Jeep Gregs Willys CJ2a, rusto-mod version

[Gravy]

Looks good, I'll bet you wore out a toothbrush cleaning that carb.
Lately I've been doing hot water and vinegar afterwards and it makes the metal look nice and bright.

 

[Greg]

WOW! I didn't know about that mixture. It's really effective, huh?

Very effective... a 3 day soak is usually plenty. I started this last weekend so these parts soaked for 6 days total and I pulled them out on the 2nd day and ran a plastic parts washer brush over them to clean the grime off. The day I pulled them out, I scrubbed them with a small brass-bristled brush to get the hardened gunk off. They cleaned up very easily, the Pine Sol seems quite effective at cutting the nastyness.

Looks good, I'll bet you wore out a toothbrush cleaning that carb.
Lately I've been doing hot water and vinegar afterwards and it makes the metal look nice and bright.

Plastic and Brass brushes, they didn't wear out and it didn't take long! So you do the Pine Sol first, then the hot water & vinegar? I'll have to try it next time.

 

[Greg]

I'm not much for naming my vehicles, but if I had to... this one would be 'Old Yeller'.... because it's Old, Yellow and smells like a wet dog. Seriously, there is YEARS of funk & nastyness caked on underneath and it stinks! I'm hoping I can get access to a pressure washer with a kerosene heater later this year. This thing is bad under the tub!

 

[Greg]

Over the last 2 days I've been working on the exhaust, I'm far from an exhaust guy... know enough to get me into trouble. When I got the CJ2a it had dual exhaust with cherry bombs and the pipes were routed under the frame and the rocker panel... problem was the exhaust was falling apart. The exhaust on the drivers side was still there but had holes everywhere, the passenger side was non-existent. I bought some exhaust pieces from Speedway, starting with some 1 3/4" bent pieces and a small 12" Flowmaster HP-2 muffler. I picked up a few other parts from NAPA and went to work.

I ended up reusing the collectors and building with new exhaust tube from there, running the 1 3/4" inside the frame rails, next to the transmission & t-case and then bringing them together behind the t-case where I transitioned to 2" exhaust.... built a bent 'Y' for exhaust scavenging you know, for that race car performance. I used my roll cage coping skills to make the 'Y' and think it turned out pretty damn well!

The end result... it fits, is SOLID and doesn't hit anything... the sound is way better than it was. The small Flowmaster dampens the sound, but you can still tell it's a rowdy Oddfire V6! I still need to weld up a couple of the joints, but it's pretty much done! It's not perfect, but I didn't pay an exhaust shop $500 for it!

 

[Hickey]

Looks good Greg! I like doing my own exhausts. It's not terribly difficult, and easy to modify if you need to later.

 

[Magerdgr]

Hey Greg, there is a Warn overdrive for this on KSL for $600 here:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=678&ad=42912233&cat=&lpid=1

Not mine and I have no affiliation, but my dad has one in his '69 CJ5 with the Dauntless, it's fantastic! Makes it very drivable.

 

[Greg]

Looks good Greg! I like doing my own exhausts. It's not terribly difficult, and easy to modify if you need to later.

Yeah, it's one of those things that I know I can do myself... so I have a real hard time paying a shop to do the work. My work isn't the best, but it's plenty good enough for me. And the more I do, the better I get... so it's a Win-Win!

Hey Greg, there is a Warn overdrive for this on KSL for $600 here:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=678&ad=42912233&cat=&lpid=1

Not mine and I have no affiliation, but my dad has one in his '69 CJ5 with the Dauntless, it's fantastic! Makes it very drivable.

Man, I would LOVE to have that! I just don't have the funds.... thanks for the heads up Wade!

 

[Magerdgr]

Yup, same boat here.

 

[jeeper]

I've also been toying with the pinesol cleaner. It should be noted that any shiney surface (carb slide, choke butterfly, etc) gets ruined by the solution.

 

[Tonkaman]

I've also been toying with the pinesol cleaner. It should be noted that any shiney surface (carb slide, choke butterfly, etc) gets ruined by the solution.

Ruined? Are you sure it's not just a dull appearance? Seems like my stuff just looks oxidized

 

[Magerdgr]

One thing I've used to clean up really grungy carbs and oxidized cast aluminum parts is a home made soda blaster. Super easy and cheap (less than $10) to make and run if you have a decent air supply (not the band). It does get soda EVERYWHERE if you don't have a way to contain it though, and you'll want to give it a thorough rinse afterword.

 

[Greg]

I've also been toying with the pinesol cleaner. It should be noted that any shiney surface (carb slide, choke butterfly, etc) gets ruined by the solution.

Ruined, like you had to replace it with a new one? What was the part made from? Any pics of the ruined parts, out of curiosity?

I got this idea of ADVRider.com, there are many guys that have used Pine Sol & Water to clean carbs without issue. I've cleaned 3 motorcycle carbs and 2 auto carbs without an issue.

 

[RockChucker]

Exhaust looks killer. I think my TJ took me a few days too.

 

[jeeper]

Not ruined as in not functional, just ruined as in the finish became ugly.

 

[Greg]

Started working on the rear brakes, these old Willys have a 2 piece axle with a hub pressed into the shaft and a key holding it all together. It's a proven design, but taking the drums & hubs off requires the right tool... and there really is only one best tool for the job. I picked up a OTC Universal Hub Puller and added 2 more puller legs so I was pulling on all 5 studs. Using the tool made the job quick and easy, had the first hub off a few minutes after starting. Both of them would take a decent amount of pressure, then 'POP!!' and they were free!

With the drums off, the shoes were soaked in grease and oil... obviously not working well either. I ordered new wheel cyls and shoes from Walcks 4 Wheel Drive, they specialize in quality replacement parts for a reasonable price. I had the local NAPA turn the drums, then went to work cleaning, priming and painting the backing plate (to prevent future rust) and then putting it all back together.

I still need to put the drums back on, but it's almost there. This was good enough for tonight!

 

[Bart]

Stopping is good.

 

[Hickey]

Those brakes look really simple, and easy to work on. I hope they are much more grabberery for you now.

 

[mesha]

Nice!

A guy text me and asked if I wanted to buy his 47 willys. No powertain, but dana 44s underneath. I already have a Willys in the backyard so if I buy it I will be just like Greg

 

[Kiel]

is that a compliment or an insult?

 

[mesha]

is that a compliment or an insult?

Yes