December 2011 a Real Ranch Jeep
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WCW is an organization open to anyone who owns or has an DECEMBER 2011 interest in Willys or Jeep automobiles. Membership options: u $25 per year (three Newsletters, WCW Decal, and Parts Distributors List) u $30 (all of the above PLUS the yearly Membership Roster) u $18 ONLINE option (all of the above delivered ELECTRONICALLY ONLY via email or Web) Direct all correspondence to: QUALITY PARTS & RESTORATION West Coast Willys FOR COLLECTORS 10831 NW Laurinda Ct. OF Portland, OR 97229 1946-1964 Phone: (503) 646-8182 Email: [email protected] WILLYS-OVERLAND Website: www.westcoastwillys.com UTILITY WAGON, TRUCK, SEDAN A Real Ranch Jeep DELIVERY & JEEPSTER Jim Russell, WCW #677, contacted WCW in 2006 WWW.WILLYSAMERICA.COM (707) 632-5258 looking for a flatfender to rebuild and use as a dependable Jeep on his ranch in Oregon. Walt, WCW#1, found him a H Drivetrain Parts 1950 CJ-3A on a ranch in Fairfield, CA, where it had been H Suspension Parts stored for years for another rancher out of Colusa, CA. The H Sheet Metal Panels Jeep had been painted John Deere green and, because it had H Wiring Harnesses been stored inside, was not rusted out. In June 2006, after H Rubber Parts convincing the original owner in Colusa to sell the Jeep, H Service Manuals Jim and his son John (who was 10 years old at the time) H Memorabilia picked up the Jeep and restoration began. In April 2008 the H Technical Support completed 3A made an appearance at the WCW gathering H Conversion Parts at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines show before it was flat H 166 Page Catalog / $14 towed to Oregon. A little more on the restoration from Jim: “The objective of the restoration was to build a CJ-3A that could be used as set a steady idle. And Jim used 15" station wagon wheels a dependable ranch Jeep in the Pacific Northwest. The Jeep with Corsair Traction Tires for the Oregon mud. would have to start after being left for a few weeks, carry As you can see in the photos Jim’s restoration was a heavy loads on our working ranch, pull farm equipment high-quality job, and the Jeep was brought back to red with when needed, climb and descend steep muddy hills and yellow wheels, making it look like it just came from the look presentable at special ranch events. Due to the envi- factory. ronment of the ranch the Jeep had to have fully functioning four-wheel drive and dependable brakes and be somewhat How has the Jeep fared? Here’s what Jim had to say. “The weather resistant.” CJ has become part of the ranch and visitors ask about it when they arrive. People always have their own Jeep story All restoration work except the engine rebuilding and to tell and look at the CJ with fond memories. The CJ is painting was completed by Jim. He took apart and cleaned willing to teach all children how to drive a manual shifting all systems on the Jeep and replaced any parts that were vehicle, act as tour guide for visitors and greeting vehicle worn out. All of the metal brake lines were replaced to bring big rigs through the fish hatchery during Christmas with stainless steel lines that Jim bent himself. He then tree harvest, pull a harrow when we are dressing new fields, sanded the CJ-3A down to the metal and made the neces- transport me around the ranch, and act as recovery vehicle sary body work repairs. The engine was rebuilt to spec by to rescue other vehicles. Although it is very utilitarian and International Engine Rebuilders, Inc in Anderson, CA. it is used in the manner it was intended, there is still some- Several areas of the CJ-3A were upgraded to meet the thing about driving a vintage Willys around the ranch and demands of the ranch. The electrical system was changed through the woods on a regular basis. The CJ just seems to to 12 volts with an alternator to match the other vehicles feel at home and in its element, and sixty-one years after it on the ranch. Brakes were upgraded from 9" to 11" to cope rolled off the assembly line, it is still working on a ranch. with the steep hills. The foot starter was replaced with a key “Every time I start the Willys and drive through the ranch start and a hi-torque gear reduction starter purchased from a smile comes on my face. Driving this little Jeep is like Ryan “The Jeep Guy.” The points distributor was replaced putting on a pair of my favorite slippers; it just feels right.” with a solid state distributor. The Carter carb was switched to a Stromberg because the Carter leaked air and wouldn’t (more photos on p. 8) Page 10 Page 1 Member News: My 1947 Willys Wagon was built in only four days and 15½ hours. It was in by John Caponetto, WCW #1514, Fort Mohave, AZ California that he also first started his Kaiser hospitals and health care programs for workers. My 1947 Willys Wagon is my first car. I have had it since Original 4 cylinder Kaiser’s interest in providing economical services for I was 15 years old (now I’m 64). My father received the car engine (1964) the post-war population took him into the auto business. as payment in full on a bad debt of $175 in 1961. It origi- In 1947 Kaiser teamed up with Joseph W. Frazer (who had nally had a 4-cylinder flat engine with a 3-speed standard worked his way up in Packard) to beat Ford and GM into transmission with a column shift. I used the vehicle to take the post-war era with a new car line. my first driver’s license test. Three times is a charm. From 1947–1955 the innovative Kaiser-Frazer cars were My dad owned a carburetor rebuilding facility with a full on the market and included the Custom, Deluxe, Virginian, auto parts department and a tune-up shop in an adjacent ga- Carolina, Traveler, Dragon and Manhattan sedans, the Henry rage—a “would-be” mechanic’s paradise. I started working J (1951; used the Willys 4-cylinder 134 motor), the Allstate, there on Saturdays when I was 8 years old, disassembling small economy cars including Corsair and Vagabond, and carburetors 15 at a time, all lined up in a row. I got paid five the Darrin, the first production fiberglass sports car in the cents a carburetor and sometimes I could turn $4 in a day. US, beating Corvette to market by one month. Unfortunately, Kaiser-Frazer could not compete with other volume automak- When I reached 17, the Jeep transformation started taking With 1967 327 ers at the time (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) and this became one place. My cousin approached me one day and said that what engine (1967) primary factor behind the end of the car line. I needed was a small-block Chevy engine. I said, “What!” In 1953 Kaiser purchased Willys-Overland for $63 million, The next thing I knew we were dragging a 1956 small-block changing the name to Willys Motors. At the time of purchase 265 Chevy out of the wrecking yard over to my Dad’s shop Willys-Overland had no real competitors for its Jeep line and in Los Angeles. With my cousin’s help, I rebuilt the Chevy had a thriving export and international business. engine, slapped a 2-speed powerglide on it, and I was on my way. When a fire destroyed the GM automatic transmission plant, and GM offered to buy Kaiser’s Willow Run plant Well, the old Willys rear end couldn’t take that V8 power in 1954 for $26 million, Kaiser jumped at the offer, selling and the axles started breaking. I got tired of changing the plant and moving all production to the Toledo, OH, Jeep axles. My cousin said that I should put in a ’56 Chevy rear plant. Production of the Henry J ended before the move, end so we did. But now I had to carry two spare tires, one and the remaining lines were produced in Toledo until early for the front and one for the rear. To solve this problem, 1955 when production moved to Argentina. Kaiser did try my cousin told me to put in a ’54 Chevy front end. “It bolts to keep his inexpensive auto line going with the innovative right up!” he said. Yeah, sure! So I did. That was great Willys Aero, which unfortunately ended production in the except now the front end was higher than the rear end. So US in 1955. Production of both Kaiser and Willys passenger I had the rear leaf springs reworked by Warren Spring Co., cars did continue, however, in South America; Kaiser ve- and—outstanding!—a level car. hicles continued to be built in Argentina through 1962, and It was a great car to have in high school, but the pres- Aeros were built in Brazil until the 1970s. sure was mounting by my friends to have more horsepower. After sitting for 25 years (2007) Production of the Jeep line, however, continued to be a So in 1967, I saved up my dough and bought a brand new (Sometimes there just isn’t success. The company name was changed again in 1963 to Finished, Lake Tahoe (2011) Corvette 327, 350 HP engine, backed it up with a Muncie enough Liquid Wrench!) Kaiser-Jeep, and in 1967 at the time Kaiser died his Kaiser- close ratio 4-speed transmission, and I was back in action.