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55 Willys Restoration

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by 55_Willys_CJ5, Aug 9, 2015.

  1. Apr 23, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

    55_Willys_CJ5 Nephews Visit 2017 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Southern California
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    Focker,

    Thanks for the tip about the paint. I took into account the grounding while I was prepping the housing for paint. Once I reassembled the instrument cluster I checked to make sure I had a good ground in the housing and checked all the lights once I installed in the dash. Everything works.

    Thanks for the tips on helping troubleshoot my speedo issue. After getting a couple of hours of sleep and reviewing in my head what I did. I came to realization that it could be the gear. I noticed that the speedo cable went into the gear on the transfer case quite a bit and when it did the square end of the cable wasn't engaged anymore. Do the gears have an internal stop? This would prevent this from happening or is my cable just a bit to long. I did take the cable out the housing and inspected it with no defect noted. So now I am going to look at the speedo gear as the most likely culprit. That will be another weekend since I will have to dismantle the parking brake and drivetrain.
     
  2. Apr 23, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I have no experience with the T-case side of the cable, but if you hook it up to the speedometer and run the drill...The needle should move. If that works then the T-case side is the problem.
     
  3. Apr 23, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    Thanks. Will do that once I disconnect the cable from the transfer case to eliminate the cable all together.
     
  4. Apr 24, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

    55_Willys_CJ5 Nephews Visit 2017 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Southern California
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    Had some family come in today to help celebrate my birthday. Celebrated by taken turns running the jeep around the desert. First run no issues did some mild off-roading and had a blast. Came back in dropped off on set of passemgers and then took out some more. This time found a sandy trail over a couple of small dunes. Locked the front hubs in and proceeded to crawl over and through the sand with no issues. During the return trip came across flat section of road unlocked hubs put her in two wheel high and opened her up a little. Moving along then all of sudden the jeep acted like the egine had a governer on it. Engine died would restart and then die again. Pulled over and started the troubleshooting. Long story short fuel pump gave out. Excellent cardio pushing the jeep about a mile and a half to paved road and then towing her back home. Time to order a pump. A birthday to remember. :)
     
  5. Apr 24, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

    55_Willys_CJ5 Nephews Visit 2017 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Southern California
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    Good news. The fuel pump wasn't the issue. Did some troubleshooting this morning. Have Spark - Check. Have good compression - Check. Fuel pump pumping fuel to carburetor - Check. Engine fuel starved - Check. Disassembled the top half of the carburetor to check the float bowl. Bowl was empty. Also noticed when disconnecting the fuel line from the carburetor that the fuel was under pressure which seemed odd at the time, but perfectly reasonable if the float bowl was full of fuel. But since it was empty this indicated that something was amiss. After disassembly and checking for obstructions and the valve was free moving - I reassembled the carburetor and the jeep fired right up. I have the Solex carburetor on the jeep.
     
  6. Apr 24, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

    55_Willys_CJ5 Nephews Visit 2017 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Southern California
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    Other than the speedometer not working currently. The fuel gauge and temperature gauge work. It was nice seeing the gas gauge move from E all the way to F after I filled her up.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  7. May 7, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    Southern California
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    Received the rest of the parts I needed to install the PCV system on the Willys.

    Parts:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Hoses running from Air Cleaner to oil fill tube and intake valve cover:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    PCV installed:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Reading of 15 In. Hg on Vacuum Gauge:
    [​IMG]
     
  8. May 7, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    If time permits on Saturday I will dig into the Speedo cable issue to hopefully get the Speedometer to work.
     
  9. May 12, 2016
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    I'm liking the CJ... You're forcing me to step up the detailing so mine doesn't look like a hobo next to that one, haha. Keep it up.
     
  10. Jul 3, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    Well, I was driving my jeep to my buddy' house to help him with his FC 150. When a noise developed under the hood. I pulled over and checked it out. Long story short my Willys threw a rod and the motor has seized. So, instead of going to my buddy's to work on his FC 150 he came and fetched me and towed my Willys back to the house. Now looking into taking the motor to a Machine Shop. Anyone know of a very reputable Machine Shop around Lancaster/Palmdale California. Anyone on here from Southern California heard of Adams Metallizing & Grinding of Lancaster, CA? Thanks
     
  11. Jul 3, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    That sux.
     
  12. Jul 4, 2016
    a42pb

    a42pb Member

    atascadero ca
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    Happs up in Paso Robles knows how to do those connecting rods right. He also had a few serviceable ones to help me make a set.
     
  13. Jul 7, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    Focker, it does sux. Glad it happened when it did though. Have nephews visiting this week and the plan was to go be bopping with them around he desert.

    a42pb, thanks for the info about Paso Robles, i will keep them in mind if I need connecting rods, which I might.

    Drained the oil and pulled the pan tonight to see what i could see. This is what i saw:

    #1 thru #3 connecting rod caps:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    #4 got a little warm:
    [​IMG]

    if you look close enough you can see the bushing migrating out between the crank and connecting rod cap.

    other than #4 everything else appears to be in good order. Weekend plan - pull motor from Willys and take to the machine shop next week for a rebuild. I'm hoping that the crank is salvageable along with connecting rods.
     
  14. Jul 11, 2016
    a42pb

    a42pb Member

    atascadero ca
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    Nice job on the jeep by the way! May your rebuild be quick and not to painfully expensive
     
  15. Jul 12, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    a42pb, thanks for the comment. Dropped the motor off to the machine shop yesterday. Hoping to hear, hopefully good, news about the motor's condition before the end of the week.
     
  16. Jul 20, 2016
    55_Willys_CJ5

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    So....I finally heard from the machine shop. The good: crank and block are okay for rebuild. 3 of the 4 connecting rods are good. The not so good, #4 connecting rod is toast and the head has a crack in it, in between cylinder 2 and 3 spark plug holes. That explains why I had a drastic change in #2 and #3 cylinders when I did my last compression check about two months ago. The machine shop already has another head on the way and it will keep my engine at the 7.4 to 1 compression ratio. Engine should be ready for pick up the first week in August. On another note, found a Carb specialist to refurbish my old Carter YF 938. So in about two weeks my engine should be back in the Willys and running around the desert and other trails.
     
  17. Jul 21, 2016
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    Who did you find to do the carb? I'm looking too as mine appears to be rebuilt incorrectly.
     
  18. Jul 21, 2016
    GraySkies

    GraySkies Always late, never finished...

    Western Washington
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    That's a beautiful ride! Great job on the resto. Sounds like you have the signal switch lens thing well in hand.

    One of the options we have nowadays also, is to go on one of your local "maker" websites or to a local "maker fair" and have someone with a 3d printer make a lens for you. They do pretty well with translucent colored plastics.
     
  19. Jul 21, 2016
    a42pb

    a42pb Member

    atascadero ca
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    Glad to hear engine is coming together soon. I'm curious on the carb rebuild why not diy that?
     
  20. Jul 21, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    X2
     
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