My 1957 L6-226 Wagon Build.

Ok , where to begin....

I was in a rush to get working this morning and left my fresh shipment of lead at home. This affected some work furth down the page.

I got to the barn this morning and wanted to start work where I left off two weeks ago - removing the rear bumper. There were two stuck bolts left - really probably only the 3rd or 4th stuck bolt of the project - and I need to get creative with their removal. First I tried a die grinder but progress was brutally slow. Next up was the Milwaukee disk grinder with a diablo grinding disk. In less than a minutes time cutting the bolts were out and the bumper was ready to be parted from its companion of 60 years.



What I thought to be a small crack in the middle section turned out to go 80% of the way around the bumper. That will need welding and refinishing......

After the bumper was done it was time to tin and lead the last major bodywork. I gassed up the ukrainian rocket torch and fired it up. While letting it warm up I went and filled up the bucket with baking soda and water to offset the acid in the tinning butter. I did the tinning of the furthest repair back and then realized I left the new lead at home. I would have to make two sticks cover the repair for now. Coming off a trip I would be a little out of practice.



I didn't do too bad but I will need some more lead there next week. Once that was done I moved inside to begin taping windows. Taping is no where as near to cool as body leading but even the Jockey has to shovel shit some time.



And another:



And then the other side:



The wagon starts to feel small when you can't see out!

One of the back windows is broken so it only got enough tape to seal it shut.



I will eventually replace all the glass and rubber so I am not terribly exact with the tape, I will touch the tape up a bit when I get ready to paint.

After the taping I moved to the doors and the dash. I removed the trim, latches, switches the speedo and only have s few things left to remove before I tape up the front portion.



The last photo of the original speedo in the wagon.







On top of the glove box was a Packard Service envelope with some cool things inside:













George's info matches the name on the purchase paperwork from the original dealer paperwork that was inside the glove box. No idea why this was on top of the globe box.

That's all for today. More to come!

Looking through the receipts I found today plus the receipts with the vehicle paperwork the owner went through at least 4 batteries in about three years. That explains the CO-OP branded voltage regulator......

Over lunch today I decided to power up my instrument cluster to see what did and did not work. I have a special power supply at work to trick the gauges into working. Plus I could test the lights.

Here are some results.







The temp gauge worked until a dead fly jammed the needle. The fuel gauge never even moved. Both gauges are 6 volt while all the bulbs and the charging/ignition system were 12 volts.

I need to take the cluster apart and free the temp needle from the dead fly and clean the spider web from the inside of the lens.

Another nos speedometer(just the guts) was on ebay last night until I found it. One year only parts can be hard to find.

More to come.

Spent my afternoon break cleaning out the inside of the instrument cluster. Everthing now works! Here are some photos.

I can only hook up so many things at once. 13.2 volts DC



2.7 volts DC at 0.1 amps



Gas gauge as well.



Lets hope the new senders play nice. Maybe that will be tomorrow's test over lunch.

More to come...

Keep pluggin' Ben! You're making great progress. Look forward to your updates also.

Thanks, I am going to start handling small jobs during the week over lunch or evenings so that when I get body and paint done (and on the new frame) it becomes an assembly task vs small projects and assembly. After the speedo work will come the wiper cable/axle/spindle system.

Palm Sunday update:

I started off with lead. I remembered to bring it with me.

This is where I was last time - minus the rear bumper.



I got everything tinned and started adding lead. Two hours later and a lot of sweat equity I was done. Its 75F here today, plus my Ukrainian rocket torch equals lots of sweat equity.





With that complete I moved into the cab to finish dash disassembly before lunch.



After lunch I started taping up the last parts of the cab, it gets hot inside a wagon inside a barn with everything taped shut....



Then it was time to finish painting the cab/dash:



Up next was the bed wood. First I steel brushed it down and then sanded it down.



Then apparently I forgot to take a picture of them stained Minwax "honey" color. Though its a bit darker then advertised.

More next week. I have Friday off so I will pull the headliner out, touch up the cab paint, and then start sanding the body outside in prep for painting.....

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Good Friday update:

So today I was going to remove the headliner and front rubber floor. I also wanted to do some touch up painting inside.


I will start off with rear bumper photo showing the crack. I will try to straighten it and weld the ceack or tear.





I also pulled out the grass headliner. I hated to see it go, but it was a lost cause.



I barely had to pull on it and out it came.

We had a few heavy downpours and off and on showers. Here is my modern long wheel base between showers.



Then I pulled the rubber flooring out and removed the shifter surrounds. All screws came out with vise grips or screw drivers.



The flooring under the rubber mat had the typical rust and pitting from the moisture trap, I tore a small hole knocking a dent out of the passengers floor so after patching with the welder I steel brushed everything and painted it.







I also fixed the driver door stop. The weld isn't pretty but I don't mind.



Willys Stadium Lighting.




Thats all for today. More to come.

Ben

Quick update: My folks bought me a new to me hood that shouldn't have all the tree damage. It is in Sheridan, Wyoming so next week's installment will be a road show.

KBEN is on the air. Current range is around 15 feet.



Its currently in test mode. Once I work out the bugs I will finish mounting everything. Currently I am listening to "Yours truly, Johnny Dollar" on the RCA Victor across the room. Tube transmitter to tube radio.

In the last two days we drove roughly 1950 miles to get the new to me Willys Wagon hood. Partially for adventure and partially - well mostly for adventure.



This guy was sitting outside the shop in Sheridan, WY.

Here is the hood sitting on the wagon at 1140pm tonight......



It will need very little work compared to my original hood which had a tree fall acrossed it in the past and then poorly beaten straight afterwards.

We are worn out.

Nice find. Looks like it was worth the trip. Good luck with you're project.

dang it Ben! I wish you had thrown out that you needed a hood. IV got an extra hood (mid fifties) and 2 sets off spare front fenders[emoji30]. AND I live less than 15 miles from you. If it makes you feel better, one of the hood hinges is busted.


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John - we will see how this hood turns out. I still may take you up on yours. It was a fantastic trip - but I am worn out today.

Here are some more photos from the trip.

We spotted a few willys wagons and trucks - but since I was driving you have to take my word - no pictures.

On I-25 just north of the Glendo,WY exit there are some Willys trucks. Not much left but they have been adorning a yard.

North of Beatrice, NE on the highway to I-80 there is a wagon for sale. It is closer to Beatrice.

Now the pictures of scenery:

Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff, NE in a somewhat blurry photo along the Oregon Trail - or Mormon trail on the other side of the river if you swing that way.




Part of Scottsbluff and the NPS sign for said bluff park. One of my favorites.



The Wyoming state line in the rain.....



530am hood pickup in what seems to be a Bronco Ranch - Sheridan, Wyoming.




Pumpkin Willys Wagon - was on ebay earlier today for around 4500$



The Bighorns south of Sheridan with fresh overnight snowfall. Its around 615am in this shot.




Grassland basin near Bill or Wright, WY.



One of many Antelope along the way.




I kid you not - Chimney Rock the next day with better weather.




Left Sheridan, Wyoming around 545am or 6am and had the hood sitting on the wagon by 11pm that night.....



More next week, I should get back to good old bodywork.....

I took all of next week off of work to finish the paint and hopefully switch frames.

Stay tuned.

Hood looks good on there. Always look forward to your updates on your wagon.

Thanks. Here is a sample of the green I intend to use.



The other color will be wimbledon white.

I can't wait to see your colors. I am looking at single stage from TCP Global in Wimbledon White and either British Racing Green or John Deere green.

Hopefully you have a good week with lots of progress.

Duane

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Thanks Duane - I am using Hunter Green - it is a mix of JD green and British Racing green. Daily updates to follow most likely starting Sunday.