This 1946 Willys CJ-2A was purchased by my Dad over 43 years ago, a few months before I was born. It was primarily used as a hunting vehicle and for camping trips a couple times a year. The rest of the time it was a great place for me and my brothers to play and pretend to drive. This Jeep has always been a part of my life and I have many fun memories of it. A little over a year ago my dad, now in his seventies, asked me to change out the master cylinder and make sure that the Jeep was safe to drive.
As many of you know one thing leads to another. The master cylinder turned into new brake lines, and once under the Jeep, I realized that the front frame horns were in scary bad shape from the cross member being cut out and moved to make room for the v8 by the previous owner. After a year of work, the frame horns were replaced, the front of the frame was boxed and strapped, new motor mounts, transmission, transfer case and overdrive rebuilt. The engine, transmission and transfer case were mounted higher in the frame, giving 3 more inches of ground clearance. I fixed all the holes in the firewall and in the tub, modified the transmission tunnel, placed a new steering column, moved the steering box, and added new wiring harness, a functioning speedometer, blinkers, and even a horn for the first time.
With help from my 10 year old son, and even my wife who was curious to learn welding, and of course parts from Kaiser Willys, we were able to get Dad’s Jeep back on the road, and he couldn’t be happier. He drives it a few times a week, and the smile on his face is priceless and worth all of the effort that went into this build.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Dan Hiteshew
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What is really unusual is a wife that wants to learn welding!
What is really unusual is a wife that wants to learn welding!
Great story ! Interested in what tires you have on your Willys – size, type, and model ? If you could let me know I would appreciate it, thank you.
Great story ! Interested in what tires you have on your Willys – size, type, and model ? If you could let me know I would appreciate it, thank you.
Back around 1983, my fifteen (15) -year-old son wanted a similar vehicle. He found a Toyota FJ cruiser. It’d been stripped, sanded and totally repainted (in orange – frame and all. The engine had been changed to a Corvette V8. Not a smart vehicle for a 15-year-old. In two years he went through four (4) transmissions. Today’s article for a 70-something driver is probably OK, Just imagine a 15-year-old with tires stuck in 24″ of mud. So you hit the gas. Wheels won’t move and a zillion HP are pushing at the other side of the transmission. BANG!
Nice looking Jeep. (I had a Yellow 1946 from 1952-55 – high school. Paid $600 and it had 6,000 miles on it in six (6) years. Now I have a 1947) (Him? He has a three-car garage, a wife and each of them drives a Maserati to work. He also has a Shelby “kit car”. And a ’32 Ford bucket car. And a Ferrari. And an 18-year-old H1 – with 48,000 miles).
He did buy me the ’47 Jeep earlier this year. Good kid. *smiles*
Back around 1983, my fifteen (15) -year-old son wanted a similar vehicle. He found a Toyota FJ cruiser. It’d been stripped, sanded and totally repainted (in orange – frame and all. The engine had been changed to a Corvette V8. Not a smart vehicle for a 15-year-old. In two years he went through four (4) transmissions. Today’s article for a 70-something driver is probably OK, Just imagine a 15-year-old with tires stuck in 24″ of mud. So you hit the gas. Wheels won’t move and a zillion HP are pushing at the other side of the transmission. BANG!
Nice looking Jeep. (I had a Yellow 1946 from 1952-55 – high school. Paid $600 and it had 6,000 miles on it in six (6) years. Now I have a 1947) (Him? He has a three-car garage, a wife and each of them drives a Maserati to work. He also has a Shelby “kit car”. And a ’32 Ford bucket car. And a Ferrari. And an 18-year-old H1 – with 48,000 miles).
He did buy me the ’47 Jeep earlier this year. Good kid. *smiles*
Looks great I have Cj2a. U get bored maybe help me
Looks great I have Cj2a. U get bored maybe help me
Lucky dad lucky son. Looks great no better ride than a flatfender with v8
Lucky dad lucky son. Looks great no better ride than a flatfender with v8
Great story. My son’s first word was Jeep. We share a love of Willys, hot rods, and muscle cars.
Great story. My son’s first word was Jeep. We share a love of Willys, hot rods, and muscle cars.