So maybe some of you would look at this semi-rusted mountain of metal and wonder what has actually been done. Some of you may even think I'm a crazy man for continuing in what seems to be like an endless quest for completion.
Although you may have some right to believe that I haven't really done that much I would like to live in my own world of lies and deception and think that i have made enormous progress and that i may soon be able to cruise at a top speed of MAYBE 40mph.
So here's what has been done:
I started out not really knowing what I could do. So i pretty much took off everything that didn't look like it was OEM(original equipment). That included a whole lotta stuff..including but not limited to: a funny top, weird half doors that were fabricated by my granddad, an interesting center console pole with a fan, light, and rear view mirror. Then pulled the gas tank and threw it away...rusted through. I also removed the grill, which i shouldn't have but hey-where were you to tell me not to?
So like I said it then got moved to a storage unit which was a happy move. It was nice and enclosed away from the elements.
In July of 2007 we moved it to our house. This is where the majority of the work has been done.
At the house I was able to finally figure out how to remove the upper support bars for the soft top. I think that my grandfather welded them into place so it was a beast to get them off. But with more determination than I thought that I had in me they were finally freed.
...wow, that was a three or four day brain fart ! I'm back and hope that i can finish with my earlier train of thought.
So, I have also removed the hood, front fender(the only fenders in fact), tailgate, and lots of the footman loop things that seem to be all over this damn thing. Also removed is the tow bar that was bolted to the front bumper... hey that makes for an interesting story! I was saying earlier that we moved it to the house from the storage unit. So the way we did that was we towed it from the storage unit behind the Mrs sisters husbands parents Honda Pilot. It really worked fairly well. The trouble started when we decided we would back the Pilot with the Willys still attached up the driveway to eventually get the thing in the garage. Well, my driveway is steeper than any mountain in North America. Needless to say it made it about half way up before coming off the ball and crashing into the back of the Pilot and causing a large gash of a hole in the tailgate. So, not so good. $1700 not good.
So since i started this post even more has been accomplished. As is sits now-I have the entire body or "tub" as i call it off the frame. Underneath the body was inches of caked on grease and gunk and goop and all manner of nastiness. Dustin and Lee, my favorite people in the whole world, helped me peel it away with screwdrivers and wire brushes. After they had left I took my 4 1/2 inch grinder with a wire wheel brush to the frame and transfer case and tranny. So it looks like a whole new machine. Last night (8/20/08) Chris was supposed to come power wash it but I guess something came up with his work. This weekend would have been great for him to do it but it was/is his wife's birthday. Well, i have you know your birthday ruined my weekend. O well.
So in conclusion, so much has been done and anyone that wants to argue can go to hell. I am very proud of my accomplishments and growth as not only a mechanic but in my strengthened stick-to-it-iveness.
Adieu
Although you may have some right to believe that I haven't really done that much I would like to live in my own world of lies and deception and think that i have made enormous progress and that i may soon be able to cruise at a top speed of MAYBE 40mph.
So here's what has been done:
I started out not really knowing what I could do. So i pretty much took off everything that didn't look like it was OEM(original equipment). That included a whole lotta stuff..including but not limited to: a funny top, weird half doors that were fabricated by my granddad, an interesting center console pole with a fan, light, and rear view mirror. Then pulled the gas tank and threw it away...rusted through. I also removed the grill, which i shouldn't have but hey-where were you to tell me not to?
So like I said it then got moved to a storage unit which was a happy move. It was nice and enclosed away from the elements.
In July of 2007 we moved it to our house. This is where the majority of the work has been done.
At the house I was able to finally figure out how to remove the upper support bars for the soft top. I think that my grandfather welded them into place so it was a beast to get them off. But with more determination than I thought that I had in me they were finally freed.
...wow, that was a three or four day brain fart ! I'm back and hope that i can finish with my earlier train of thought.
So, I have also removed the hood, front fender(the only fenders in fact), tailgate, and lots of the footman loop things that seem to be all over this damn thing. Also removed is the tow bar that was bolted to the front bumper... hey that makes for an interesting story! I was saying earlier that we moved it to the house from the storage unit. So the way we did that was we towed it from the storage unit behind the Mrs sisters husbands parents Honda Pilot. It really worked fairly well. The trouble started when we decided we would back the Pilot with the Willys still attached up the driveway to eventually get the thing in the garage. Well, my driveway is steeper than any mountain in North America. Needless to say it made it about half way up before coming off the ball and crashing into the back of the Pilot and causing a large gash of a hole in the tailgate. So, not so good. $1700 not good.
So since i started this post even more has been accomplished. As is sits now-I have the entire body or "tub" as i call it off the frame. Underneath the body was inches of caked on grease and gunk and goop and all manner of nastiness. Dustin and Lee, my favorite people in the whole world, helped me peel it away with screwdrivers and wire brushes. After they had left I took my 4 1/2 inch grinder with a wire wheel brush to the frame and transfer case and tranny. So it looks like a whole new machine. Last night (8/20/08) Chris was supposed to come power wash it but I guess something came up with his work. This weekend would have been great for him to do it but it was/is his wife's birthday. Well, i have you know your birthday ruined my weekend. O well.
So in conclusion, so much has been done and anyone that wants to argue can go to hell. I am very proud of my accomplishments and growth as not only a mechanic but in my strengthened stick-to-it-iveness.
Adieu
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