Will this Willys Pickup Run and Drive after 31 Years? Part 2 

I started driving, when I was 12 in a 48 Willys Jeep on my grandmothers farm in the early 60’s. This brings back so many memories. DO NOT, replace that motor with a modern one , like so many are commenting that you should do, leave the GO DEVIL 4 in it . It has that distinctive sound that only a Willys would make. Cudos to you and your buddy for bringing it back!!

The kids and their joyful smiles, enjoying a ride in this old rig; THAT's what makes memories! Give this old girl the love (and parts) she deserves.

I rescued a 61 Willys Wagon 4x4 way back in 1991. It was my grandpa's and was used at his boat marina at Lake Egypt in southern Illinois. All it did for 20 years was pull boats in and out of the lake. It was parked in 1980. It was rough when I got it. Somebody broke all the windows out and was full of trash and critters, but i didn't care. With suprisingly little effort, I got it running. It had the 226 cubic inch flathead six cylinder. A torquey engine. I had the engine rebuilt and did some amateur body work and put it back on the road. Put at least 10,000 miles on it over next few years. It was very capable offroad and because it had the 226 engine, it had the 4.27 gears in the axles and would do 70mph on the highway! But like many other projects , life and kids took money and priority and it was sold in 1997 or so. I still have Polaroid pics from when I was working on it. I miss it.

Great work on a really cool old 4x4. The kids in the back was priceless. Every child needs to ride in the back of a pickup. The fact that it was a classic Jeep pickup, is even better.

Great to see your expertise in action. This was a true "Budget Buildz" classic, with all the right elements, getting a total wreck running, your dad, your kids and everyone having fun and laughing.

Absolutely love that you want to take and bring back to life some old forgotten thing... the thing I like the best was the memory building by putting the kids in the back and letting them share in the joy of Resurrection... You are building in the hearts of your children the desire to save things forgotten. God bless...

BMA here from Canada. Awesome!! You have given me new incentive to get my '58 IH A120 4X4 running, driving and stopping!!!

That was an awesome find on the old jeep. Brings me back to the younger days when a neighbor had an old red 50's something just like yours. They let us take it out in the woods and it was the best thing ever, to this day I still have a jeep (wrangler) and that old jeep inspired me to keep that desire to be able to go trail riding and off roading

Utterly fascinating. I’m 78 years old and I can’t think of a guy I have known who wouldn’t have wanted one of these sometimes in his lifetime. My uncle had one of the 2 door station wagon variants during the mid- fifties. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dude, I would watch a full series on putting this baby back into top shape (restore it like you did the Targa)!!! That Willys is so charming!! I think it's the little jeep that could!

My uncle bought a new Willis in 1952 we used to take it up to Vermont to go hunting it went through a foot of snow with no problem, I think the top speed was around 50 mph but who cared ,nice memories. All the best Michael

My Grandfather had one of these, and he gave us kids rides thru the pastures just like your kids. This was over 50 years ago, so this Willy's brings back fond memories. Thanks.

Oh my gosh, watching your kids riding in the back of the truck brought back so many memories. Your kids are adorable and life is all about creating memories. You made a good one here.

We had a jeep like this back in the day. Use to go back in the woods and cut firewood and load it up. Great memories. Those kids will have good memories as well. Thank you for sharing your journey.

My wife and I really enjoyed the jeep videos. We were really glad you stuck with it to the end. Love watching the old iron come back to life.

My step son and I bought a 56 Willly CJ that had been parked in a backyard for 13 years and still had chains on all 4 wheels from last hunting trip. Paid $750 and towed it home. We took it apart painted it, got the broken frame welded and since he was 14 I took my tractor and built a hills and mudpuddle course behind my house. He and his cousins had hours of fun getting it stuck and unstuck. This video brought back great memories, thank you!

When you were ready to take it trail cutting, I was freaking out thinking you hadn't put coolant in it yet. Love those old Willys Trucks, keep it going.

I think you guys oughta go through the motor on that Willis. That would be a really neat project

Really fun that you figured this tough nut out and got it operational again. In 12 days I will be 61 years old. There were trucks like this all over the place when I was a young lad. Very seldom see a Willys any more. Thanks for not giving up on this one. Really awesome to see it moving under it's own power. You are SO lucky to have those beautiful children!!

Valve timing alone was enough to keep it from getting good compression. Cylinder head cleanup only just helped it run smooth. Your gearhead logic is spot on for engine troubleshooting. I would have used the same sequence of troubleshooting as the most likely next thing to check. Love to see this old flathead sing again.

Ha!! you included my favorite part of these videos - those precious children of yours smiling laughing and having a good time with dad and his jalopies!! Another great upload!!

Is it me or can you see the smile on that old Willy’s grill being in the woods once again. All the old Jeeps have such personality and soul to them, that I don’t ever think can be replicated in a car again. Keep up the good work!

My Grandfather had one these when I was no older than the kids in your video. I’m getting ready to turn 67. You have tremendous skills. I probably would have give up on it but I’m glad you didn’t. You can keep tweeking it till it gets even better. I can’t tell from the video if it’s worth refurbishing but it would be a keeper if it was. Grand Dad would be tickled. Thanks for sharing. BR

I bought a Willis panel truck back in the seventies, sold it before I was able to take possession of it, was on active duty under orders, I've wished I could've worked it most of my life. I've built a dozen other trucks from fifties to the eighties since, none were able to take the place of that early fifties Willys I missed out on so far back. Thanks for a vicarious visit into my teens. Semper Fi, John McClain, GySgt, USMC, ret.

Great work again dad, son and kids, your joy when you got it to start is great to see. And the kids riding in the back at the end priceless memories 😃

Definitely not a Matt's Off-Road Recovery Vehicle yet, but pretty darn good! Gotta love a guy who fails five times and is still smiling. And one who get's it the end through perseverance and a positive attitude. Congratulations! Great video.

The broken exhaust manifold bolt was my favorite part. These old engines are fantastic to work on. I've torn down a couple Subaru engines with my buddy about 5 or 6 times. He installed the head gaskets backwards. First start up it poured out like a fountain. Next head gasket we installed, one of the brand new head bolts sheared perfectly flush with the block. It was seriously demoralizing. Many all nighters later it was finally running. Automotive moments like this are why it's fun. Love this video.

What testament to Willys. Built to work, built to last, tough as nails. Thanks👍🇨🇦

Pretty awesome how you just dove in and tackled the problem. Simple effective jeep will live again with you guys loving on it.

Well, that blew me away! I didn't think you would be able to bring that old gal back to life! Shows ya how much I know! lol. Great video!!!

Willy’s Overland co. Has a great amount of parts for these old rigs, great company to work with

My grandfather had a 1954 Willy's truck like that. He passed and it sat for years. I got it running and drove around the yard with it when I was 14. It had the Hurricane 226 straight 6. It was much more rotted then yours but still alot of fun. Greatest to see this video brings back memories of my youth. Great to see the kids having fun riding in it.

Got some sweet kids my friend . That truck is going to be a hoot on the trails !

You are the Sherlock Holmes of auto mechanics.

Seeing little ones riding in back sure brings back memories of when I was about 40 years younger. You can tell they were enjoying every single second of the ride. As for the two guys in this video: I envy the heck out of them because their doing the exact thing I dream of starting for myself. Having a shop in the country, Rebuilding old antique pick-up trucks, Four-wheel drive especially is a dream I've had since my teenage years.

You did it! That's awesome - color me proud of your mad skilzzz. My father had the same year and color Willys from 1967 to 1974 and it never left him stranded anywhere. He only sold it because the gears were very short and it wouldn't do more than 50 or so MPH which limited his commute to work since he couldn't use the freeway. He sold it for the same $$ he paid for it and ended up buying an International 4x4 pickup truck that he used for about 8 years until he gave it to my brother. I have great memories of the mighty Willys 4x4 in a dark forest green with it's little 4 banger motor.

So cool to see this ol' girl coming back. I absolutely love old technology. Sure it ain't fast or have power this and that but a person with basic skills can work on it. And that's how it was meant to be. That's something I'd like to see make a comeback. Society could use a dose of good old fashioned know how, like our Grandfathers had. Good Job.

Just loved seeing the kids enjoying the ride. Was the best part of the video, well done.

My grandpa used to have a Willys Jeep. It was parked after a long while when I was a kid. I remember spending so much time in my youth just going to the back yard and hanging out in it. This brings back a lot of memories. Glad to hear it run.

Old guy from Wi. here, I don't know how many people know that any of the Willies that came with 4-cylinder engines can be upgraded in power by putting any of the AMC 232 CI based 6-cylinder engines they bolt directly to the bellhousing without any adapter. The same guy designed them both he thought the jeeps were underpowered and when he went to work for AMC he used the bolt pattern from the willies 4 bellhousing so it would be and easy swap.

That was awesome, my brother had a Willy's Jeep Identical to that one back around 1974 in Oklahoma, same color also, he took it out on the farm one day after a storm had past, he buried it in the mud and stripped out the transfer case, I was very young at that time but you defiantly brought back some nice memories, those Willy' were built on Military standards and in the day there were built to last, such a simple vehicle but built strong, nick names were the Little Mules, thank you so much for sharing this.

With a generator, your charging system can be either negative or positive ground, it doesn't matter, as long as you POLARIZE the generator. If the generator has no residual magnetism, it won't charge properly. If you're going to cut trails, you need the 3 point hitch and PTO options on back, so you can pull a "bush hog" around with you 😎

Your mechanical abilities at such a young age amazes me. Usually to work on old motors one would have to have some years behind him.

In 1969...my 51 Willys PK got the 260 V-8 engine from my 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon Sprint put into it with the help of an adapter kit from J.C. Whitney. The 260, with all the chrome, had broken of the top of # 5 piston at 97,000 original miles so it was rebuilt. The Falcon got upgraded (?) to a 289. Oh memories. I have no idea where either vehicle are now. This was the last major work I did on vehicles.

Very cool! I have a 61 and a 62 cab only with the original Tornado motor in it which is I am told the first production overhead cam engine. Lots of great history with the Willys Overland! Great job on your videos! You guys have some outstanding wrenching skills!!

So fun watching this old truck come to life!

Theres a 61 Willys in the town Im from. Everyone reconizes because for over 50 years it hauls fire wood and plows snow!

You can't get anymore cooler than a jeep pickup or wagon 👍🇺🇸

That's so cool the kids rode in the back That's something they will probably remember forever Great video look forward to more and trail cutting too

With so many channels, I forgot that you were tinkering on this one. I as a kid have memories of riding in the back of a truck. We were our own enemy as we would hang over the sides as far as we could and never fall out but once my brother had stood up to stretch his legs from being crouched down so long and dad was just rolling along but he swerves a bit to miss a hole in the road and caught him just right sending him right 0ver the side. And this is the best as we convince him to stand up and pee over the top of the cab into dads windshield. My buddy and I standing off to one side, we knew what come next as he tried to do this and he had pee all over him. He was soaked good cause it started coming back but he couldn't make it shut off. Under pressure and mad, he swung at my buddy and went over the side of the rig. Now he is really mad and we are laughing and dad figures it out and it makes him laugh too. Those were good times .... yes they were and now we are so scared, we walk around with a mask on???

My dad and I put a327 Chevy Moyer in a jeep wagon years ago we had some fun with that thang seeing the old jeep brings by some very good memories I've times long past

My ‘49 Willys will always be my favourite off road truck. Still going strong after I’ve had it 30years and never been stuck despite trying real hard.

We used one for 30 years plowing snow and hauling fire wood out off the mountain in upstate New York it still runs now

man I love to see this old Jeep back doing what she was designed to do after such a long sleep! Nicely done!

those kidos will remember that day forever!!!!!!

I couldn't stop smiling seeing that Jeep moving again. Nice job, good luck with it.

New subscriber and I really enjoyed seeing the old Willys come back to life… Good to get your kiddo’s in the video also. Twenty years from now they’ll cherish these saved moments.

Great video. Love the kids in the back. Motivation for me to get my grandfather’s old truck running again so my kids can ride in it like that.

I can appreciate all of your hard work that was required to get the old Willys running. You have excellent diagnostic skills as well!! I’ve been driving a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback for 51 years! It’s been a joy to drive daily. Things were made better then when people took pride in their work. The new cars are nice but they have no soul! You are indeed blessed to be able to do what you do!! Keep up the great work!!!

I bought a '76 Jeep J10 pickup with a 258 4.2 litre that had been sitting in a barn for 32 years and the engine was seized. I poured a can of Coca Cola in each cylinder and let it sit overnight and it spun right over! The 1 BBL carb was all gummed up and I thought about buying one of those Chinese carburetors. You're the second video I've seen with disastrous results. I bought a carb kit and rebuilt it myself and it runs great!! I'm glad I didn't waste my money on that carburetor!

Love it!! I have a '46 CJ2A myself and love the old Willys! Great video!

Very glad you got it to run this well ! Truly a wonderful project and I had just as much fun as the kids had ! Great video 👍😀👏🏻👏🏻

GREAT VIDEO GUYS !!!!!! THE OLD WILLYS IS SAVED FROM THE JUNK YARD ..YOU ARE A CAR G-D.. YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF!! HAVE FUN KIDS ,,.. W/ DAD

Never heard of or seen before. What a cool truck. Love the squeaky sounds when driving it.

Super excellent work. The old Willy's Pick-up truck for a lot of more parts of the Future Home Store has been complete it.

Don’t even think about removing that 4 banger! It sounds great like a flash back in that time era

Started driving on the farm when I was 8-10. We had a 49 like this and I really, really enjoyed your video. Still had it when I graduated high school. I can't tell how nostalgic this made me feel. Everything you did to the old girl, been there done that. The sound was absolutely amazing, reminded me of decades ago. If you had the spine for it they would go where ever you wanted. The only way to stop it would to get it high centered, which why there John Deere tractors back then. Thanks for trip down memory lane!

it took good experience to get the motor to fire up but once it did it sounded really good. had fun watching it !!!

Such a pretty truck!

At 500K subscribers we need a compilation of you dad laughing. It's the purest thing ever

It probably will be a cool trail cart but I think a guy would make an awesome custom lil truck to cruise in too. I guess this place is a rental , which gives more work space and a yard to store the treasures you find. Sure the wife likes having less mess at home lol. Enjoying seeing your adventures.

Its beyong Cool the kids got to go for a ride in the back like we did 60 yrs ago when I was about that size! Really nice job getting it running again❗🇺🇸

Great job, a lot of people would give up if there was a problem with the engine, but you did great. Maybe it would be good to reinforce the frame a bit so that it doesn't twist too much in the terrain.

This is a very cool truck. Love to see it fixed up more.

I love old cars. They always teach you to be a better mechanic. Your insights into getting her started pulled the curtain back on some pearls of grease monkey wisdom. You definitely gave me several lessons. Like you mentioned figuring out how the beast was abused in days gone by can be tiresome at times. Best regards Hugh M 1966 Ghia in progress

I had a "58 Willis Pickup that had the Hurricane Six engine in it and it was a great little truck. It would go almost anywhere. The only trouble I had with it was with the 6 volt system. We put a 8volt battery in it to help with the cranking and it helped a lot. Had to drill the batterey to hook up the lights to 6 volt to keep from blowing them. You will probably have to change out your lights since you installed a 12 volt system. Loved the video. Brought back some old memories.

Hey Michael, love watching the channel, always keen for the next one! I think the Willys is great, a real classic, and whilst I know you showed us how rotten it was underneath I do think that this car is a real classic and could be worth more time and a bit more in-depth restoration to return it to the road, a bit like the 911. Keep em coming buddy 👍

Man, I am sorry to see that the frame is that bad because that's the coolest truck I've seen in a long time. You have done an amazing job on this!!

Good job on😂 26:48 the old Willys it brings back a lot of memories in the love the old vehicles they worked hard and lasted forever we used to hunt from the fenders keep up the good work guys

Good Seeing You Guys Back At It, That Willy’s Jeep’s A Neat Project, Maybe Go Through That Engine Or Worse Case Scenario, If It’s Too Far Gone, Get A GM 350 Or LS For It..

Great to see the old jeep up and running. Love these old jeeps. Body lift, suspension lift, big wheels, grippy tyres, Jeep would be unstoppable!

As a 82 year old, I remember riding in Harvey Estes Jeep Truck back in North Florida, loved it!

Man, that little Willy's is so cool. It's just unlike anything you can find today. I bet it'd make an awesome little trail rider.

Good video,glad to see progress on the Jeep,what a difference from start till now,just keep doing what your doing and carry on 👍👍👍😎😎😎

Love these Willys vehicles they just awesome looking and really cool thanks for saving one!

Stephen King mentions a Willis jeep in Firestarter. The Willis you're reviving is a pickup truck. I like to imagine the front grill of the jeep resembled the pickups front grill. The video made the book that much more realistic to me.

Those old trucks are magic! Great job! I miss my '48 Dodge.......

I'm very excited for you! Down here in Florida the motors get seized easily after a few years being that there's so much humidity. I have a brand new 4.6 block in my shed getting some rust on it after only two years.

I have a 226 super hurricane that runs. I just took it out of my 55 Willys and it is in great shape. I replaced it with a corvette engine. I changed the engine out because top speed was about 30-35 mph. 4- wheel works great etc. Now I can go 80 mph and it is fun on the open road and in the back country. Have fun with yours

I had a 1957 Jeep Pickup with the Super Hurricane Flathead6 cyl . They are TANKS..I used mine to drag Logs for getting fire wood .Sounds good. Mine had those old lockouts Yours needs Lubricated bad..LOL.Great Video. I would fix that frame..

One thing I learned working on aircraft, turn on electric power to energise the field. A operating alternator field will magnatize the belt pully acts as a weak electro magnet and will draw a hand wrench to it. If you have no field voltage your pully wont attract any ferris metal objects.

Love that truck . I have a 84 CJ for over 25 years and been a Jeeper all my life

I enjoyed that. My Grandpa was a rural mail carrier and had the full cab suburban one for his route. This was in the 40s, 50s. He used to take me on his route sometimes. That and this video was a wonderful treat for me. Thank you. I'm a subscriber now!

So cool what you are doing with that Willy PU. I had one in high school ( an 56), that I put a ford 292 in of the same vintage. Kept fixing 2nd gear every time I got on it. Lots of tranny stories. Thanks Ron

Learned to drive on a 47 Willys Jeep Truck. Loved watching the resurrection of your Jeep Truck.

the first vehicle I ever drove by myself. Owned by George Richmond, a Lobsterman in the 1965 in Manomet Massachusetts.He taught me how to shift and let me learn in Low range.

I came upon your channel.totally by accident. I'm a jeep guy since I was a kid with a 1940ish Jeep Willys my Dad had. Loved this! Keep on bringing these old great rides back!

Thoroughly enjoyed both parts of this...and a 1962 Kaiser Willys pickup showed up in my facebook feed this morning!

Brand new subscriber here, and I'd be on your channel just for this revival. I drove a 1955 Willys pickup like this, but with the straight 6 cylinder Super Hurricane. Mine was also outfitted with a PTO mounted overdrive unit controlled by a stick. So, there were four, sticks coming up from the transmission hump. It was exactly up to the task of cutting trails. Its favorite off roads were mining and high voltage power line trails. But, get it on a two lane Highway in practically any terrain and it tracked beautifully up to the speed of 65 MPH in any weather. They were purpose built for desert, rural and alpine extremes.

you could add some square tubbing to the frame where it dont exist. Or plate what ever the case might be. 2x4 tubing works on some frames. The children are charming and that was a nice truck bed for them to get to ride in, with out rusty holes, dirt and oil in it for an antique truck. And she runs really great too. Its really is a beautiful example of an 50s Jeep Willys. You could put some bigger wheels and Tires on it to go right over logs.