A Jeep Ancestor------UPDATE with pics

[Chris P.]

I don't post on here very often, but I thought some of you would like to see this since it is in a way, related to our jeeps.

We went and picked this up last week. It is a 1927 Willys Whippet. We bought it from the second owner who bought it from the original owner in 1964. When the previous owner bought it the body was in bad shape. He started a frame off restoration and completed the chassis. All that is left for me is the body and complete interior. When we purchased the car last week, it was just a bare but drivable chassis. Everything you see in the pictures has been temporarily clamped on to get everything alinged. Looks easy doesn't it? But when working with a body that has a wooden skeleton with metal stretched over it, things can get out of alignment easily. With a lot of patience it should eventually look like this.
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/wokr/gallery/96coa5.htm



http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-863F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-864F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-865F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-867F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-868F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-870F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-871F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-872F.JPG

[ March 18, 2006, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: es ]

[Chris P.]

http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-873F.JPG
http://home.rmci.net/cfprops/MVC-874F.JPG

[david13]

man that thing is cool like to see it when its finished ,dave

[andy d]

heh heh, the engine looks just like the go devil 4 in the WWII era jeeps

[KaiserMan]

Very Nice. It looks to be a very big project, but it has alot of potential. Not alot of Whippets our there either. They are great little cars.

[Bombadier]

that thing is just BEGGING to be dropped, tubbed, shaved, and stuffed with a worked-over fire-breating Rat.

[Chris P.]

andy d,

I think it is. If I remember right the only changes made between the engine in the Whippet and the WWII jeeps was sometime in the early 30's when the stroke was changed.

[KaiserMan]

posted by Bombadier
that thing is just BEGGING to be dropped, tubbed, shaved, and stuffed with a worked-over fire-breating Rat. Don't say that within ear shot of any AACA members, they can be deadly in groups! tongue.gif

[drlocke]

If I'm not mistaken I think that was a whole different animal from the "go devil" engine first used in Jeeps. This was likely a "sleeve-valve" engine that Willys-Knight used in those days. I remember seeing a few of these that were still running--incredibly one as a daily driver. Stunningly quiet in operation, but also burned a terrible amount of oil until the works carboned up enough to provide some kind of decent seal....

I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

[ January 15, 2006, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: drlocke ]

[drlocke]

Originally posted by KaiserMan:
posted by Bombadier
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> that thing is just BEGGING to be dropped, tubbed, shaved, and stuffed with a worked-over fire-breating Rat. Don't say that within ear shot of any AACA members, they can be deadly in groups! tongue.gif </font>[/QUOTE]Hee-Hee! :D

[Chris P.]

The Willys Knight was a more expensive car than the Whippet. The Knight used the sleeve valve engine, and the Whippet used an engine with normal type valves.

[drlocke]

Originally posted by es:
The Willys Knight was a more expensive car than the Whippet. The Knight used the sleeve valve engine, and the Whippet used an engine with normal type valves.Thanks for the input on that. Curiosity satisfied! smile.gif Thought for sure they were all sleeve-valve at that point... Live and learn!

[ January 15, 2006, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: drlocke ]

[GWJoe]

so, does BJ's make a lift kit for it? Just kidding. I like seeing classic old cars that I never knew existed and this certainly fits.

Good luck and patience with your project.

Joe

[grand_wag_85]

Looks nice, good luck with it!

[J10-401]

I love those wheels!

What type of wood is that? Maybe ash or oak?

[ January 15, 2006, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: J10-401 ]

[710 Burner]

Whippit good!
Sorry, it was just lying there...Showing my age.

[ January 16, 2006, 06:51 AM: Message edited by: Valdez Explorer ]

[rockingon24_7]

you should put in dual brake mastercylinders with a tractor locking pedal for easy burnouts... lol...the ninth pic down makes it look like two people couldn't even squeeze in there

[Chris P.]

Wagonaught,

Here are some pictures of the tractor. It is a 1923 Rumely Oil Pull. It has a two cylinder gasoline engine. 654 cubic inches. After the engine is warmed up it can be switched over to kerosene.

The cooling system holds oil instead of water. The big box on the front is the radiator. There is no fan to pull air across it. The pipe going into the side of the box is the exhaust, and in the box it is turned upwards. The exhuast being pushed out of the top causes cold air to be drawn in through the bottom and over the radiator fins.

The top speed of the engine is 530 RPM.
The lever behind the flywheel is used for starting. There are notches in the flywheel that it fits into.

Prime with gas, open the compression releases, bring the engine up against compression, pull down on the lever, and it should start. usually smile.gif

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-842S.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-848S.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-849S.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-856F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-857F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-859F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-861F.JPG

[Chris P.]

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-862F.JPG

[ March 17, 2006, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: es ]

[bigun]

Heck of a piece of machinery

[Alaskaman]

This is deja vu all over again. My grandad had a garage in Northern Colorado back in the early '30s that sold...Whippets (among other cars). Before he bought the garage, he custom farmed with a pair of...drum roll...Rumley Oil Pulls. I have some old tools from the garage, sure would rather have one of those Rumleys. All that was before my time, but I do remember Grandpa's Hudson Hornet in the early 1950's, now THAT was a fine automobile in its day.

[Chris P.]

Here are some pictures of the progress so far. The body is basically assembled although I still need to make a few more wooden parts and running boards. After that I plan to temporarily assemble the rest of the car and take it for a spin. Then off comes the body and sheetmetal to clean off any remaining rust and prep for paint.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-001F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-002F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-003F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-004F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-006F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-008F.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-011F.JPG

[swindler]

Man, that thing rocks!! It's like you are building a house! Look at all of the wood tools and clamps. I have upmost respect for people who wrench on their own stuff. Keep em coming!

[bigun]

I fell in love with a 53 willys 2 door car right after I saw my first one there were 3 on Ebay. I kept thinking how cool it would be with a 401 backed up by a mondern 5 or 6 speed manual.

[Wagonaught]

Can we see a few pics of the tractor in the background next time you update? :D

[JeepNOFEAR]

those are some low profile tires :D

[Wagonaught]

Astounding! Thankyou very much! :D

[Chris P.]

Here is a view looking into the top of the radiator showing the exhuast and radiator fins.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/MVC-846S.jpg

[Chris P.]

It has been a while since I updated this thread or even been on this forum, but I have slowly been getting things done to the car.

The water pump kept grinding out the packing. I took it apart and discovered the shaft had become pitted and rough. I built it up and turned it back down so it was smooth again. While I had the water pump off I discovered the pump housing had a crack and so did the fan blade. The housing had to be welded. I brazed the fan and rebalanced it. Some of you will probably say it is not good to weld a fan, and it isn't, but I can't exactly run down to Advance and get a new one. I am sure this one will hold together until I find another.

Once I got most of the body together, I temporarily bolted the driver's seat in and covered the bare springs with some burlap sacks.:D I then took it out for a ride. It topped out at 45 mph. Basically all it needs now it paint, a complete interior, and a roof. I can't wait to finish it.

[H Callaway]

You are in the middle of several great restoration shops in that area. Any family members involved? Great Work and love that tractor, not as practical as my 35HP compact but does it have character!!!

[Chris P.]

Here are some pictures of what I got done during my winter break. I have most of the parts painted except for the strips under the doors which still need some rust repair. The only other body work I need to do is find a source for the trim strip that goes around the middle of the car. No luck so far. Maybe I will have the interior and top done in time for some parades this summer.

[bigun]

I forgotten about this build up looking good!!

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

that thing is just BEGGING to be dropped, tubbed, shaved, and stuffed with a worked-over fire-breating Rat.

Naw, I think it needs a custom lift to fit some Dana 60's and 35" TSL's powered by a 401...:cool:

Very cool project! Has come a long way in a year, GREAT JOB!:thumbsup:

[Jeep_Guy]

Thats awesome, Keep up the good work!

[men in black]

Chris P. is that ASH door and window framing?

I have a friend whos restoring a 1934 Chev Pickup and it has all ASH framing.
I told him to keep his hands off my ASH ! That son of a Beech :lol:

Eric

[fulsizjeep]

Does it have Mile Marker or Warn hubs? :p

Seriously, Nice Work! And that shop ain't so shabby either! :thumbsup:

[oldmanb777]

Very very cool!!:D My great uncle was with Willy's Overland for many years. He actually retired from them as midwest regional sales exec. I have a Hamilton gold pocket watch that was given to him for outstanding sales, during the depression.

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

KOOL! NICE WORK:cool: IS YOUR GARAGE IN ROCKINGHAM? :)

[jaber]

Right now theres 3 '30 something GMC trucks in my back yard. a '51 truck, and a '46 panel delivery in my yard. I wish I had the time and funds to restore. That is great.

[66rustbucket]

Lovin the Whippet! And I like the idea of the rat rod!:thumbsup: But I really think that keepin it lookin orignial is great also!

[Deus]

cool looking car and awsome work done on it i wish i could build that well, and hey it even has a brow. :)

[my 2j20's]

What no locking hubs?
Nice build..i was just looking at one of these not long ago on the net! I can't say it looked as good as your though.

[Chris P.]

Here are a few pictures of how we put the body back on after I painted it.

And here is a short video of the car although it is not the best quailty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEclj6nhdUE



Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81

Naw, I think it needs a custom lift to fit some Dana 60's and 35" TSL's powered by a 401...:cool:

Very cool project! Has come a long way in a year, GREAT JOB!:thumbsup:


A 401 would be a tight fit, but imagine how good that would look with no fenders or hood and a chopped roof. :D

men in black Chris P. is that ASH door and window framing?
Some of the framing is oak, but most is ash.


GEMOBX/77/401 KOOL! NICE WORK:cool: IS YOUR GARAGE IN ROCKINGHAM? :)


Close, its in Augusta.

[rusty crusty]

It's a really nice car and you are doing it justice. Keep it all origional and ride in style. I hate to see an old classic cut up and hot rodded , since you can buy new bodies of the classics to make a rod out of.

Keep up the good work and keep us up to date.

[johnwaynejeep2]

that looks fantastic Chris.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:, And to see this post now and see how far it's come is a real treat. If I had the talent and space I'd go out and buy an old late 20's chevy and build it up. It would make a great car for around the town if you could put in an electric starter.

[AZJon]

That's a real nice car, and a great job. Thanks for the pics and the vid. Thanks for keeping jems like that alive.

[Chris P.]

I was able to get some work done on the car last week. I got the roof on. Still need to attach the guttering and trim to cover where the sides and roof join. The original sheet metal around the windshield was missing so I made that, painted it, and nailed it down. After I got the roof on I attached the brow permanently.

After I ran the car for a while I checked the oil and found that it had a milky tinge to it!:eek: I changed the oil hoping it was not water. The oil has stayed clear so far so it must have been condensation?

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/P3100383.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/wcprops/P3100385.JPG

Here is a video of me trying to drive while holding the camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37eGH9t2Cs

[Chris P.]

I figured its time to bring this thread back from the dead and update it. The pictures in my first post have been disappeared, so I'll see if I can repost them. The last update was the windows were put in; shown here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=72001

After doing the windows and facing the task of interior work, I lost interest. So it's been sitting in the corner of the shop for two years collecting dust.

http://www.oldengine.org/members/cprops/w4.jpg

http://www.oldengine.org/members/cprops/w1.jpg

Today I got the urge to cut out some backing for the interior panels. I believe I can do the interior myself except for the seats, but who knows maybe I'll give them a shot. Maybe I will finish it by next year?

http://www.oldengine.org/members/cprops/w2.jpg

http://www.oldengine.org/members/cprops/w3.jpg

[Long&Low]

Cool project. Love them wood wheels!!!:thumbsup:

[ob1jeeper]

VERY nice work Chris...;) It's a pleasure to see such craftsmanship put into a hobby...:thumbsup:

[Carleysjeep]

Very nice work! :thumbsup: Very cool car. :cool:

[aallison]

Way cool project. I like the old cars. I showed my wife and the first thing she said was "it's not a jeep".

I told her it was kinad like a jeep grandpa.