My Willys 3A and 3B Community

How To Join => Once You've Joined => Topic started by: Pats4WD on September 19, 2012, 10:50:42 PM

Title: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: Pats4WD on September 19, 2012, 10:50:42 PM: I feel as if I already know many of you as I have been pouring through the many pages of this page and forum since June. ï¿½That's when my wife says that I started having the affair with "Williet". ï¿½Or that is when I went to retrieve the 51 CJ3A that my Grandfather had given me when I was in highschool. ï¿½I think I have forgotten more of what I have read than I remember.

I am told that he purchased it from the man that owned the ranch that they moved onto in the mid 50s. ï¿½She continued to work on the ranch doing odd jobs like pulling wells with the Koenig winch mounted on the front or pulling the long cable to run the overthrough during haying season. ï¿½Over the years she got pretty tired and by the late 70s she mostly sat out by the fence and kept grandchildren occupied taking imaginary jeep rides. They also liked to play mechanic and moved many of the plug wires to different plugs, this was interesting when trying to get her running later.

In the late 80s She was given to me for a project in Ag class. ï¿½She was off the the big city lights. ï¿½She roared back to life with a few new used parts, alot of elbow grease and the discovery of the correct firing order. ï¿½She didn't get that many miles but they were probably pretty hard miles (High school driver). ï¿½I had a big proud smile the whole time. ï¿½Then came college and she didn't seem like a good option for the 8 hr drives each way. ï¿½Back to the ï¿½ranch she went.

Time flies as life drags us along. ï¿½The next thing I knew I was back in a place where it was feasable to go get her and start over. ï¿½The day we went to pick her up I figured out it had been 25 yrs since I dropped her off back out by the back fence.

Within the first couple of days, after filling the cooling system, pulling the cracked rubber fuel lines and running a hose into a gas can, fixing mouse tattered wiring and putting in a new battery, She roared back to life again. ï¿½I considered myself quite lucky.

I have started to work on a few things like new brakes all around, u-joints, seals and general cleaning. ï¿½I would like to thank many of you for the help you have already given me just by sharing your knowledge on this site and forum.
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: Quebec Jeep on September 20, 2012, 09:02:45 AM: Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: johnrb3b on September 20, 2012, 12:35:13 PM: I love (and envy) family Jeep stories. It's great that your Jeep survived alone for so many years.
Bring that baby back to life and have a blast driving her around.
We're looking forward to pictures, pictures, pictures.
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: Gunslinger on September 20, 2012, 05:47:51 PM: Wonderful story.
Do us a favor and post a photo of your new old bride, we love pics!!!!
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: Pats4WD on September 20, 2012, 09:22:43 PM: I tried several times but it keeps telling me it is to big.
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: Pats4WD on September 20, 2012, 11:01:26 PM: Just a little more reading will sometimes work miracles(http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r564/Copps244/1340581171917_zps5528eca8.jpg)(http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r564/Copps244/DSCN3500_zpsfc2a55aa.jpg)(http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r564/Copps244/DSCN3514_zps341760ec.jpg)
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: johnrb3b on September 21, 2012, 10:21:48 AM: Wow man.
Very, very nice.
Have a blast restoring her.
I'll be she cleans up really nice. ;)
Title: Re: Hello from the Cornhusker state
Post by: athawk11 on September 26, 2012, 09:11:53 PM: Pat,

That is a fine looking Willys...and a great story. Knowing the complete history of an old Willys is a true blessing. Keep us posted on your work, and good luck.

Tim