Electrifying...

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I replaced the water pump, radiator hoses, and bypassed the leaking heater for the time being. The old garden hose test on the radiator was positive, so I put it back in, for now. New fan belt, new spark plugs and wires (distributor cap looks like new), and new negative battery cable. Since it’s time to get the battery installed, I am now not sure what I have: a 6V or a 12V? Somehow, somewhere, or someone, I got the idea that I had the 6V, but after some clean-up (again, note that I said "some" clean-up) of the engine compartment, I can clearly see a "12V" on the tag of my AutoLite starter motor.

The generator has no identifiable markings on it at all, except for a large black widow's nest in the brushes.

Researching…can’t find a definitive answer in catalogs, manuals, or an online search, so I post the question on The Old Willys Forum, and get an immediate and simple answer: 1957 and later = 12V. Thank you, Wally72! Woo-hoo!

Getting close enough to a first trial start that I can almost taste it!

One hurdle down...

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Update…a couple weeks of frustration over the broken bolts last month. It took quite a bit of creativity, swearing, and begging to get the snapped bolts out. I called in Darryl Ranges, long time friend and co-instructor, who now owns Sedona 4wd Solutions. He is my go-to guy when I can’t do it. He was able to drill out one bolt (after snapping the EZ-out in it), but had to resort to the old BFH, tap and die to restore the other one.

Having that done means I can finally move forward with everything else. In the meantime, I was cleaning and installing new parts in the fuel (see previous post) and cooling systems. I put my new Kaiser Willys catalog to good use! Very quick and thorough service from Kaiser Willys!

New water pump and inline fuel filter installed.

Dealing with a gassy situation...

Monday, April 12, 2010

I pulled the gas tank (only three bolts hold that in!?) for cleaning. Since it sat for years with a missing gas cap, I feared the worst. It wasn’t too bad—some varnish, some grit, and a well-preserved cockroach, who I named Fred (visible in lower right of photo).

I had a hard time seeing into the tank, so I stuck my camera in and got a great view of the inside of the tank:

Cleaned the tank out with acetone and a shop vac. Replaced the sending unit gasket. Replaced a section of fuel hose (obviously, from an old fuel line repair) and installed the in-line fuel filter just below the pump. The wire to the sending unit was broken, so I patched that together—we’ll see if it works later.

Bought a chrome gas cap at Checker for $6.99—my favorite purchase so far, as it is the first externally visible sign of progress on this wagon.

Happy trails!