1959 Willys Family Heirloom: Saving "The Jeep"

pavel6

Well Oiled

Sep 27, 2009

1,875

Vancouver, BC

First Name

Pavel

Willys Model

1. Wagon

Willys Year:

1. 1965

• Apr 17, 2017

• #21

Josh,

You are an artist! It's obvious you will bring the Willys back to it's former glory. In the final photo, with you behind the wheel, i like the two straps that look like they hold the fender on and the door closed...

 

MattyB

Bigger Hammer

Oct 10, 2016

52

Corning, NY

First Name

Matt

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1958

• Apr 17, 2017

• #22

This is awesome. Since you are in Owego and I am in Corning perhaps our Willys will pass in the woods one day--

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

NOBLNG

Sharpest Tool

Oct 9, 2011

203

Manitoba, Canada

First Name

Greg

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1954

• Apr 17, 2017

• #23

Kudos to you Josh! That was one horrendously rusty beast you started with. The sentimental value you have in that truck is a force to be reckoned with.

 

Gojeep

Well Oiled

Jan 10, 2010

4,789

Victoria Australia

First Name

Marcus

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1948

• Apr 18, 2017

• #24

Love the old cast Eastwood bead roller. Never seen one before like that as only Chinese plate type ones now and have to reinforce them a lot to make them work.

 

Metalguy

Precision Fit

Feb 18, 2015

620

Northern WY

First Name

Bill

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1954

• Apr 18, 2017

• #25

Awesome repairs! Love the old bead roller, very classy. Looks like you're on a good clip to get her back on the road.

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• Apr 18, 2017

• #26

pavel6 said:

Josh,

You are an artist! It's obvious you will bring the Willys back to it's former glory. In the final photo, with you behind the wheel, i like the two straps that look like they hold the fender on and the door closed...

Click to expand...

The strap on the fender actually was to hold the chainsaws when driving out into the woods to cut firewood. The strap on the door does act as a latch as the factory one broke years ago.

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• Apr 18, 2017

• #27

MattyB said:

This is awesome. Since you are in Owego and I am in Corning perhaps our Willys will pass in the woods one day--

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Cool truck! My Jeep passed through Corning, on a trailer, on the way to my house. I live a little west of Rochester so that is where it will be for now.

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• May 5, 2017

• #28

Continuing on with the build slowly. Lots of things going on now that the weather has began to become nice again. Here is the driver's floor pan trimmed and bead rolled.

Installing the pan.

Beginning to make the filler piece to close the gap to the tunnel.

More to come.

 

Last edited: May 5, 2017

dozerjim

Sharpest Tool

Nov 11, 2009

326

Clarence,New York (western part near Buffalo)

First Name

Jim

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

• May 5, 2017

• #29

Nice work Josh,and welcome to the site from a fellow WNYer....thats probably the most ambitious project I have seen..keep up the good work,Jim

 

indian john

Sharpest Tool

Aug 18, 2016

285

Kansas

First Name

john

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1960

• May 6, 2017

• #30

I honestly didn't think there was a snowballs chance that lower half of the cab could be salvaged. You are definitely gifted[emoji3][emoji1360]keep up the great work. Can't wait for the updates


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Big Dog Frank

Well Oiled

Feb 12, 2016

2,391

North Lawrence,Ohio

First Name

Frank

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• May 6, 2017

• #31

Great story, great old truck and great work. Good luck!

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• Jun 6, 2017

• #32

More work on the driver's side. Formed the toe board and checking it for fitment.

And welded in.

Just need to make the small section at the bottom of the throttle pedal and the floor work will be complete.

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• Jun 19, 2017

• #33

Finishing the floor! I had rot right into the transmission hole so I first reinforced the hole with a piece of 1/4" rod.

The filler piece is ready to go in.

Here all the pieces are together and welds ground down.

Primed up and ready for action.

With the floor done I finished up the front cab corner. Fitting the filler piece first.

Tacking into place.

All little more welding...

And bam!

Now I was a little leery about this next part, but it turned out to be easier than I anticipated. I'm referring to the extreme rot above the windshield.

Looking pretty nasty. So what to do, but start cutting!

I'm replacing the whole upper windshield frame with 1.5 x 3" tube. I'll be adding the lip for the gasket to be spot welded on later.

Not a show restoration, but way better than it was.

One down, one to go.

Bam.

All finish welded.

On the inside I have cleaned the edges up, added some gussets, and reattached the interior light bracket.

More to come...

 

commando_willys

Sharpest Tool

Apr 29, 2015

425

Cleveland

First Name

Chris

Willys Model

1. Pickup
2. CJ

Willys Year:

1. 1949
2. 1961

• Jun 19, 2017

• #34

Looking great, tackle that rust!

 

mramc1

Gear Grinder

Mar 6, 2017

20

Western NY

First Name

Josh

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1959

• Aug 24, 2017

• #35

Updates!

I replaced the front wheel cylinders, hoses, brake lines, and master cylinder. The shoes and hardware were okay so I left them alone.

Rattle can restoration continues! Got the front fenders sand blasted and edged out in red.

Scuff it and shoot it!

Bam!

Rattled on some flat black on the chassis and it looks good as well.

Here with fender back on and repainted front wheel.

Both fenders and cleaned up trim rings and lights.

Next I'll be finishing up the body work, door repair, and repainting the rest of the truck.

 

Metalguy

Precision Fit

Feb 18, 2015

620

Northern WY

First Name

Bill

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1954

• Aug 24, 2017

• #36

Interesting out of the box thinking on repairing the rust above the windshield! Looks like it'll work great. You're coming along nicely and it's looking wonderful.

 

54 wagon ken

Well Oiled

Aug 8, 2017

1,147

Gilroy ,Ca

First Name

Ken

Willys Model

1. Wagon

Willys Year:

1. 1954

• Aug 24, 2017

• #37

I've changed my opinion on rusted out cars and their ability
to be restored! Interesting and informative.

 

agne2520

Well Oiled

Jan 23, 2011

1,469

eastern, iowa

First Name

brian

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1951

• Aug 24, 2017

• #38

I second what Bill said. Good idea on the upper windshield fix. Nicely done

 

Pivnic

Well Oiled

Nov 24, 2009

3,909

Conifer, Colorado

First Name

John

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1957

• Aug 25, 2017

• #39

Hey Josh, your truck is on it's way to looking good!! Keep it up! Pivnic

 

matty49

Sharpest Tool

Dec 8, 2017

239

Seneca Lake Oh.

First Name

Mathew

Willys Model

1. Pickup

Willys Year:

1. 1949

• Dec 20, 2017

• #40

I think I need to come and be your apprentis. How totally impressive. I d k how long you've been working on this but Ive had my truck 6 mo. And its nowhere near the stage youre at, and bad as I thought mine was, yours was worse. My hat is off to you. matty49