Preparing for a journey to Oregon and back.

Blindmelon

Well Oiled
All-Star
Aug 10, 2014
3,103
Agua Dulce, CA
First Name
Larry
Willys Model
  1. Pickup
Willys Year:
  1. 1950
Hello All,

I just completed servicing my pickup for a trip to Salem, OR. next week.. It's about 900 miles each
way.. I'll be on the I-5 running about 60 mph.. I'll try and remember to take a few photos on the
trip... It's all pavement, so it should be boring, baring any unforeseen events.. I'm hoping for a little
rain so I can check out my new vacuum motor @ speed. This will be my first long trip with 258 power
and the 5 speed.. I wonder if I'll see any other Willys pickups or SW on the road..
 
Hi Larry... It sounds like another "Excellent Road Trip Adventure" to unfold next week for you and your Willys Pickup. Take lots of "Road Trip" Pictures. Safe Travels. Pivnic
 
Any trip in a Willys is a fun adventure. One of the forum contributors, Mark W. lives in Silverton, about 15 miles East of Salem. If you have any problems, I'm sure there are forum members along the say that would be willing to assist. Have fun.
 
Maybe post your route, if there are any forum folks along the way you might want to visit...

Pete
 
Please drive safe and have a blast. Take tons of pictures. You are doing what many of us wish we could do. Good Luck.
 
Thank You All,

I'm going to a family reunion in Oregon.. Some of those folks I haven't seen in 60 years.
I am looking forward to the drive. I'll be traveling up the I-5 all the way. 500 miles the first
day and 400 the second.. I tried my dads trick of using a broom stick for cruise control the
other day...Well, that little experiment didn't work out. But, it made my wife laugh..

My route and such: I am leaving Thursday morning. I am leaving Anderson, CA
Friday morning and arriving in Salem that night.. Return trip on Monday and Tuesday.
I don't have a smart phone so, it's just me and the road with AAA if needed. I always
have a backup plan of renting a 1 ton van and car dolly.. Pull the drive shaft and tow
to finish a trip. I do carry a cell phone. But, it's a dumb flip phone. So, I'll be off
the grid for 6 days or so..
 
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As mentioned above I am in Silverton, Just 12-15 east of Salem. And haven't started work for the season yet. So if you have any trouble while in the Salem area you welcome to give me a call. I also know a Willys guy in Roseburg.

I'll PM you my Phone number if you want it. Phones in my pocket all the time.
 
With all the interesting 2-lane highways in NorCal and Oregon, why take I-5?
 
With all the interesting 2-lane highways in NorCal and Oregon, why take I-5?


Besides I-5 there's really only 101 and 395 that run any distance North and South from CA to OR You can I-5 it to Weed and the take 97 but that really takes him out of his way. And 101 is for sight seeing not traveling. Getting anywhere on 101 takes twice as long at I-5

But I agree that part of the country has some awesome scenery.
 
Hello All,

Happy Easter Bunny. Well, the best laid plans...as they say... I arrived in Anderson, CA on Thursday evening.
The truck ran great.. I decided to check my water and oil...I found water in my oil...Bummer.. Put the Willys in
an impound lot and continued with pig of a rental 1 ton van......That's all they had. Tomorrow, I will return to
Anderson and collect my truck.. I will load it up on a rented trailer and drag it home on Tuesday... My 1st guess
is a cracked cylinder head... I've been down this path many times when I was still working as a mechanic..
Worst case, I'll find another 258 and rebuild it...

Via the hotel computer, in Salem, OR.
 
attachment.php

And there it is.. Ready to go home for repairs...Long drive yesterday in the rain.
The 1 ton rental van is a pig....7 mpg and 500+ miles to go.
 

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That is a bummer...You did the right thing by pulling the plug on it before having a catstrophic breakdown in the middle of nowhere...

: (
 
Thanks, Anderson (where I discovered I had a BIG problem) is just south of the
grade up to Shasta, Weed, etc. Pulling that grade and locking up the crankshaft
somewhere on it was my forecast..

I can't get into the diagnosis and repair for a couple of weeks and it's frustrating.
But, I have other stuff to attend to before my little orange toy.. Dang, even the
speedo failed @ the 450 mile mark... I had it rebuilt a year ago.. I'm now looking
at an Equus mechanical speedo with trip meter.. I'll have the original re-done but,
I think it's time to try an upgraded instrument..

I'm hoping I can get my truck back in service and reliable before my annual trip to
Boise for Thanksgiving.......Work, work, work. No rest for the wicked.. Even those
of us who are retired..
 
Last year wife and I were heading to Mount Angle, Oregon and broke down in Corning. Transmission went out. Found a good mechanic in Chico, but still a week delay. We were pulling a travel trailer and just stayed at the casino with a rental car.
 
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