Archive for category General

The 12th Annual Willys Jeep Picnic

Jun 24

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

P6130047 300x225 The 12th Annual Willys Jeep Picnic

2010 Show Jeeps

The 12th Annual Willys Jeep Picnic in Lansford, PA was another great success. This was the second time that the Picnic took place at the Lansford #9 Coal Mine Museum, but this time was even better than the first. Saturday, June 12th was a sweaty day to have a car show – but despite the muggy weather, over 50 Willys vehicles were in attendance. A variety different models could be seen: Military Jeeps, Station Wagons, Jeepsters, CJ’s and Pickups, just to name a few.

Some attendees took a tour of the old coal mine and caught a glimpse of what miners dealt with. Their jobs were incredibly difficult. It’s amazing to reflect upon things like that nowadays, considering how easy and convenient many aspects of our lives are.

Anyway, back to the Jeeps. I was very impressed by the quality of work put into many Willys Jeep Restoration projects. Their work proved to me that people are still taking their Willys Jeep Restoration projects very seriously, which greatly pleased us. We spent a good part of the day fielding a myriad of restoration questions. But, that’s what we’re here for! Keep ‘em coming, we love talking Willys Jeep Restoration!

Willys fans of all ages

Kudos to the Lansford Fire Department for making lunch and to DJ Shawn Frederickson for providing the tunes. We’d also like to thank Northeast Classic Car Museum, Jeep Classic Calendars and Larry Long for their contributions. Mother Nature cooperated with the Willys Jeep Picnic at least somewhat, holding the rain off until the very end of the day.

Be sure to attend next year’s Picnic, same time, same place!

Excellent show, everybody! Keep up the great work!

Don’t miss the 2010 Willys Jeep Picnic photos here.

Tags: Car Show, Jeep Restoration, Willys Jeep Events

NEW: Upload Your Jeep Project Photos!

May 18

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

There is a brand new section of the Willy’s Jeep Restoration Blog where you can upload pictures of your classic Jeep restoration projects. Simply click on the “Project Gallery” button at the top of the blog. Next, click on the Jeep Restoration project that applies to you. Then simply click “Browse” in the lower right corner on the Project Gallery page of the Blog. Finally, locate your photo on your computer and hit “Upload”. Be sure to submit a short description of your Restoration Project photo. Include your Name, Location and Project Year and Model. Enjoy!

Tags: Photos, Pictures, Project, Restoration, Willys Jeep

What is ignition timing?

Apr 29

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

DSC 0128 300x199 What is ignition timing?

Distributor/Oil Pump assembly

Ignition timing – what it is and how to set it – often eludes most Jeep owners. Here we hope to shed some light on this commonly misunderstood subject.

Internal combustion engines rely on spark plugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Ignition timing is simply the process of setting the time that a spark will occur in your engine’s combustion chamber. When the spark occurs is relative to the position of the pistons and crankshaft.

If the spark occurs too soon, the rapidly expanding air-fuel mixture will push against the piston causing lost power. If the spark occurs too late, maximum cylinder pressure will occur after the piston has traveled down the cylinder, causing high emissions and unburned fuel.

So, your engine cannot operate properly if the timing is incorrect. Incorrect engine timing will result in loss of engine power, decreased fuel economy and if the problem persists long enough it could eventually lead to engine damage.

Jeeps have mechanical ignition systems which makes it pretty easy to set the timing yourself without the use of any special equipment. Mechanical ignition systems use a mechanical spark distributor (distributor cap) to send a high voltage current to the correct plug at the correct time.

DSC 0136 300x201 What is ignition timing?

Distributor in its native habitat.

If your distributor gets removed or replaced you should be able to get it back in time easily. However, in classic Jeeps the distributors are run off the bottom of the oil pump. So, if your oil pump is ever removed or replaced and the gear that runs the distributor isn’t aligned correctly the timing will be thrown off. This is a common cause of timing issues with your Jeep!

Coming soon, new video – how to set the timing on your Jeep!

Tags: CJ Jeep, CJ2A, Jeep Restoration

Best Way to Make your Jeep more Drivable

Apr 8

Posted by dan in General | View Comments

So you’ve worked hard on restoring your Jeep; you want to show it off. However, most classic Jeeps have one major problem… their gearing doesn’t allow them to reach highway speeds. For many Jeep owners this can be frustrating. You want to be able to take it out regularly – maybe to shows, maybe just recreationally – but, not being able to reach highway speeds can be limiting.

DSC 0156 199x300 Best Way to Make your Jeep more Drivable

installing an overdrive

This is why I’ve always been a advocate of the driveability factor – sure some modifications might make your Jeep a little less “authentic” – but I say, if it adds to your enjoyment you should go ahead and do it! I think that adding an aftermarket over-drive is essential to improving your Jeep’s driveability.

Unmodified, the smaller 4-cylinder Jeeps top out at 40mph, while the wagons and trucks with a 6-cylinder can reach 50. Adding an overdrive reduces your RMPs by about 25%. This allows 4-cylinders to reach 50mph and 6-cylinders to reach 60mph in 3rd gear.

Aftermarket Jeep overdrives bolt directly to the transfer case and require no other drive-line modifications, making it a relatively easy install. Doing it yourself, most people can install one in just a few hours. Also making the overdrive the most practical way of improving your Jeep’s driveability.

If you decide to add an overdrive, it is important that you look for quality parts made in the USA. Fully synchronized overdrives with a separate shifter are best, because they can be used in any gear, even in 4WD.

DSC 0109 300x200 Best Way to Make your Jeep more Drivable

overdrive completely installed on transfer case

This acts as an additional gear in-between each gear. This makes them great on hilly terrain, like here in Pennsylvania and also great for tackling off-road obstacles.

In our next post, I’ll show you how to get the right fit for your Jeep model and demonstrate the installation.

Tags: driveability, Jeep Restoration

Why Does My Jeep Lean to the Driver’s Side?

Mar 3

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

You’re not the only one. This is a fairly common occurrence, and normally not much of a problem. Jeeps lean to the driver’s side because of a few reasons.

DSC 0164 300x199 Why Does My Jeep Lean to the Drivers Side?

Willys Jeep with Severe Lean

One is because of the way they were made. Jeeps are made to be relatively small and compact. With the weight of the steering equipment, the left side is already heavier. Also, you the driver are probably most often the only person riding in your Jeep. Your weight added to the weight of the steering equipment adds a constant enough pressure to the driver’s side suspension, to create the leaning effect.

If your Jeep’s lean is pronounced and affects your driving, it may be time to get new springs.

Front CJ Spring Assembly

A common mistake that many Jeep owners make is replacing the worn springs on the driver’s side only. However, after doing so, they are usually are disappointed to learn that a new, similar problem has arisen. Their Jeep now leans to the passenger side because their new springs are over-compensating for thealso worn passenger side springs. Whatever your reason for replacing

your Jeep’s springs, it is best practice to replace all of the springs at once. When shopping for springs, look for the best quality – at least eight leafs per spring. Look for springs made in the USA, which have a tendency to last longer than foreign-made ones.

Tags: Jeep Restoration, Made in USA, Springs, Suspension, Willys Jeep Parts

Willys Jeep: Authenticity VS Driveability

Feb 24

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

Carl Walck from Walck’s 4WD discusses why he feels strongly about Authenticity in Willys Jeeps. Dan Walck talks about why he prefers Driveability.

Tags: Authenticity, driveability, Jeep Restoration, Restoration Projects

My Favorite Jeep

Feb 16

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

I describe my favorite Jeep, the CJ2A

Tags: CJ2A, Favorite Jeep, Willys Jeep Parts

Choosing the Perfect Jeep Restoration Project

Feb 4

Posted by carl in General | View Comments

1958 Jeep Forward Control, Christopher Ziemnowicz

So you’re looking for a new project? The decision to restore or preserve a classic Jeep can be a very fun and rewarding one. The question we get asked most often is how to pick “the one.” When searching for the perfect Jeep restoration project, keep in mind that not all Jeep parts are readily available. This is true for both replacement and reproduction parts. For instance, Jeep forward control trucks are extremely rare and unusual, making them a prize to collectors. Throughout their nine years in production, about 30,000 Jeep forward control trucks were actually sold. It’s unknown how many remain today, but what is known is that parts for these exotic vehicles are scarce, if not completely unavailable. If you decide to restore a similar vehicle, be prepared to spend a lot of extra time and money searching for and possibly restoring these parts yourself.

To be sure you’re making the right decision on your Jeep restoration project, ask yourself what drives you to complete it. Do you view your project as an investment, or is it more like a hobby for your own enjoyment? If your project is an investment, the rarer the Jeep, the more money it’s usually worth. If your project is a hobby, the more common vehicles (like CJ series Jeeps) may be fun and easy. However, their resale value will almost never match what you originally spent. Finding the balance between hobby and investment will mean the difference between a fun project and a potentially frustrating one.

In preparing to commit to a vehicle, you will want your candidate to offer a balance between condition and price. Starting off with the best possible quality will definitely make your project easier and more enjoyable. When evaluating a restoration prospect, there are a number of general items that you should verify in order to make the most informed decision possible.

Take an inventory of the vehicle – what’s there and what isn’t? Does it start and drive? What obviously needs to be repaired?

What will need to be prepared in order for the vehicle to run and drive?

1957 Willys Pick-Up, David Monniaux

Spend some time behind the wheel. Does everything electrical work? Are there any unusual noises, shakes or vibrations when driving the vehicle? Is there any smoke or strange odors coming from the engine or the tail pipe? Are the fluids topped off and fresh? These are some of the primary items you should get a gauge of during your initial inspection of your project.

If you plan on driving your Jeep during its restoration and working on it over time, you should only consider a Jeep that is mechanically complete and as rust and corrosion free as possible. On the other hand, if you plan to strip your Jeep down to the frame, any part is fair game for replacement. This makes it easier to deal with a high level of corrosion or mechanical issues.

Now you’ve had a crash course on what to look for in your Jeep restoration project. Get out there, and have fun with it! Happy Restoring!

Tags: CJ Jeep, Forward Control Trucks, Jeep Restoration, Rare Jeeps, Restoration Projects

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About Walck’s 4WD

With over 16,000 sq feet, over 10,000 items in-stock and over 30 years in the business - we've earned our status as the world-wide premier replicator and retailer of Willys Jeep parts and as the most dedicated Jeep restoration experts you'll find. Since we cut out the middleman and reproduce and reclaim most parts ourselves, you always get the lowest possible price on your parts.
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