willysmjeeps.com

I'm still looking locally, but no luck so far finding an old-school starter rebuild shop for a working take-off February 1958 Autolite MDM6005 starter I found to work with my new 129 tooth flywheel and late M38 bell housing. These old-school shops are disappearing fast I think, and they don't run websites that I can see. Even phone books are disappearing.

I'd appreciate your pointers to a rebuild shop that you had good experiences with.





I was able to find a NOS replacement Folo-Thru drive for it.




I might try replacing the drive myself, but the Willys SM is a little thin on info for a rookie like me to try it. I'd rather not have to send a basket case to a rebuild shop because it likely also needs brushes and bushings replaced and those parts seem really hard to source.

As always, your advice appreciated!

Don't just look for auto electric, the house motor guys might be able to help as well.

We have a local motor shop here in Southern Maryland that does it all, auto Gen/Alt, household electric motors, welders, 220v generators etc and I've used them a lot!

Mike B

I have used Haines auto electric in Twin Falls Idaho . I have not had to use them in 10 years now but the shop is still open. I walked in there with a 24V genny, starter and reg and the guy knew exactly what I had-been there dun that..10 years later the stuff still works flawlessly. Long way from SC tho..
http://haines-auto-electric-inc.hub.biz/

but the Willys SM is a little thin on info for a rookie like me to try it.

All the little "Willys Manuals" I have seen only discus un-mounting the starter from the engine and then remounting the starter to the engine along with a few brief main component descriptions.

Here's a good place to start: https://www.autozone.com/repairguides/A ... 528008519b

Widening my search to all motor rebuild shops, no joy locally so far.

Mike B, can you post the name of that shop in southern Maryland just in case?

Keeping Haines in mind, but I sure hope there's more folks in this forum that have had motors rebuilt with good results. I could sure use the leads...

Thanks!

Ron have you looked for shops that claim to do work on classic cars in your area, they might direct you. Also is there an MVPA chapter near you that can guide you to where they have their stuff worked on, or a re-enactment group. I know in Austin the military museum at Camp Mabry has a lot of WWII and on equip they keep running for re-enactments and other occasions. I have contacted the MVPA and the re-enactment group to get clues on folks that can provide services for these old vehicles.
Additionally classic car clubs. I know some here have a vendor list on their websites.

These are the MVPA Chapters I could find for SC

South Carolina
SC - Military History Center of the Carolinas
http://www.milhcc.org
Charles Barber
-
President
City:
Simpsonville
MVPA#:
35702
864-243-9440
gwyvern1@att.net
Alan Spearman
-
Newsletter Editor
City:
Easley
MVPA#:
31724
(864) 561-4245
akspearman@bellsouth.net
Club Meeting Information

Contact for details.
SC - MVC of South Carolina
http://www.themvcsc.com
David T. Cartledge
-
President
City:
Columbia
MVPA#:
13200
803-960-3731
cartledge_d@yahoo.com
Barton (Kip) Fordham
-
Newsletter Editor
City:
Columbia
MVPA#:
33710
803-260-6611
kip4dham@aol.com
Club Meeting Information

I think Scout Pilot, the man who rebuilds the carbs is in SC. You might send him a PM and ask if he has a suggestion, he is a member of this forum.

Thanks Ralph. I'll do that!

Here ya go...

Wenger's Motor Service
41175 Bishop Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659
301-373-5162

I don't think they have a web site...

Mike B

Thanks Mike!

Just an update. Thanks to the parts list for this starter that Wes posted, and with patience, I also located a NOS brush set, intermediate bearing, and the pinion and commutator end bearings for very fair prices. Along with the NOS bendix folo-thru drive I found, I figure I'm ready to tackle it.

Disassembly goes well, inspection showed nothing cracked, bent, burned, or broken. Brushes are worn pretty well. And I notice it's missing the commutator end felt and thrust washer. So I clean everything, a fair amount of accumulated crud, with a can of CRC electrical spray.

Then I get to over-thinking about brush spring tension, growlers, and end-play. So far, I have $145 into this core and the NOS parts. Put them in and to heck with those pesky little details? Nope. Full stop. Tired of doing things twice. Still no joy finding a local shop. Ready to call Maryland when....

One of our great forum members and friend points me just in time to a one-man old-school starter shop just across the border into Georgia that he's had very good service with. I love serendipity --- and the help I get from everyone in this forum.

Boxed everything up and shipped it this morning. More to follow.

Ron, any report on the starter?

Not entirely, as it's on the way back to me this morning. Should have it tomorrow or next day.

The good news so far: the shop told me it's now good as new. They installed the NOS brush set, three NOS bearings, and the NOS pinion drive that I sent.

The bad news: the armature was partly shorted and had to be replaced (new Prestolite armature supplied by the shop). It added $95 to the bill.

I'll give a final bill tally and a photo or two when I get it back.

Well, I can't say that the way I did this turned out more economical than I hoped it might. Rebuilt MDM-6005 starters sell for $425 (yikes!).

This is where I landed:

Core MDM-6005 Starter (delivered) $56
NOS Filko Bendix Drive SD-32 (delivered) $42
NOS Autolite Brush Set (delivered) $14
NOS Bushings (2 ea) (delivered) $17
NOS Intermediate Bushing (delivered) $22
Replacement Armature $95
Repair Shop Labor $110
Round Trip Shipping to Repair Shop $67

Grand Total $423 (yikes!)

Not counting $5 for primer and paint that I'm in the middle of doing now.

If it weren't for the bad armature and the round-trip shipping it'd been ok.

The repair shop that I used:

Glenn's Auto Electric Inc.
4649 Mt. Olivet Road
Lavonia GA 30553

Glenn Fleming
(706) 376-3226
Cell (706) 436-3561