Closed the deal on the Jeep today but won’t be driving it until a few repairs are made. Needs a new carburetor and a steering box.
In all fairness, the shaft (assuming it’s the original) lasted 76 years. And it would have been interesting if this had happened while I was motoring around town.
I’m learning more about this model Jeep. The engine –an L134– is a very reliable engine. No idea when I’ll drive this baby home but I’m looking forward to the adventure.
UPDATE (12/22/22): While Paul was test driving the Jeep the steering shaft broke. Which means new steering box and column. As well as a radiator cap and a carburetor (It runs but it won’t even attempt to idle). Nice to find these issues now. Suspect there will be more.
Paul is moving fast. New wheels and tires a big improvement. And a few rattle-cans of camouflage paint took care of the hideous camo. I love this flat green. Perfect.
Seats are in good shape so I’ll live with the camo there. Look close to see the 3-speed shifter, the 4WD lever, and the high/low lever. I’ll probably lose the old Igloo cooler/cubby. Looking forward to figuring out all of the dash gauges.
The hideous camo top will be the first to go. I’m planning on this being a spring/summer/fall ride. I’ll adios the flood lights, too.
I’m very excited about adding this old (there’s some question about whether ’46 art ’47) Jeep to what I guess I have to start calling my collection. Might have it by the first of the year. Late xmas present, or early birthday.
I’ve always been fond of Jeeps. Not the current models, the “original” Jeep. I’ve spotted several around town in recent years but the owners would sooner give you a leg than their Jeep. I get that. Feel the same about my Land Rover. So when Paul Bandelier mentioned he had a 1946 1947 Willys CJ2A, I raced out for a look.
Paul says the engine is as simple as a lawn mower and anybody can work on them. That’s what they told me about the Land Rover and it’s sort of true.
What would I do with three vehicles? Drive each one for two days every week? I guess this would make me a collector.
I really can’t explain my love of old pickup trucks and while I only have room in my life for one, I enjoy seeing what my friend Paul has for sale. (He gets most of his trucks from Colorado where rust is less of a problem.)
Today he was showing off a 1980 Ford Courier. I can’t say I remember these but I wasn’t thinking about pickup trucks back then. The truck has its own Wikipedia page. This beauty can be yours for $3000.
Helpful Neighbor and World’s Smartest Guy helped me get the hardtop back on the Rover this morning. Took about two hours with the new storage rack. (Image above animated GIF)
Paul Bandelier shared these beauties. I’ll update with the particulars in a few days.
Dan Poettgen and Chief Mechanic Scotty worked some magic on the Land Rover.
Every so often I’ve had to take it in for them to adjust a cable (?) that fed fuel to the diesel engine. As it slipped, I had to push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and still wasn’t going very fast.
Like so many things with the Land Rover, this bit wasn’t really done properly the first time. So Dan and Scotty ordered some parts…made some parts and voila!
I have way more “throw” on the accelerator and it feels like the engine is (for the first time?) getting the fuel it needs. Drives like it has twice the power and acceleration it had before.
The handful of readers who followed my Land Rover adventure will recall Grayson Wolf was the young man who found the Series III Rover that has been my daily driver for the last few years.
Based in the Bay Area, Grayson works on high performance vehicles for the well-heeled and finds buyers and sellers for just about any thing on four wheels. He’s been working with a friend to produce videos used to show and sell. I was particularly impressed with the music in these videos, original compositions by Grayson’s buddy. [2000 Ferrari 360 Modena, 1967 Jaguar E-Type, 2001 BMW Z8 Roadster]
Mr. Wolf is still out there finding, buying/selling, restoring vintage automobiles. This week he shared some photos of an FJ55:
“FJ55s were rare to begin with and had zero rust prevention, so they all evaporated. When you do see them they are usually a collection of rusty parts held together with Bondo. So an original paint 55 is a rare sight. That one now has fuel injection, a 5 speed, disc brakes, AC, beefier axles, lockers, etc.”
“Original paint with heavy patina, so we did a satin clear coat on it.”
Spotted on 71st Street in Manhattan, where –I’m told– physicians can park anywhere. This is a thing of beauty. I would love to know the story that goes with it.