Really love this project! My dad died in 59 but my mom told a story of my dad driving a whippet from Lexington, Ky to Madison, In in 1939 to see her. He lost a cylinder on the way but made it. He and a friend rebuilt the engine and drove it back. I want to see you drive this!
Does my heart good to see a man and his son share a learning and fun project together. My best memories of my father are the things we worked on together. He was a mill Wright in a steel mill and multi skilled. Due to the variety of projects we worked on I myself am a Jack of many trades and master or still mastering carpentry. But old car's or anything mechanical is my passion. I love the old stuff it was so lovingly crafted and I can sit and admire the curves and line's much better styling than any of new stuff. Thank you. And pay attention young man you'll some day look back and be so thankful you have been properly schooled.
Still hoping to see this old classic restored to as close to original as possible and running. This one does not deserve to be rat rodded or turned into a hot rod. Not many left that are this complete and it would be a tragedy to destroy it.
Hi With pride certainly. The Elcar has been an education for me and the Willys too. Just when you think you have a good knowledge someone like you comes along and shows me I know nothing! I have a 1954 Packard Patrician straight eight 359 with alloy head and the engine has just been completely rebuilt. I have used a Clipper manual gearbox with Warner Overdrive instead of the Ultramatic. I have many other cars and live in the UK Cheers Nick Jervis Ask the man who owns one UK England
Also I can't WAIT to see the Elcar get a nice clean simple paintjob. It's going to transform that car. I would really like to see it in a burgundy enamel or even an old black like the Fords of that era would've looked, but that's just my opinion, you have good taste so whatever color you choose I'm sure it'll be good.
It's doing my heart good to see you giving so much love to the little Whippet. Although I've been working on Willys for nearly 50 years I've never worked on one. My mentor was a 75 year old gentleman I met at the Model A Club in 1964. He had a shop in a 1929 Ford Panel truck complete with a portable cylinder boring machine powered by a belt driven off a jacked up rear wheel. He repaired tractors in Orange County Ca. way back in the day. Thanks for sharing.
There are a lot of shipping companies that pick up and ship items at a fairly reasonable cost. I got a rear axle for a Chevelle picked up and shipped from NJ to GA for about $150. Probably a lot heavier than the axle on ebay. Forget the company, but I found a site via google that bid on your shipping needs..
There used to be a whippet under a lean-to on an antique store on us60 where the new blankenbaker rd cuts off in middletown,Ky. Long gone,even bldg. I thought it was a model a coupe or a 20's chev.till I got nosey and looked at it.
Lucky that rod bolt broke putting it in. Only failure I had reconing engines in the 70s was a Ford Consul engine, ran the fridge on an ice cream van. Nuts and bolts in the rods, and a nut broke. Did some of the stripping and cleaning, all the machining, but I built this engine. Not too bad I suppose for 1 failure in over 4 years, still wish it hadn't happened though.
I have not read the comments below but I watched you cast some engine parts for a motorcycle engine and I do not know what would be involved with casting a brake drum if that is the part that you need just trying to make a suggestion.
I knew that Ford built Jeeps during WW2, but I guess I thought they just assembled them from components made by Willys Overland. Didn't realize that they made them from soup to nuts. Thanks for the information. I still think it's amazing that Jonathan knew to look for the "F" on the lifter though!
Ford was an intensive manufacturer back then (look up River Rouge plant). Iron ore came in barges to the plant to be refined into steel. Silica was made into glass in the same plant. I don't know if they made tires, but they made practically everything else.
There’s a story about the jeeps Ford made during the war. The government wouldn’t let Ford put the Ford symbol on the Jeep, so Henry said put the logo on every nut,bolt and part. LOL
Hey Jonathan I found this on eBay vintage whippet parts you may want to look and see if this will do you 19’’ vIntage split rim with lugs 1927 and 1928 Whippet 75.00 and 23.25 shipping his handle is Chevy 4 cyl ( 2155)
Great job and nice video. Keep in mind, that more than 12.000 viewers now know you are looking for a wheel. A bit of patience may become your rescue ^-^ Thanks for the video !
Jonathan, you will turn up a wheel for that old car or cobble up something interesting in that shop of yours to get it rolling. I can't quite keep up with all your projects but that 55 Chevy truck with the Perkins diesel has got me on the edge of my seat. Keep dragging those old cars and trucks home and making em run. I'm waiting to see you take an old cab over and mount a roll back on it. Just because you can. Standing by.
The engineers at Willys-Overland were GENIUSES... They took this engine and made it into the Go-Devil! I noticed (in your previous video) you ordered your crankshaft shims from G-503.com :) I am "friends" with Mr. Schiller on Facebook! I know when you fire this engine up, it will "Run Like a Sewing Machine". I enjoy each and every one of your videos Jonathan.
Hi Jonathan done anther good job there. You will find a well soon for it i no you will. Like I said anther good job keep them. And good luck with it all from Andy in UK
Those that thumb down this guy's videos, are haters; Jonathan has an inate abibilty that is to be admired, he has the ability to access, and determine the correct proceedure. If I was broke down, I'd call him. And I'm a Northener, Lol! I Love Jonathan's videos, and look forward to many years of them! Did I mention he's ten years younger? It's O.K., his knowledge can teach an old guy. He Loves this stuff, that's what you want.
It sure would be nice to see it restored to its former glory , than to be made into a ratrod , you dont see many of these cars anymore , and to see one restored , would show the young people of our day , what cars were like back then , and not a hot rod .
Jonathan Rocks, I've never met him, and was into engines when he was in diapers, but I'm impressed with his knowledge, and I don't think it came from formal school. You find these guys once in a while, don't lose them. It can be said about you, or I, as we possess certain qualities, each, and everyone of us.
Excellent work as always Jonathon, l can still see this painted to match the Elcar for your good lady wife to drive to car shows along with you and if anybody can do a sympathetic restoration of this old girl even if only to survivor status it is you. Thinking back over some of your older videos and l remember the great number of varied makes and models along with parts at l think it was the gentleman you referred to as the Judge's place, perhaps he may have something that would help ,alternately mate given your network of friends on the one day builds l am sure somebody would be able to turn something up - cheers
Not a machinist my ass ! You're a very clever man . I've worked with some real over qualified idiots, keep up the good work sir ! You are an inspiration to me.& many others. Can't wait to see the Drag car again also.
How do I contact you I live in Ky and look around salesalot can you send me a pic of the wheel and hub you need also contact a wheelwright they have stuff lying around few and far between adds to the great story I think Dave
