1954 Willys Howe "Fire Jeep"

[38ff 250]

All,

It's still not done with the restoration, but it was a good day today to go move some water. The Barton 500 GPM pump puts out water well, and catches a draft quick. My probie had some fun shooting water. They are off a cell phone, so sorry for the poor quality, but I figure they would be interesting, seeing some old apparatus being restored and still functional. I have all the orginal suction hose, ladders, etc, but it was alot easier to use the lightweight hard sleeve and modern hose for todays "testing".

Edited August 8, 2010 by 38ff

[FFFORD 27]

that's so awesome. Nice work. that jeep is sweet.

[JetPhoto 626]

nice

[38ff 250]

As the project gets closer to done, I'll post some more pictures. Pictured here is a 200 gallon tank trailer with a booster reel that is towed by the jeep, that gives it a "pump and roll" capability. The trailer is 95% done, all thats left is the rear brake lights and hose connections to hook it to the Jeep.

I installed a non functional 1960's vintage Motorola Motrac radio in the Jeep.

I posted some of the literature from back in the day (1947-1950's) when they sold these jeeps. Some of it is pretty funny.

I guess this was the first "mini attack" of it's kind, decades before they got "popular".

Edited August 9, 2010 by 38ff

[TR54 239]

Very nice ! 38ff

[JM15 386]

I want one that thing is awesome... good luck on the rest of your project

[38ff 250]

It will be making the parade/muster circut next year. I'm almost ready for paint. Im still looking for some fittings and fire equipment for it, but every week it gets closer and closer to being done.

Edited August 19, 2010 by 38ff

[Guest]

Great work. your little Jeep looks great. I'm glad you were able to get the trailer for it. Those are neet little pieces of fire appartus , And I'm looking foward to seeing it at the musters.

[38ff 250]

Unfortunately, it's not going to be done for this years muster season, but that just means it will be ready for next years! I need to contact the Hudson Valley Parade to see if they allow "privately owned" appparatus in the Lake George parade. I dont care about having it judged.

[38ff 250]

All,

Im now working on filling out the Hose Reel trailer that accompanies the 1954 Willys Fire Jeep. Im looking to make it look how a dept might have a hose reel trailer, with associated equipment and the like, back in the day. It is basically nothing more than a big reel that holds 600-800 feet of 2.5 inch hose and a equipment box.

I think I have most of the 2.5 inch appliances from yester year.. From top left to bottom right, I have the following:

2.5 hydrant gate, stack of 2.5 double males/females, 2.5 to 1.5 leader, 2.5 inch nozzle used with the Elkhart ground monitor (pictured above)

2.5 wye, 2.5 water thief, 2.5 inch clappered siamese.

Also on the trailer is the following: shovel, sledge hammer, 2 axes, 2 4 foot pry bars, a Huxtool, tin roof cutter, hose clamp, hose jacket, Elkhart ground monitor mount "Hose Control", 2 2.5 inch play pipes, 2 spanners and a hydrant wrench. It's still a work in progress, with some appliances not totalled finished with rehab yet, (like the water theif), but we're getting closer.

Is there anything else that you can think of that might be missing?

I have attached some other pictures to give you an idea of the scale of the trailer.

Edited November 6, 2010 by 38ff

[38ff 250]

Another small victory today.. The equipment basket above the hose bed is finally mounted, after getting the correct straps made up.

One interesting side note.. I got the straps that support the basket off the cross pieces made on a multi zillion dollar Flow Jet machine.. Why?? Because anyone can make them out of stock and a drill press, so I had to be different, and have a friend who happens to run the Flo Jet and other milling machines for a very well equipped company he works for. Cool stuff...

One step closer to being done and ready for Muster season!

[osufire90 18]

outstanding! This was an interesting concept back in the day; i'm glad to see that you are restoring it!

[RWC130 594]

VERY COOL!

[efdcapt115 1,511]

I'd like to add that is an amazing job you're doing. I've got a suggestion. You should contact one of those model making companies. They could reproduce this thing in miniature. Bet it'd be a big seller. And you might get royalties?

Truly this Jeep is awesome, I commend you for the work and the detail you are putting in to restoring this interesting piece of firefighting history. As far as any other equipment in the cage how about some hose straps?

Best of luck to you.

[38ff 250]

Thanks for the good words.

If you guys want, I'll post up pictures of the 1945 WWII Willys Jeep and Bantam trailer I restored a few years back.

Hose straps are a good idea. I have a bunch..

As for a modeling company, do you mean like Code 3? Thats a great idea..

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Thanks for the good words.

If you guys want, I'll post up pictures of the 1945 WWII Willys Jeep and Bantam trailer I restored a few years back.

Hose straps are a good idea. I have a bunch..

As for a modeling company, do you mean like Code 3? Thats a great idea..

Sure, I'd personally love to see the other restorations.

Yeah like Code 3....make a great model it would.

[38ff 250]

A picture of the hose bed from a few weeks back, when I was test fitting the wood decking that was made by a friend who loves woodworking.

There is 100 feet worth of 2.5 inch on there. The other side will have a shelf 1/2 way up so 2 handlines of 200 feet are ready to go. Also visible is the over head rack that holds the 12 foot roof ladder, 20 foot extension ladder, 10 foot pike pole, and 2 lengths of 4 inch hard suction.

Whoever thought of the factory hose bed design, well, I dont know what they were thinking.. It came with 100 feet of 2.5 inch, and 700+ feet of 1.5 inch. Your not going to lay in very far with that.. I modified the position of the hose bed divider to get 2 200 foot hand lines, and according to my math, 500-600 feet of 2.5 inch. The reel trailer carries another 800 feet of 2.5 inch.

Edited November 22, 2010 by 38ff

[38ff 250]

Im going to fill out the paperwork for Code 3 when it is all done. I talked to someone there, they sounded pretty interested, but Im sure they get tons of calls like that all the time.

Edited December 17, 2010 by 38ff

[38ff 250]

More work, more pictures.

The 1.5 inch handline set up all bolted together now. I can pack 200-250 feet of 1.5 inch in there, so not bad for 2 handlines on a hose bed that not even 3 feet deep.

The stop light on the back is not original, but I figure it cant hurt as far as being seen.

The Federal WL siren was originally 6 Volts and non working when I got it. It's now 12 Volts and very loud..

[IzzyEng4 427]

I want to drive an pump this beauty!!

(*)

[38ff 250]

The "year and a half later" update... I work on my Jeep in my spare time, which between work, family, Fire Dept, Fire District, working on "quick" restoration of a M274A5 mechanical mule and life in general, there isnt much of.. After determining that the engine and drivetrain were working well and didnt need any internal work done to them, the body came off in early June. The frame was cleaned, degreased, primed, painted, and the brakes upgraded from 9 inch drums and single circut master cylinder to 11 inch drums and dual circut master cylinder. All body panels were sandblasted, cleaned and primed. The pump was removed and cleaned up. Prior to removal, it put out 490 GPM according to the Pitot Tube flow tester. Not bad for a 50+ year old pump rated for 500 GPM. With some luck, the paintshop should get the body stuff done by the end of July, possibly earlier. Once paint is done, reassembly will go pretty quick (week or two), as there is no removing rusted bolts, wire wheeling them, priming them, tagging/bagging and documentation of them and everything else that came off the Jeep. Some pictures of how it currently is.

I have also attached some other pictures of other restorations I have done. a 1945 Willys MB with 1944 Willys MBT trailer, and a 1969 M274A5 Mule. Both of which are in 100% functional "as it was back then" condition and in fine running condition. Both were in my town's Memorial Day Parade this year.

[x4093k 654]

Mark,

Excellent looking vehicles. I'll PM you about another thing shortly..

[38ff 250]

Thank you.. I enjoy bringing old vehicles back to life in their fully glory.. While the Fire Jeep has taken more time that I planned, I think it may be the best when it is all done.

[38ff 250]

Someone asked what I started with.. Here is a before picture of the 1969 M274A5 Mechanical Mule when I first got it. Alot of replacing of leaking seals, gaskets, some engine and transaxle work, all new fluids, finding or fabricating some missing parts, wire wheeling, sandblasting, primering, and painting went into it. And a ton of hours doing research: Reading the military technical manuals, looking at other mules, and some SWAGing. The 2nd picture is the day before I put the stenciling and reflective decals on it.

Edited July 6, 2012 by 38ff

[KelliPVAC 32]

Looks great Mark!!!!!!

[MoFire390 118]

AWESOME!!!! love what your doing. Keep up the good work.

[38ff 250]

The not so exciting parts of the restoration. Wirewheeling lots of nust/bolts/washers These hold the front fenders on to the body.

Edited July 8, 2012 by 38ff

[9liner 10]

Looks Awesome Brother. I want a ride someday!

[38ff 250]

Your on! Be safe out there!

[FFEMT150 214]

As a Jeep nut it is great to see yet another willies coming back to life! Hope to see it in person some day!