I'm Thinking Funs Over

Looks like it to me too. I was told all original factory when I bought it, but who knows after all these years.

 

Well, finally got the engine stabbed and everything hooked up. The last step was filling the radiator when I hear drip, drip and see green on the floor. Two steps forward, one back. Sure enough the radiator that was fine when I pulled it, had a number of drips and one stream. Radiator shop said I had me a bubbling spa when pressured tested in the bath, so $400 later they recored it. I guess 60 years out of a radiator is reasonable. Too many things going on but finally tried to fire Willie up. The fuel pump just wasn't getting the gas up so I went to get some out of my jerry cans, and as luck would have it, I forgot I rotated the gas a month ago and never filled them back up. So a trip to the gas station and 30 minutes later, I poured a little down the carb and he fired right up. And sprayed oil everywhere. I didn't have the oil filter lid on tight enough, so I spent the next hour cleaning all the mess up. Then I tried again and he's running. I let him warm up and varied the RPMs some for about 30 minutes and no puddles. Going out of town for couple weeks, but when I get back, it's gonna be busy breaking him in and doing the Geo disc conversion, if I have any hope of doing the September Colorado Fall Colors Tour.

But hopefully the fun times are finally back after 9 long months.

 

Good to hear. Pics, of course...

 

sounds like its coming together!...good news!

 

Good for you Mickey, hope everything goes well for you. It's a good feeling when it all comes together.

 

Howard, not up on all the abbreviations so what is BTDallT?

 

Well got back in town and all back together and actually drove down to the gate and back today. But brakes feel like they are dragging. Doesn't matter as next step is pulling the front hubs for Geo brake conversion. BUT did see a drop of green in garage floor and when I looked in at the new radiator saw a green line. Once again going to gave to drain it, pull it and take it back to them. Two steps forward, one back. But it is progress.

 

Another update. Turns out the radiator did not have a leak. It must have been just a spill that was handing around. In the process I did the Geo Tracker front disc conversion, rear 11" Bendix, dual master and replaced all brake lines. The engine starts right up and runs well but does seem a little rich. I've only got 10 miles on it but it feels good so far. I'll be taking a little further trips now and will check compression, timing and adjust the carb, then report back. But looking good.

 

On the TV shows, they tell you to keep track off how much you spend. I found out that is not a good idea. It just depresses you. Just fix it and enjoy it.
I see a Jeep at a good price and want to buy it. I tell my wife. "It's a good investment, they are selling for a lot more." Worked for a while. Now she tells me that doesn't work because, "You only buy them, you never sell any Jeeps." She's right. Then she says, "The next Jeep you buy better be running." I like the sound of that.


Dave

 

As a numbers man (former comptroller), its impossible to not keep up with the tab. I have a spreadsheet listing it all. And yes I knew going into this that I would NEVER get back what I put into it and that is with free labor. Right now with tires, tunes, etc, I'm into it $18 and have not pulled the body off yet for a little (really is just a few spots) metal work and paint, sandblast/paint frame and reupholstery. But those are down the road. Right now I just want to enjoy it. Its been a year since I have driven it and now is the time to drive and enjoy. Once I get 500 or so miles on it, I'll be taking it to the mountain cabin and really start enjoying it.

 

Die all the machine work on Fhead, just haven't had time to assemble it. I say when I retire, I'll get them all done. My wife says, "You have more projects than you can ever complete." Already have $1500 in that one. Every so often, I coat the cylinder bores with oil and make sure it's still looking good.
Had a chance to buy a rebuilt engine from a friend for $900.00, but I wanted to build my own. Shocked by how much parts cost. Quit keeping track of the cost then.
We've got a cabin in the mountains and my wife said, "We need a side by side to ride these gravel roads and trails around here." I said, "They are $15 - 17K." She said, "For that price, you need to get a Jeep to use up here, one that runs and is dependable." I will start looking for a Jeep to have up there since mine are not anywhere near completed yet. Sounds like a plan. I see the best deals though when I don't have the space or money, when I'm really looking, with cash in hand, I can't find any as nice as the one I passed up a while ago due to lack of money and timing.

Jeeps are like potato chips, one leads to another.
Got to do something with our spare time right?

Dave

 

The other extreme is to find a reasonably complete running vehicle, and just keep it fed and watered.

I spend about $200-$300 a year on average for maintenance to enjoy my '56, including tires, batteries, etc. Many years it is far less.

 

Most of these vehicles are not fully restored or have been used daily in many years. They require getting over a hump. Once you have them rebuilt enough to be used regularly, and then re-broken in, like PeteL said, then get to be very reliable. They are still around in decent numbers because they were built to last.

 

To be fair, I waited 40 years to buy my '56, from the original owner...