55 Willys Restoration

Thanks Focker. I'm sure everyone here understands the pure excitement of getting into a jeep and letting her run free in the outdoors. I look forward to seeing the end results of the work you are doing to your jeep. Never thought about the wiggle until you mentioned it, just something I did and now realize it just one of the pleasurable symptons associated with out collective Malady known as Jeep.

 

looks great cuz. My exhaust manifolds are just pitted on the outside and still functional. although i am putting in a power steering so I am going with Headers outside the frame with straight exhaust from flowmaster. I am currently painting up my v6 engine this week and next. May not look as great as yours but will try. I will try to post pictures if i can, most of the time its too big of a file.

 

Thanks for the replies Finally had a chance to order the parts I needed in order to mount the alternator. To my surprise they all came in today. Goody, time to do some cleaning and painting. Forgot to take a before picture. Here is the picture from EBAY:



After scraping the grime and soaking in Carberator Chem Dip for an hour. Scrubbing with drill and wire wheel and wire brushes. They now look like this:



Generator bracket mounted on the engine:



Now I just need to get a couple of generator mounting bolt with rubber bushings and I can mount the alternator. Can't wait till the jeep has a heartbeat (alternator charging battery and providing power) instead of being on life support (Battery charger connected while engine is running).

 

No real update except got some overtime coming this weekend. So......I was able to order the new windshield, generator bolts, and decals for the jeep. I might be able to have the jeep registered and insured and driving by time I hit the one year mark on this restoration.

 

While waiting for the FED EX to get here (won't be until Saturday - ) I started to troubleshot my fuel gauge issue. Fuel gauge won't register amount in fuel tank. Took the sending unit out cleaned it up and checked resistance - 4 ohms when full and 110 ohms when empty. Is this normal or indicative to a bad unit? Research turned up 10 ohms for full and 73 ohms for empty. Any advice on whether my is good or bad. Thanks. Here are some pictures:

before I cleaned it up:
tank:


sending unit:


Did original sending units come with the cork float?

After cleanup:
tank:


sending unit:



close up of the cork float, checked and it works not fuel logged:

 

Well the FEDEX guy showed up on Saturday and all parts arrived intact except the Windshield, crack right down the middle. Sent an E-mail to Walck's on Monday and they sent a replacement windshield out today. Will be here next Tuesday. With the other parts I was able to install the tailgate and alternator. The Willys now has a heartbeat and doesn't require life support. I installed a Ford alternator with voltage regulator and wiring harness. Just a note to anyone interested, do not use an LED bulb as your AMP light on the instrument cluster. This will cause the alternator circuit to not energize on this particular set-up. Can't speak for any other set-up. A few pictures:

Tailgate with new chains:


Alternator, regulator and wiring harness installed using universal alternator bracket:



ONce the windshield gets here next week I should be able to get the Willys registered and start driving her around and getting her all kinds of dirty

 

Weekend Project. Cleaning up and coating the Tool Box with bedliner and installing new tool box lid seal. The toolbox lid underside will be painted gloss black and the inside will be coated with the bedliner. I will post pics as I progress. Right now it is time to do some prep work.

Tool box area:


Liner to be used:

 

The underside of the tool box lid and recess channel painted gloss black:


Letting it dry before I apply the first coat of liner to the inside of the tool box.

 

First coat of liner applied:


Now to wait 2 hours to apply the second coat. I'm liking how it is turning out.

 

Second coat applied and masking removed. Will install the new lid seal tomorrow. This is how the tool box looks today:

 

Thanks Focker. I really like how it turned out. The battery tray I picked up online from Kaiser Willys. They sell it in a kit, so it came with the holddown, two j-bolts and the wing nuts. I have the skill to fabricate just don't have the tools or access to the right tools. I really enjoy following builds such as yours and seeing what you guys fabricate.

 

Thanks. She is coming along nicely. I'm always amazed with the ingenuity and fabrication skills that I see in the various threads on this site. One of my favorites was where a member used part of a ventilating windshield to mount the alternator to the engine. The best part is that with all the variety and flavors of jeeps on this site they are each there own interpretation of what they like. That individuality is what makes this site awesome and such a rarity today.

 

New tool box lid seal installed. Also dressed up the engine compartment a little with new decals:

Tool Box Lid Seal:


Oil filter housing:




Donaldson Air Cleaner:


Intake Valve Cover:


Mail just came and now I have a new project - Spartan Turn Signal Restoration:


I believe Danefraz did a real nice write on how to restore the Spartan Turn Signal Switch.

 

I reviewed his post. Thanks for the offer.

Danefraz's post: http://www.earlycj5.net/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/spartan-signal-restore.109927/

Do you happen to have the lens, as seen in the 2nd pic, and wire harness clamp, as seen in the 1st pic held by two screws, in your bag of parts?