Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog

Jake Forsythe

This 1955 Willys was a rusted junker, sitting rotting in a yard that I bought for $800 in 1998. I only worked part time on it over 7 or 8 years after I bought it. Golf kept interfering with my free time. I think I’m the 5th owner. It’s just been an old dude’s hobby project, something I wanted to do since I was a teenage kid. Started as a father son project but sons didn’t like getting theirs hands dirty. One son is now a well to do computer geek working for Microsoft. I’ve had a little help from a couple of friends as this is my first project fixing up an old vehicle so I’ve learned a lot but work slowly. Unlike me, my friends can weld and fabricate stuff. The pickup is not quite finished, I haven’t figured out how to do new headliners and I’d like to replace the re-upholsterd original bench seat with easy to fit bucket seats. All the original running gear and transmission still working well but I added a totally rebuilt short block 1968 Chevy 283 and I installed a Saturn/Warn overdrive so that I don’t get run over by transport trucks when I get it out on Interstate I-80. Had to replace badly rusted out doors but I found two good condition doors on a Willys wagon out on a desrt ranch in Northern Nevada and the owner sold them to me cheap and they bolted right on the pickup truck. Mostly used to take the dog out cruising in the desert back roads. The dog gets jealous if my wife comes for a ride and uses the dog’s favorite seat. Just a fun and tough old truck. Now both my sons want it??

Regards to all you folks at Kaiser Willys. I much enjoy your weekly website features.

Update:

I purchased this1955 Willys pickup truck approximately 20 years ago, I believe I’m the 5th owner.  It was located parked in a garden patch on an acreage in Nevada, just left out in the elements wasting away for several years and the owner’s wife wanted to get rid of the eye sore.  It was a rusted piece of junk when I acquired it and I’ve slowly been rebuilding, restoring and modifying it to its current condition.  I don’t know much about its history except that a previous owner was a sheriff and another owner was a cattle rancher who had it outfitted for hunting and the owner that I bought it from is a geologist.  
 
For me it started as a father-son project but my sons preferred to spend their time playing rock and roll in garage bands and they didn’t like getting their hands dirty.  On a part time hobby basis as time was available, many hours have been spent dismantling body components, body restoration work, striping, replacement of windshield and side windows and preparation for painting etc.  It’s something I wanted to do back when I was in high school but never had the money or the tools.  Now I’m almost an old man enjoying my teenage dream so to speak.  Some of the modifications include:
  • Wheels and tires
  • Conversion to 11″ front disc brakes and replacement of brake lines
  • New Retrofit steering column, stabilized power steering system with tilt steering wheel
  • Slightly modified front suspension, Rancho shock absorbers front and rear
  • Lokar emergency brake cable kit
  • 1992, 5 speed manual shift Jeep transmission.
  • Modified drive train with Warn overdrive and Zoom Performance MU Series hydraulic clutch assembly
  • Replaced rear-end drive yoke and transfer case drive yoke assembly with 1310 dana 44 style
  • Replacement of gearing in front end and rear with 3.50 gear ratio
  • 350 cubic inch fuel injected BluePrint crate engine
  • Replaced fuel tank and installed EFI fuel system
  • 12 volt electrical system with new Universal wiring harness, new gauges etc., MSD Ignition 2900- MSD Atomic EFI throttle system
  • Dual exhaust system with Magnaflow style SST mufflers
  • New fire wall and floor boards
  • New radiator with electric fan and thermostatic controlled cooling system
  • New cab heater venting with Vintage Air Gen-11 Compac climate control air conditioning system
  • Aftermarket stereo system 6″ speakers and bluetooth, phone and satellite radio capable
I think that covers much of the work completed to date.  The interior remains to be finished but I’ve done some leather work on the sun visors and arm rests.  It’s a fun old vehicle to drive and now we can get out on the interstate and keep up with 75 – 80 mph traffic or alternately, get out on the Sierra Mountain back roads and enjoy the trails and backcountry lakes and streams.  Thanks to Kaiser Willys who are an excellent source for disc brakes and some of the other replacement parts.

 

One thought on “Jake Forsythe”

  1. GREAT LOOK!!! Please let me know your green paint color specifics. Getting ready to paint my 55 P/U. THANKS, Lee

    Reply

  2. GREAT LOOK!!! Please let me know your green paint color specifics. Getting ready to paint my 55 P/U. THANKS, Lee

    Reply

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