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James Breaks the Oil Line Fitting — Could use some suggestions . . .

May 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, How To This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Well, we all eventually arrive at one of these places where the unexpected happens, inevitably followed by the ‘what do I do now’ question. That’s where James is at and he needs a few suggestions. You might remember James from when I visited his father and him in Denver back in October.

“I was replacing the old inlet oil line into the engine (below the fuel pump). I was loosening the oil line that went into the 90 degree brass fitting oil line bracket (Walck4wd part number 384569) and accidently torqued the bracket. The fuel line came off, but the thread from the 90 degree brass fitting oil line bracket broke off inside the engine in the oil inlet. Great.. So, I bought an extractor from Sears and have been trying to extract the remaining thread left inside the oil inlet (below the fuel pump) with no luck. There is hardly any room to hammer the extractor into the block. So now here I am, stuck. Any idea how to remove the remaining thread? Thanks, James DeBartolomeis”

Here’s a pic:

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The Earth Moved Under Paul’s Feet

May 16, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Paul-M38. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Paul sent this to my inbox today. A couple days ago he removed his stainless steel body from his frame so he can complete the work on his frame. It’s a good thing he listened to his intuition!

“I spent a few hours yesterday in the connex cleaning up my mess and double checking the security of the Willys body resting on the 2X4 support framework. For the most part I felt the body was safely held three feet above the floor but my mind kept coming back to the thought “Would it stay in position during an earthquake?” Since it’s much faster and easier to add additional support structure than it is to repair damaged stainless body panels I fitted eight more bracing legs to the existing body holder. I really didn’t think any additional strength was necessary but I’d sleep easier with this bit of overkill engineering and the cost in time and money was negligible.

While taking a shower this morning I was surprised when the house started rocking back and forth as several sharp jolts announced the arrival of an earthquake. The quake was a small one, only about 4.6 but it was close to Anchorage (about ten miles away) and it was over quickly. After getting dressed I hurried to the connex, opened the door and viewed a beautiful sight. The Willys body was safely resting on the framework undamaged and perfectly aligned on the supports.

I realize rebuilding Jeeps can be an experience in frustration when money and time conflict with dreams but I really could do without adding earthquakes into the mix. I’m slow enough as it is, I don’t need Mother Nature increasing my heart rate with exciting special effects. On the other hand I’m happy the Willys is safe, the body support held and I don’t have to repair any damaged body panels. Now all I have to do is to hurry to get the frame work accomplished and reattach the body to the chassis before anymore earthquakes visit my workspace.”

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Don’s 1950 M-38 & M-35

May 13, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Nice, Stock. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Don forwarded us some pictures of his M-38 and M-35. It took him one year to build the M-38 from parts. I think it looks terrific!

He joked that he built it to match his M-35 and says he has to keep busy doing something, noting he doesn’t want to become a couch potato. Thanks for sharing Don!

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Kevin’s Moab Odyssey Begins …

May 6, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Willys Wagons This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Two and a half years ago Kevin purchased a solid fixer-upper wagon out of Conifer, Co, that he saw on eWillys and had it shipped to Georgia. Despite battling a few health issues, Kevin managed to complete his wagon build. Even better, in one week he expects to embark on a trip to a place he’d never heard of prior to launching his build; he’s headed to Moab, Ut, for the 3rd Annual Willys Overland Rally.

Not only does he have a chance to share this adventure with his children, but he also plans to adapt his wagon so that his daughter, who uses a wheelchair, can “get some gravel in her travel”.

I hope you have a grand adventure Kevin! Congrats on your wagon!

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Nice Flattie Build

May 5, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-3A, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

John from R&P 4WD forwarded pics of his customer’s nice flattie build. It has YJ SOA, R&P High Pinion Dana 44’s front and rear, Buick V6, GM SM 420, Dana Model 20, crusing around on 35″ rubber..

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Gary Updates his CJ-5

May 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gary forwarded these updates on his CJ-5. See an earlier post about his jeep here.

“I first want to say the NP435 transmission was a challenge but it was worth the work. It shifts very well. I like the extra low first gear and reverse. In one of the pictures you can see the transmission cover with cup holders I made. I took and modified an electrical box and covered it with spray on bed liner then, I used the same boot that I had on my T90.

I decided to go back with stock manifold on my exhaust. Lawrence uses a good method instead of using a Y-pipe he uses a dual flow muffler with two inlets and one outlet. I am much happier with this. It puts all the fumes out the back and is a lot quieter. I will send you a picture of the build Lawrence is working on which shows this application. After looking at his, I took my Jeep to the same muffler shop and ordered a duplicate.

The master cylinder reservoir works nice as well, you can see it on the driver side in one of the pictures.

I added a detachable Reece brand tow bar, the brackets are on the front bumper.

I am finished working on it until cold weather comes again. I have some axles out of a parts Jeep that have 3.73 gears. That will be my next project.”

Below is the exhaust system Lawrence has installed on his jeep.

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DC’s CJ-3A/M38

May 2, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Nice. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

DC bought this jeep back in November. He’s spent sometime doing some updates and just got done taking some pictures. It looks like a great little ride. Enjoy it this summer DC!

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Reader Builds — Paul’s 1944 MB

April 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, MB • TAGS: Nice, Rollcage. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Paul just forwarded me a new video of his nicely modified flattie. He first sent me pictures of his jeep back in 2008. Below is the original post.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgJPOX1QIoM

Published November 14th, 2008

Paul wrote to me the other day, professing he’s stricken with the dreaded flatfender disease. I told him to take two pills and send me more pics in the morning. Fortunately for all of us, he followed my advice and has sent me a variety of images of his labor of love for the past 3 decades.

Back in August of 1979, he innocently purchased a 1944 MB for only $800. It was pretty much all original, worn out, but in running condition.

It didn’t take long for Paul to decide to make a few upgrades, changing the engine to a V-6, purchasing a new body, and more. Then, at some point he decided the drive train needed updating, the tranny and transfercase should be swapped out, a bigger engine was needed, and the dreaded flatfender sickness had overtaken Paul.

The good news is that I believe the sickness has run it’s course, as he’s ended up with a beautiful jeep that will serve him well for years to come. Also, fortunately for Paul, he seems to encountered a disciplined form of the illness, as I don’t see 7 or 8 other flatfenders in various stages of disrepair out on the lawn :-).

You can view some additional pics of the tilting hood in this post.

Here are the specs:

Body: Acme all steel, replaced in 1980
Tilt front end: all steel, tilts on a roll cage fabricated from ½” pipe
Frame: From a 2 wheel drive Jeep Dispatcher. Frame is boxed, has dual shock mounts up front. This is a much stronger frame than the original.
Roll cage: custom made, mounts to frame in 6 places. Seats mount to cage along with spare tire.
Engine: I started with the original 4 cylinder flat head, then an odd fire 225 V6, finally the Chevy V8Chevy 350, 4 bolt main, bored .030 to make 355 cubic inches. Has all Eldelbrock aftermarket equipment including internals, aluminum heads and intake, along withdual quad carbs. The combination of 400 horsepower, short headers, and small glass pack mufflers, makes the thing sounds like a demon.
Transmission: Turbo 350 with B&M shift kit and converter
Transfer Case: Dana 20, Novak brand adapter
Differentials: Early 70’s Jeep, 3:73 gears.
Steering: Chevy column out of a Chevy Caprice along with Chevy manual box. The crazy thing is that the two bolt hole spacing that held the column in the Chevy was the exact spacing needed in the Willys
Brakes: Chevy master cylinder along with swing pedal (out of a Chevy Vega), has updated 11” drums along with emergency brakes.
Seats: The tilt column makes it easier to get into the high sided bucket seats. I lowered the seats down about 4″, and about 4″ to the rear by notching the body without making it look too butchered.

Some pics of the build process:

Continue reading →

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Searching for a 1948 CJ-2A Named “Whiplash” in Silverdale, Wa

April 15, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Jeri Norris contacted me today wondering if I could help her track down a jeep she and her husband sold in the early 1990s.

She writes, “I’m looking for a jeep we sold over 20 yrs ago. It’s a 1948 Willys flat finder. At the time it was sold it was blue with white top. On the driver’s side we had the name Bill and on the passenger side the name Jeri. We called it Whiplash. It was powered by a V-8. I believe she was sold to someone in silverdale WA. I’ve been trying to find her for over 15 yrs. Any help would be great. Thanks.”

So, if anyone recognizes any of this info, let me know. Jeri and Bill jeeped in California as part of the Kangaroo 4wd Club. They moved up to the Puget Sound area, bringing the jeep with them, and then sold the jeep.

Here is one picture:

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Top Measurements for CJ-2A / CJ-3A / M-38

April 13, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Greg has the same problem I had when I built my rollcage. I wanted to bend my cage prior to the installation of my top (at the time I didnt’ own a top). Mitch came through with some measurements that saved me. http://www.ewillys.com/2009/10/17/my-build-bending-the-rollcage/

What Greg needs are the measurements from the top of an installed kayline top to the top of the wheel wells so he can accurately bend the roll bar. If anyone could measure that distance, it would be appreciated.

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Hans Completed GPW

April 10, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: I posted this back in 2010 prior to Hans completing the project. Well, his GPW is complete and looks great. Unfortunately, we couldn’t locate any more history about this jeep (or at least I didn’t find any). Thanks to Roberto for updating me on this.

Sometime last year Hans purchased 1944 GPW 236146 from Menno Keizer, an auto/jeep dealer in the Netherlands. As part of the restoration process, Hans has been trying to track down the US owner of the Jeep. We know the title from the US points to an owner by the name of Tom Mitchell (may be deceased) and/or Susan (mitchell?) in Guntersville, Al. If you for some reason recognize this jeep or know anyone from Guntersville, please let us know.

You can view many pictures of the rebuild at his website or

View his thread at G503

Here’s what Hans bought: