So how much time do you spend with your Willys stuff

mikec4193

Precision Fit
Jan 18, 2010
923
Mechanicville ny
First Name
Mike
Willys Model
  1. Other
Willys Year:
  1. Other
Hi Everyone.

It must be the winter blues or something but I cant seem to make headway on anything this winter. This is how it has been so far. Stop racin in September. Immediately started workin on the '65 CJ5 plow Jeep. Had a ton of stuff to do on that before winter. Then we changed gears to the 1960 Willys truck doin 2 rebuilt fenders on it.....I got sick of lookin at it (the Willys) around January. Pulled the ole Rat Rod out of the snow bank. Been grinding on that since then.
My question is as the heading states. How much time do you devote everyday to your Willys???...I try to work everyday in my shop except Tuesday (I work a double shift that day) for about 2 hours. It seems like I get ahead 3 steps and then back 2 steps. I have been working on and in my garage like this since I got my garage in 2002. I still have nothing that will leave the driveway under it's own power.
Do you guys spend more time in your shops or what???
Thanks for any advice
MikeC
 
Mike,
If I had a shop, I would spend a lot of time out there no matter what. If nothing else...Pondering. What to do here, what to do with that, maybe I can tweak this, or make one of those, and Oooooh, wouldn't this be cool and so on. :) Sadly, I haven't touched my Wil...uh, Wagon in eons. It's just been sitting in the garage, waiting to breathe new life. Now that the warmer weather is coming and the bank book is De-stressed, from previous "life" commitments, I can start the engine work in late March. Woo Hooooo!! While that's getting done, I have a list of fix-its to take care of as well; such as body work. Yeh, like I know what I'm doing there. The poor thing has developed some rust in these Missouri winters, so I'll be looking at how to cut out and weld in some decent metal. FINGERS CROSSED. I see so many of these folks that have a real talent in that area. I'm envious. :mrgreen: Anyhow, the weeks are counting down and it'll be time to play. :cheers:
 
My guage on time spent is a little off right now because of the time spent jumping in and out of my restoration. Sometimes I'm working on something Willys related evryday and then I'll be out of it for weeks at a time. Now, since the paint is finished up, I'll be ramping up my time to get it all put back together before spring. Then, as much as I am enjoying this process, I am hoping that once it is done, I won't have to do anything to it for many years to come (although, somehow I know that won't be the case). I will probably shift some focus to fixing up my "new" MG and as the weather turns, working on a couple of classic motorcycles I have. Clearly I have too many projects and there is never enough time to devote to them and of course, they will never be done. And there is always the possibility of finding new and exciting Willy's projects in the future.
 
I haven't touched the pu all winter,I have the cj-5 that I am just starting on in one corner and the dozer in the other side getting some lovin' done on the motor....soon as that goes back together I'll bring the Willys out and do some tinkering.Sun was out today and the roads were dry,I was really itching to go for a ride,can't wait!!!!!There is allways something to do,and like Aquawilly ,I do a lot pondering.......Jim
 
The only time I spend on the PU is when I'm driving it, wagon is stored in the garage, haven't touched it this winter.
 
Out of the 7 antique/classic cars I have, only 1 ( my '67 Fairlane) doesn't need work to be driveable. I don't have heat in my garage, so all the work has to be done in decent weather which makes it a mad scramble.

I end up spending Winters planning, studying shop manuals, making lists and saving money for parts so I can go like the devil when the weather breaks. My Willys needs a clutch, oil pan and carb switch and I've decided to make it number one priority this year as soon as I can get it out of storage.

I guess if I had any brains, I'd sell one of the cars and buy a heater for the shop--but dang it--I love 'em all!!!

Cheers,
Old Willy
 
I use portable heaters on 40+ degree days, which is probably warm to some of you. I "finished" my wagon in 2004, but have some things I did that I've seen done in a way I like better. So back on the list it goes. My more affordable short time project VW Cal Look bug has been on the 5, 10 and 25 mile test runs with problems revealed each trip. If the 50 mile test goes ok I'll call it road worthy.
Building my wagon took 4 1/2 years at about 10 hours per week. That includes the reasearch time online during the really cold months. Be careful during those times, that's when I came up with my TJ suspension conversion that blew away my original budget.
Get 'em on the road, 'cause it's a rolling car show when you do.
 
On most weeks I get up and put in about two hours on the wagon before having lunch with the wife and going to work Monday through Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I try to get in about four hours before I go in the house. But working full time and having a side buisness sometimes cuts into the Willys time. Side work has been slow with current economy, but looks like it is starting to pick up a little, that will mean more money for parts and no time to put them in. Have enough other projects of my own to spend 80 hours a week in the shop and not catch up for years. Then occasional projects for other companies get top priority when they come in and my stuff gets put off.
 
Well as of lately for me, I have been trying to get an hour plus or more in the garage daily...... Been juggling with the garage, kids, and hunting for a job.

As for the garage, we have been in our house now for over year now, managed to get the garage insulated, and the garage door insulated.... Have one space6 heater out there that will get the garage up to around 60 in an hour. So I can't complain. Just have to keep the grinding down when kids are napping.....

Will admit I am almost always thinking about what to do next on the wagon...
 
I the reverse live 50 mile from Palm Springs winter is the only time you can work on anything.

So about 8 to 10 hours a week.

Summer it get to 118 alot so no AC in the garage four months of nothing.
 
How much time do I spend with my Willys?

Not nearly enough!! I am doing great if I can squeeze in an afternoon or so every two weeks. Lately no time at all, too cold! But spring is on the way and some other projects will be getting finished up so I can focus some more time on my goal of getting the truck ready for the road.
 
Time ??? Not enough... I'm under the gun and would like to be running by 4-25-11 so I can test drive it before I head to Moab, Utah. I get carried away with trink'ets that I add, I must concentrate on the do-dads that make it safe and dependable....what-ever....I'm slow at the progress, bad back, but young mind.
 
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