i came across this while i was doing a search for something else.. thought u might enjoy it:
Quote:
It all began in March of 2007 when an ad was posted on our website for a 1948 Jeep Willys that was for sale by the original owner. As soon as we read the ad we knew that we had to have it. Although the Jeep itself is rare and unique, it was more about the history of the Jeep and its owner that intrigued us. Colonel Nick Fallier, the 85 year old original owner of the Willys was a decorated Fighter Pilot in World War II and he bought the Jeep new in 1948 when he returned from his overseas tour of duty. He had cherished the Jeep for over 59 years and it was even a regular on the old television series "Gentle Ben". Since nobody was driving the Jeep anymore the decision was made to sell it.
We immediately bought the Jeep and booked our flights to Florida to pick it up. At that point our plan was simply to spend some time with Nick and then drive the old Jeep back to Arizona and call it a day. We thought that the 2,200 mile trip in an old Jeep would be a cool way to spend a few weeks and see some great sights along the way. Once we got going it didn't take long to realize that we had made a huge mistake by limiting ourselves to only a 2,200 mile trip...we were having way too much fun to end the trip in Arizona. It was soon decided that we should drive our 48' Jeep through all 48 States and do it in honor of the war veterans that spent countless hours and miles in similar Jeeps, but in brutal conditions.
thanks MBS.... I am heading back to Arkansas this weekend to pick Old Willy up and bring him/her back out here.
Ironically I found an old Jeep arts hoiuse here in OKc.. ALso looking for Olive Drab Primers now... Info mation on small automotive sand blasters would be great... Gonna need to buy one.
ANyone here got or know of one of those old Bantam Trailers let me know... Also in arkansas I am picking up a set of steel axles with 16" wheels. The axle is only about 4 ft wide.... So I am going to use ot and make a little cannon to pull....
like this 37 MM ANti tank gun...
Been on the phone with the state DMV today about getting a title... What a pain. Arkansas didn;t even have titles in '48..
Hey Joe, nice 7 slotter you got there. OIIIIIIIO I have a present for you. It's an original, nos (New Old Stock) still in the box rifle mount for that era jeep. It's olive drab, the kind that has the plate on the floor, and the hook for the dash. I bought it years ago when I first bought my TJ, just never installed it. Now you have your first restoration part.
Ok.. I head to AR with a trailer tomorrow to bring him/her back... I guess that you can see that I am engrossed in thoughts about how to begin this project... But my new saying is.. "Let the Day Unfold."
Now I ask... If i am sitting around with nothign to do one night... Do I take apart the read axle and spray it with degreaser, re-oil and throw it back together// Or do I save those kinds of projects for a more pre-pared date?
I don;t have the first clue about auto restoration... But I am a Harley Wrenchin, Harley Riding, Patch Sewing, Fish Catchin MOF...
My Buddy John from Houma shared this vid with me today...
Hey Joe, nice 7 slotter you got there. OIIIIIIIO I have a present for you. It's an original, nos (New Old Stock) still in the box rifle mount for that era jeep. It's olive drab, the kind that has the plate on the floor, and the hook for the dash. I bought it years ago when I first bought my TJ, just never installed it. Now you have your first restoration part.
Thanks Darren... Your just wanting me to drive to Lake Charles... ;-)
I got a set of axles from the farm... Used to be our old Pototo wagon... For pulling behind the tractor and throwing freshly dug potatos in... YOu can see by the pics what I am going to do.. Gonna weld a steel pipe, some arms and steel from plate and make a little howitzer to pull behind... should be cool... You can see how well they match up..
Got Willy home... and started soaking everything in penitrating oil.. Got two spark plugs out.. But two were so rusted that the broke in half and only the porcilyn top cam out and left the threads in the head... Oh well.. all part of the task.
Working and thinking about the electrical system... Cause I would like to get him running a little, get the brakes working.. then start pulling body parts...
My choice it that maybe now would be a good time to convert to 12 volt from 6 volt.. seems someone before me has tried... But I think all they did was burn up the coil... So I have decided to stay with the 6 volt system until I deep more restoration done and then possibly convert to 12 volt at a later date... It should'nt matter when I do it as I have to re-wire everything comepletely...
Now I know this is a small small step... BUt I hooked a battery charger to the horn and got a low kinda.... Auhhhgahhh... But it's the first time that ole Willy has said a word in prolly 30 years... Cleaning it out should do wonders too...
oh yea.. with the plugs out.. I can spin the engine comepletely...
great find joe. Mom has one that's been sitting in her woods for .... I don't know, as far back as I can remember. To restore hers, she'd first have to remove the tallow tree growing through the floor.
Yep.. Paid $500 bucks for him sitting in a field in Bradford Arkansas. Every single friggin peice to this thing is here with the only exception being a gas cap. Engine, radiator, tranny, axles, fenders, hood, windshiled... carb... etc... It had been running recently as it has new points, hoses.. etc.. and the engine is free turning....
Kid was going through a divorce and needed cash and his dad gave him the jeep to sell to help out.... They had a 38' coupe that they cared more for so this thing set in a field...
Now... Everyone that looks at this so far has told me it's a 42', but after some internet research I belive it's a 47'. But hey.. Lets not burst my bubble here, as I plan on restoring it in orginal equipment. Paint it Olive Drab, add some stars and USA and some numbers from General Pattons corp...
Then when I show it off... I have some story concocted.. with the help of Saintsman2884 about how this thing engaged and took out a Tiger tank while crossing some river in Normandy.
My plan for it is to actually get her running... cleaned up and restorded as best as I can... and use it mostly in parades, shows and etc...
It's the windows I love the most.. How they fold out...
Belive it or not, the tires have rubber falling off, and they still held air... But aired up after the photos here... I've oiled about every bold so far... Well... So much for train sets now....
What you guys thinks?
Joe
i love it joe..leave it up too you to get a new project..man..you have that lust for life brother..
For those interested.. Been doing more this spring than before and on a good roll... Buying a new part or something once a week. Working on finishing the alternator wiring. Sainding and painting what I can. Added a new fuel pump... Just haven't been able to get him to move around the yard yet, but it is just a matter or time and it won't be long..
Doing what I can when I can and as money allows. I should have the fuel issues solved next month and move on to brakes. Then a total re-wire.
Body work as I can.
ALso at the same time working on a potato shooting 37mm Anti talk gun as well to go with it.
OIIIIIIIO I have a present for you. It's an original, nos (New Old Stock) still in the box rifle mount for that era jeep. It's olive drab, the kind that has the plate on the floor, and the hook for the dash. I bought it years ago when I first bought my TJ, just never installed it. Now you have your first restoration part. 
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