Greaser007's '46 CJ2A - "Gemma" project

   Well guys and gals ... here she is "Gemma" the Jeep.



Yes, she's a real Gem, so i have been calling her Gemma. Funny how we name items with personality. And i would venture to say this 1946 Willys can tell some real interesting stories, and has probably suffered bruises from hitting all the lava rocks in our area. The east side of the Valley is lava rock and shelfs. The steering stabilizer shock-body has a Big dent from contacting a rock or sleeping hiker .... haha ... ouch !

December 30, 2017:
   Anyway, i had been silently "looking" for a Flat-fender-Willys in original drivetrain configuration, and Gemma popped-up on the local Craigslist for $2k.
   The jeep was just up in the Sierra-Nevada mountains about 35-miles up the hill from us, so away-we-went to have a look. I told the wife, i am paying full-price if it catches my eye, and we'll go back with the trailer to haul her home.
   When i looked the jeep over, the chassis was correct as the front bumper and rear draw-bar hitch. The engine compartment looked mostly correct as with the dash and guages and steering and so on.
   Now ......... the Body shows that this jeep has spent many years sitting out in the weather. Go ahead a laugh at the seats ! ..... they need just a touch of attention.




   February 02,2018:
   Engine - it is the little "singer-sewing-machine" 4-cyl Flathead L134.
I didn't even ask the seller if it ran, because I told him I will tear it down and see what the engine internals look like.
   So, today, I carefully cleaned around the spark plugs before pulling them.
Note - before pulling these plugs, First spray a little WD-40 in around the plugs to hold any dirt from falling into the spark plug holes. Loosen the plugs and screw them almost all the way out, and then take your pocket knife and scrape around the plugs then blow with compressed air before plug removal.

   Next Step - I turned the engine over with plugs out to make sure there was no water in cylinders. No-water ! Then I did a compression test and all cylinders were at 125 lbs turning over 4-revolutions with engine Cold.
   I checked for spark, and had Good-Spark ... Wow !!

   ..... i'm getting Really-Excited at this point.

   Next step - Primer Gas and told wife to turn over the engine and that little Gem fired right up and sounded so sweet.

   It was a good day ............. Gemma is a Runner ! .... maybe, but not sure at this point if she is a "Driver." ....... hahahaha

   Len ( Greaer007 )

Edited by Greaser007 - 12 Jan. 2019 at 7:04pm

Congrats!, and great news on getting her running ... I'm curious, what's going on at the shift boot?

A nice looking rig!

Looks like you didn’t have to go home for the trailer. Because it has a tow bar. 

Project update - April 07, 2018:

   I pulled the skid plate and drained the transmission and transfer-case fluid.

   Yuk ! ..... first there was a bit of water, and then creamy goo.
Well, I only expected some water because the rubber shift-staff boot was gone.
Now, I was always crossing creeks in my jeep, and seemed like in years past I was always draining fluids after deep water crossings.

   I cleaned the shift tower and repainted and refilled the boxes with fresh fluids and repainted the skid plate too.   There was a pretty good dent in the front of the skid plate, so I pressed it out straight with the hyd. press.

   My fuel tank has fuel, and I can blow through from the hose connecting to the fuel pump to the tank.
   Next step will be to see if the fuel pump is pumping, because the carburetor is not getting fuel.

   Other than those items, I have not done anything else on my project Jeep.

   I guess like most everyone else, spare time to work on the willys is scarce and "Gemma" keeps getting pushed aside for more important chores.
   I just did crack the cases on my '02 WRX Subaru 5-spd transmission, which is my daily driver ( was ) and hope to get it back together soon.

   Len

Summit Racing is your friend....

If you are getting 125 on all cylinders, I doubt it will need a tear down.

Good News for my '46 Willys !

   And ad popped-up last week for a T-90 with D-18 trans-case & Over-drive.

   The guy said he had it promised to the first purchaser who was supposed to pick it up on Monday of this week. I told the seller if he had any issues, to call me and I will by happy to take it off his hands.

   The seller phoned today and said I can pick it up tomorrow. He has had this trans set-up stored in a wooden box for 25-years. We are in an arid climate so I have good feelings about this, and he is an old fart like me, and he says the Overdrive works very well. He had it behind a V-6, so it will have the longer shaft.   

   I would like to swap the long shaft for a short one for my 2A w L134.

   I am also willing to purchase a nice used short input shaft at a reasonable price.

   And am kind of keeping my eye out for a nice Carter YO 636 to fit the L134.

   Len

Well, I just removed the top of the newer T-90 transmission and it does have the 18 teeth on the Input-Shaft. The insides are clean and shiny and shafts turn smooth. I will probably wait for warm April weather before I dig into the Overdrive that I bought in august. It is wet outside, and Cold. :)

I have made no progress on my '46 enough to drive it. As of today 12-23-2018 the best I have done to my Willy's is to get it idling several weeks ago.
My next plan is to purchase a pressure gauge for fuel delivery, and go from there.

My 4-cylinder L134 doesn't seem to have a PCV valve. And I don't see a road draft tube either.

I may have to wait until tax-returns before I can purchase a new fuel tank.
After fuel tank replacement I then hope to refurb the brakes. Following that I will need to rebuild the steering box. (I hope the steering will be salvageable because the wheel has LOTS of SLOP ).

December is a tough time for Willys parts-purchase $$$$. So no new activity on my Willy's.   boo.

Len