through another weekend

mikec4193

mikec4193

Precision Fit
Jan 18, 2010
923
Mechanicville ny
First Name
Mike
Willys Model
  1. Other
Willys Year:
  1. Other
So we all got through another weekend. It was smokin hot here in the greater Northeastern NY area. Had my daughter and son in law in for the weekend; that was a bonus for sure. Yea old smelly Willys truck gotta new set of oil lines (thanks Carl Walck), Got brandy set of front leaf springs coming in on Monday night, I think the spring guy said $180.00 a side, with shackle bolts we are looking at $370.00 (oh that hurts)....All the bolts are loose and the truck is patiently waiting the new parts. These old trucks love new parts thats for sure.
Also gotta line a 1949 CJ3 and a 1947 CJ2. Not sure which way to go but the Willys truck needs some company.
Maybe they can become friends as they sit in the same area in the garage/yard.
Yard work went off well too...thank God for enough rain to keep everything growing.
I have to say the more I work on the smelly old Willys the more I appreciate the simplicity and the design of a 50 year old truck.
 
Mike, as I recall, you had concerns a while back about using your Willys as a daily driver. Have you been driving it up to this point? How's it workin' for ya?
Steve
 
Hey Steve

I am still getting the old Willys ready. I really tried to look at all the safety issues on it first. Had to replace the guts in the Drag-link they were toast, the ties rod ends looked so rusty they wouldnt take a grease gun. Truck still didnt look right even after that work. I started doing some measuring and it looks like one spring is flat and the other one is bending in the opposite direction. So I am hoping now maybe this will get it closer than it was. The rear springs are so rusty they are busting the straps on them so they may have to get redone too. Seems like everytime I get a little closer something else breaks. I'll get it done yet...It is too cool of a truck let sit.

Didnt you want to sell your old wagon???...did it sell yet??...I hope you dont...you'll regret it I think at least.

mikec :)))
 
Hey Mike,
Yeh, that is the one thing about these old trucks; they always need tinkering...even when they don't. :) The wagon...even my wife says don't sell it, because I'll regret it. She should know...I've done it before, which is why I have this one now. :) Problem is, she doesn't want me dumping another load of $$ into it either. Quite the little conundrum.
I was figuring on doing a little liquidation to get ahead of the money line, but it's looking like i'll be hanging on to it and putting more $$ into the ol' boy than I'll ever get back. Besides, my son is waiting for me to kick the bucket, so he can get a hold of it. It's gonna hurt, but once I'm driving it again i'll be a happy camper. Too bad it always seems to be about the $$ though.
So, I saw you were getting your new springs. What brand? Where from? Are they used? Without stepping on toes here, i'm hoping you didn't get Rancho springs. They're beefy, but they'll shake every nut and bolt loose and kill your dental work. :)
Steve
 
Hey Steve

The springs I got for Willys I got from a local spring shop. They were made in the USA somewhere in PA I was told. I wanna try to keep this truck as it was intended to be. I ended up swapping them out last night. Took about 2 hours and it was a roller again. The told me he can do the rear leaf springs for $400.00 and he'll give me all the hardware that I need. I think that is about as cheap as I can get for real American made steel. It currently has 11 leafs of each side. They are rusting so bad the clips that hold the leafs together have broken so I think it is time. The biggest issue I'll have is he doesnt have a supplier so he needs me to pull one out so he can replicate them. I dont like to have me Willys not be a roller, but I guess it could be worse. I'll start saving $$$$$ again.
How does your wagon ride???...mine truck rides like there are no springs at all...squeaks and creaks and leaks too...how about yours???

mikec
 
Hi again Mike.
The Great Spring Debate. :) I currently have springs installed that were made by Paul Barry at Willys America. This was back in 2003, when I had decided to take it all back to stock configuration. The ol' wagon rides pretty good...when it's running :(. Still, not like a newer vehicle, but for a leaf spring old truck...pretty good. If I remember correctly, the whole set up cost me about $900.00 The leaf packs are 11 up front and 12 in the rear. I'm quite happy with them. It was a good investment. The Rancho springs I had on there were 3 and 4 packs, so each individual leaf was quite thick and extremely stiff. A nasty ride for sure, but it sure looked good. :) Going over any kind of rough terrain always led my mind to wonder which tire was making contact. Now I know they're all on the ground unless I get really crazy, which I never do. I like the fact that if I want to get off the pavement and go down a somewhat questionable road to a particular fishing hole or camping spot that I can do so. Once I get that engine back in there, there'll be no stopping me. I'm not hard core 4WD by any means. I just like knowing that I have the capability when required, plus I just like driving the thing. Rust issues are now a problem though, so sooner or (not later) I need to address those issues. Have fun with it and keep me posted on those springs! :cheers:
Steve
 
I'll add my $.02......I installed new springs from Walck's shortly after getting my PU on the road. The new springs made a huge difference in ride quality and handling, big improvement over the old tired flattened springs that I am sure were original. Well worth the money and time.
 
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