I purchase this Old Willys CJ-5 from an Auto repair shop in West Chester, PA. It had a large push bumper on it and had been moving non running cars around the lot. The Jeep sat for many years with no use, the floor was rotted out the engine locked up, rear axle rusted to the point it would roll. It had a hard top on it which for the most part preserved the seats and the rare speedometer that says Willys. I had to have it and it had a title and I.D. Plate. After I got done taking it apart I really didn’t have much worth saving. I found another Willys down in Tennessee that showed more promise so off I went to go get it. I worked many long hours replacing body panels while the tub was still on the Jeep and when I removed the tub there was much more rust so at this point I gave up and went all in! A new Repli-tub from Willys Overland was purchased. New fenders and countless parts all purchased from Kaiser Willys, by the time it was done the only remaining sheet metal is the grill & the hood! The second engine was also locked up so I purchased one from a fellow that was doing a diesel conversion. I contacted my son in law in Indiana and asked if he would be willing to do the restoration and my expense and his labor, his reward would be my 2002 Harley Davidson Electra Glide that I was no longer riding. He and my grandson gladly accepted and in the short span of nine months and a good chunk of my savings account they turned out this beauty! She is a blast to drive, my usual routine is to pick a road a follow it till I no longer no where I’m at, there is a lot of countryside to see in PA. Thanks to my son in law Chris, my grandson Andrew and Kaiser Willys for all the help!
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Tom Kline
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I am in Indiana as well, and was just handed down a 1960 from my father. I hope my “rattle can restoration” comes out to be half as nice as yours! I know those fenders cost you a pretty penny. The historically accurate ones without the reflector indentation costs almost twice as much! I can’t express how much I appreciate the fact that you put original rims and tires on there, not some mag wheels with mud tires. I can’t wait to get the mud tires off of my CJ5 and drop her back down to factory!
I am in Indiana as well, and was just handed down a 1960 from my father. I hope my “rattle can restoration” comes out to be half as nice as yours! I know those fenders cost you a pretty penny. The historically accurate ones without the reflector indentation costs almost twice as much! I can’t express how much I appreciate the fact that you put original rims and tires on there, not some mag wheels with mud tires. I can’t wait to get the mud tires off of my CJ5 and drop her back down to factory!
I do not know who is the owner Rachel or Tom Cline. I am a reader of all the kaisier Jeep stories and publications that come to me. I am in the Houston Texas area. I would like to communicate with the owner and commend him for sticking to the project. I have done many jeep projects but never shared my stories and now that I am old and disabled, I regret not sharing more knowledge and experience. I now know that there is a vast group of younger generations that have the same attraction and love for the Willys jeep. My attraction began when I was six years old and I still love the news and projects that others allow to be published on this site.This is the first and only article that I have responded and i don’t know if I am doing it right. The reason I have to commend him personally is the information he shared of the many difficulty he had to overcome. I salute this kind of effort and I can imagine the pain and frustration he may have experienced. I failed many individuals like him because I didn’t take time to encourage individuals to try again and again to finish their dream. Don’t ever give up as long as there is a ray of hope and imagination left in your memory. I still have once again a jeep project sitting out back in the brush that is my duture project. I have most of the needed support items to complete the project. 60 years experience with jeep projects teach you the many hurdles that you will need to overcome to see your drream ride mature. Thank you Rachel and Kaiser Willys.
I do not know who is the owner Rachel or Tom Cline. I am a reader of all the kaisier Jeep stories and publications that come to me. I am in the Houston Texas area. I would like to communicate with the owner and commend him for sticking to the project. I have done many jeep projects but never shared my stories and now that I am old and disabled, I regret not sharing more knowledge and experience. I now know that there is a vast group of younger generations that have the same attraction and love for the Willys jeep. My attraction began when I was six years old and I still love the news and projects that others allow to be published on this site.This is the first and only article that I have responded and i don’t know if I am doing it right. The reason I have to commend him personally is the information he shared of the many difficulty he had to overcome. I salute this kind of effort and I can imagine the pain and frustration he may have experienced. I failed many individuals like him because I didn’t take time to encourage individuals to try again and again to finish their dream. Don’t ever give up as long as there is a ray of hope and imagination left in your memory. I still have once again a jeep project sitting out back in the brush that is my duture project. I have most of the needed support items to complete the project. 60 years experience with jeep projects teach you the many hurdles that you will need to overcome to see your drream ride mature. Thank you Rachel and Kaiser Willys.
Thr real icon of jeeps. Since you plan on keeping it you might consider having the body rustproofed. It is not a real cheap move, but the original vehicle was produced for a lifespan of 3 years. I have had my CJ-7 body tub rustproofed and bed lined. Fier Lobo and my dog Sasha will have it for many years.
Dave Jones & Sasha.
Thr real icon of jeeps. Since you plan on keeping it you might consider having the body rustproofed. It is not a real cheap move, but the original vehicle was produced for a lifespan of 3 years. I have had my CJ-7 body tub rustproofed and bed lined. Fier Lobo and my dog Sasha will have it for many years.
Dave Jones & Sasha.
I purchased a 1948 Willy’s CJ2A , it was in half decent shape but still needed a resto. to meet my standards. I had built/ Restored , 3 classic street rods in my younger years which seemed to slip away from me without me noticing. Now that I have the Willy’s which was purchased to keep me out of the proverbial “Rocking Chair” I’m afraid I can no longer lay upside down under a fixed dash board in order to wire the gauges into the new wiring harness I plan to purchase! I know I’ll be hard pressed to find someone to commission that task to. So I’m at a standstill in the re- wiring phase of my project. It won’t deter me , if is just frustrating. I didn’t realize the dash board in the Jeep was a fixed situation????
Thee old grey Stallion , just ain’t what he used to be!
I purchased a 1948 Willy’s CJ2A , it was in half decent shape but still needed a resto. to meet my standards. I had built/ Restored , 3 classic street rods in my younger years which seemed to slip away from me without me noticing. Now that I have the Willy’s which was purchased to keep me out of the proverbial “Rocking Chair” I’m afraid I can no longer lay upside down under a fixed dash board in order to wire the gauges into the new wiring harness I plan to purchase! I know I’ll be hard pressed to find someone to commission that task to. So I’m at a standstill in the re- wiring phase of my project. It won’t deter me , if is just frustrating. I didn’t realize the dash board in the Jeep was a fixed situation????
Thee old grey Stallion , just ain’t what he used to be!
I have a 70 CJ5 that I love as much as my dog does,
The question I have for the old timers is that the older jeeps had a tank under the seat with a fuel cap right out the door.
Mine has the tank under the bed and the filler in the back.
I have been looking for a kit to add the tank under the seat for some extra capacity.
Does one exist? or can I put something together for parts available?
Thanks in advance.
Bill
I have a 70 CJ5 that I love as much as my dog does,
The question I have for the old timers is that the older jeeps had a tank under the seat with a fuel cap right out the door.
Mine has the tank under the bed and the filler in the back.
I have been looking for a kit to add the tank under the seat for some extra capacity.
Does one exist? or can I put something together for parts available?
Thanks in advance.
Bill
Thanks for the kind words Freddie! It was an exercise in endurance. How long myself and my bank account would hold out! I threw out all the receipts, I don’t want to know how much I spent.
Tim
Thanks for the kind words Freddie! It was an exercise in endurance. How long myself and my bank account would hold out! I threw out all the receipts, I don’t want to know how much I spent.
Tim
Beautifully done! I know from experience the countless hours, literal blood, sweat and tears it takes to get a rusty mess into perfect condition as you have done. I am glad to read that you included your family, especially the grandson, in the build. Hopefully this bit of history will be a never forgotten happy part of his life.
Many don’t fully understand the process but enjoy the result, which , I suppose is a lot of what a Car Shows is about…
I finished my 1966 CJ5 Dauntless in January and added a made to match M416 trailer in the mix. Lots of fun.
Lots of money. Lots of learning. You are correct, Kaiser-Willys is the best!
Enjoy your Willys and I hope to see you both at a gathering sometime.
Thank-you for sharing your story.
Beautifully done! I know from experience the countless hours, literal blood, sweat and tears it takes to get a rusty mess into perfect condition as you have done. I am glad to read that you included your family, especially the grandson, in the build. Hopefully this bit of history will be a never forgotten happy part of his life.
Many don’t fully understand the process but enjoy the result, which , I suppose is a lot of what a Car Shows is about…
I finished my 1966 CJ5 Dauntless in January and added a made to match M416 trailer in the mix. Lots of fun.
Lots of money. Lots of learning. You are correct, Kaiser-Willys is the best!
Enjoy your Willys and I hope to see you both at a gathering sometime.
Thank-you for sharing your story.