Dirt Daily. Testing the Flatfender's Starter, Will It Crank?

This 1946 Willys Jeep has been sitting a while, and I'm slowly chipping away at the old parts to make it run again. Everything turns, but will the old starter crank over the engine? Today we find out.

[@roadmasterz]

Fred, thank you for being so meticulous in your diagnostics and your repairs. I am considering a purchase of an old flat fender to rebuild and watching your process of work has me thinking I can actually do it too!

[@TerinasAdventures]

Thank goodness you finally got a haircut. 😂 Great video!

[@lethargicmotorsport2025]

????

[@4xFredWilliams]

dont worry, it'll grow back

[@brentmcmillan646]

Great! Thanks Fred!!! Now you’ve pushed my buttons enough to look for a decent flat fender. I already have enough projects 😂

[@danielcroft3923]

Like how you break it down I imagine most of us just assume everyone just knows how things work.every little thing could be a big help to someone new to wrenching on junk.

[@adrianw3985]

I saw that flat fender up close at EJS. Saw you parking it at Best Tops display. Those old Jeeps are very cool. American Icons.

[@ciscokidfab7595]

One more check for 12volt. Check the back of headlight bulb for voltage mark like on generator, flasher relay, and coil. Also regulator or resistor for coil might give some more clues. What a fun journey.

[@justmater911]

Fred, it looks like the engine block is busted just above the starter motor. BTW, great job, my wife and I really love this flat fender series

[@s-a-p-ek7976]

Awesome Jeep! Need to get my yj going it’s been sitting for 20 years.

[@Rivetroad]

Beyond excited for this video. Going through the same process with a 1949 s1 Landrover.

[@nobuddy4611]

Start button is handy. Easy way is get a new solenoid with a built in push button. Pretty common on AG and heavy equipment.

[@BrendanPerring]

This is such a lovely therapeutic video, well done Fred, I am so happy you are creating this content, I have been watching you since the first DED episode.

[@patricksjeeps]

Looking at the firewall, looks like it was originally Luzon Red. Yep, 6V starter will work fine on 12v

[@JeepnJeff]

I'm right there with you with my '52 MD. I'm converting it to 12v and still haven't tried starting it. Have the T90 out and waiting on parts for that. Going to do the Land Cruiser starter and have a Delco 1-wire so minimal wiring to deal with. I feel the highs and lows with you.

[@user-by3mq8bf2h]

I'm working on my 93 yj. The steering column is falling apart. People are crazy, I was just looking for the plastic cover for the column, they want more for just the plastic than I can get a whole new column.

[@VetJeeper]

Thanks for another great video! I’m excited to see it running!!

[@Beat98TJ]

This thing better be running for summer ice cream runs!

[@stumpy0227]

Nice cracked block, right next to the starter, Fred!! Rick would be SO disappointed in you for missing that.............🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@4xFredWilliams]

uhm, there’s no crack

[@LukeEdward]

HA! RIGHT. A crack…sure. Let’s just trust Fred and see how things turn out.

[@46willysj]

I saw it also, in the top of the bell housing above the starter

[@mattlong_4896]

Good stuff Fred. Looking forward to the next video. Cheers

[@dwaynetyrrell3128]

Finally warmed up enough to get mine out not much to look at but man are they fun!!!

[@Runionbarry]

New sub but long time fan. I miss dirt everyday but the one and one Fred is cool too. Jesus love you and God bless!

[@57WillysCJ]

Moving right along. I know guys like Jay Leno mount those batteries on their sides. If I rember correctly the wiring for a 6v system will run 12v but witing for a 12volt system is not strong enough for a 6v system. My personal opinion if it is not a show vehicle where it has to be original I would modernize it. 30 years ago you could find 6 volt parts in rural parts stores. Not any more so I install the easiest to find to get back on the road.

[@LukeEdward]

Optima makes an awesome 6V

[@davidcurry9292]

I got a 52 dodge power wagon,still 6 volt. I use a 12 volt battery. Still works fine. It never leaves farm,it has no lights hooked up on it,just my amp gage. I always unhook battery after driving.

[@spatchist]

6v wiring is typically larger than 12v - voltage/current/amps and all that .

[@marktadlock5428]

I would remove the generator and replace it with a single wire alternator to help clean up the engine bay

[@johncolligan5128]

Alternator probably best choice unless you are trying to keep some originality, then the 12 volt generator would be better

[@brentonpaterson7047]

So cool.

[@TimJacobson-du1xh]

I rebuild a 63 VW years ago and did a conversion to 12 Volt. I asked a starter rebuild technician about reusing the 6 volt starter. He said it would be fine. The motor will turn faster on 12 volts and if it doesn't start right away stop cranking to avoid burning it up. One thing that makes me nervous watching this is working around a battery without safety glasses on. If you have ever seen a battery explode you would know why.

[@spatchist]

Yes, I converted a 6v bug to 12v and left the 6v starter in place , no more starting problems! But a 6v horn given 12v - that's an earful .

[@scottr9900]

Something changed with your audio. Echo is pretty fierce. Maybe there was something big and reflective behind the camera?

[@speakerville]

They do make 12 volt alternator in a generator case. All the reliability of an alternator that looks like a genny, and you don't have to change the brackets.

[@MatthewHarrington72]

This little Flatty is so much fun, but, how about the forward control? Not being a dink just curious! Keep up the great work!!!

[@goinwheelin]

Fingers crossed the rod and mains are ok in that engine.

[@tsmith578]

Fred ,, since you now have the engine cranking, Before you do anything else you should hook up a oil pressure gauge and get a reading to see if it has acceptable pressure. Then perform a compression test on all four cylinders to see if they are at a sufficient compression psi level. The engine sounds pretty fair when you were cranking it over on the video,

[@4xFredWilliams]

its got oil pressure, not alot, but some

[@tsmith578]

@@4xFredWilliams You should add a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer to it after you change the filter,

[@jasonscharf97tj]

I saw that crack too i hope its not the block couldn't tell .good job though Fred chip away at it

[@57moto59]

@4xFredWilliams What camera are you using? It's Good Quality.

[@caseymuzio7609]

Do you plan in using a gm style 1 wire alternator to replace the generator

[@dgmai2466]

Dirt Every Day was the best! TubeSock > NoobSock

[@brackeng1294]

The junkyard Jeep was my favorite

[@dgmai2466]

@brackeng1294 The summer camp was my favorite, especially that engine.

[@randyhemker792]

👍👍😎

[@user-ht1xu4gv2u]

Toyo land cruiser a direct bolt in with minor modß

[@petehans8087]

Hope I'm seeing things, but is that a crack in the block, behind the starter that you can see at 7:50 minutes of the video?

[@Beat98TJ]

To me, it looks like a wire laying on the Bell housing or back part of the block

[@petehans8087]

@@Beat98TJ 7:52 exactly. He's pointing. look directly behind his finger nail. That is a crack.

[@Beat98TJ]

@@petehans8087 I have a close-up picture, but I cannot post it here. There is a shadow and a little piece of wire. No crack.

[@4xFredWilliams]

no crack. just a shadow

[@jonathanpeters186]

Please, please get a clip on microphone

[@zerkfitting]

Common Fred. You can do better than this.

[@glockster22gmail]

Looking forward to the series!