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 So, you bought the Willys Jeep that you always wanted. You have seen your whole life people driving them around, heard the stories of how reliable they are and how they will go everywhere that they are pointed. The problem with owning a Willys Jeep is not anything that is mentioned before, it is that you are now the proud owner of an antique vehicle that is old and will require regular maintenance in order to keep it in top shape.
When it comes time to work on your Willys Jeep, you need to consider if you are capable of doing the work for yourself or if you will need someone to help you. Finding mechanics that are capable and knowledgeable when it comes to older vehicles can be a challenge. You might just find yourself needing and wanting to the work for yourself. If that is the case, make sure that you have a dry, sheltered place to work on your Army Jeep, a full complement of tools and diagnostic equipment and most importantly a comprehensive manual to help you out.
In order to understand what you are in for, consider once again the age of the vehicle you have just made a commitment to. An Army Jeep requires a commitment that is not so uncommon from a dedicated relationship with a partner of the opposite sex. They require constant attention and regular service work. Finding a manual that helps you is of paramount importance. Finding a manual is not so difficult, but each one is designed to cater to a different audience.Some manuals that are found are designed for the beginner or the garage mechanic. They view the work that you might do on your Army Jeep as more of an owner just checking the oil, tire pressures and basic things like that. For some owners, this is all that will be needed as they will be sending their vehicle off for most mechanical and diagnostic work to a professional. If that is the case, almost any manual can fit the need that you have and can be purchased at any local auto parts store. Other Army Jeep owners are planning on being somewhat more hands on in the work that they will do with their new (to them) vehicle. Owners like this will quickly become bored with a manual that is designed for basic owner checks and will want more. A Chilton’s manual is a good idea for someone like this. These manuals are billed as being written based on a complete teardown and rebuild of the entire vehicle. For most owners this will be sufficient until it comes time to do major troubleshooting or the rebuild of an engine, transmission or transfer case.
For the Army Jeep owner that plans on actually performing a complete restoration or major rebuild of their Jeep, it is recommended that they find a Mitchell automotive manual. Mitchell manuals go into more detail in every way about every part of a willys jeep making the process of fixing or rebuilding easier. The details that often make all the difference between a successful repair job and a frustrated home mechanic can be found in these types of manuals.The last manual that is essential for any aspiring Willys or Army Jeep owner is nothing more than a knowledgeable Willys mechanic. Finding a local personal resource can be the difference between loving your new acquisition and complete frustration. Remember that your Willys is comprised of very serviceable but old parts. It can be very difficult to find parts at times and even harder to find anyone that is experienced at working on them. Many owners change out engines, axles, transmissions and every other essential part in order to make working on them easier. Army Jeeps that are all original and working draw a much higher price than ones that have been modified for ease of maintenance. No matter how you decide to proceed, remember that the undertaking that you have accepted is one that will take you time, dedication and probably some help whether from a written manual or from a mentor. Either way, if you are going to take it, do it all the way and you will be pleased every time you drive your new (old) toy. |
