Starting Home
The couple that owned the truck live just about 3/4 of a mile from my father's place. We decided to use my CJ5 to pull it home rather than my father's F350 Powerstroke shoptruck since I could easily maneuver around the back of the house where the big shoptruck couldn't. Score another one for Jeep manueverability! Privately I felt that a Jeep towing a "jeep" was the best policy anyhow! I didn't want to show off....no, not at all..... The CJ pulled the Willy's out of the tall grass it was in no problem and up into the driveway. We discovered that it had no brakes, the steering was "iffy" and that the driver's front fender was very loose (which we bungeed up). The couple's son had started a rebuild, but had abandoned the project to go to college. My father knew both the couple and their son, and is how he knew of the Willy's. Helping me work on my CJ over the last few months had him itching for something besides his Explorer to work on!
Getting Home
The way home was all rural gravel roads, and we took it very easy--I stayed in low range. We didn't want to go fast since there were no brakes on the Willy's and I REALLY didn't want any damage to my nearly finished CJ. This wasn't really a problem since at the speed I was pulling the Willy's would stop in it's own length when I let off the gas.
A closer view
A closer view of the Willy's. You can see my father sitting in the non-existent seat. It couldn't have been comfortable and it took us over 10 minutes to go the 3/4 mile home. However, with the balloon like 11-15 tires on it, he reported the ride to be "not bad". In fact, those tires now grace his CJ7!
Getting it along the house
As you can see, there were some tight quarters getting the Willy's to it's temporary parking place. Actually the tight spot is on the far side of the house where I have to maneuver the CJ around the house and between it and the trees. That's why we used the CJ as a tow vehicle!
A closer view
This is probably the best shot I have of the truck as a whole. You can see it is a good starting point, but no cherry. It's in MUCH better shape than my CJ was when we started, with the exception that the drivetrain of the CJ was in running condition. Not a problem, my father would rather the body be good and everything else be rough--neither of us like body work!
The Parts
We got quite a few parts with the jeep. In the bed was the seat, hood, grill and radiator. Also the "Super Hurricane" inline, flathead, 6 cylinder engine. Though my father likes the old flatheads, he kept mentioning "Ford 289" everytime I asked what he was going to do for an engine. Plans were for a nearly stock rebuild with what we thought was a 289 (turned out to be a 260--still in dad's garage!). Well, the Willy's is gone to a good home, but not forgotten. It wet both of our appetites for further adventures in restorations and rebuilds!
