Tools and Advice for Starting a Restoration.

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Bigger Hammer
Apr 5, 2021
25
Eagan Minnesota
First Name
Luke
Willys Model
  1. CJ
Willys Year:
  1. Other
I'm a younger guy who has always wanted to work on classics, but never had the money. I am a college student currently and my uncle gave me my grandfather's Willys that has sat for 30+ years since it had engine trouble. Unfortunately, I'm unable to go look at it and get some pictures but, I am trying get photos sent to me to help identify it. From memory and some online looking I believe it might be a CJ3A hard top.

From people who have worked on some of these Jeeps before, what are some tool and things to look for when I start working on it? I have about a month before I will be back home and able to work on it. I want to order any specialty equipment ahead of time.
 
Welcome aboard, Luke.

Note: this thread is now a "sticky" to increase visibility. There is a ton of experience here on the forum. You're bound to get a ton of great tips and insight.
 
There are some electronic stuff here.

Resources

www.oldwillysforum.com www.oldwillysforum.com

I really like both, I use my phone and IPad alot, issue is working in the Sun really sucks. So paper is nice to have at some point down the road.
 
timd32 said:
There are some electronic stuff here.

Resources

www.oldwillysforum.com www.oldwillysforum.com

I really like both, I use my phone and IPad alot, issue is working in the Sun really sucks. So paper is nice to have at some point down the road.
Click to expand...
Also plan to keep it where there is not cell service. so paper books are good for those situations.
 
If the Willys has not been used for years, then the brakes need servicing/parts replacing.
One tool all Willys need eventually is a rear hub puller. The hub/drum combo is pressed hard onto the tapered rear axles. Buy a quality (re expensive) hub puller. As stated above, buy a reprint of the factory service manual and read it while at school. Also, read @Vintage Don's thread about his CJ2. There are also plenty of CJ builds and threads. Read them while you cannot work on your Jeep.

Don's thread.

A 1946 CJ2A has arrived in VintageDonVille!!

With video! (Turn on your sound) You saw it here first!! This has been in the works for about a month... @Ken_P nailed it a month ago! @bird made me jealous... And @Stakebed needs something to watch, with all that popcorn he bought...... EDIT - we moved this thread - which was originally...
www.oldwillysforum.com www.oldwillysforum.com
Cannot beat Don's writing style and pictures for entertainment and education.
 
Use the search forum at this site to look up questions about parts, procedures, and how-to's, read a lot of the " build " entries just for general knowledge and idea's, read the tutorials on the parts suppliers websites. Write down notes as you do this and research the sites for that new info/questions, plus utube. In regards to tools and equipment, many auto parts store " rent" out specialty tools, ( they give you back the deposit you post- so hard to call it rent ). Get your dad involved ( especially if he can help finance :):) ) ! Have fun!
 
With your budget in mind, if you don't already have some of the basic tools, and if you are indeed working on the Willys branch of the Jeep family you can start out with socket sets and wrenches that are SAE (1/2, 9/16, 5/8, etc.) and ignore investing in the Millimeter (9mm, 10mm, etc.) type tools. Of course this idea begins to fall apart the farther you get from the Willys on toward the later Jeeps. And in looking back at when I started the biggest limiting factor that I encountered early on wasn't tools but having a good place to work on my Willys that was out of the weather and could be locked up when I wasn't working on it.
 
Not really tools but based on pics I would invest in the PB blaster business. Find it or similar on sale and get a bunch. A drag link socket will likely be needed. Search google and don’t overspend. I couldn’t find any here in Hastings but might have in eagan. Pic below
 

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airportops said:
Oh man, I just noticed that you are in Minnesota - forget tools and find a good garage ;).
Click to expand...
Summer is July 4-6 this year. They say the lakes should be open by end of June. My current drifts are almost down to 5 ft.
 
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