[dkamath]

All that i can say for now is the Jeep is blessed to have found Pavan and his gang of restorers
The amount of attention that is going towards every detail of this jeep has to be seen to be believed.
Good luck, Pavan!

[Lalvaz]

Amazing story Pavan, am sure you'll do a great job with the jeep. Do post a detailed account of how you restore this baby. It will really serve as an invaluable reference to future restoration projects.

Btw, how many miles has she covered? Any engine work required at all? Or just the body work and suspensions/electricals etc....?

[randeep04]

Congrats Pavan,

Looking forward to updates and the restoration pics.

Cheers !!!!!!!

[snaronikar]

OT: Looks like even I have to get one more Willy's and give it to Pavan for restoration after this job is finished. Please keep yourself free for this, Pavan.

[DirtyDan]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

I would like to keep everyone posted that this project was accepted by me out of sheer curiosity ......at the end, the poor soul the Jeep which had lost its identity over years matters most, and yes i am working hard enough to get this fellow back to shape.

Goodness gracious great balls of fire....there's an artisan/craftsman amongst us!

I lower my light saber in salute to thee, young Jedi. Hear it? Buzz, buzz....freep!

[PAVAN KADAM]

I'll need to quote too many guys out here , in general thank you all.

I have indeed now almost finished with the final product, will not spoil the thread by ending it abruptly by posting the finished project.

I had enough time to finish it, but 2 months the whole "Willy fellow" is ready to rock.

Have a crashed hard disc where i've stored pics, Waiting for $@~to$# to rectify my system to retrieve all my pics. Pleeez give me a couple of days for the next set of pics to appear.

About few BHP'ans offering help in the project, thank you i am overwhelmed.

The Willy boy does not have the front grille, someone offering to get me source one would be wonderful, though $@~to$# has offered to get it, any more info also would help.

Keep glued here for this will be one fast paced thread

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

Have a crashed hard disc where i've stored pics, Waiting for $@~to$# to rectify my system to retrieve all my pics. Pleeez give me a couple of days for the next set of pics to appear.

Eagerly waiting for the pics.

Let me know if you need any help with restoring images from HDD.

[ssarmast]

Hi i own an willys MB and have had it for the past ten years now.Lemme know if you need any inputs on it. Salman

[PAVAN KADAM]

Thank you all. Hyderabadi folks could help me with the Willys MB Grille

While the Willy boy was getting all his old paint removed and reduced to bare metal, I was on job to get the fittings that were'nt there on the jeep.

What i needed:
1) Front Grille- Which i needed help from fellow T-BHP'ians
2) Head lights- Sourced and ready.
3) Black out lights front,rear and fender
4) Pitchfork
5) Shovel (original dated 1941)
6) Axe (original dated 1941)
7) Jerry can ( original dated 1944)
8) Original Swtich(Single switch controlling all electricals as originally came)
9) Data plates (1 on the dashboard,3 on the glove box lid)

The Willy boy owner granted budget for all these and actually got a few fittings, some fittings was helped by Brat001, thanks to him.

Enjoy the pics

[PAVAN KADAM]

After all the fittings came, my next step was to get the underbody of the Willy boy, cleaned for all those years and years of dirt.

BTW old metal paste on the jeep came out in tons.

Things done:
1) Suspension resetting
2) New shock absorbers from Gabriel
3) A good diesel and detergent wash of the under body.
4) New bolts on the wheel hub to fit the rims.
5) All rusted portions cut away and new metal added.
6) Petrol tank removed and flushed
7) New brake cylinders and new master cylinder(original) replaced
8) New Brake lines drawn.
9) Wheel drums and linings changed
10) Few tie-rods changed.
11) New brass lining for the original "C" shackles
12) Hand brake or the axle brake renewed- But handbrake lever on the dash not available.

Here are few pics .

[PAVAN KADAM]

II week since the work was in progress, We attended to the body.

1) Body tapping done
2) Body filler on and started the process of sanding it.
3) Once the sanding completed and the outer body looked in shape, oil patti was put on.
4) Oil patti again sanded
5) 888 dupont surfacer sprayed
6) Dupont tube patti smeared.
7) Next job was to get the inner tub to shape, all tinkering and replacement metal job was done, got the sealant to cover the corners.

KINDLY NOTE: The front grille is a local fabrication from a Mahindra and is a makeshift arrangement.

After all the above work completed the Willy boy went on to complete one month during restoration.

A Jeep is indeed tough.

[prabhuav]

Hey Pawan,

Great job dude. Who is your tin man?

[lohithrao]

Great going Pavan! waiting for this project of your to get over so that can have a look at Jeep..........do keep us posted

[PAVAN KADAM]

Here is the next set of Updates.

Into the second month of the project, i was a bit happy to find out this fellow was getting back to his original shape

Now was the time where my headache turned to migraine. The Original has so many fittings than the actual vehicle itself. Since i was not interested in a hotch-potch job, needed to attend to all the small parts in getting them sanded, treated neatly and then finally painted, and this took almost a week.

We finished spraying 3 coats of DuPont Matt on the surface and again 3 coats of Duxone for the underchassis(Both pricey but lasts really long).

The shade was decided after a long and lenghty discussion with the owner, who initially wanted it pale green, I wanted this fellow to look a bit sporty than the pale with green.
After much coaxing the owner agreed and said " ALL YOUR CHOICE"

Here are some pics

[Jaggu]

Great going there, coming out really well. Detailing though subtle makes a hell lot of difference with the end product as seen in these pics.