Features Research Archives

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Congratulations Kasia! And, No Posts Sunday

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I spent Saturday wrestling with our plumbing. A simple replacement of a spigot outside the house turned into several trips to Lowes! Simultaneously, we dug up around the pond to figure out where it was leaking. Once the pipes were exposed, the leaking stopped. Go figure! So, no updates for Sunday.

Congratulations goes to my daughter Kasia. She graduates from East High School in Salt Lake this June. She’s been accepted into a special science program at the University of Utah. However, she’ll be delaying college for a year, because she’s been accepted into the FEMA/Americorps program, the same one Karson did last year. She reports to Maryland in July. Wow, they grow up fast!

 

 
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10 Day Willys MB Rebuild for the Toledo Jeep Plant

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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The complete remodel done in only 10 days.

On Friday the Toledo Jeep Plant unveiled a Willys MB for a Veteran’s display. What makes this story unusual is that from start to finish the team only had five weeks to find a jeep, get it delivered, and rebuild it. That’s a pretty short window! The person tasked with finding the jeep was former plant manager Jerry Huber. Naturally, he turned to eWillys to locate the jeep. He shared his adventure in an email.

Jerry wrote, “I e-mailed you a couple of months ago to congratulate you on the ewillys website and to tell you how much I enjoy it. Well, here’s a short story you’ll enjoy.  About five weeks ago, I was contacted by some of my friends at the Toledo Jeep Plant asking if I could help them find a donor Willys Jeep that could be turned into a Memorial Replica for a Veterans display at the Plant. After accepting the challenge, since they wanted it completed for Memorial Day weekend, I scoured your website for potential vehicles and since we were operating on a small budget it was pretty tough.

When I spotted a 42 Willys in Texas with an asking price of $995, the folks at the Plant immediately jumped on it. The seller was so impressed with the intended purpose that he offered to deliver it to the plant in return for a Plant Tour and a couple of Tee-shirts. We rec’d the Willys at the Plant on May, 10th and the mechanics, body and paint crews went to work immediately.

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The jeep from Wimberly, Texas, that is now on display in the Toledo Jeep Plant

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The Jeep workers and the current Plant Management really got behind the project and gave it their full support. Special kudos to the team from Jeep that pulled of the restoration in such a short time. Finding the donor Willys was a first step and this would not have happened without your ewillys site.  Thanks for all your effort to sustain the Willys Jeep heritage.”

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World War II veteran and Jeep retiree Lupe Flores, right, looks at the restored Jeep. Behind him is Ron Szymanski, and Bob Kiss, one of the painters on the project. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

You can read more about the event in the Toledo Blade:
http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2014/05/24/WWII-vehicle-made-here-marks-holiday.html

 
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Belgian Army Photos from Charles

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Charles shared these photos.

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This is the Belgian Army at Camp Bruckhausen

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Crossing lake vogelsang (germany)

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Still crossing the lake.

 
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Flat-Drawn 3D Willys MB

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This video is fun to watch!

 
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1944 Willys Overland Annual Report

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Documents, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here are a couple pages from the 1944 Willys Overland Annual Report. I thought their inclusion of the Willys engine as an independent product was very interesting. As you can see they really thought there was a big market for it.

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It’s just amazing how large the plant was and how little is left.

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**SCAM** Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a scam I didn’t know about. The ad was pretty convincing, because  the ad title “Old jeep army navy usmc” was so poorly written in terms of keywords. The seller acts as if they don’t really know what they have.

Honestly, I thought I’d scored big. However, I had enough sense to email Josh and he deflated my bubble gently. Oh well, I’ll keep searching . . .

There’s a discussion about this at G503: http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=334790

bantam-brc-scam

 
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Paul Berry’s Presentation from the Willys Midwest Reunion

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bob just posted Paul Berry’s keynote speech from the 2014 Spring Midwest Willys Reunion. For those that don’t know, Paul Berry operates Willys America. The presentation lasts fifty minutes and covers some of the lesser known Willys/Jeep service vehicles.

 

 
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1957 Photo of Navy lifting Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

As late as 1957 they were still using/moving MBs.

“1951 USS Cabot LIFTING Jeep ship Press Photo 65”

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1957 Photo of Half Safe at Shenya, AK on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPA (SEEP), Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s an original press photo of Half-Safe landing in Shenya, AK, on July 9, 1957.

View all the information on eBay

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Photo of Boy on Jeep on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

No date or location information.

View all the information on eBay

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1978 Car and Parts Magazine Article on Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Magazine This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

David found this article on the history of the jeep in an issue of the September 1978 issue of Car and Parts Magazine.  It a rare photo of the four-wheel-steer Bantam BRC-40 that was once owned by Checker (Bill Spears has lots to share about the Checker/Bantam). It very well could be the one in the post below.

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Continue reading

 
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Photos of 1941 Checker-Owned Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I happened across these Bantam/Checker BRC-40 photos on Flickr. Note the ‘Checker’ gauge in the dash.

You can view al the photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fraik/7786283534/in/set-72157631075876678/ Below are a couple:

1941-checker-bantam-4wheel-steer3 1941-checker-bantam-4wheel-steer5

 
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Several Jeeps Octonto, WI **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Auctions, CJ-2A, CJ-3A, Features, Willys Trucks, Willys Wagons • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was an in-person auction

There are several jeeps at this June 7th Auction. The “1959 CJ-2A” looks more like a 1949 CJ-3A or maybe a 1959 DJ-3A to me.

“1946 CJ 2A WILLYS AGRA JEEP – 4 cyl “L” head, 4wd, live pto, 6 volt electrical system. Canvas top, restored as original working jeep

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1955 Willys Overland Wagon, Super Hurricane 6 CYL, 4WD

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SMALL WINDOW/COLUMN SHIFT 1949 WILLYS PICKUP

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1959 CJ 2A WILLYS SERVICE JEEP 4WD “L” HEAD MOTOR

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1978 CJ 5, WITH AN INLINE 6 CYL 4WD, FLOOR SHIFTER

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1966 CJ-6 made by Kaiser Willys with an “F” head motor, 4WD floor shift; engine needs work

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1953 CJ-3A

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1949 CJ-2A

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LOADS OF JEEP / WILLYS PARTS & ACCESSORIES & MORE!”

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi?lid=2091849&kwd=willys&zip=&category=0

 
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Kaiser Jeep Government Sales Booklet **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Documents, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

If not for our recent trip, I’d be going after this one. There could be some unique items in here. Note the shipping cost.

“For auction is a kaiser jeep, willys jeep 3 ring binder sales manual in good used condition. There are a few loose pages which can be repaired with the white adhesive donuts but no torn pages exist. This manual is packed full of information for the DJ-3A, CJ-3B, CJ-5, CJ-6, 2WD station, 4WD utility wagon, panel delivery, 2WD 4WD pick-up truck and FC series trucks. Also included is regular production options, tire application chart showing tread design and sizes and plies. Also metal tops, convertible tops, garwood lift beds, koenig tool boxes and running boards and bumpers, king winches, ramsey winches and PTOs, BROS snow throwers, covington cutters, howe fire trucks. Take note the binder has torn loose from the outside cover (see pic 3). email questions and thanks.”

willys-sales-division-government-edition

 
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Willys Aero Ace Barbecue Glendale, AZ **Status Unknown**

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **Status Unknown**

How about this unusual barbecue. There’s a grille under the hood and I think one in the dash area, too?

“Here is a one of a kind item this was a 1954 Willys Aero Ace, that was cut into a custom Hot Rod BBQ it has custom wheels, fully powder coated body and frame has dash with Pioneer CD player stereo Has platform for ice chests, and other items for those Rod Run Cookouts can be towed behind most Hot Rat Rods or trucks that have a hitch. serious calls / inquiries only”

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This Weekend: 2014 Spring Midwest Willys Reunion

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Lineup

Don’t forget that the Midwest Willys Spring Reunion is this Weekend. It takes place at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center in Hudson, Ohio. The show will feature 70-80 Jeeps from 1941-the present day, with an emphasis on Willys Jeeps from 1945 to 1965.

The show will also feature vendors selling old and new jeeps parts, t shirts, hats, food and a variety of other items. Saturday morning and afternoon will feature three jeep experts giving lectures on various topics, as well as the show being open all day.

Saturday evening’s events are a banquet with raffle and door prizes as well as Paul Barry, the featured speaker for the event. Barry is a long time Willys enthusiast and owner, and runs Willys America, a high end Jeep restoration facility located in the Russian River area of northern California.

Sunday’s events include a Jeep tour through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

For more information Spring Midwest Willys Reunion, visit www.midwestwillysreunion.org.

# # #

Media Contact:
Bob Christy, jeep3b@gmail.com, 330-715-5310

 

 
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Engine Mounts Done

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I finished the engine mounts … and by finished I mean they are almost ready. They are welded and set in place, but still need some polishing and paint (as if they will be polished — maybe cleaned up a little more).  I have to pull the engine and go through it anyway, so there was no rush to get any more done.

I hadn’t planned on going through the trouble of redesigning how my engine sits within the frame, but removing the auto trans gave me more flexibility. I didn’t make the change lightly. I pondered, measured, eye-balled, used a level, and got out a crystal ball to see if I’d really be happy with the change. After all, it seemed like a lot of work for just a few inches gain. But, by making the changes I was able drop the engine slightly and shift it to the center between the frame rails. Yep, that seemed like a good idea, so I made the changes.

I wouldn’t call the mounts beautiful, but they are functional. They will be both welded to the frame and bolted (as a backup). Unfortunately, I took terrible pics (we didn’t bring our good cameras with us). Here’s a close-up of the passenger-side mount. You can’t really see the mount’s rear support, so the photo isn’t really helpful. The bolts are just placeholder bolts.

2014-05-15-jeep5As for the rear center mount, the creation of it started out smoothly. I was going to install a round tube between the two undercarriage tubs that support my tranny and tc. I jigged up the tube to-be-cut and cut a perfect pair of holes for sliding the tube onto the undercarriage tubes.

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The jig is holding the tub, which keeps it from spinning. The cutter created a perfect hole. So, why didn’t i use it? Because the installed tube was about a half inch too tall. Damn!

Once drilled, I tested the tube. That’s when I discovered it was barely too tall. I abandoned that plan for a simpler one.

After some scrounging in my very sad metal pile, I found some square tubing that was just the right size, so I drilled that and slide it between the cross members. Then I built a small mount with a rubber housing on top of that (which will be welded to the square tubing). Finally, I created a small piece that bolts to the T-18/TC adapter. The fit is good and solid and the rubber gives it some flexibility.

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This will make more sense once I weld the square tubing to the braced on top of it and paint it. But, I wanted to complete the engine mounts before finalizing the position of this back mount.

Here’s a photo from the side. You can see how the square tub fits in between the front and rear round tubing (fits tight enough that I didn’t have to weld it before putting the tranny/engine weight on it).

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Tomorrow we head back to Pasco for a while. I’m hoping to get back later this month to make more headway. Hopefully I’ll get better pics, too!

 

 
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Structo Ride-on Toy New Windsor, NY **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

Marc spotted this one.

“GREAT VINTAGE STRUCTO TOYS RIDE ON TRUCK, WILLYS JEEP, IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, SOMEONE HAS PAINTED IT TO RESEMBLE A JEEP FROM THE MASH 4077 UNIT. HAS A STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN REAR, STEERING WHEEL NEEDS PAINTING, MAY NOT BE ORIGINAL NOT FASTENED TO STEERING ROD, JUST SITS ON TOP.BUT WORKS NICELY, STEERING WORKS GREAT, A VERY COOL SOLID STEEL TOY RIDE ON WILLYS JEEP GREAT FOR ANY COLLECTION. ***A GREAT LOOKING WILLYS JEEP, VERY DUSTY FROM STORAGE BUT LOOKS GREAT IN PERSON, VERY COOL, VERY UNUSUAL, WON’T SEE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE ANYTIME SOON….***MEASURES ALMOST 26 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 11 INCHES WIDE. GUESSING AROUND 1940s-50s”

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Leaping Lena Article from Popular Science

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Magazine • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

David Silberman pointed out the ‘Leaping Lena’ article from the October 1941 issue of Popular Science (I thought I’d purchased this issue to scan, but apparently I didn’t do that). It’s an interesting review of the prototype jeeps. You also can view the entire issue on Google.

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Continue reading

 
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Perfect Weather for Biscuit Work

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

On Monday I spent the day repairing Mom and Dad’s tractor mower, fixing Mom’s computer, getting the chainsaw and weed eater working, and more. Dad made sure I was doing everything right, as you can see in this photo.

dad-david-workingOn Tuesday I got a chance to work on Biscuit. I started by cleaning up the frame some more so that I could deciding how the engine, tranny and tc would be mounted. The T-18 I’m installing is a bit shorter than the automatic TH-350 I’m replacing, which is the reason for the redesign.

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Here’s where I started today.

When I bolted the T-18 to the adapter to the Dana 20/18 (Dana 20 housing, Dana 18 gears) I discovered my custom mount is too tight against the T-18. So, I’m going to have to alter that.

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Continue reading

 
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Six Wheeled Flatfender in India

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Unusual • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Parminder Mangat shared this custom flat fender build from India.

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1954 Photo of XM-151 Test Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, M-151, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay

This is an interesting design.

“You are bidding on an original press photo from 2013 featuring The quarter ton Ford XM151 “Jeep” developed for the Army Ordinance by Ford Motor Co, undergoes tests at Aberdeen roving Grounds in 1954. A new four speed forward transmission and overhead valve engine provide increased performance. . Photo is 16.5 x 12.5 in size.”

Army  : US 1954-xm151-testing-aberdeen2

 
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Bantam BRC-60 Postcard on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Early, but not the first Bantam.

View all the information on eBay

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Lot of 12 Jeep Ads from Argentina on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Seller is in Argentina. Additional lots available.

“**** VINTAGE & VERY RARE ORIGINAL ARGENTINA MAGAZINE ADVERTISING LOT !!!.- ****
1940´S/50’S – JEEP 12 ADS !!!.-
MEASURES APPROX: 7.5” X 5.5” / 19 CM X 14 CM (EACH PAGE)”

View all the information on eBay

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Jeep Toy Box San Antonio, TX **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $45.

I thought this was a neat idea. A jeep toy box.

Fun jeep shaped toy storage space made of heavy plywood.”

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