1946 Willys CJ2A

As far as 'things' are concerned, this is my pride and joy!  When my grandparents retired back in 1959 they moved from Chicago to the wilds of Wappapello, Missouri on beautiful Lake Wappapello.  Shortly after moving in Grandpa bought the Jeep to haul trash to the dump, tow the boat to and from the lake and to run errands.  Between ages 10 and 17 I spent my summers at the lake and have lots of good memories about those times but some of the best memories are of riding in the Jeep. 

We'd go fishing nearly every evening after dinner and it was my job to help hook-up the boat to the Jeep and to make sure that all of the gear we'd need was in the boat.  Then off we'd go to the public launching ramp about 2-miles from the house.  Grandpa would back the Jeep and boat trailer into the water and then climb out onto the trailer tongue to unhook the clamps and push the boat off the trailer.  Once we'd clear the lake of fish and were ready to head back home Grandpa would back the trailer into the water until it was nearly submerged.  I'd push the boat off of the beach towards the end of the trailer and, using a rope attached to the bow, float the boat onto the trailer.  Grandpa would again climb out onto the trailer tongue and pull the boat onto the trailer and fasten the clamps.  It was nothing like today's modern boat trailers but it was a lot of fun.  Other times we'd haul trash to the dump and I'd take along my Daisy BB gun to plink cans and bottles at the dump.  We'd also make the annual run to Acorn Ridge, Missouri in the Jeep to buy 3 or 4 bushels of peaches.  Grandma would make dozens of jars of peach preserves, peach pies, peach this and peach that.  I couldn't get enough!!

When Grandpa died in 1977 my Grandma sold the Jeep to my cousin, Dick.  Dick, who lived and breathed fishing, lived near Goldman, Missouri and used the Jeep nearly every day to go back and forth to his fishing lake and also to run errors.  I desperately wanted the Jeep at that time but never said anything to my Grandma.  Back around 2000, still aching to own the Jeep, I asked Dick to please let me know when he was going to sell the Jeep as I really wanted it.  Well, a couple of years ago Dick, who was getting older and having trouble getting around, wrote to me and told me that if I still wanted the Jeep I could have it!  To say I was thrilled is an understatement.

A few months later my buddy, Charlie, and I drove down to Goldman and brought the Jeep home.  When I first laid eyes on it I was so happy and excited that my heart about jumped out of my chest.  A few seconds later though I realized that the Jeep was in horrible shape.  DIck had not driven the Jeep in several years and it had been left to the elements under a lean-to next to his barn.  Age, rust and neglect had taken it's toll and I briefly second-guessed myself wondering if this was a good idea after all.  But I hadn't come this far to give up that easily.  We had to use a car carrier trailer to haul it because the Jeep was leaking nearly every fluid.   

Once home I had it towed to a mechanic specializing in old Jeeps in order to evaluate the state of the engine, tranny, body, frame, etc.  Considering the age and condition I was amazed at low little work was actually needed to bring the engine and tranny back to life.  A small modification to the tub had to be made in order to install a different driver's seat frame so that I could actually sit behind the wheel (one of the facts of life of being a 'full-figured' kind of guy).  We got the Jeep in running condition and then it was off to the body shop.  I clearly recall the day I drove the Jeep from the mechanic's shop in Geneva, Illinois to the body shop in Carol Stream, Illinois, a distance of about 12-miles.  It was the coldest day of the year...right around 0 degrees.  I was bundled up 6-ways from Sunday with layer upon layer.  It was a freezing drive but I was as proud as I could be.

My selection of body shop was truly a stroke of good fortune.  I had been referred to them by my first choice because the owner did not have the time nor the space for a restoration project.  The guys doing the work, Tom, Rick and their father, Tim, were nothing short of amazing paying strict attention to the smallest of details.  First task was to strip the Jeep of anything that could be removed.  Next, we separated the tub from the frame and sent both pieces off to be sandblasted.  That process revealed that while the frame was in excellent condition (with the exception of some minor damage to the front bumper horns) the tub was another matter.  Now you should know that it was never my intention to restore the Jeep to car-show quality.  I wanted the Jeep to look as good as possible and to be as safe as possible while at the same time keeping as much of it in the same condition as it was in when my Grandpa owned it.  I wanted to drive the Jeep as an every-day vehicle not just on car-show days or special occasions.  This was to be a labor of love and a project to honor my Grandpa.  We found that rhe tub had substantial amounts of damage.  We estimated that at least 30%-40% of all of the metal would have to be replaced including the entire front floorboards, passenger side body panels (nose to tail), gas tank and some other pieces.  I could've just bought a new tub for the frame but then it wouldn't have been my Grandpa's Jeep. Tom and Rick understood this and tried to keep as much of the original metal as possible.  My cousin had converted the electrical system from 6v to 12v but he had not converted the original tail lamps or front marker lamps opting instead to add after-market lights.  Those were removed and new dual-bulb 12v lamps were added to the back in the original location.  A new 12v wiring harness with fuse block was also added.  When it came time to paint I chose a color very similar to the color it had when Grandpa owned it.  The original color of the CJ2A's was a very bright, nearly neon, green.  I chose a flat green paint that was one or two shades lighter than olive drab. 

The finished product was a sight to behold.  I thought I felt pride on the day I picked up the Jeep from the mechanic.  But that paled in comparison to what I felt on the day I picked up the finished product.  It was too bad that Granpa wasn't around to see it. 

Since pickup I've made a few changes and have a few more to go,  I had the four 'Willys' stamps on the body painted a contrasting cream color to make them stand out and to break up the green.  I've also added an old Motorola under-dash AM radio, an FM converter and some 2-meter ham radio gear.  Some of the gauges are not working properly and I'm trying to figure out where to put am AM/FM/CD radio plus some ham radio gear.  Some of the dash gauges aren't working so while there is some work left to do I'm gonna have a ball doing it.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.  

That's my good friend, Charlie, who helped bring 'Willy' home	Cousin Dick supervising the loading	Ready to go!  I'm happy...can you tell?
Sandblasted Frane.  Great condition considering the age	You can see the bumper horn damage here	Right side tub damage.  I don't know how the spare tire stayed on
Left side tub damage.  Not nearly as bad as the right side.	Looking forward from the tailgate.  Note the floorboard damage.	More floorboard damage on the right side
Hey!  That engines cleans up good	As does the frame!	New floorboards
New right side metal	Note the waves in the cargo area.  Gives 'Willy' character	Starting to look good
Coming together	Looking really good!  I can't wait.	Details after the paint job
Almost ready	PICKUP DAY!	Those are the original dash plates
Note the different style/size of the two seats.  The passenger side is original while the driver's side is after-market (adjustable)	The best looking vehicle in the neighborhood!	I drive it nearly every day
The tires on the ground are new.  The spare is not.	Classic vs. New.  Which do you prefer?	Original Engine Block - Flathead 4