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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 17:29:31 GMT -5
SOME HISTORY
This jeepster was purchased from Len Kindrat Willys Overland Motors at the corner of 10st and Victoria Ave. in Brandon Manitoba in March of 1949 by a farmer in the Newdale Mb. area. Len, the owner of the dealership passed away on Feb. 11 2011. In 1962, the jeepster was purchased from the original owner by Ken Kingdon. Ken, who I have met and talked to several times for information, owned the jeepster until the spring of 2010, when he sold it to his niece Cheryl Cameron and her husband Dale Willard. After Ken bought it in 62, it was always stored indoors, and only used for parades and special occasions. At that time, the odometer reading was just around 52,000 miles.
It was Dale and Cheryl's intention to restore the jeepster and keep it in the family. But in the summer of 2011 he learned that he had cancer. It was about the long weekend in August that year when we were visiting with the "old four wheel stampeder's", that Dale had put an add in the Antique Willys Association website that he would sell the jeepster, and Lynne and I decided that maybe we needed another toy! The rest, as they say, is history!
It took us about five day's to go down to Minnedosa Mb. to pick it up.
The owner that I bought the unit from claim that they had "Collin Peabody" help to identify the date of manufacture. Because it had the original windshield date of Dec. 1948, they claim it was built in January 1949!
The restoration was pretty straight forward. Before the snow fell, I had it down to the frame, when I discovered a crack on the drivers side, and somewhat bent upwards. I sent it off to get repaired, straightened, blasted and painted.
I had had the motor running, and the only thing it needed was a rebuilt carb,. which I was able to get from the jeepsterman. The radiator needed to be re-cored.
Next was the running gear. The rear diff. was ok. The front spindles needed bearings and bushings. I went over the whole brake system, including master cylinder, wheel cylinders, brake shoes and drums. Plus I had to make a couple new brake lines.
Next, I had the glass in the windshield replaced, along with all new gaskets, and thank's to Harry Sheets at Midwest Willys, was able to replace the passenger side vent window.
While I was doing all that, I had sent the bumpers and about a dozen other pieces to Alberta Plating in Calgary to get repaired and re-chromed. By the way, they did an excellent job at a reasonable price, and would sure recommend them.
The tub was almost rust free except for the short floor panel on the driver side and the long floor panel on the passenger side. It also had a real low number of dents, but after it was blasted, it came back badly warped! Being in as good shape it was, it still cost me a half-fortune for the body-work and paint.
I believe that the color Lynne picked is GMC BURGANDY-PLUM.
Top that off with new Whitewall tires from Coker, and new hub-caps, and VOILA!!
The parts for the jeepster are for the most part readily and reasonably available because stuff like fenders (front and rear),hood and grill, frame and suspension, engines and trannies with running gear were all used in the truck and wagon manufacture.
I had it all together by the fall of 2013, but was having starting problems. I was able to get all the kinks worked out for the Cherryville parade the first weekend in June, and it has provided us with many happy miles since that!!
It sure does make one feel good with all the compliments and thumbs-up you get at shows, or on the road. It IS NOT a trailer queen, We do drive it a lot!!
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 17:39:37 GMT -5
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 17:44:52 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 19:02:43 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. I've looked everywhere to find how to post pictures here, but have had no luck!
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Post by zooke581 on Jan 21, 2015 19:05:14 GMT -5
That looks sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 19:14:53 GMT -5
Interesting........... If Cheryl Cameron is married to Dale Willard, why is she not Cheryl Willard ?  . Notice the Intake manifold and Carter Yf Carb. The throttle shaft runs front to back, verses side to side on a W-O w/stock intake on a 2A/3A. The Jeepster used the same setup as on the SuperSonic and DJ. Also an interesting color, I have never seen green, all I have seen are Maroon, Yellow and Black. Lee  |
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 19:16:00 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. I've looked everywhere to find how to post pictures here, but have had no luck! That one deserves to be big. I have some more you sent. We will just keep the guys guessing for a while. |
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 19:22:46 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 19:22:52 GMT -5
Cool looking Jeep. I've always thought that if I had one, I'd put in a wagon or pickup running gear to get 4 wheel drive. A Jeep that is 2 wheel drive is either blown with 1000 horse power, or delivers mail. No offense Chuckie, just my opinion. Everyone has one Eh? I'm going to miss you in June, but life goes on and then---------next year at your place! I'll be there for sure. Oil
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 19:25:01 GMT -5
Sssweeeeeet!
Out of curiosity, What's the square object mounted on the fender in front of the horn?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 19:29:33 GMT -5
Sssweeeeeet! Out of curiosity, What's the square object mounted on the fender in front of the horn? Lectrik fuel pump, my guess, no regular one in sight   |
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 21, 2015 19:55:27 GMT -5
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Post by Ryan_M on Jan 21, 2015 20:01:35 GMT -5
SUUWEEET! Looks very similar (but nicer) than one of the very few Jeepsters I have actually seen up close. Was that a factory color scheme?  |
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 22, 2015 11:05:40 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 14:05:38 GMT -5
Lee Yeah, I don't really know that they were married, and that's up to them. I was only interested in the jeepster and it's history, and they were all very nice people. He has passed away, but I sent pictures of the finished unit to Cheryl and her uncle Ken. The carburetor that was on there was a Stromberg, and someone had braised some sort of plate on the throttle shaft causing it to stick. Dale told me that I would probably have to change oil because the carb. was pouring too much gas into the engine! The first time that I tried to start it, I turned the key on, and the gas was being pumped by that electric fuel pump right out of the seam of the float chamber. And like you said, there was no pressure regulator. I changed the dual action fuel pump on the 3B, and so used that on the jeepster. I ordered a rebuilt WA1 from the jeepsterman for $190.00, and now works much better!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 14:15:05 GMT -5
Ryan Were did you see that jeepster? That looks like Luzon red, an original jeep color. I kinda liked the two-tone green, which was true jeep colors, but the wife wanted a maroon color. She had originally picked the newer jeep dark red. I kept telling her that she wouldn't be happy with it, so she went looking again. What she finally picked was the newer Chevy Bugandy-plum, and we are sure happy with it!! |
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Post by Ryan_M on Jan 22, 2015 15:02:05 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 15:25:41 GMT -5
That's correct. The instrument cluster is different than the 48 and 49, plus the front fenders and grill. Otherwise same same!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 19:17:01 GMT -5
She's a beauty! Gas mileage is poor, but that's not why we own these things now is it? What's next Chuck? Army Jeep, Pickup, wagon, or rock crawler? Oil
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 20:34:03 GMT -5
Lee Yeah, I don't really know that they were married, and that's up to them. I was only interested in the jeepster and it's history, and they were all very nice people. He has passed away, but I sent pictures of the finished unit to Cheryl and her uncle Ken. The carburetor that was on there was a Stromberg, and someone had braised some sort of plate on the throttle shaft causing it to stick. Dale told me that I would probably have to change oil because the carb. was pouring too much gas into the engine! The first time that I tried to start it, I turned the key on, and the gas was being pumped by that electric fuel pump right out of the seam of the float chamber. And like you said, there was no pressure regulator. I changed the dual action fuel pump on the 3B, and so used that on the jeepster. I ordered a rebuilt WA1 from the jeepsterman for $190.00, and now works much better! Binthere, I could care less if they are married, LOL. Some times we get to Jeep serious, I threw that in there to break the serious, LOL. Was green the original color ?. You could have fit a YF on there also, but $190 for a rebuilt WA1 is a deal. Nice rig  Lee |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 22:33:06 GMT -5
Yeah Lee, I for sure don't take to much seriously. 99% jockularity!! LOL That was the original color, two tone green. Just go to google search and type in 1949 two tone green willys jeepster, and you should come with something.
And on that carb, I didn't even send a core back!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 22:49:14 GMT -5
Oil, if it ever happened, it would be either a CJ3A or an FC150. John you have some parts on the jeepster, don't you remember, I had to trade some very fine whiskey for said parts!!
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 22, 2015 22:57:46 GMT -5
I have always liked the Jeepster, Here is some more. Thanks Sir BinPronouncingItWrong for sending me these pics to post for you. It has been my pleasure, You obviously do Fantastic work! I am honored that you choose to share them here. This does not mean that I will stop continuing to asks you for Bradors Beer, or stop picking on you for being Canadian, or saying Eh? Oh the fact that all Canadians Love Hockey! Maple Leaf Baby! I actually have a Scientist Relative who lives in BC. His name is Peter VanGout. No BS! From Holland Originally. Your Last name denotes German. I like this . Here are the last photos Sir Binthere sent me....   |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 23:08:44 GMT -5
Thanks again Scott. If you look at the windows in the side-curtains here, and compare to the before pictures. I just had to get the openings enlarged. Not that we use the top or side curtains, only for winter storage!
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Post by Haines Garage on Jan 22, 2015 23:25:38 GMT -5
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. Notice the Intake manifold and Carter Yf Carb. The throttle shaft runs front to back, verses side to side on a W-O w/stock intake on a 2A/3A. The Jeepster used the same setup as on the SuperSonic and DJ. Also an interesting color, I have never seen green, all I have seen are Maroon, Yellow and Black.
