Hello from sunny Cornwall England

Thebaldyman

Knuckle Buster
Feb 8, 2018
4
Cornwall, England
First Name
James
Willys Model
  1. Wagon
Willys Year:
  1. 1952
Hi

Just joined the forum as a friend has just bought a 1952 Sport Wagon to go with his 1945 WW2 Jeep. I am based in the far south west corner of the UK and will be traveling across Europe to Slovenia to pick it up next week. Around a 2500 mile round trip! I must be mad!!! Looking forward to picking some of your brains as we plan to make a start on its restoration later this year once we finish a 1970 Porsche 914

Cheers

James
 
I agree, you should post your trip in the Road Trippin portion of the forum. Would be fun to document!
 
Welcome to the forum, looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Pete
 
Welcome from Denver. Sounds like a great road trip. Please take pictures and post them.
 
Well the Jeep is now squeezed into a tight garage in snowy Cornwall after spending many many years as a bin store in a garden on Bosnia and then sat outside in Slovenia all this after being de-commisioned from the Yuglslavian army in 1972.. We didn't do the road trip in the end due to the weather across Europe being cold and snowy!! Nothing to what most of you guys experience every year that's for sure.. I have attached a couple of pictures of it for you to see. I will add some more as we start to figure out what we want to do with it.

It's currently running an old Mercedes Benz diesel engine out of a 50's 170D and is a bit smoky to say the least!! I think this is going to be the first thing to sort out. We will look to change this out to maybe a Chevy V6 or the like to make it a bit more drivable along with a Kaiser Willys disc brake upgrade so we can stop! Other than that the bodywork t has certain character which will do for a couple of years until we decide to paint it. I know in the US the V8 is a popular engine conversion but unfortunately the British government are bringing new rules regarding modifications to classic vehicles which will dictate what we will be able to do engine wise!!! I will now be asking lots of questions as we are looking at this as a possible tow vehicle for his 1945 WW2 jeep when we take it to events across England such as Goodwood Revival etc. Other than that it will be used as all of our classic cars are, no point having them to be garage ornaments is there!!!!!
Cheers James
 

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Thebaldyman said:
Well the Jeep is now squeezed into a tight garage in snowy Cornwall after spending many many years as a bin store in a garden on Bosnia and then sat outside in Slovenia all this after being de-commisioned from the Yuglslavian army in 1972.. We didn't do the road trip in the end due to the weather across Europe being cold and snowy!! Nothing to what most of you guys experience every year that's for sure.. I have attached a couple of pictures of it for you to see. I will add some more as we start to figure out what we want to do with it.

It's currently running an old Mercedes Benz diesel engine out of a 50's 170D and is a bit smoky to say the least!! I think this is going to be the first thing to sort out. We will look to change this out to maybe a Chevy V6 or the like to make it a bit more drivable along with a Kaiser Willys disc brake upgrade so we can stop! Other than that the bodywork t has certain character which will do for a couple of years until we decide to paint it. I know in the US the V8 is a popular engine conversion but unfortunately the British government are bringing new rules regarding modifications to classic vehicles which will dictate what we will be able to do engine wise!!! I will now be asking lots of questions as we are looking at this as a possible tow vehicle for his 1945 WW2 jeep when we take it to events across England such as Goodwood Revival etc. Other than that it will be used as all of our classic cars are, no point having them to be garage ornaments is there!!!!!
Cheers James
Click to expand...

I did a frame swap with a 1994 chevy C1500 and my 58 Willys pickup. It has the 4.3 liter V6 in it. I feel it was my best option for upgrading everything. Take a look at my build called green machine. Enjoy


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Welcome from Colorado, James. Your "New" Wagon" looks pretty good! Definitely record and post your Grand Road Trip Adventure to get your Willys Wagon. A 2500 Mile Road Trip is Worthy of documenting it and having pictures to preserve it. It will be an excellent document to go back on in the future for the memories and maybe a few laughs! Pivnic
 
Just food for thought. If you are going to use it for a tow rig. Maybe an updated 4cyl diesel wouldn't be such a bad engine option. That old Mercedes would cost you a very shiny coin to rebuild. Another idea, what about a chassis swap with a newer Range Rover, or something like it? It would get you a newer drivetrain, updated axles and brakes, and a frame that would easily fit a reciever hitch for towing. The local magistrate may like it also. Newer engine means better emission output, and more fuel efficient. Ultimately, its your Willys, We will help you out however we can from this side of the Atlantic. Two-bit
 
Hi
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!! The jeep is in the garage now and we plan to bring it out again around the end of May to start digging into it then. We will have a better understanding then of how the British government will be trying to screw over the classic car scene here!!!!! We have already been speaking to an engine builder that specialises in American engines and cars and are now thinking of having a small block built to give low down grunt to pull as opposed the high bhp screamer to fly along!! The guy is really excited by the project as he has never seen a Willys station wagon in the flesh so to speak. To do a frame swap isn't going to be possible as I've mentioned the government is planning big changes as to what can and can't be changed on a vehicle to maintain it's status as a historic vehicle. I will start a new thread in the build section and post pictures and updates as and when I have them!!! Still I've got the 1945 Willys to drive around in until then��

Cheers. James
 
I would put an 80's Mercedes 5 cyl diesel in it.
Ben

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