When I was 19, I got the bug to fix up old basket case motorcycles. I know you understand how satisfying it is to do that. I'm 73 now and I'm getting the itch again to fix up an old rusty pile of junk. Watching you transform both the sheep wagon and manure spreader from scrap piles back into living artifacts gives me the energy to do the same. Thanks for the video, and for the motivation. Greetings from eastern Washington.
Awesome story telling along with having some common ground with an affection for flat fender jeeps. We could sure swap some stories of both wagons & jeeps if we had the chance to meet each other in person someday. I'll be looking forward to Tuesdays this winter and seeing how this old flat fender comes back to life.
Boy oh boy, Dave. I too have the fever. Started with a 79 CJ-5. Kept it for years. My girls also learned to drive in it. For the past 15 years I have loved my 97 wrangler. Thanks for the story and the memories. Can't wait til you start on the 56.
Wow...This was a blast from the past. One of my first real jobs, during my JR SR years in high school (1968-1970), was at a large auto repair shop. One of my main jobs was making parts runs and picking up/delivering radiators. I did most of my cruising in a 1948 Willys Jeep. I loved that Jeep, best job ever. The Jeep had a full metal cab. I can still remember the first time I was sent to one of our customers to pickup a radiator that needed to be repaired, it was out of a Mack truck. That radiator and I were a tight squeeze in that little Jeep.
We had a 48 Willys on the ranch when I was a kid. My two sisters and I drove that thing back-and-forth to school as well. We would draw straws to see who had to ride in the back in the winter time because it was so cold with just a canvas top. Your story brought back memories!😊
I think i've seen all your videos and this one may be the best for me. Telling your story with the skills you have honed over all those videos and a humanity that is seldom seen on RU-vid. Thanks Dave!
I teach Automotive Engineering in a College here in the UK and my students are currently restoring an old 1963 Classic Volkswagen 'Beetle' but turning it into an Electric Vehicle. This means that your new project with the Jeep is of REAL interest to me and I will be eagerly following you along. Great stuff Dave, and I wish you every success with it.
To be honest, this Jeep looks a WAY better starting point than your last 2 projects. It is very satisfying to get something broken down to live again. The one thing your Jeep will be able to provide you that your wagons and manure spreader can’t is the heartbreaking joy of an engine coming to life after you’ve put it back together and a drive to your playground.
I’m in for the JEEP adventure, especially after hearing the background story on it. Wish you the best, may you never recover from JEEP fever😊. Thanks for the update, enjoy watching
I totally identify with this Jeep fascination. I learned to drive in a 1945 Jeep when I was 10 years old, and I've loved those old Jeeps ever since - that was 70 years ago!
"What a wonderful surprise, Dave! Since I started following your channel, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your videos on the borax wagons, and now, seeing you take on the restoration of a Jeep Willys, I couldn’t be more excited. In many ways, Dave, you remind me of my father: your dedication, your skills in blacksmithing and carpentry, and your way of teaching with patience and humility. I’ve also modestly adopted some of these crafts, and I'm currently restoring an old vehicle very similar to a Jeep Willys. Knowing that you'll be sharing this project reassures me that I’ll be able to learn so much to apply to my own restoration. Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge, and I wish you the very best in this new endeavor. I’ll be a faithful follower of every step!"
Great story adn connection between you and Diane with the first jeep. I look forward to the rebuild. My fever must be old Italian motorcycles. I have two that I made very nice and have had them for about 4 decades.
Thank you so much for sharing your Jeep story. More importantly, thank you for sharing those parts of your life that most people, most times, kept hidden. Those times of vulnerability, where we deal with life's valleys, that for whatever reason we feel the need to internalize or keep out of public view. I applaud you and wish you the best as you take on the Jeep project - one I know you will finish with another commitment of time, skill, and energy. Thank you so much.
This will be a lot of fun to watch. My first Jeep was a "72" CJ5 rag top, 305 v8, it had the roll bar and fold down tailgate, w/spare tire mounted on right rear corner. It was a modern Jeep but still retained some of the older style. I always said that for every hour you drove it you needed to work on it an hour.
Jeep Fever is truly a disease. I have it to and it IS incurable. I had a 75 CJ-5 rolled it over Saturday February 13 1982. All but killed me spent months healing after that little adventure. Get healed up got the Jeep out of the body shop and go back driving it the next spring. Went off to college fall of 83 and Mom sold it while I was gone it was registered in her name. Never owned one again but look for and at them all the time. Look forward to watching and getting my fix as you fix up your old girl. Keep up the good work sir glad to see you reacquaint yourself with an old customer- yourself for a change. Enjoy we will.
Never owned a Jeep, but I have a toy Jeep with a trailer that I've had since the 1950s. Was my favorite back in the day. That's amazing about the one Diane learned to drive on!
Dave, in the 60s, the the digger I worked for this one winter in CNY had a 46 CJ with a plywood 1/2 cab. That was my plow vehicle with a home make copy of a Myers snow plow. The moldboard was galvanized, (best part of the plow). Getting it jump started at 0300, you didn’t shut it off till you were back on the yard. There was never a long enough hill to roll start it. For whatever reason it just wouldn't fire up. Until I finally got all the plow parts rewelded, every plow day was a break down. We had 3 units on different routes so you were pretty much on your own. The Jeep Chronicles. Later on doing my thing, I bought a 69 Scout which is another story. Thanks for sharing.
Finally, something with a motor in it! Yesssssssssssssssssssss!!! C & C Equipment in Nashville, Indiana is a source of Jeep parts if needed. Good Luck, I will be following the restoration. Joe
"you old rascal" I am willing to bet those were not the same words said on that mountaintop that day. And I am super excited at the birth of the new winter project!
I very much enjoyed this weeks chat, looking forward to our next visit. I've had an itch for a jeep about as long as you. I have had a couple of Cherokees but always wanted a real jeep. My brother in law had a cj in the 60's and 70's that he used for snow plowing and I got to drive it when I was learning to drive. I think that was when I was first bit by the bug. The Rat Patrol TV series did nothing to cure me of the itch. Now that I'm an old retired guy I have been looking at jeeps again as my Cherokee just doesn't satisfy. Been looking at 94's or 95's as I'm not a purist and I find the square lights unique. Anyway, like I said, I enjoyed the visit and look forward to our next get together.
I can't wait! The Army transitioned from Jeeps to Hummers while I was in and as nice as those new rides were, we hated to see the old Jeeps go. I'll always love them.
I put about 100,000 miles on my 46 Cj2a over 30 years. It had a 4 digit sn and a column shift. Lots of memories crawling mountain roads of Colorado back country. I'll enjoy watching this project.
What a story! You can’t make up this kind of story! I’m not sure if a break in wagons and coaches is pushing Dave to this “Winter project”, who cares! It’s Dave doing what he likes and the work and processes that will be required will be great education and knowledge passed on to us Dave’s viewers! I love watching Dave work. He does his projects in a systematic procedure and explains everything. He will employ many tools and materials. It will not be boring or redundant! So Dave whatever you post each week will be music to our restoring ears,HA HA! Thank you Dave for all your video projects,oh, I don’t want to forget Diane! Thank you also for keeping this old koot going! Thanxz
Can't go past a story like that one! Seems to me, to be a matter of fate, more than mere coincidence. Thanks for sharing. [PS: I'll definitely watch the rebuild!]
Dave, if anyone can put this back together it is you. You are the expert when it comes to "basket cases." Look how far you have come with the manure spreader. It started with a pile of sticks and iron and is now a masterpiece. I'll wager by this time next year the Jeep will be also.
I've always enjoyed your wagon building videos, but with your Jeep video, I just found a soul connection. I've also been taken by the fever and can wholly relate to your story. I'll be watching even closer as you rebuild it. Maybe it'll inspire me to get my M-38 out again. Thanks and good luck
Some of earliest memories are of riding in a flat fender jeep as a very younger kid hunting with my dad and grandpa, I still enjoy 4 wheeling to this day!!
Dave I just finished watching your video about your beloved jeep. My dad was a jeep driver on Palaue Island in the Pacific during WW2 on his return my grandfather wanted to buy him a war surplus jeep his answer is an emphatic no Dad had all the jeep he wanted during the war.I ready enjoy watching your show Tom
