This is my 1962 Willys CJ-3B. It was bought by my father as a plow vehicle new in 1962. I learned to drive on it and taught my sister to drive standard shift with the Jeep. My dad sold the Jeep to a friend who also used it as a plow vehicle for many years. The Jeep was sold to a neighbor and I purchased it from his widow and began the restoration in 1996. A new steel tub was bought and the frame was repaired all by me. I enjoyed the Jeep until 2015 when while going for a short ride a strange vibration turned out to be a broken crankshaft. This gave me the excuse to do a refresh restoration.
This included a total rebuild of the original engine, power steering from a YJ, smaller steering wheel, rebuilt transmission and transfer case, front disc brakes and dual master cylinder, repaint of the front clip, steering damper, and overdrive. The Jeep now drives great and stops on a dime. All the work except for machine work and some engine assembly was done by me.
Willys Jeep Life Story – Daniel Polillio
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Wonderful looking Jeep, wow. You did a great job, Daniel! I especially like that you did the work and repairs/updates yourself.
I never have rebuilt my Jeep from the frame up, it is pretty original as to mechanical, a 1956 CJ-5 that I have had for 63 years. Over those years, I did convert it to 12 volts, added a winch, built a Capacitive Discharge Ignition for it, did some piece by piece body repairs, installed a Warn Overdrive, and made a clevice version of the “L” ended clutch release rod—no more broken rods every year!
As original as it is, I bet there are some pine needles still stuck in the grease from the 1960’s in my explorations in the El Dorado forest near Pollock Pines in California.
I love my Jeep more than life itself. It got me home safe in many snowstorms!
The damn Forest Service has ruined a lot of the Jeep explorations with closing vast bunches of the old Jeep trails, so now only way I can go back is hike in.
At 80 years old they have ruined the joys of my past.
Your Jeep is awesome !
I too have a CJ3B, 53 model and I learned to drive on it as well. My papa sold it in 72, I found it in 84 when I got out of service. The man’s widow gave it to me. Kind Of rough by this time. I did the complete frame off years ago and would love to do all the stuff you did to yours.
I’m an old mechanic, I remember when did brakes and electronic ignition came out. They’re great.
Well done. Wondering where you bought those additional or extra light fittings on the front panel
Beautiful jeep I love it that jeep remember me my grand father back in the time that’s my favorite jeep
That’s a great looking Jeep. Love the upgrades. I know there are purists out there but if you are going to use it, you need to update things as needed. Great work!
Great story Rachael! I too have my grandfather’s Willys, it’s a 1960 CJ5 and it was his plow rig as well. I’m still in the midst of a total restoration, but couldn’t bear to replace the tub, so I’m painstakingly cutting out and replacing the Swiss-cheesed areas (there’s a bunch). I have to keep convincing myself I made the right choice, hahaha. I think it’s so cool that you’ve done most of the work yourself, that’s such a tribute and personal source of pride and connection, great job! Congratulations!
Alan
No tengo un Jeep en la actualidad, pero de pequeño my papa tuvo un CJ-3B ,y recuerdo de ir a la finca en el muchas veces, me gusta mucho todo lo que sea sobre los pioneros del 4X4, siempre leo los articulos publicados por Mike, me parece de que debemos mantener esa aficion.
You done a nice job on the Jeep. Everyone has their reason for making changes. Your jeep. I myself like drum better . Because of less trouble and it doesn,t take much to get them stopped. No faster then they go. Less trouble in .You don,t have to worry about the calipers sticking. If they sit idle for a little while,but its your jeep and you descion. Congratulations on a job well done.Good looking Jeep.
Daniel- you’ve done well with the changes and upgrades to your CJ3B. Most older Jeeps are works in progress and when I can’t work on my own Jeep collection I love reading about others’ project vehicles!
B Burton
Peter the disc brakes (front only) were from a kit with a willwood dual master cylinder. The overdrive shares gear oil with the transfer case and works very well.
Hi Daniel,
I am here in Queensland. I have installed four disk brakes in my Willys truck.
I needed a 1 1/4 inch master cylinder. The callipers for the rear bouth
leaked when I installed them. Now it stops quite good.
Is the overdrive behind the trans case happy and does it lubrikate enough ?
all the best.
Peter
I wouldn’t worry about the disc breaks, I raced motorcross for years, the disc worked a lot better that the old drums did, never had a problem even in the worst mud.
That’s a great job you did on the jeep.
It’s a nice restoration job, but keep the disc brakes clean when off roading they are great for gathering dirt.
Dave
Hi Rachel,
It’s crazy that I teared up reading about a vehicle restoration, but I too have a CJ-3B.
It was purchased new by my Granddad in 1960 for the farm. I learned to drive on it with my Granddad. I taught my sister to drive it. We used the PTO to cut wood and chop grain. We used it for hunting in the mountains, towing the hay wagon (and the honey wagon), fencing and skidding logs. Once a week we would go get the mail. It kept the cattle company in the field the night the herd was attacked by a grizzly. The Jeep was a member of our family.
Sounds like yours was too.
From my grandma it went to my uncle on a neighbouring farm. I bought it from his widow. I can’t bear to take out any of the dents because they each have a story.
Marilyn (nickname Micky)