weather) Lokar shifter, autometer gauges, Flaming river column plus a lot of other things.”

To Top

Remember to Play with your Willys …

January 1, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, News • TAGS: Paul-M38. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Paul wanted to wish everyone a happy ‘stainless’ new year and to tell you to remember to play with your Willys!

Paul writes, “By 7:30 this morning (Jan 1st) I was back in the garage working on the Willys (fitting the door seal upper attach flanges) and starting my twentyfifth year on this rebuild. I hope to have the stainless Willys fully finished and on the road within the next two years where folks seeing it for the first time and unaware of the time I spent on this project will deem it an overnight success! We do have long winter nights and the winter’s are kind of long but not THAT long. Anyway, after the Jeep is done I have a 1951 military 1/4 ton trailer I plan on rebuilding out of stainless steel to match the Jeep. This will be an easy job and shouldn’t take all that much time.

After all I’ve learned while fabricating the various stainless parts over the years I figure I could crank out another stainless Willys in fifteen years or so but I have other projects waiting for attention so I believe I’ll stop after completing this one.”

If you haven’t seen Paul’s project, click here.

And a pic of the Alaskan Wilderness:

To Top

Builds – Gerald’s Brother’s 1 Year Build

December 31, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-3A, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

On New Year’s weekend last year, Gerald and his brother towed home a Craigslist find. One year later, they are almost done with a great looking budget build. Gerald tooks some pics and tells the story. Thanks guys — and I agree with you on those tires. They look great!

Gerald writes, This started as a Craigslist ad for a 1948 Willys CJ-2A basket case. He wanted alot more, but after a month of trades and low balls he took the 1000 dollars offer for the lot. Much of the dirty work was done and lots of parts were included. The jeep finally arrived home over new years weekend, January 2009.

Because we didn’t trust any of the work done thus far, our first task was to take it apart the rest of the way. Once apart, we first focused on fitting the body correctly, which was a 10 + year old MD Juan generic (m-38 / mb) body, along with the stock hood and grill. We also fabbed up a rear crossmember and hitch.

As we examined some of the running gear parts, we discovered the rear axle was shot (which we replaced from a spare beater jeep out back) and decided to add new 11 inch brakes for the front (from craigslist). The springs were new, so that saved time and money. We tore down the motor, transmission and transfer case to make sure they were in good shape, and then refit them properly to the frame, including fabbing up some motor mounts.

Then, we went to work on the roll cage, which was partially built out of some bar from our old family jeep along with some new tube. After we got everything mocked up, we tore it back apart to get ready for painting.

There was stripping and sanding, more stripping and sanding, and then, finally, we sprayed it a deep blue. We took the time to paint the underside of the body first, along with many of the parts. Then, we assembles the body to the frame and gave it a final coat.

Next came the small stuff such as gauges, wiring, linkages, fuel system, windshield and exhaust. BTW, I have never seen a head with a fixed rear outlet. Does anyone know if this could be from a truck?

One of the most critical steps occurred this week, almost one year from the start date of the project: The Jeep gets the right set of wheels and tires. As you could see in the earlier pics, the jeep came with some new tires, but we felt they weren’t right (700 15), so my brother sold them on Craigslist.

Instead, he went with these Interco Super Swamper Radials 265 80 16. They are mounted on 8 inch wide alum wheels, which was another Craigslist find. I think these are perfect tires for a Willys in my estimate. He picked them up today in Wheeling, West Virginia, at National tire.

To Top

Builds: Chad’s Ford Model A Roadster PU Willys

December 30, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-2A, CJ-3A, Features, Unusual, Willys Wagons • TAGS: Nice. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a wonderful build, an experiment by a reader named Chad. He wanted to know what a Ford Model A Roadster would look like if Willys built it. So, naturally, he built one himself!

He writes, “Did all of it myself except the upholstery, in my home garage. It’s got a flathead V8 for power and took between 6 and 8 years start to finish. The dDrivetrain is flathead V8 adapted to a C-4 automatic adapted to Dana 18. Front axle is Dana 27 w/Corvette discs….rear is Dana 44 with one piece axles and Lock-rite geared 4.27. I thought maybe it would be a four year job, but stuff happens and there was a whole lot of headscratching to make things look ‘somewhat factory’. I used as many factory parts as I could but not necessarily the way they were used ‘by the factory’…..(those are Jeepster tailights, but they aren’t mounted that way on a Jeepster, just as an example).”

Great work and thanks for sharing!

To Top

Reader Builds: Phil shares some pics of his CJ-3A

December 27, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I received an email from Phil last night with pics of this beautiful flattie attached. The jeep is a 1952 CJ-3A with a 4.3l Chevy Vortex with a C4 Auto and Dana 20 with a Terra Low gear set.

It also has a 44 frt and a 9″ Rear with ARB’s. I’m sure with that drive train he has all that he needs to explore the areas near his northwest home.

In the last two pics you’ll note the custom tranny/tc cross member. Phil built this and has added a skid plate that extends from the engine back past the transfer case. Thanks for sharing Phil!

To Top

Builds: 1951 M-38 in Santa Rosa

December 19, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

While trolling for some M-38 information I discovered this build. The owner is slowly attempting to return this to original condition of some sort. As you can see, in the first pic below, an early step was to tone down the paint color.

Learn what the owner has been doing to this jeep.

To Top

Builds: Gary and his Friend Lawrence

December 17, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-2A, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gary has become a regular reader. His green CJ-5 is undergoing a makeover, with a body purchased off craigslist coupled with a rebuilt motor (134 F is in the machine shop), including a new engine kit and re-ground crank. You can see his starting jeep in the pic below. Gary is also working on a spare tire carrier for the back of his CJ-5 which he plans to share when it is finished. Thank for sharing!

Gary also provided pics of his friend Lawrence’s jeeps.

The first of Lawrence’s jeeps is a CJ-2A which he cut and converted to a two wheel drive truck. Lawrence is pictured here.

The next is a cj3B with a 2.8 chevrolet engine and a T14 transmission. (He calls it a John Deere Jeep).

Last is a M38 A1, with a few upgrades.

To Top

Builds: Phil’s former 1953 CJ-3A

December 6, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I ran across this website, which shows pictures of Phil’s former 1953 CJ-3A. According to his website, he has sold this jeep. It’s solid looking, nice jeep.

What I liked about some of these pics is that they show a solution for installing a taller engine into a flattie. I figured there might be some readers out there who would find this interesting.

Here’s some pics of the transfer case/tranny undercarriage. Note how it has been dropped with some square tubing.

Now look at how the engine has been dropped. Solid plates and arms reach out from the engine to the frame and mount on top of something welded to the side of the frame. It I were doing this, I’d probably beef up the metal that spans the gap from the engine to the frame. What I can see is if there is rubber underneath the point where the engine mount meets the frame.

Note the back of the frame has been lifted by inserting a block between the shackle and the frame. Strangely, this wasn’t done in the front.

Note the hood on this CJ-3A. It appears to be a trimmed down CJ-3B Hood.

Here’s are some more pics of this build ….

Continue reading →

To Top

Builds: Mac and Jason’s CJ-2A Project

December 6, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Titled, the “CJ-2A 1948 Willys Overland Jeep Restoration Project“, this blog follows the rebuilding of a 1948 Willys by Mac and Jason in Houston, Tx. It’s clear they don’t know a great deal about jeeps (neither did I when I started on my jeep many years ago), but are jumping in with both feet none-the-less. Kudos to them; it looks like they are learning already.

To Top

Readers Builds: Jack — 3 Jeeps in 3 Weeks

December 5, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Randy’s friend Jack appears to have contracted the Willys disease.

Jack tells the story, “Short story; Jack has been familiar with my flat fenders and thought nothing about it. Well, I found and he bought the ‘Weeds’ Willys [See pics of the ‘Weeds’ Jeep here]. Next week, while looking at your site, I spotted a ’46 in nice shape only 15 miles from where we live!!!! Well, Jack bought that one too! On Sunday afternoon he wa talking with some friends and someone mentions he has an old Jeep in his pasture; one of those “it ran when parked” jeeps. Well, you guessed it, Jack bought that one as well ($275) and the motor looks good. So, 3 Jeeps in 3 weeks for my buddy Jack. Guess I forgot to mention he’s an engineer by trade”

Here’s the ‘Weeds’ Jeep

Here’s the 2nd Jeep

Here’s the newest addition

To Top

Builds: Leapin’ Lena & a Cab for sale

December 2, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Kaweh says he’s asking $380/obo for the Cab, which includes a windshield, good glass, wipers, parts, etc. It’s all there. If you are interested, you can email him at ketminan-rad@jccscpa.com.

Recently, Kaweh used eWillys to find this 1951 CJ-3A in Osbourn, Idaho. The owner named the jeep Leapin Lena. She owned the jeep for 50 years and made Kaweh promise that he wouldn’t change the jeep’s name.

The jeep came with a top that Kaweh doesn’t want. He’s included some pics below. He hasn’t determined a price yet, so if you are interested, drop a comment below and I’ll make sure he gets your information.

In addition, Kaweh is looking for a CJ-2A windshield. If you have one and aren’t too far away from Missoula, drop a comment below. Thanks!

About the top, Kaweh writes “The window on the driver side (not the driver door but the window in the cab itself) is cracked. Otherwise the cab is in great shape just needs some TLC and paint.” Kaweh and the top are located in Montana. The windshield that is currently on the Jeep is part of the cab (you can see how upright it is installed). The doors are in really good shape; even the insulation is still there.

To Top

Builds: Josh’s WW2 US Navy Converto T6 Trailer

November 29, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, trailer This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Josh sent over some pics of a very rare WW2 US Navy Converto T6 Trailer. Josh is curious to know if any other readers have or know of these trailers. I’ll be happy to set aside some space for Converto trailer owners to gather and share information.

Also, he’s got another trailer for sale on eBay (Converto Airborne Dump Trailer — see post below this one).

Josh writes, “Here are some pictures of my WW2 US Navy Converto T6 trailer I mentioned to you a while back. I found it here in Boise, though it was never advertised for sale. It is almost identical to a more well known Bantam t3 or a Willys MBT. During the war there were a number of companies producing nearly identical trailers for the military. The only notable difference between my MBT or T3 and the Converto T6 are a different brake hand set up, dataplate, and, in the case of my trailer, a ball hitch that is stamped USN 1944. (My hitch is different from the two other Converto T6s I’ve heard about — They both have the standard military lunettes) The data plate was originally riveted to my trailer but the past owner removed it to paint it grey again with spray paint. The under side of my trailer has what I believe to be the original paint and some yellow stenciling that has shipping info/load info. I plan to fully restore and hold onto this T6.

Converto also produced a T7 (same 1/4 ton trailer as the MBT/T3/T6 but with a tailgate) and a Converto Airborne Dump Trailer which is a 1/2 ton but used with the jeep. There is really little info I can find out on either the T6 orT7, but the Dump trailers do have a lot of info available including a military TM. I have had a few Converto Airborne Dump Trailers. They are very hard to find as it is estimated only about 6500 where produced. I’m unsure how many T6/T7 were produced. Not very many based on how few are still around. Maybe we can find a few more with your readers??”

Continue reading →

To Top

Builds: Some closeups of Brownie

November 27, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is John’s CJ-3A named Brownie. Here are some closeups. You can see the whole jeep here. And, we saw the whole family here.

The first pic is the vintage award he received from the Lost Valley Jeep Ralley Oct. 10-12. There were 65 Jeeps, 3 of them Willys.

This chair was customized for John’s Wife:

To Top

Builds: 1950 CJ-3A with a variety of great ideas

November 23, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A reader emailed these pics today. There’s a variety of creative ideas on a jeep that’s been thoroughly rebuilt. My personal favorite is the spring plate solution, seen on this first pic. I’m going to make me some of those spring plates this winter. Also note some of the storage solutions as well. Thanks for sharing pics of Red Dog!

“Just thought I’d ad my 3a to the many great ides on your site. Mine is a ’50 3a body and frame with a 225, t90, d18, D30 and D44. Everything is modified.”

To Top

Builds: Quinn’s 1950 M-38

November 22, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Quinn sent me some pics and information about his very nice M-38 build. Thanks for sharing!

A Buick V-6 225 bored 30 over powers this 1950 M-38 and is fed by an Edelbrock 500 cfm carb. The drive train includes a T-90, Dana 18 and Warn Overdrive. The front (Dana 25 or 27) and rear Dana 44 are slowed down with 11″ x 2″ drums possibly from a Willys wagon or truck.

To Top

A Hot Rod F-Head?

November 18, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Engine, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a couple pics from Gerald of a Zooped up F-Head. Gerald writes, “Here are pictures of a hot rod f-Head. This is in a tube frame racer at Lisbon in 02. Not the kind of motor you see spinning high rpms. From what little he would say it had a dry sump oil system, a block girdle, “modified” head, custom fabbed intake, electronic ignition, etc. It may have had nitrous as well nut not sure. That hood was open in public for less than 5 minutes. He was not real talkative. But man that thing flew.”

I found a zooped up L-head article that I’ll feature tomorrow.

To Top

Builds: Gerald’s Brother’s rebuild and more

November 16, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gerald send these pics:

1st up, his brother’s build — This is a mixed 1948 CJ-2A. The front loop is actually out of the red willys you’ll see in the next picture. They had it stored in the garage for about 15 years. Reuse and recycle. Perfect!

Here’s Gerald’s Mom racing around the track around 1979.

These M715 pics are from Sam Winer Motors in Akron around 1992, all crushed now. I loved that place back then.:

Here’s Gerald’s brother’s cool 1940 Bantam coupe with the 22 hp Hill Master engine in it.

To Top

1946 VEC CJ-2A Shasta Lake, Ca SOLD

November 16, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-2A • TAGS: Nice, Stock, VEC. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** .. and it is heading to Norway. Congrats to James and to the new owner (whom I hope sends pics of it from Norway!). James wants to thank Ron from the G503 Site for helping out with this.

James has decided to sell his 1946 VEC CJ-2A #18526, column shift, driver’s indents, no rust. original docs and rear glass light. It works great and is in fantastic shape. He simply wants to have something he can modify and he doesn’t want to modify this CJ-2A because it is in such good shape.

James writes: It has original motor and all ACMs match 8057. A lot of work was done in 1985 at Archer Bros, Hayward. Motor wa rebuilt at 51k and is now at almost 62k. There is no rust. The springs and shackles not original; instead it has a superlift 2.5″. The top bow side holders and rear corner brackets have been removed. The front bumper mount has one ‘bubba weld’ and the rear bumper removed. I have the original rear light, trailer socket cover, and vacuum wiper. There are rear ‘bubba’ 4″ cutouts for lights. I’m the 4th owner and have lots of reciepts and docs. The Original owner had it until 1985, the 2nd to 2007, the 3rd to last year then me. This cj is a blast to drive and my family loves it, but I just can’t mod it like I want. It has survived 63 years without any major mods and I don’t have the heart to start ripping it up now.

****SOLD ****

Pic from when first purchased, before James cleaned it up a little:

Recent pic — James pulled off the diamond plating and, to his amazement, found no rust or damage:

To Top

Builds: Cutting a logo into metal

November 14, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I am planning to do a section on mini jeeps from the 50s and 60s. As I was searching for images, I ran across this very logical way of cutting out a logo from a thin plate of steel with some simple tools. Of course, once I saw the pics, I thought, duh, that makes perfect sense, but for some reason, it didn’t occur to me to do it this way. Now I know how I can make some “ewillys” plates that I could mount on the sides of the jeep.

I got these pics and idea from the Ranger Station.

You can see the logo in the middle of this image

The Logo was painted onto the steel

Then the logo was drilled

Then there were many hours of grinding according to the builder

And then, the thing that surprised me the most, was where the builder planned to use the logo.

To Top

1954 CJ-3B Eastern Or $2500 + some other jeeps

November 14, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The CJ-3B for sale is a Non Running Jeep that’s a bit rough. It is for sale on MyJeepSpace.com. This was put up for sale September 09. I assume it is still for sale.

Below the images of the jeep for sale is the owner’s collection of old jeeps (+ one of his dad’s jeeps). The owner lives on a ranch in Eastern Oregon and loves running around it in his old 4x4s. It looks like he had a wonderful barn for storing and working on them!

“For Sale, a nice 1954 CJ-3B High Hood. Not running at this time. Body in good shape, has 4 cylinder motor, original seat frames. Clear Oregon title. I was going to restore it, now going to get married, so, plans change ! Was running for the man I bought it from, he thought he would restore it, started to restore, then found out he was in over his head. Nice jeep to restore. There are pictures of it on my profile ‘view more pictures’. $2,500. colt5124440@yahoo.com , 541-358-2800”

You can view the owner’s profile here and You can view all his jeeps here.

Now some pics of the collection:

This is his row of project jeeps.

Here’s his two CJ-5s

Here’s a 1947 CJ-2A he restored

And a 1946 CJ-2A that he and his dad restored

To Top

Builds: More on Paul’s Stainless M-38

November 13, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Paul-M38. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

If you haven’t yet read about Pauls M-38 project, go to installment 1 and installment 2.

Paul, take it away …

Paul Bierman again with a few more pictures of the never ending Willys project. I didn’t want a rear seat (Who can fit back there anyway?) so I fabricated a storage box which spans between the rear wheel wells and is divided into two sections. The half behind the passengers seat is the new battery location along with the circuit breaker panel, the master relay and circuit breaker and most of the switch relays. The half behind the driver’s side is the home of a now vintage (but it’s still brand new, I bought it quite a while ago) ten disc cd changer with some room left over for an out of view storage compartment. I’ve replaced just about all of the wiring with new (there’s some original wiring on the gas heater still but I’ll get to that sometime) with some fancy pants, super flexible cold weather wiring which stays flexible down to 55 below zero F. Boy, doesn’t that just make you feel dandy. If it’s that cold I’ll wait till spring, besides I try to draw the line on outside work when the temperature drops past 40 below zero F, nothing’s worse than having to take a leak when you’re wearing multiple layers of clothing eight inches thick and Little Mr. Wizzard shrunk up to an inch and a half. No matter what you do you know at least one of your boots is going to get wet.

Moving the instrument panel above the windshield caused still more problems but the most annoying one was how I could get all the wires from the gauges down to the main body without my work looking like crap. I was at work thinking this over (Ok, I was in the bathroom but I do my deepest thinking sitting down) when I happened to glance over at the wall and saw a beautiful stainless steel handle just the right size with curved ends, satin finished and everything! Problem solved, until I mentioned this great solution to my boss and his exact response was, “Touch it and die.” Geeze, guess I’ll have to spend my own money and purchase some handicap grab handles. The local home supply store had quite a selection of stainless handles but I ran into a problem with an over enthusiastic clerk wanting to help me with my bathroom remodel. He’d never heard of a 52 Willys bathroom renovation. The handles worked out great, you can see them on the pictures of the windshield/instrument panel photos by the door posts.

Winter was late getting here (I love global warming!) but I have lots of cold dark days ahead of me so the Willys will get a great deal of attention before this latest batch of snow melts. Next week I’ll have the side and rear window glass cut and then I’ll have to make patterns for the door window glass and they’ll be ordered when my wallet says it’s ok.

PS … I’ve really enjoyed the comments left by fellow Willys wackos, the concern about welding above the jerry can was nice but the can had never been used and I threw it out after I’d made the gas can mount. If I was to worry about welding safety I should have thought about the beef and bean burrito (with cheese and onions on top) I’d eaten for lunch, not so much for the flamability aspect (the poor garage just isn’t that tightly sealed) but the thrust developed after lunch could have blown me off those fancy bucket workstands!

To Top

Gerald found these great pictures to share

November 9, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Old Images • TAGS: Parts Used or Salvage. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a variety of pics from Gerald. Thanks for sharing!

Here’s Gerald’s trailer and his jeep with Military Tires. The tires make a world of difference. You can see the jeep with the mini terras here.