Here is a shortened story on my 46 CJ-2A. This old Willys belonged to my neighbor when I was growing up in the 70’s. He did a spring over lift and installed a 1965 289 Ford V8 into it sometime in the late 70’s. Me and my older brother got to help him with the project. At the time this thing was the coolest vehicle I had ever seen. He used to drive it across a swamp that seemed impassable but it floated across it with ease. He also used it for pulling hay wagons and as a wood hauler. Sometime during the early 80’s my brother bought him a subscription to Four Wheeler magazine and it came with a Four Wheeler license plate. You can still see part of it on the front bumper. Sadly my neighbor passed away near 20 years ago.
I often wondered what came of his old Willys. Well roughly 8 year’s ago while searching on Craigslist I saw it up for sale. I had to have it! When I called on it the seller asked me what I would like to know about it. I replied “what would you like to know about it?” After telling him my story he knew I had to be the new owner and he actually knocked the price down on it. Since owning it all I have done is to give the 2A it’s first operational brake system since probably the 60’s. Now I just enjoy putting around the woods with it. Always puts a smile on my face.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Andy Carlson
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I am doing a frame up restoration on my 1959 CJ6! My uncle bought the Jeep in 1963 and I helped him work on it in 1964-66. His nephew has had it all these years and I am now the steward over it, finally! Always wanted it. Hope publish a story of its restoration in the future. Love these “come back home” stories!
John Barnhart i also have a jeep 55 cj5 in the UP and would like to fine a group or others who also have some jeeps
I’m interested in the hard top on Andy’s Jeep. Is there a manufacturer’s name tag anywhere? Does anyone know of anybody that makes a hard top for the old flatties? I’ve got a M-38 and I live in the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, so without a top it’s strictly a summer vehicle. I know new soft tops are available but I’m looking for something more substantial (and warmer!).
Beautiful machine…one anyone would be glad to own!
Want to install small block Chev. Engine in my CJ 2A and want to know where can I purchase apt. Kits for the swap and will the T90 take take power? Can I swamp the gears for a little faster unit?
Beauty and the Beast! Love it! As an Old auctioneer friend would say when starting his auctions: Here we go folks a Good Jeep in her Everyday “Work Clothes”. Glad you were able to find her before “Cooter and the Boys” hauled her off to the crusher! A lot of good old horses (Jeeps) end up on their way to China in the form of shredded steel! May you have many,many years of fun with your rescued prize! I’m sure Kaiser Willys will lend a good hand to you for keeping her in excellent mechanical condition! Thanks for sharing your story!
That is an ugly-bad Jeep.
I love a good story! My ’49 2-A looks like the ‘younger’ brother to yours, Andy. They could almost be twins, wearing the same paint job, black and rust. I patched all the ‘rust-through’ spots, welding in steel sheet metal and brushing on “RustOleum” to seal it. But no full paint job.
That’s a rustic look, love it, have a 48 2A in he starting process, found it in a barn in East Texas, old boy had 3 total, JB
I wanted a MB ever since I was weened! My quest for one never got me there when I needed my 1st vehicle. I jumped on AMC CJs for my daily drivers and was content for a while.
I sorta settled for a 2A 10 or so years later. “Settled” soon was replaced with “Unconditional Love” for my 2A in which I gave $100 for as I got to know every part of him.
I finally got him looking good, roadworthy and have been driving him since the early ’90s. He’s been upgraded over the years as I got money and time and now he is a pretty fair MB “look alike”.
My photo contest entry story got put in the blog. I sorta was gonna hold off on “My Willys Story” until I made my final tweaks on my Jeep and got him finished to my liking.
Well, it’s in the blog as it was a few years back. I’m darn close to having him just right now! Maybe they’ll let me update my story (really just with additional new pics that I’ll make soon) when I’m hopefully completely finished to my liking.
I admire the way your heart beats, it’s very similar to mine!
Stick my name in the search box and see my EKG!
—-Nelson
Excellent Jeep story, really enjoyed it. I have a question for Dave about the T90 jumping out of second gear problem. I never could fix mine until I put a Munci 4 speed in it. Could you please elaborate. Thanks.
Very cool story. I just purchased a 1964 CJ5 it has quite a bit of History to it as well I’m now in the process of converting it to an sm465 transmission. I love the old ones my CJ5 has a late seventies restoration done to it visually I’m going to leave it alone and just make it mechanically sound I love the old Woods Jeep look good luck take care. 0lllllll0
I have a 1946,1947 &1948 CJ2A . have owned them for 25 years. My soon to be licensed grandsons are taking interest lately. None of the jeeps are licensed for the road, but we run them on 375 acres of mostly woodland that I own. much better than ATV’s.
Rachel,
My first Jeep was a 2-A also. #15052. Be careful of the spring over lift idea as it tends to make the vehicle unstable on the road. Another thing to watch for is with the T-90 transmissions and a V-8 combination the transmission when worn can tend to jump out of 2ND gear under load.
after disassembly the mainshaft can be shimmed ahead to help avoid this. Just don’t use wrought iron washers. If the ground strap under the generator is intact and tight the 4 cylinders would start well anyway.Mine gave me hours of enjoyment before the frame rusted out.
Dave Jones