Newbie with a '52

52Tom

52Tom

Bigger Hammer
Jun 9, 2024
51
Kent, WA
First Name
Tom
Willys Model
  1. Aero
Willys Year:
  1. 1952
Guys - A friend owns a beautiful 52 Aero that's spent many years garaged on a concrete floor and tomorrow (Tues) I plan to go over to his garage and break the driver's front wheel loose so the car can be trailered to my place. I've volunteered to rewire her, change fluids, brake hoses & wheel cylinders, belt, hoses and the rest of whatever she needs to become road-worthy again. I will post pics and hope to pick brains, as I've not worked on anything Willys before. (I have rebuilt many 50s & 60s engines, mostly Studebaker L-head & OHV sixes & eights, AMC and Chevy flat-tappet stuff, nothing exotic) Though I don't plan to open up this engine, the owner tells me the car has less than 40K miles - It's going to need new electrics and from what I could see, the thermostat housing was terribly corroded.
So, from time to time I will be pestering the forum with questions and I thank you in advance! I'm the same age as the Aero and might just see if the owner would be willing to swap one of my (running) cars for his. :) This thing is cute as a bug and although I'm 6'5" I still fit comfortably behind the wheel.
More tomorrow when I update with pictures!
 
Welcome to the forum, cool project good luck.
 
Thank you, Tim! It is a sweet car and getting the front wheels unstuck fought me. Had to use my (tapered axle three-point) puller and found the brake linings had become one with the drums. Just removed the brakes from both wheels to roll and will dolly it to my place this weekend, I hope. The owner tells me the thermostat housing was aluminum - which probably accounts for the corrosive pile where it used to be.
This is going to be a fun summer project!
20240611_135450.jpg20240611_142733.jpg
 
Is there a disc brake conversion kit available for this car? Thanks!
 
Heard back from Speedway and they don't have anything to fit...and after repeated emails to Scarebird with no answer it looks like I'll be stuck with shoe brakes. Thanks for your suggestions!
 
How about Brennan's Garage?

Brennan's Garage

A small hobby shop building cool things after the daily grind.
brennans-garage.com

Nothing directly listed but they have a lot of stuff. Might need an email to them and some pics of your spindle and DIMS.

I have an early 2WD Truck and wondered if the spindles are similar to the Aero stuff.

Lots of folks use his brackets and set up for the 4WD conversions, might be a resource.
 
Tim, That's a great lead, THANK YOU!!
I'll keep you posted.
 
Sent him pictures and a vehicle description. In his quick reply he didn't think his stuff would work for the Aero. Still looking! Going to try Jeepsterman next.
 
Where did I see someone's posting of today's part numbers, substituting for Aero (Willys) numbers?
I need to get a pair of inner hub front wheel seals and, of course, there are no numbers stamped on the old ones.
Thanks!
 
If you could find a good Interchange book, you may find wheel hubs from another mfr.
You could maybe use ford wheel hubs with disc rotors and just swap bearings to fit your spindles. _ _ a thought.

When I totaled my '57 Willys 2wd wagon in 1971, with the I-beam front axle, an axle from a Studebaker pickup was essentially a Bolt-in swap. back then, my dad looked it up in the interchange bible. :)

That thing is Cute-as-a-Bug. _ _ and one year newer than me. LoL
 
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