Ole Blue is a 1946 Willys CJ-2A that has been a friend and part of my family since I was about 7 years old. Ole Blue belonged to John and Irene Brown, my parent’s best friends while I was growing up. My Dad and John would hunt together; deer, quail, rabbits, whatever. I was always with them, from their cabin in the pines to the hunting trips in the desert, I never missed a minute. When John passed away from cancer, Rene told my Dad that John wanted him to have Ole Blue. For several years after John died we continued taking Ole Blue hunting and giving rides to all the kids. My niece and nephews and sons and daughter had all enjoyed riding around in Ole Blue. In October of 2007, upon my return from a deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard, my Dad told me he was giving me Ole Blue. My wife and kids and I immediately began dis-assembly. While I had planned to restore the old Willys, I wasn’t necessarily planning a complete frame-off. As I kept removing parts, I kept finding more parts that needed to be replaced. Every part was kept in various buckets, boxes and piles. We stripped the frame and repainted it. We boxed the front part of the frame. We rebuilt the axles, differentials and added all new brake components. We worked on the body. We rebuilt the transmission and transfer case. Then I went to “freshen-up” the old L-Head 4 cylinder motor and the block was cracked. Well, I got lucky. I found a guy selling an L-Head on Craigslist and jumped on it. I bought new rings, bearings, gaskets, etc. to freshen up the old L-Head motor. My buddy, Ron Wilson, did the engine for me.
When I started restoring Ole Blue I wasn’t sure if I was going to try to go all original or not. It didn’t take long to decide which way I was going to go. John Brown had made up my mind for me. He had done some interesting modifications to Ole Blue. He had welded a complete second skin on the body. He had converted the steering from Ross steering over to a Saginaw box and removed the entire bell crank assembly. He had replaced the original Willys cylinder head with a Kaiser cylinder head, which is actually a common modification as the Kaiser head adds a bit more horse power. There were a few other cool modifications “JB” made to Ole Blue that I actually enjoy… not for any other reason than it still feels like John’s Jeep. I did a few things to Ole Blue myself. I installed a modern wiring harness. I updated the steering so it will turn all the way in both directions. I found a temperature gauge that will work with the Kaiser head. I installed comfortable low-back seats. I also notched the rear fenders so I could move the seats back about three inches. I replaced the floor pans and built my own floor bracing out of 1” X 2” tubing. I built front and rear bumpers out of 2” X 4”X ¼” wall tubing and put a Rancho 2 1/2” suspension under it.
Well, I guess that is it for the story of my Ole Blue, for now. She looks good and runs great. I have to thank my kids for helping me working on her. I have to thank my wife, Jodi, for helping me work on her and for allowing me to spend the money it took to get the old girl back in shape. I have to thank my Mom and Dad for believing in me and my ability to restore such a treasured piece of our family. Last, but not least, I have to thank John and Irene Brown for years of friendship and lasting memories. I miss them both tremendously. I know they are both looking down and I pray they are at least a little proud of what I have done with Ole Blue.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Paul Mehaffie
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Great job, in the family since 1946 and the fun you are still having fun from it, give me the boost to continue keeping and maintaining my 1970 VW Thing although I am 67 and the Thing is getting more and more tough to drive specially in the ever increasing traffic in Karachi, Pakistan. Have fun, cheers!
Dear Admin,
The Saginaw steering box was a common conversion on the older vehicles but cracking around the frame near the box was also common. If you did not box the frame at the tube crossmember watch out. You also can boost the braking by adding a hydravac fluid booster in line, or putting complete brakes off of a utility wagon, wagoner, or V-6 CJ-5. With moifications ‘1948-50 mercury brakes worked also. Have many enjoyable hours with a real jeep.
sincerely,
Dave Jones
Very nice job and I’m sure they’re all proud of the work you’ve done! Enjoy!!!!!
Seems like a buzz kill, but why is it still chocked. That was something I did not want to have to do.
very nice job,and a very nice history…congratulations and kind regards from Maldonado – Uruguay.
Fantastic that you were able to end up with THE jeep that has all those memories built in. I have been riding in mine since I was 2, over 60 years now. Would own A jeep anyway, but sure is nice to have THE jeep!
You did a beautiful Job on it, I like that the jeep has been in the family a long time, I have three
of them and have restored several CJ’s M 151A2 M37 and now a M715. although the M37 was a
Dodge, the time and money it takes it’s a nice Hobby.
I like the color. Do you have a paint code no. For this color?
Hey I love it, you did a nice job on it, tell me what kind of wheel are they, please show the engine area and the interior
Nice job. You’ll get much pleasure out that reliable jeep for you and yours. A treasure you’ll certainly pass down.
Good Luck,
John
Nice 1946, I have a 1947 CJ2A, can’t wait to get her on the road!!!
I enjoyed reading and seeing the pictures. Thank you, and thank you for your military service too.