Success!!

[bigcol]

Well good news!! Did anyone hear the explosion in Melbourne, Australia!!

Yes, after taking a "leap of faith" and purchasing my 1951 Willys M38 serial 11116 from EBAY from a true gentleman in Knoxfield Tennessee and importing the jeep after it had a total ground up restoration and motor rebuild in Texas... I eventually got it started.

After many months of attempts and frustration with a new rebuilt motor my friend suggested new spark plugs and towing it behind his car to try and jump start it. After towing it and pushing it back into the garage- it started - a most beautiful sound!!

After realising the gearbox was stuck in reverse, I realised the gearbox "fork" was not sitting correctly on the bearing. I removed the top of the gearbox and with a simple correction I now have a working gearbox. Only problem is - No 2nd gear. The fork "pin" looks like a nail and has alot of movement in it which I believe is causing the problem with selection to 2nd gear.

Is this a common problem?

I have only reverse; 1st and 3rd gears. But at least it is driveable!

Col- from down under.

[wesk]

Well congratulations Col.

Who in Texas did the ground up resto for you?

The best place for info on that tranny and transfer is:

http://www.willystech.com/wt/T90RebuildGuide/T90rebuild.htm
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t90_rebuild.htm

http://www.willystech.com/wt/Model18TCase/Model18TransferCase.html
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/dana_18_rebuild_guide.htm
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[bigcol]

Sorry for delay in replying Wes.

Restoration was from someone called W.C Worley of Denton Texas?

In all fairness some of the assembly was done by the original seller in Tennessee before shipping to Australia. Suffice to say I have had some difficulty in fixing & restoring incorrectly fitted parts... but at the end I have a very good restored 1951 M38.

Important to note there is an abundant number of WW2 Willys jeeps in Australia after US withdrawal from Australia in 1945. BUT I believe there is now only (2) authentic Willys M38 in Australia (mine included) which should add value to this my jeep!!

All the best.