1959 Wagon on 79 Wagoneer build

I have had about 7 welder over the past 5 years from harbor fright, miller, snapon and now eastwood i got the mig 250 welds better than any other welder i have had and from sheet metle to 1/2" steel, ther mig 175amp is a nice machine and could handle just about all jobs restoring your willys
 
Duane, I fully understand the kids in college expense! Luckily, that's behind us now with a couple of student loans to pay off.

Pivnic, I chose a Millermatic 211 Autoset MIG. I bought it in 2011 and I think the cost was around $1200 with gauges and cart. Since then my son bought me a spool gun ( ~ $200) so I could weld some aluminum gate frames for him. I have had a Miller stick welder for 35 + years, so that's the only reason that I chose Miller over Lincoln. I worked with a guy who taught welding at a junior college, and he tried to talk me into buying a Lincoln saying they were better?? I guess it just depends on your preference. I am by no means a good welder, but it does everything that I need it to do.

The gas bottle (120cf) cost about $52/yr to lease and about $35 to fill it, so if you already have the gauges, it isn't too expensive.
 
Is there any long term contract on the bottle lease typically, or could I just lease for like a year?

I have regulator, hose, nozzle.

Thx

Duane

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You can just least it and trun it in wen your done, or you can buy a tank out right, also look on Craigslist for a tank you just swap for a full one at the suplyer
 
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Owned since 1984 or 85. Used extensively in cabinet shop for maintenance and fabrication of structural supports, corbols, legs etc. After a good cleaning of contacts, she works like new again. Going to use it to weld 2x2 120 wall square tubing to build my OC Trikes tubing bender.

Just finished a teardrop trailer frame for neighbor with it.

Have a borrowed Lincoln mig. Used a Hobart. My lack of experience left me not knowing the difference.

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Son's TIG. He rocks with it but he is currently working 70 hour weeks. I would need more time practicing than my projects total.

I would love to get good at welding, but reality is I will be doing lots of neglected wood projects once my wagon rolls out of the garage.

This weekend is hoarding purge time. That will most likely help me more than any other skillset ever. HAHA

Duane

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Nice machines, welding takes practice until then keep grinding wheels on hand hahaha they help alot
 
Started after work with engine and axles on FSJ chassis

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Stripped it down and flipped it.

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Jenky dangerous solution to working alone.

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No blood, no bruises in place on tablesaws awaiting cleaning and final welding of mounts and mods that were basically just in mock up thus far.

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Going to use sons TIG on DC Arc. Was playing a bit. Like it for chassis stuff better than my old AC only tombstone. Have about 50lbs. of rod so gunna use it because I know it may be ugly but will not fail me. It's what I know.

Leased a mixed gas bottle for a year. Going to mess with MIG on sheet metal now that work is calming down a bit.

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Well the closer I look, the more work I find. I thought the Wagoneer Chassis swap would be a shortcut but it is requiring a little more attention.

Before I stripped things down, I noticed that one leaf spring was rubbing on the chassis, most likely for years. The paint was worn of. The other side has at least a 1/2 inch or 13 mm gap between the spring and the frame rail.

See pictures.

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I set the chassis up all level and laid out strings and straight edges. It's got a hernia aka bulge on the one side. Everything lines up. Springs are parallel. Axle alignment pins are same distance apart and same cross measurements.

Going to cut into the lower section of the C channel frame, pull it together together with a pipe clamp, weld the kerf or kerfs. Then sister both lower edges with some 3/16ths by 2 inch flat stock I have. Then box the rear of the chassis.

I read on a Full Size Jeep forum that this is a common issue when people beat the snot out of Wagoneers. The body on the donor was perfect except some rust. Who woulda thunk it be bent?

Yeah insert swear word of your choice and move on. Shoulda just boxed the stinking Willys chassis and modified it to run the longer springs. It would have been about the same time investment.

I really want to drive this thing in 2017. Even if it's just around the block.

Oh well

Heading to Anza Borrego in my oldest son's JK Unlimited with the wife and dog to chase desert wildflowers and renew my desire to work on this old girl.

Duane

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Not a build update. Instead a distraction update. Took the wife and a friend wildflower hunting in Anza Borrego Desert State Park this past weekend. Found this narrow canyon hike and the start of an epic wildflower bloom.

Southern California Willys owners get out there in the next 4 weeks. Leave the pavement, walk, hike. It is truly amazing to see the desert so full of cover.

Important build update; wife told me, "Get that thing running and I will go."

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Cool spot! My wife told me if I put in a cage and 5 point harnesses she'd try wheeling. Game on!
 
Funny thing about the cage, my 61 wagon had one. When I was dating my wife, it freaked her out. Made her continually question my judgement. Now that our oldest son has a JK Unlimited, she is all about the full cage.

Necessary but intimidating to the newbies.

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I think my wife always questions my judgement. Especially when it comes to my truck!
 
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Get the evening in the garage. Chassis up on a bench makes for a great relief to my back while welding and grinding.

That movie, "The Blob" had a heavy influence on my welding style. Using DC Arc, 7018, 1/8th inch at about 105 amps to insure I burn through the rust that grew when the chassis outdoor time frame got extended by several months.

This is for the normal guys on the forum. It aint pretty, but like a farm implement, it will work just fine.

The weekend in the desert worked. I found my energy to work on it after 10 hours at the desk.

Duane

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Just to clarify, some United Auto Workers Union Slob, along with AMC Quality control thought this was acceptable on the production line when this chassis was assembled.

Using this as a reference, I feel just great about my work. [emoji12]

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Bent frame sliced and pulled where I want it.

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Initial repair to frame to hold its shape.

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1/4" x2" strap drilled for rosettes and clamped in place. It also bridges the splice where I put the frame back together when shortening it.

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Bridging frame joint.

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The Blob stopped by to coach my ARC welding. Oh it's uglier in person trust me.

But I will stake my life on the structural integrity.

Going to strap the other side then replace the crossmember that falls just behind the rear axle.

Then on to complete rear crossmember and hitch tweaks.

Got the brunt of my body mounts welded to stay.

Progress was huge last night. Let's hope tonight goes as well.

Duane.

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That looks awesome keep it up! Impireing me to work on ky just need to get the work done on my daily driver befor o can pull the willys body in the garage
 
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Love that moment when you return to the crime scene and double check your work with fresh eyes.

Frame straightening is correct. The aluminum straight edge represents the leaf spring. Consistent gaps on both sides.

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