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Paul Readies His Radiator

March 8, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Paul made good progress recently with the radiator installation.  I’ll let him explain …

Paul writes, “During the past few days I’ve been busy scrounging metal, making parts and playing with the welder but the end result is the Willys has an M 151 radiator installed along with a V type firewall to radiator brace and a hood hold open rod.  I also picked up my new radiator from the local military surplus yard in addition to a used shroud and the necessary lower mounts.  The new radiator will reside safely in the house until it’s time to be installed after I quit taking things apart for modifications and redesigns but the size of this radiator is just about perfect for the room available under the hood.  I’ll have to spend some time at the local autoparts store mixing and matching coolant hoses before the engine is plumbed to the radiator and I also have to go shopping for a low profile electric fan (a puller is what I’m hunting for) but both of these tasks can be solved with reasonable amounts of money so I’m feeling pretty good with my progress so far. ”

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Paul is finally chillin’

March 1, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Reader Stories • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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A trip to the local Military show turned out to be just what Paul needed.  BTW Paul, you don’t owe us anything.  You are putting on a show for us up there in “The Last Frontier (which is the official state nickname)”.  No doubt there’s a few readers who might benefit from this mod.

Paul, take it away!  “This past weekend the local military vehicle collectors had a show at a car dealership near my house for the general public and it was free so I went.  Before leaving the house I grabbed my camera and a steel tape just incase I ran across a shining gem of a radiator nestled among the antique olive drab metal.  In addition to the WWII Willys and Ford Jeeps on display, the Dodge command cars, M 38’s and M 38 A1’s there were a couple of M 151’s and one of them had it’s hood up.  Naturally I began checking out the radiator, first by eye and then measuring the height, width and thickness and ending up on my back under this Mutt where I noticed the radiator was a bottom mount.  Most interesting!

The original M 38 radiator is a bottom mount with a top mount brace rod, it’s 21 1/4 inches wide by 19 inches high and 5 inches thick.  These dimensions are overall and they include the radiator cap.  The core dimensions are 13 inches high by 20 inches wide and 3 inches thick.

The M 151 radiator is a bottom mount with a top mount brace rod, it’s 20 1/2 inches wide by 19 inches high and about 4 inches thick (I didn’t measure the metal shroud so I’m guessing here) and once again these measurements are overall.  The core is 13 1/2 inches high by 19 1/4 inches wide by 2 inches thick.

Both radiators have a drivers side inlet (top) and a passenger side outlet (bottom).

Gentlemen, we have a winner !!!!!!

For the past 55 years E. A. Patson Parts and Equipment has been dealing in new and used surplus military vehicles and parts here in Anchorage but Elmer Patson is 86 years old (his son, Rod, is only 63 but he’s been working at the business since he was 12) and would like to retire so everything’s for sale.  I asked about M 151 radiators and they have both new and used radiators.  I was able to borrow a used radiator so I could do a bit of metal massaging and fabricate a lower mount and the top brace rod and when the snow melts some and they can get into one of their outbuildings where the new radiators are stored I’ll buy one of those.  For now this used radiator will allow me to continue my progress with the Willys resurrection until the end of March when I’ll officially declare the winter to be over and it will be time to do outside (summer) projects.

Thanks again to all the Willys fans for their much appreciated suggestions, ideas and help.  I look forward to the day when I can return the favor, but until then I owe you. “

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Paul has lost his cool .. in a manner of speaking

February 26, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, News, Reader Stories • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Paul continues to make progress on his Stainless M-38.  However, he recently ran into a problem getting the radiator he needs.

He needs some ideas or suggestions.

I’ll let him explain:

Paul writes, “I’ve run into a bit of a problem with my perpetual Willys project and I need information and ideas.  I ordered a brand, spanking new radiator from KaiserWillys for the Buick odd fire engine I installed in my M38 thinking this was the best way to prevent overheating and additional problems down the road.  Boy, was I wrong!

The KaiserWillys catalog lists the Buick 225 radiator as being 17 inches high, 21 and 7/8 inches wide and 1 and 1/2 inches thick which is just about the perfect size for the space available under the hood.  Just to make sure I checked their online site and discovered a cautionary note mentioning this radiator could be either 17 inches or 22 inches wide and I was to let them know which width I needed.  To avoid any misunderstandings I called KaiserWillys and, after confirming the 17″h X 21 7/8″ w X 1 1/2” t, I placed an order for a radiator.  I even called back after I ordered it just to confirm the dimensions.  As I mentioned in a previous email I was told the radiator wouldn’t be done until the end of Feb. (I ordered the radiator the 15th of Feb.) and I was very surprised and pleased when the UPS guy delivered the radiator the afternoon of Feb. 19th.  The next day I carefully removed the radiator from the box and placed it into position.  Not only didn’t the radiator fit but the radiator cap was about 5 inches above the level of the hood.  Not good at all.

How’d they mess that up?

The radiator was 21″ high, not the needed 17″ so I called KaiserWillys again and it turns out the dimensions listed in their catalog, the dimensions listed on their web site and the dimensions they gave me over the phone are all wrong.  Not only did the radiator have to be sent back but Mike told me they won’t deal with radiators for the Buick 225 engine and he was sorry but he knows of no source for this radiator.  I’m not trying to pin the blame on anyone, I just want to find a this radiator which will fit my Jeep and allow me to attach an electric fan on the engine side without hitting the waterpump pulley.

My questions to you are

1. do you know the original size of the CJ5 radiator with the Buick V6 and did the Jeepster (Commando actually I guess) use the same size radiator?

2. Do you know where I might be able to purchase a used radiator (new would be better but I don’t think that will happen) even if it needs to be recored?

I realize I could notch the front crossmember and move the radiator forward (after trimming the shroud) but I’ll save this as a last resort.  The chances of me finding an original V6 powered Jeep here in the Great White North are pretty slim but I’m going to look anyway.”

My ideas

I told Paul that I ran a Pinto radiator with a buick 225 in my first Jeep.  I’ve also found some new radiators for sale for various 1980s buick cars. Here’s what I wrote Paul, “I found some other options using thefind.com.  I searched for ‘buick v6 radiators’. Here’s a radiator for a buick regal that is $89.  It is an aluminum 20-3/4 x 16-7/8 x 1-1/4, 1 ROW (and I’m assuming that is 20-3/4 wide, which isn’t safe to assume as you well know).  http://www.shepherdautoparts.com/autoparts/all_aluminum_radiator/buick/regal/w5HDm8OWw5TDl8K7w5rDksORw5HCosKi.htm.”

Anyone else have ideas?

While you think about it, you can marvel at more of Paul’s handiwork – A table made with stainless legs and Ancient Kauri wood, along with a wall hanging from the same wood.  About it he writes, “Naturally the table legs are fabricated from stainless in a truss pattern.  Each leg is made up of 30 individual parts (not counting the attaching hardware) and by the time I was all done fitting and filing these parts I’d spent 78 hours just making the legs.  The wood took many more hours because ultrafine sanding is necessary to get the best grain activity>  After sanding the wood to 1500 grit I applied numerous coats of clear marine varnish (Interlux 95), wet sanded the varnish to 3000 grit and then finished it off by hand polishing the varnish.”

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Builds: John’s Family — Adoption Complete

February 21, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  John informed that he successfully adopted a 1959 CJ-5 that will complete his ‘family’.  It looks like it’s a great, straight CJ with a good foundation for a rebuild.  Congrats John!

John writes, “Dave, Our new family arrival, a 59 cj5. This unit came without eng. & trans & fer. It will get a Dauntles & org. trans & fer, & O/D. I’ll replace all floor pans , the rest of the tub is very good. It will get a four point cage. Disc front brakes, 11″ rear. Painted to match its stable mates.”

Here’s a few pics:

John shared this ‘family’ photo with me.  He noted that he’s hoping to adopt a 1959 CJ-5 to complete the family. You can see pics of ‘Brownie’ (CJ-3A) here.  And, some closeups of Brownie here.

family_of_jeeps

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Quinn’s new Trailer Advertiser

February 18, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Quinn dropped me a note today.  He just finished a new project and wanted to share it with us.  Does this mean your you and your wife can write off the jeep? Thanks for sharing!

Quinn writes, “I finally finished my mobile billboard advertising trailer (see attached pictures).  I use my M38 to pull it around town when running errands …… it generates leads for my wife’s real estate business.

NOTE: The base utility trailer was purchased from Harbor Freight  [ed note: maybe this one?] for $150 and the vertical box and rear door were made using 90 degree angled steel strips.  It’s fairly light weight and due to the short length of the Jeep, the entire rig fits into house garages, parking structures and street parking spaces.  The trailer also has an 875lb load capacity which makes it convenient for carrying camping gear or the occasional BBQ equipment/supplies.”

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Builds: Eric’s 1942 GPW

February 4, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, GPW (Ford MB) This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Born in Normandy (near Saint-Lo), France, Eric says he always wanted to have a Jeep.  While serving in the French Marines, he got the opportunity to drive Jeeps — In Africa and other places — which only only served to worsen his desire for a Jeep (yes, became a victim of the ‘Willys Sickness’).

Finally, in 1997, he found a 1942 GPW in the town of Carentan that needed restoration.  If Eric is like the rest of us, he probably felt it would only take a year or two to restore it (I don’t have any pre-restoration pics); instead, the restoration took 7 years.  However, the results speak for themselves — it’s a beautiful Jeep he named the Belly Flopper and in which he travels the countryside whenever he gets the chance.

While Eric’s family still lives in the Normandy area, Eric has moved to the central area of France, which is a bit cooler, especially in the winter.  The reason Eric and I exchanged emails initially was because he was searching for a heater.  I gave him some links on some newer heater options, but had no luck with any early heaters.  If you know of any for sale, he still might be interested in purchase them.  Just add a comment below and I’ll contact you.

Thanks for sharing Eric!

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Builds: Egon’s Projects

February 1, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Other 4x4s This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Recently, Egon, from Lichtenstein,  and I had been having a conversation about a Jeep project he’s trying to determine how to tackle.  Once again, the google online translation software has been effective enough to allow a conversation to occur.

Egon recently sent me some photos of his projects.  He’s done some very nice restorations.  Danke Egon!

Here’s a 1955 Steyr 15hp Tractor Restoration:

And a family of tractors:

Here is a 1968 Puch Haflinger he rebuilt (haflingers):

And here are a couple of great images of his Russian UAZ 469, which he says he took on a successful Elk hunting expedition in the Kirov region of Russia.  It sports a 2500 cc engine and has a max speed of 75KM/H

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Reader Builds: John’s 1944 GPW

January 25, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, GPW (Ford MB) • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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John spent this past fall and winter doing some cosmetic restoration to this great looking GPW.  John says he’s keeping this GPW for a while, so please don’t send him any sales inquiries.  Thanks for sharing!

See all of the images of his GPW here

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Quinn’s new 3 lever shift boot & bikini top

January 15, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Quinn asked if I knew of any 3 lever boots for a tc & overdrive.  I said I didn’t, so he approached his local upolster to have him build something. If you have the same problem, it’s a good solution.  He also had his guy tuck the corners of a CJ-5 bikini top to fit nicely.  Good ideas and thanks for sharing!  You can see more pics of Quinn’s Jeep here.

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Chris’ DJ-3A

January 12, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, DJ-3A, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Searching for something else, I discovered Chris Kelley’s blog and his new Willys: a 1956 DJ-3A with 4wd.  I’ve seen enough DJ-3As with 4wd that I asked Bruce if he knew whether any DJ-3As came with a 4wd package, but to the best of his knowledge (which is the best I know of) he said there was no 4wd option of which he was aware.

Chris writes on his website about new purchase (sept 7 09) “Yep, you’re looking at a 1956 (sort of) CJ3a (sort of) Willy’s Overland Jeep (completely!).  Its sort of a 56 since that’s what the tub plate says.  Its also only sort of a CJ3A since the tub plate also says its a DJ3a, which was a 2 wheel drive version made for the postal service and other delivery trucks.  However, my best guess is that someone replaced the original tub with the one it has now, since this does have 4WD.”

It’s a good looking jeep, though there’s a small ding in the passenger rear, and here some pics from his site:

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