Started attempting to clean up the engine and undercarriage just enough to identify things and be able to get all the fluids changed. My Uncle Johnny, one of the best car buffs I know, says "It's not rust, it's 'patina'"! Much of what I thought was rust and road grime turned out to be good old-fashioned mud. Gotta love a girl with rock rash!
My new Shop Manual from Books4Cars.com arrived--Yay! Lots of reading homework tonight.
Pressure washed the rest of the debris out of the engine compartment, dried it out, and WD-40’d the spark plugs. The pressure washing didn’t even touch the road grime build up, but did get the loose dust and remaining cob webs out so that nothing would fall into the spark plug holes.
Pulled plugs, and drizzled some motor oil down each cylinder. Bought a nice long 1-1/8” open-ended wrench to put on the crankshaft bolt. With only a little push, she turned! Good air and gurgling out of each cylinder, except #4. Since there were no bad noises, Joey thinks maybe just the valve is stuck open.
Checker Auto Parts of Sedona had a battery in stock. Now to acquire the proper fluids, filters, and do something about the sure-to-be nasty gas tank…
We have many curious folks stopping in to visit with us about the Willy, and what is sure to become our company mascot. At first, just a few curious people, now a half-dozen or more visitors per day who want to hear her story, and even purchase offers. I come out to find the hood open on many occasions.
Just for the record: she is NOT for sale! :D
I got the title transferred at the MVD, and also filled out the paperwork to get the full title history. I shop-vac’d the black widows and hornets out of the engine compartment and interior. WD-40'd hinges and latches. Inspect general condition of Jeep. Everything I found looks promising—she has fluids, inside of radiator, rotor cap, plugs all look pretty good considering how long she sat.
The interior is going to take the most work to get back to factory: the front seats are non stock, and plywood paneling has been added, along with an 80’s vintage Kraco radio and speakers, not to mention pink shag carpeting. Other than that, there is very little rust—the driver’s floor, the rear quarter panels, and possibly the tailgate will need to be replaced.
The plan begins to formulate:
Plan A: If the factory running gear can be resuscitated, we will keep her in a near stock, restorable condition, running and a nice factory-style paint job.
Plan B: If the factory running gear is gone, she’ll get a small V-8, nice axles, lift, wheels, and a pimped paint job.
Plan C: If the running gear, body, frame, etc. is all poor, we’ll slap a $100 paint job on, drag it up front and use it for a sign.
Steve from Jaws Towing in Sedona (928) 282-7004 picks up the Jeep. All four tires hold air.
Delivered to my Jeep shop in Sedona, she gets to hang out with her new sisters.
I start an online search for some shop manuals, diagrams, or anything I can find that will help me identify factory stuff, and help me get her in running condition. I order two books:
On www.Books4Cars.com I find “Shop Service Repair Manual for Willys Jeep Utility Pickup Truck & Station Wagon including L6 226 & F4 134 4WD & 2WD by Jeep 274 pages (60_59437)”
I also find and order: www.willysamerica.com/catalog/
After spying an old Willys Wagon in a field behind the Camp Verde Park last summer, I finally decide to leave my card in the mailbox of the old farmhouse there sometime last fall: “If you ever want to sell the Willys Wagon, please call me.”
This day, March 15, my phone rings. It’s the family that owns the Willys Wagon. They are clearing out the estate and if I want to buy the old Jeep, it’s mine. It belonged to Ed Mechem, a long time Camp Verde resident, and well-known local cowboy. According to the family, it was running when they parked it in the field 7 years ago. The tags expired in 1993, so I'm not sure how long it has actually been sitting. Ed used it to get firewood, and it clearly show signs of some good off-roading, but she’s straight and all there.
After consulting with Don at Savage Sun Engineering, who is also building a Willys Wagon, and talking to Joey and Darryl, who are always dragged into helping me with “projects”, I decide to go for it. We make the deal that afternoon.
After inspecting the vehicle closer, I realize how little I know about these things. Everything is there, and it is such a simple machine, but I have lots of research to do. One of Don’s many helpful leads is to investigate www.OldWillysForum.com, which I join, and begin learning immediately. Don also turns me on to www.WillysAmerica.com -- I particularly enjoy the restorations page, and the videos, as they have lots of good info and pictures of what the full factory details were. It seems like my Wagon is all stock running gear.
