55 Willys Restoration

Here's a link to the photos of the Spartan restoration. The slide show is in reverse order (From all cleaned up to dirty):

Spartan Turn SIgnal Switch Restoration Slideshow by David Holzer

 

PM sent and thanks.

 

been thinking on the lense question as others have asked, and I thought about it as I re-did my second sparton switch not long ago and what I'd try if I broke the lense.

I think a total DIY option is at hand.

One might try a little Lexan sheet from your favorite hardware store, needs to be a little thicker than the 1/8" stuff.

Then you can find a green LED on e-bay for a couple bucks.

With the dremel or a plain flat-file, you can try test cutting the lexan then 'milling' off about half the thickness at each end to affix it.

I haven't seen a 'green' lense at a FLAPS, but I've not looked for one either, but you could also do the same idea with that... slice a bit off with the dremel, mill the ends with a file, glue in place...

using 1000 grit or something similar, you could shape the corners and the milling edge.

Just waxing the idea I might take if I needed something similar.

dane

 

Thanks for the reply. This looks like the avenue I will be going. I found a source on line that sells samples kit of there colored plexiglass and they are 1/8 in thickness. This will be a fun little project. I will document my DIY project and if the end results are worth it then post.

 

A couple of updates. Received the replacement glass from Walcks and it arrived in one piece. Reviewed a lot of information on how to install the glass into the windshield frame. Confident I could have done it myself but took it to a local auto body shop called Phoenix Auto. They have installed a couple and took them about 40 minutes to install mine and the price was well worth it.

Windshield glass install:


Installed and back on the Willys:


Yes...there is glass in that picture.

Also installed some gauges. Since I like to see what the motor is doing:



and they light up too!



Cleaned up the old Bestop Supertop. It has seen better days but will suffice until I save up enough to buy a replacement.:


What do you guys think should I mount the half doors?:


I have an appointment with the DMV tomorrow. If all goes well I should come home with plates for the Willys and then it is time to go have fun!!!!

 

The Willys is now legal to go and play..........!!!!!!!!!!!

Some more pcs:

Installed Jerry Can holder, jerry can, jerry can strap, footman loops, and reflectors:






Installed the hood catch. Not sure of my 55 originally came with one. I like the idea of the hood being held up in place, especially if out where it is windy:



Last but not least the License Plate:


Drove her to the gas station to fill her up and then my wife and I took a leisurely jaunt around town.

 

Still need to acquire and install wiper motors. Passenger side wiper, have all the parts, just need to locate the part that mounts it to the windshield:

 

Awesome! Glad you're on the road. Feels good, don't it? Love the vacuum gauge, too.

 

What manufacturer is that Jerry can mount? I really like that.

 

Wheelie, Yes indeed it does feel good. The vacuum gauge will be operational once I get the rest of the lines for the PCV system.

throwback, Don't know the manufacturer of the jerry can mount. The mount and the strap have been with the Willys since my Dad bought it in '77. I have seen them come up on occasion on eBay, they are a slight different design than mine.

 

Sparton turn signal switch restored, except for the lens. Thanks again Focker for the wire clamp. Once I have fabricated a lens for the switch I will install on the Willys.

The pics:
What it looked like when I received it:



How it looks now:

 

Did you break your lense getting it out? I'm at a quandary on mine. I really want to powder coat the case, but so far my app empty to remove the lense have not been successful. I'm trying my best not to break it.

 

The lens was already missing. Careful with the powder coating. The metal that the housing is made up of off gases during the baking portion of the powder coat process and can result in defects. Danefraz stated in his thread something about heating and using a razor blade to gently separate the lens from the housing. See post 61 for the link to his thread.

 

Decided to use bedliner on the cargo floor of the Willys. Turned out nice.

Pics:
Prep


Painted

 

Yes. Rustoleum bedliner, the same I used inside the toolbox.

 

Danefraz, I order a 12" x 24" Sheet of Green Plexiglass. It will be in this week and over the course of the next couple of weeks I will try my hand at fabricating a lens. Once (if) I'm successful I will post up how I did it. Thanks for the idea.

 

I now have a four passenger Willys Jeep. I installed a Bestop back seat on Friday. The seat feels real comfortable and the material seems to be of good quality, only time well tell how good.

New backseat:



Each passenger has a seatbelt for added safety.

Also, I cleaned up the instrument cluster I got off of EBay:






Assembled:


I painted the backside to provide some protection from the elements.

Checked all the gauges and they OHM'd out to correct tolerances and installed in the Willys.

Took the her out for a test ride and the speedometer didn't work. After dismantling the parking brake from the back of the transfer case and checking the speedometer cable and gear. I go it to work with everything disconnected from the case. Put it all back together and it no longer works. Checked the routing of the Speedometer cable and I have no sharp turns. Looks like I might be ordering another speedometer cable assembly or just buy this and call it good:

5-1/2" CJ GPS Speedometer Cluster 90mph - Speedo, Fuel Level, Temp. Auto All-in-1 Gauge Clusters From Speedhut.