Willy’s Jeep purchased

 

 

After lots of research asking friends and looking at WW2 jeeps I finally took the plunge and bought a 1944 Willy’s Jeep with the intention of  rebuilding it along with my son in law Sean who is an ex army tank driver. 

I agreed to the purchase on the 20th April, paid in cash on the 21st and it was kindly delivered by Crouch Recovery (who Sean works for) on the 22nd April. 

First Job, Grandsons inspect jeep for roadworthyness, Max declairs it needs a wash and can we get a bucket of water!!  My job is just to look like the cat thats got the cream.                               

              

  

May 2022

Well first job has been to gather paperwork to register the jeep. I found the engine number and along with the chassis number have found out its a 1944 jeep. I have today sent off the V55 along with the age related paperwork to the DVLA. 

During May a gentle strip of the jeep has started mostly lights, dials, and fittings on the outside of the tub.                                                                                

    Deep in thought, what to remove next and how much heat will it need.

    Sean's first part bagging, looks happy enough.

June

 Tail end of June and the Tub is just about stripped of bits and the bolts securing it have either been removed, well one of them, sheared off or ground out. 

I have been awaiting the V55 which i sent of 4 weeks ago but impatience has got the better of me and i hope to have the tub, hood and wings off withing the next couple of weeks then we can crack on with the engine removal.

Sean grinds the tub bolts

 

Grandson Max Joins in, Boiler suit for him

Last of the dash fixings gone

                                   

                                 Meanwhile slow progress on the screen, I think I need a better welder.

Monday 27th June My log book has arrived with number plate all legal now. 

July

The first weekend in July and Sean and I are itching to get the bodywork stripped off the chassis. After an appointment, its boiler suits on and straight to it. First to be removed was the bonnet three out of five screws present, two are sheared off already. With the bonnet off the grill and radiator follow quickly and the passenger wing follows suit. The driver’s side wing is looking good until the last bolt which is screwed into the chassis, the bolt that is fixed to the inner rail has broken free and I have no way to hold it. Unable to just grind due to the brackets I drill it out.  

 

     

Now the last two tub bolts or so we think. Steering wheel removed and the tube column bolts removed. We start to lift and passenger side is loose but the drivers is stuck fast, a bit of investigation and we have missed two bolts one on the rear corner, it comes off with no resistance, unlike the other one in the middle of the floor, again due to positioning its drill and a bit of multi tool to get it off. Now the tub is free of fixings and we can just about lift it a few inches. After a few tries we recon its best to remove the steering as we just can’t lift high enough, I am caring a shoulder injury so im next to no use anyway. We remove the two bolts holding the steering box to the chassis, and start splitting the ball joints. With a lot of mucking about we get the steering column and box out.

Now it’s down to three of us and its off !

 

 

 

 

Can see the work needed on the Chassis, New front bumper and gusset plates, Welding to one of the shock mounts, the rear has had a bump and its either straighten the rear bar, Pintle A Frame and rear cross member or replace all three. 

 

    Two weekends into July and we have been busy sorting the Chassis First to sort was a better way of storing the Tub, which is currently on its side in the garage balancing on chocks of wood.

A trip to B&Q and a simple frame using various bolt holes and a few of the spare brackets I have around then a set of castors added and we have a stable platform with the ability to wheel it in and out so as to be able to use the Garage.

A trip to AMD, grandson in tow, they have just had a delivery from the US and we look at the jeeps they have just got in. I nip in for a chat and buy a new rear cross member and Plintle plate

 

Next few days see a fury of cutting and grinding to remove the bent old one, a tribute to WW2 manufacture it’s well and truly fixe on, five rivets on each side and then various blobs of weld around the mounts that need a bit of thought as to where and how to grind off.

With the old cross member off I blot the new one on backwards to look at where and how it need straightening.

 

I am trawling e bay to buy a Hydraulic Power Car repair kit, I find one starting at 99p but impatience gets the better of me and I whip the jack out of my car and with a bit of balancing on blocks I manage to start to straighten the A Plintle.

 

 

Saturday 16^th and we get to grips with the rear end brute force, chocks of wood, heat and a big hammer and we get it mostly straight. The jack is back in use for the inner cross member we get that pretty much straight, grind off the remaining steel bar that had been put in to support the old towing hook. Sean bends the top shock mount back into position with some iron bar, will need pushing down and fixing when it comes to welding it down.

Now are able to put the bolt in the centre hole of the plintle plate to rear member. Now with it fixed in the correct place we complete the straightening of the frame.  With this done off with the old one and on with the new all attached with metric bolts for the moment, my aim is to use dome head screws to replicate a rivet when it comes to permanent fixing.

Attention turns to the front bumper, again the painful grinding and cutting of the thick u section that has been welded on, luckily most of the original gusset plates underneath are in good usable condition with a bit of cleaning up and a small amount of welding, looks like I will be dropping into AMD this week for a front bumper and fixings.

It’s the second week of the school holidays and I keep popping out to the front and garage to do little tasks. This week a daily ritual of spraying everything with WD40 is paying off, I have not snapped a single bolt this week, which is good as most of them are in the block!

 

I manage to get a spark plug out followed by the cylinder head; this was achieved having watched a YouTube video of using wood wedges. I have some thin hard wood so cut into wedges and slowly knock them into the gap and after a while the head is off. Now I photograph for reference and then drown them in WD40.

 

 

 

 

Thursday and I make a hanging bracket for the garage to hang my lifting chains from. I was originally going to make them from the front bumper, but notice that the sections of the rear bumper are the approximate size I need and have four of the six holes in them that I need already, with a bit of cutting and drilling the hoist is attached to the roof.

 

 

 

Saturday 23^rd, we have a new foreman, Max boiler suit has arrived and proceeds to take charge of health and safety. 

 

  The plan is to empty the garage, no mean feat as its full of jeep parts and a BMW, but we clear enough room and the idea is to push the chassis in lift the engine out and then push the chassis back out to lower the block. We have to reconnect part of the steering as the wheels have a mind of their own. We get the chassis into the garage connect all the straps take the strain and remove the connecting bolts, there is little movement  with the engine stubbornly refusing to disconnect from main shaft, a bit more height and a good shove and they part company!

 

Out with the chassis, and I make a small pallet on wheels to keep the block on.

 

Back in with the chassis and out with the gearbox and transfer box.

The chassis is now looking bare and ready to complete the overhaul and cleaning process.

 

 

Aug 2022

It’s been a while since I updated the blog and although its been a busy summer of activity the jeep still looks the same.

After many years of owning a bike I sold the BMW, not really ridden it for a few years and it had a few mechanical issues so I sold it and have the cash towards the rebuild.

Over the next few weeks I have stripped the engine down, the oil pump and distributer putting up a valiant fight, but not quite as stubborn as the manifold that takes two weeks of work to remove.

 

Having straightened the rear end work turns to the front. A new bumper and with lots of bending and banging its fitted, but has to be removed to ass the wood insert. 

 The birth of my new grandson puts a halt to the proceedings for a while.

When we restart I borrow a welder from a friend at the MVT meets as my gassless is just not up to the job. Sean and I are now practicing out welding skills.

 

The small jobs are being sorted out at the moment.The starter, Generator, and Regulator have gone off for overhaul at a specialist The Radiator is being re-cored and overhauled. Clocks are being sent off to be recalibrated and cleaned

 

 

I have bought a sand blasting cabinet and am busy cleaning the various rusty parts ready to repaint.

 

September 2022

Lots of small things happening this month. After lots of trialling different blast media we seem to have found the correct one, superfine glass grit it works in the cabinet and the big hopper for the chassis.

 

I finally got the chassis tag off, and we have blasted the front horns ready to fit the bumper.

 

The radiator has been away and has returned it looks fab.

 

I have been borrowing a welder from a friend but have now managed to get one for myself. We have been going to the MVT meets each month and have made some great friends who have also been very helpful with advice, and helping with things. 

Blasing and painting has commenced on the many small parts currently stored in the garage.

The first Sunday of October and Sean and I have finished stripping the chassis, its bare and now ready to finish the blasting, welding and I hope to have it finished by the end of the month. 

October  2022

This month has seen us finally strip the engine and free up the seized piston, it was well rusted in and once we had removed the crank and the three other pistons it was time to give it a smack with a chock of wood. After a few hefty blows the piston gave up and slowly came out. 

    Offending Piston 

 

The block is currently away having its first bit of work and I will update the blogg when its back.

I have wrapped the tub up and put it outside for the next few weeks so that I can finish the repairs to the chassis in the garage. This weekend I have been welding the loose shock mount, the holes in the cross member and have finally finished preparing for the welding and fake riveting of the rear cross member.

 

November 2022

Having found a crack in the block, I frantically made many enquiries to welding and stitching services. The one chosen in the end was Cast Iron Welding Services of Coalville. When I spoke with them they said they had done around 15 so far this year and when we dropped the block off there was one awaiting collection in the dispatch area. 

 

Sean collected the block 3 weeks later, looks to be a good repair and I set about removing the last remaining studs. One which is removed from the centre of the block turns out to be a heating stud; it’s very long and has an element running down the centre.

The Block has now gone off for machining along with the crank and should be ready after Christmas

I opened up the rear diff to find a bit of a mess, looks like all but one of the bolts has sheared off at some point. I found the remains of four bolt heads but obviously someone has been in before as there is an amount of fixings missing. I am going to take it to a specialist as looks a bit beyond me.

All the brakes have now been stripped a layer of oily tar removed from all the internals, adjusters un-seized, there is only one calliper on one of the front backing plates, the rest have already been removed and the pads kept in place with steel wire.

I found one of the spring sets to be bent, working the best way to deal with this.

 

One set has been dismantled, new centre bolts on order and a full set of spring clips have arrived, so over the next couple of weeks I will strip, paint and re assemble the springs.

December 2022

The cold months have slowed up progress along with Christmas & Decorating even with a small electric heater its been more research and buying of engine parts than time in the garage.

December we did some more welding on the chassis, most of it is now done so am going to concentrate on the other parts so as to blast, paint and start fitting at Easter.

The bolts holding the bump stops needed replacing so settled for nut certs.

January/February 2023

I collected the bent spring and have now stripped 

cleaned and  painted and re assembled the front pair 

using new centre bolts and clips.

Steering box is stripped and painted ready for the new bushes

I have stripped the carb to clean ready for its rebuild

I  

Feb 2023

The engine parts are ready to go to the machine shop, we are putting sleeves in to take it back to standard boar.

I have visited East Coast Jeeps who have rebuilt the gearbox looks smart with Italian TAS gears.

I have stripped the rear diff, got the carrier out and removed lots of debris. I have replacement bolts and lock tabs, cleaned it down and painted it. I will be removing the pinion and doing as much as possible to get it working may need help with the set up. 

All the debris removed from the rear axle 

I have booked in to the Victory show in September it’s a bit hopeful but a target to work to.

Feb/March/April

Three busy months and although no real visible progress I have cleaned, blasted and painted a whole load of parts ready for assembly day.

Springs are complete, all the wheel hubs and brakes are ready to re assemble.

I have stripped the rear axle replaced the missing bolts, cleaned and painted it and it’s now gone away to be set up, apparently they can destroy themselves if not set correctly.

Front Axle is complete painted and ready to refit.

I have cleaned the wheels to paint this is only till I get a set of combat rims. 

May 2023

All the welding is complete on the chassis and I have started the shot blasting process with the aim of having a rolling chassis by the end of the month.    

The carb rebuild took a bit of doing, would have been easier to launch a rocket into space !

Lots of head scratching reading a set of instructions that had been photocopied many millions of times. Luckily I found a wed site and for $5 I had a readable set.

I had the main body's Aqua blasted and then after seeking advise from various sources I have managed to rebuild it and rather good it look I think. 

Chassis cleaning is coming along, the garage looks like the north pole in a snow storm but the blasting and grinding is working, nice to find sound clean bright metal under the rust. 

Slowly turning red!

  

June 2023

 As the better weather arrives the chassis is now ready for a couple of coats of red oxide and then had a coating of Mix 1 green

This is the very first time I have used a compressor and spray gun, and have to say it’s rather addictive I can see half the house and contents turning green!

A couple of weeks and the front axle is re assembled and ready to be re fitted. The assembly was fairly straightforward although I found the rear scraper seals to be a bit of a pig to fit and seemed rather tight, this seems to be the norm and once the wheels were fitted th

 

 

 I re fitted the front axle on my own this proved to be a challenge but after a few choice words and some head scratching I got it all back together.

The chassis is now back outside awaiting fitting of the rear axle which is away being finished off and set up.

I now have the tub in the garage and have started work on the petrol sump and rear floor/ hat channel.

I have made an end panel its not a professional job but it will be more than adequate for what it has to do.

July 23

Work has been slow with holiday season and a trip to Scotland giving a break from Jeep time.

The return of the rear axle after lots of hard work by mark, a new Pinion, ring gear and carrier is now back in place and looks great.

August  23

I re fitted the brakes and got a pair of wheels from my friend Graham, who it turns out has a wife called Debbie strange that.

We went to Operation Market Harborough, and Graham let me drive his jeep around the camp, my first actual drive in a jeep.

I gave the wheels a coat of Mix1 I think I got the mix wrong as they are a bit shinny so need a new coat at some point, with the wheels on I did a bit of snagging and fitted the first of the shocks with my homemade compressor which works a treat

Now I have moved on to the tub and started to strip rotten steel out. I bought a new rear hat channel and a new inner wing/ wheelhouse which is rather good as it’s the whole piece, these are SGI panels from AMD who I am getting all my panels from.

 

I bought a set of panel beating tools, and have had a go at straightening a few bits, I’m no expert but it’s looking a little less battered  

September 23 

A slow end of summer with the Tub at a standstill as I battle my welding skills, but hopefully gained some knowledge and experience.

 

The Engine is continuing to progress, the head has had the stubborn damaged spark plugs removed, the thermostat surface repaired and face skimmed.

 

The Crank has been re ground and now the new liners are being put in.

 

I have bought new timing chain and both sprockets along with stage two engine parts.

 

I am rebuilding the distributor and oil pump as both in repairable condition, the advice is to replace the fuel pump due to modern fuels.

October 23

The Chassis continues to progress, I have put the second Bumperette on this is the reusable one with a bullet hole in.

All of the suspension is done, shocks on new grease nipples and split pins in.

I have fitted all the brake lines and am ready to fit the master cylinder and the control shafts.

 April 2024

 

 I have not updated the blog for quite a long time now. With the winter months hopefully behind me, it’s been a busy time in the garage on many a cold night and morning when possible, blasting, grinding and cleaning parts.

I stared again on the Tub, cutting out the rear section of the floor that was rotten. After a bit of a learning curve, that’s third time lucky I managed to get the process correct and repaired the floor

I was rather worried about doing the front floor and decided I did not have the skills to either repair the outer wing or replace it. Fortunately I was put in contact with a wiz of a welder and have had the tub finished off and its now at the blasters

 

This has given me time to work on the other body parts and I am in the process of cleaning up, welding, filling and priming the Fenders, Hood, and seats.

Sean and I have fitted the torque reaction spring, it was a bit of a job requiring a few bits and pieces from friends and a bit of head scratching. The part has been difficult to get and so is a late addition. 

The Electrical parts are now ready, starter, generator and regulator, I am keeping it 6V as original.

 

I hope to have the engine back soon and have booked the jeep into Harborough at war and the Victory show at Cosby, so my deadline is fast approaching.  

 

June 2024

The last few months have been slow but the work continues, little by little parts are returned to the chassis and the process of getting the tub ready to paint olive green is taking place at every available bit of free time I get.

Having missed my original target of taking the jeep to the 80^th anniversary of D Day and Wartime in the vale, I am now focusing on trying to get something running for Operation Market Harborough.

The tub is back from the blasting process, Charlie who has welded the tub brought it back having fixed as many of the pin holes and issues that the blasting has bought to light.

My first task was to clean down and give it two coats of etch primer to fend off any flash rusting and give it a good key. Charlie said the step needed changing and he would do this, after a bit of welding and a quick chat I feel confident to attempt to change the step myself.

The pictures show all the crud found behind the outer skin and the side cowl pillar, the new step fits nicely

I have been over to Smart Power and collected the starter, generator and regulator they all look great and ready to fit.

Sean and I fit the transmission back in the chassis, and is swiftly followed by both the drive shafts. I have a small snagging list which we are working through.

 

I am now in the process of filling the worst of the bodywork, I want to keep it as original as possible so dinks and dents are being left in but there are just some parts that need a bit of filler to protect the surface where the pitting is bad.

July 2024

Things are now moving a little faster. The body filling seemed to take for ages filling flatting and then repeating, I found a coat of high build primer helped get a better result to sand for the final paint.

We had a trial fit and at first glances the bolt holes seem to line up. The chassis and tub are left stored in the garage while we take our summer holiday to Holland.

On my return its straight back to it and the tub is removed and had a full coat of red oxide primer, then flattened down for its first coat of mix 1 green. Two coats later and we are ready to fit the loom. 

 

Bob who is supplying the loom comes around and fits the loom to the underside of the tub and we set a date to fit the tub.

Its Thursday evening and I have glued on the tub spacers and Bob, Charlie, Maddie, Sean and myself lift the tub into position. We all stand back and admire what now is starting to look like a jeep!

August 2024

I am now in full swing, we have missed taking the jeep to Operation Market Harborough which was disappointing but am now focusing on The Victory Show. Parts are being refitted and some small item cleaned and painted. I have set about trying to clean the petrol tank out with white cleaning vinegar and bicarbonate of soda (apparently it works). The postman comments on how far its come from the rusty wreck outside.

I await news of the engine and hopefully it returns and is fitted in time for the begging of September.  

September 2024

I get a call from Rob my engine man, we have a bad con rod and need a replacement, a call to AMD and Mike sorts me out with a second hand one, no sooner than I had picked it up and the next problem was the cam followers, they were too bad to re use so back on the phone and Mike to the rescue with a set.  Rob comes over to my house and collects we have a chat and still try to be ready for Victory, but by Friday night its mission impossible the con rod need to be machined for weight and so its not going to be ready, but better to be correct and late.

I am cracking on with the finishing touches before the engine returns. I have bought a new tank as I was worried that rust particles could get into the newly restored engine and it was just not worth the risk for the cost of the engine rebuild. The new tank is a tight fit, the tank  straps are missing the welting and one of the smaller clips is wrong so I buy a new set which fit much better. The tank is in and plumed to the fuel lines, the driver’s seat fixed down, longer  bolts than specified  were needed for the wood on the rear.

 I put in most of the clocks, and  switches until I get to the blackout light switch and discover that the

 holes have been drilled  out, now we have to remove the surrounding items to weld up the holes. 

I have cleaned sprayed the top bows and refitted them and started on the screen Mike has got me a new

 scuttle panel and I have welded the bottom bar back in. I have been pottering  around doing small jobs

 the screen is ready to have the new top bar welded in

October 2024

We have a date of Saturday 19^th to fit the engine; I spend the week before making sure I have  all  parts

 need to complete the job I need to complete the job, I end up driving out to AMD  to pick up some

 missing brass elbows for the fuel lines lets hope nothing else is missing. I send a text to see if we are all

 ready to go with the engine. Rob rings to say that there is a problem with the valve spring retainers and

 collets, its not worth rushing it at this stage and we delay till the following weekend. My Saturday is now

 a trip to see Simon at East Coast jeeps for the parts needed which he has. I have a chat and I look at the

 exhaust mounting points ready for when I fit mine.

A busy half term, Sean and I when to the MVT meet for the 2026 Arnhem trip, a good night. Wednesday

 having gone through all my engine part boxes I found a few small parts missing, I called into AMD for

  them. Mike  asked me if I had bought my canvas for the jeep as Canvas co were finishing/ selling up.

 This put me in  panic mode as I was not intending to buy it until next year. After returning home and

 searching the net of suppliers I drew a blank. On the off chance I rang canvas co and left my number 

 with them to see if they could supply the seats and hood. Thursday morning and I was getting nervous,

 I made a couple of calls and then e mailed  Canvas co, the response was almost immediate, it was a 

 YES!! In the car I jumped and off to Ludlow around a 2 hour drive away to pick up a set of canvas. 

It was really  nice to meet John  and Mary Worthing.  

Friday and I am back at AMD returning the exhaust manifold  that I bought back last year as it has a fault.

 Rob arrives 3pm Friday and  the Engine is back and we put it on the stand ready for tomorrows work.

 Saturday a 9am start and Rob, Sean and I start work Bacon sandwiches arrive courtesy of Deb. We put

 the springs  in and move on the followers which give us the  first problem, they won’t sit right. After a 

bit of digging and a call to Simon, we remove the springs and low and behold four of them sit correctly,

 but four are just not correct. I speak with Simon and  drive over with one of the offending followers, 

 Simon tries it in the engine block he has and it will not fit that either, it  would seen we have some 

 oversized followers.  Plan B now, Rob takes the followers,  and is going to machine them  down to fit. 

It’s Friday 1st November, I have spent the week masking the block and cylinder head ready for me to

paint tonight.  A good thick coat of mix 1 as they did in the war and the engine looks good, even with

a few bits to touch up.

Saturday an early start Rob arrives and we start on the cam followers, two go in lovely but two are still

sticking, after a bit of head scratching we ream the seats with some sand paper and a bit of filing.

Next in the valves and springs and we are back to where we got to last weekend

The build starts to

gather momentum now, Sean sets the gap on the tappets, while I sort out the next parts to fit.

Timing sprocket and chain are fitted and the timing marks set, front cover put in place and the pulley

put in so as to line up the cover and gasket to prevent leaks.

We add the head studs, cylinder head and torque them down. Next is the water pump, oil pump and

finally today the new distributor, this proves to be  a very tight fit, it takes several attempts of

cleaning removing and repeating until we get it to fit.  

Sunday I spend a few hours in the garage cleaning up the previous day’s tools and then move on

to the fuel pump. This is also a pain to fit, the left bolt is hindered by the engine mounting plate I

end up removing one of the timing cover bolts to give me a slightly better access to the bolt, its still

difficult but I get there in the end.

 

Jeep night at the Bradgate, and a spanner is thrown in the works, apparently the fixings for the

fly wheel need to be fitted before the crank is fitted. Plan B is now in action for Friday, I organise

a new set of gaskets and I collect them from Mike’s house Friday night, return home and Sean

and I remove the sump, end cap having cleaned off the old sealant, put the fixings in rotate the

crank adding the bolts as we go. We then reseal everything and we are back to square one!

Next is to take it off the stand, I have bought two new slings and they are wrapped around and

attached to my chain block and soon we are lifting the engine up and off the stand. The flywheel is

aligned up and the bolts torque up. Next after a thorough clean we add the clutch and pressure plate

 bolt up and raise the engine to lift in. After a fair bit of lifting lowering and wiggling the two halves

line up and we have a close fit. We add a couple of bolts to keep it secure over night. 

Saturday and I start on the bolting up, I remove the temporary bolts and using a thin piece of studding

with sandpaper wrapped around it I clean out the holes and the bolts slide in easily, Sean arrives

and we go around adding and tightening up the bolts. Now the process begins of adding all the bits

and pieces, starter, generator, oil lines, oil filter canister. After Sean leaves Rob arrives and we fit the 

oil dipstick tube and add 5 litres of oil. The plan now it to use the starter to turn the engine over and check

 the oil pressure, then finish fitting the fuel lines, radiator and pipes and try and start it up.

Tuesday 5^th  my next opportunity to have a go at turning the engine over, I connect everything up

hit the foot switch and nothing. I have a play around starter in starter out clean the cables and nothing

so I finish for the night and do a bit of digging on line as to the grounding.

 

Friday comes and I set about fitting several earth straps and cleaning the starter’s surface that mates

with the bell housing, still nothing. I remove the starter and earth it to the battery still nothing.

I now remove the live cable from the foot switch and attach it to the starter, now when I hit the

earth terminal it spins wildly. So a meter on the foot switch confirms it’s dodgy. 

Saturday and I start early. I decide to do a few of the small jobs and then return to the starter this

would prove a mistake!

I cut the choke and throttle cables to length all is going well. I fit the choke and move on to the

throttle, snip the cable to length and a piece about 5cm long flies straight down a plug hole and I

can’t see it!!

Now I have to remove the cylinder head, this takes me about two hours of removing parts and

creating wooden wedges to get it off, it was the correct thing to do as it had dropped onto one of the

piston tops. 

With the head back on and torque down it’s back to the starter but what ever I do I can’t get it to

 turn the engine over.  Rob arrives and we have a ponder try a couple of things over a cuppa and

decide that it’s probably the battery not strong enough to turn the engine over as it’s new and tight.

Shortly after Rob leaves Charlie rings and pops by we conclude the same and he nips home to pick up

a 6v battery he has, within a blink of an eye he is back with the battery still no joy, so he pulls a 12v

out of his car and we try that. The extra voltage of the battery turns the engine over, but we don’t

have any oil pressure. We take off the oil pump and prime it, putting oil inside, this still is not

producing any movement on the gauge. We have stopped for now as we have run out of time this

weekend and I will  have a look at trying to fill the pipe work this week.  

 I have been in the garage and I took off the oil gauge from the pipe and as I did so I could hear a hiss

of air, a good sign. I remove the lid of the oil filter and the level has dropped past the top pipe, I top

this up to the maximum and reseal the filter. I turn the engine over and a quick glance and I see oil

 pressure. I stop and grab my camera re turn the engine over and get a snap of the gauge showing

almost 20 PSI. 

 

 Now I have some pressure I put some of the fuel pipes on and will attempt an engine start up

 Saturday morning.

 Saturday and I start early, attempt to fit the muffler, but the pipe is a very tight fit over the downpipe.

 I move on the the other bits to do and then move on to fitting the radiator. Sean arrives and we crack

 on. Hoses fitted and coolant added we find a leak from the top hose, and we are unable to stop it, as

 the weather  is gale force and raining we push the jeep back in the garage with the aim of a short

 start, just as we attempt to prime the fuel pump there is a power cut and we are left in the dark. 

 Now we postpone the start up.

 I have bought a different set of hoses the later set with steel pipes as I can use the old hose to make a

 longer piece if needed this I will on Saturday. The last Saturday of November and I get the  

 replacement hoses fitted they seem better. I use an angle grinder on the exhaust pipe to allow the

 muffler to fit, its still tight but fits. I have to remove it having marked where the coach bolt should be

 holding the front bracket. Now the Exhaust is all buttoned up.

 I move on the fuel pump priming.  I try a few things ask around and eventually repeatedly filling the

 pipe leading from the filter and pumping the manual leaver, then repeating eventually it stars

 squirting fuel out, I reconnect the pipe to the carburettor. Sean now arrives and we try a start up,

 the 6v battery is turning the engine over, but it’s not firing.  We check for a spark and there is nothing,

 distributor cap off and we discover the rotor is not turning. This I presume is from when we removed

 the oil pump to prime it. The next task is to remove the Dizzy and check the connections between the

 two. 

 December 7^th, Saturday and we are trying to sort out the timing. Oil pump off, dizzy out and after a bit

 of fiddling we get it back in the engine and what seems to be in the correct position.

 We connect the battery, and go for a start. The engine turns, but nothing then I suddenly remember

 I have not turned the power on to the coil. Second attempt, switch to the coil on, Sean is recording,

 I press down on the foot switch and there is an almighty bang. Now the head scratching starts, my

 thought is its electrical and we have blown the coil. Bang stops play and I put a post on the MVT

 Charnwood chat. I text East Coast to try and get a spare but Simon is not in this week.

 My friend Tony offers help, which I take gladly and we arrange a Sunday morning to try and sort it.

 Tony arrives with a pair of 6v coils, spark tester multi meter, and a vast knowledge of jeeps.

 We start by sorting out the timing spark plug leads are switched several times the cables to the coil

 are checked and eventually we have a spark. The try starting and there are a few splutters a puff of

 smoke out of the carburettor, still nothing.  What turns out to be the last attempt before a break, fuel

 is spitting out the top of the carb which prompts a coffee break. After a break, we return and try again

 Tony is moving the timing gradually, then all of a sudden the engine bursts into life but is racing so I

 quickly turn it off, but we have life. A few fiddles with the carburettor  and a check to see if anything is

 sticking we try again. Same again the engine bursts into life but is running too fast so is killed. We

 inspect the carburettor and decide that the wear is too great and I decide to replace it before we try

 a restart. 

 A couple of weeks have passed and with a busy weekend mid December, that Christmas thing getting

 in the way, not much has been done. I have got a new carburettor and fitted it but not had an

 opportunity to test it.

 Finally I have finished work for Christmas and the weekend is fairly free Saturday 21^st Sean and I start

 the engine and it fires up nicely at the second attempt, I run it for a bit and then we try the clutch 

 which although adjusted is not doing anything, the gearbox wont move either so halted once more

 and it’s a Rugby afternoon for me so it’s down tools and await tomorrow. Tony messages and comes

 over Sunday and has a look we take the inspection covers off and kind of go round in a circle and

 decide to put an inspection camera in the bell housing to look at the actuator fork, and also to talk to

 Simon about the gearbox. 

 I wind up for the day and we go into town last minute shopping, Charlie rings to drop off the screen.

 When we get back Charlie and Maddie are waiting. Maddie has not seen the Jeep since helping to put

 the tub on so sees a big difference. Charlie asks where were at and offers help. First he sticks Maddie’s

 phone in the bell housing inspection and says that’s fine. Next off comes the gearbox top and shows

 me the wear on the top where the gear stick sits. and there is lots of play. Next a large screwdriver is

 requested and Charlie delves in and when the top is replace we can get the three gears but struggle

 with reverse. Charlie starts it up and the jeep moves forwards and backwards, next is my turn and

 I drive my jeep for the first time.

 Christmas 2024 arrives, Charlie has returned my screen and my intention is to paint it during the

 holiday. I pay a visit to East Coast Jeeps and pick up a new gear box top which the gear stick sits in

 more positively. Over the holiday period we give the jeep a couple of runs up and down the street, the

 second time the boys sit in the jeep along with Sean. We notice a bit of a knocking sound when the  

 wheels are in full lock on a right turn so we will have to investigate this. There are a couple of small

 coolant leaks on the block one from the middle exhaust manifold stud, and one on the head where

 the oil filter bracket is attached. 

January 2025

 It’s now the weekend before returning to work, I have not touched the screen, I have done a few small

 tasks cleaned the garage up with some new storage and made a concise snagging list.

 January comes and goes; I have done very little as its cold wet and miserable. I have put the wings and

 grill on the front, quite a fiddly job on your own. When all fitted I have trouble getting the flexible fuel

 tube straight, so decide to bend the tubes and replace with a braded hose. 

 February  2025

 The plan is for Bob to Collect the jeep and take it to his workshop to finish the wiring.

 I visit Stoneleigh and pick a few bits up. Mike at AMD sorts me out with a black out light for the wing.

 I have fitted the bracket and leave the rest for Bob. 

 

 Bob gives me a call and arranges to collect my jeep on Sunday 23 Feb. Bob, Maddy and Charlie turn up

 with a giant trailer and two planks of wood with large square blocks in the middle. Charlie reverses my

 jeep up on to the trailer; clamp it down and it’s gone. I now have an opportunity to finish the screen,

 paint a jerry can and remove a second tyre ready for the new ones I will order at the end of the week.  

 Sean arranges to collect my jeep with a truck from his work and we go over and meet Bob for an early

 Sunday morning pick up.   

 

March 2025

 With the tyres ordered and delivered,  I jack the jeep up onto axle stands and remove the wheels. I Spend

 several hours cutting off a tyre and decide to take them to be removed, I take them to a local tyre centre

 and they are off in minutes. Sean has the rims blasted at his work and I spend the rest of the week 

 painting them.

 

 New tyres are fitted and I put the 3 back on that I had taken off and drive it out of the garage and

 reverse back in ready for the work required on the steering box and front axle. During the week I 

 remove the wing noting where the cables run and set about removing the steering box. 

 The following weekend I drive over  to East Coast Jeeps and Simon helps ream out the bushes and

 looks at the tracta  joint, we decide to try replacing the brass bush in the spindle housing first. I return

 and rebuild the  steering box and refit it. Now I change the bush and refit the tracta joint. I try a test 

 run around the  block the steering is much better, but the knocking on the full right lock has not gone.

 The next weekend I remove the tracta joint and re assemble, test drive and no knocking. Now I start to

  go on a few test drives, the first is to pop around to Deb’s dads as its his 80^th birthday she has her

 first ride in a jeep not far but it’s a start. 

 

  April 2025

 I now remove the tracta joint form the front axle and re assemble the hub, Deb jumps in and bleeds

 the brakes with me. I take the jeep out for a trip around the block and the knocking has stopped on a

 hard right lock.

 Its Easter and my intention is to drive the jeep over to East Coast to pick up the new joint. I reverse

 out the garage and drive to the end of the estate and the engine is running really fast, over revving so

 I decide to  return home and leave it to sort out when I return. I notice that the throttle rod is close to

 the carb so bend it a little and add some washers to keep it clear of the carb body. I then see that

 there is a large space in the throttle cable between the actuator and the original cable stop is fitted I then

 notice that the screw at the back is fully wound in, I rewind this and that stops it over revving. 

 My next visit is to AMD where Mike has kept a screen to one side, I pick up a few other bits and later

 that afternoon with Emily’s help I fit the windscreen having already fitted the outer frame including

 the rubber to the underside, its now looking like the finished article. Later on in the evening I strip

 the front axle and put in the new drive shaft. The new one comes with a grease nipple you have to

 remove and a new bush for the outer spindle, having done this so many times in the last couple of

 weeks its done in an hour!

 The next day I decide to try a run to East Coast again, I get to the end of the estate and end up running

 out of petrol. Deb comes to the rescue and we get a can of fuel and return home. After lunch we try

 the canvas top as its starting to drizzle, and having fitted it we all jump in and have a spin around the

 block. I notice the engine is over revving again, when I look at the carb I notice the throttle screw has

 wound itself fully in again. In the evening I go through my spares box and find a nut of the same size

 and put it on as lock nut. I turn my attention to the brakes and adjust the cams then top up the fluid

 level. I am now as ready as I can be for tomorrows MVT glider club run out, my first ever run!

 

I was rather worried about doing the front floor and decided I did not have the skills to either repair the outer wing or replace it. Fortunately I was put in contact with a wiz of a welder and have had the tub finished off and its now at the blasters

The The Chassis continues to progress, I have put the second Bumperette on this is the reusable one with a bullet hole in.

 

All of the suspension is done, shocks on new grease nipples and split pins in.

I have fitted all the brake lines and am ready to fit the master cylinder and the control shafts.

 

Most nights I visit the garage and clean blast parts.

 Chassis continues to progress, I have put the second Bumperette on this is the reusable one with a

 bullet hole in.

 I was rather worried about doing the front floor and decided I did not have the skills to either repair the outer wing or replace it. Fortunately I was put in contact with a wiz of a welder and have had the tub finished off and its now at the blasters

All of the suspension is done, shocks on new grease nipples and split pins in.

I have fitted all the brake lines and am ready to fit the master cylinder and the control shafts.

 

Most nights I visit the garage and clean blast parts.

 

The Chassis continues to progress, I have put the second Bumperette on this is the reusable one with a bullet hole in.

 

All of the suspension is done, shocks on new grease nipples and split pins in.

I have fitted all the brake lines and am ready to fit the master cylinder and the control shafts.

 

Most nights I visit the garage and clean blast parts.

 

The Chassis continues to progress, I have put the second Bumperette on this is the reusable one with a bullet hole in.

 

All of the suspension is done, shocks on new grease nipples and split pins in.

I have fitted all the brake lines and am ready to fit the master cylinder and the control shafts.

 

Most nights I visit the garage and clean blast parts.