Willys Wagon build

[myjeepsbigger]

Although I'll probably suck at keeping progress updates here, I thought I would give the Jeep Talk forum a little love. I sold my Silver & Black CJ7 a little over a year ago, and starting working on this 1960 Willys Wagon. I actually had it running and driving for a while last Winter, and used to tool around the country block out at the Farm. It was a flat-head Hurricane engine with a three speed. Actually ran pretty well. All I really wanted was the body and title, so the entire frame and drivetrain was sold. Admittedly, the body is pretty rough. But I knew that I was going to cut the hell out of it, so I didn't want to buy a really nice one and have that guilt on me. Anyway, the idea is something I can throw the family in comfortably, and run it across the country without worrying about reliability. Then hit some trails, camp, and drive it back home. The Rubicon trail next September is our intended target...although if I have it done and proven by January, I'll likely drive it out to KOH.

I've currently chopped the top 3", dropped the windshield 2" so that the bottom of it matches the side window level, and chopped the hood/raised the front fender so that the body line matches up. That always annoyed the hell out of me about these wagons. Side benefit is that it creates a pretty sweet looking high-line front fender. I have the floor cut completely out of it, and the body is channeled down over the frame, so it should sit super low, and still have a flat belly.

It's sitting on a 2015 JKU chassis, and I've kept that wheelbase. Custom 4-link and panhard in front, single-tri 4-link in the rear (lowers dont have a lot of triangulation). LQ9 6.0 & 4L65E from an 06 Caddy, Atlas 3.0:1 case, 1410 driveshafts, Dana 60's. I also put on 2.5" King adjustable remote-res shocks and King air bumps. Currently running a limited slip and 4:10's, but I'll likely move up to Yukon Zip's or Arb's and 4.88's. Tires are 40" Maxxis Radial Treps. Also running a street rod fuel cell, Stealth fuel pump kit, and all small fuel/oil/trans lines will be AN. Steering is a JK big-bore PSC with assist, and PSC pump.

I've attached a couple pics. Maybe I'll try to find a hosting site to throw a few more up soon. I have several on my IG, for those of you that want to look there.

[freerider15]

AWESOMEEE!!!

A Willys Wagon or Truck are my next, more long term, build.

But we'll move and I'll have at least a 30x40 shop when that happens.

My plans would be a little less involved, more stock. Likely a waggy frame with 44's, and a 5.3/4L60 to putt around/commute in.

It would likely replace the XJ I'd imagine too

[xj_man_646]

Hell yeah. Your builds always impress me, Damon.

[myjeepsbigger]

Cool little grille mount I fabbed up from some 18ga. The bottom of the grille was rotted out around the edges, so I made that piece to reinforce it. Then a matching piece to mount to the frame. I was mostly just playing with the brake and bead-roller, trying to get the hang of things.

[myjeepsbigger]

Some of the body mods in progress. Quite a bit of nasty bondo in it here and there, but that will all be cut or ground out before it's over.

[myjeepsbigger]

Drivetrain shots from initial mock-up. You can kind of see how I made a "subframe" for the link mounts. These JK frames are really wide, so I had to do something to bring the frame-side mounts in...but I didn't want the lowers on a crossmember (to aid drivetrain ease of service in the future). So I carefully prepped and welded some 4x4 square tubing on the frame and built out from there. Worked out that I can run my exhaust through the 4x4 (it's wrapped now). Initially, I thought I would need flex joints in the front section of the exhaust to keep the engine vibes from breaking it, but everything is mounted with some pretty stiff urethane mounts, so I'm gonna let it ride and see how it fares. I already have the flex couplings, so adding them later won't be a big deal. The exhaust is installed with stainless band clamps, so each section is independently removable. Tailpipes are in progress.

[nblehm]

Ive been pumping your tires already on instagram, but this thing is SO good.


Curious where you came across a 2015 jk frame?

[myjeepsbigger]

Originally Posted by nblehm

Ive been pumping your tires already on instagram, but this thing is SO good.


Curious where you came across a 2015 jk frame?

Frame came from a salvage yard that I do business with occasionally at work. Got it for $500. The only damage on the whole thing was a tweaked front bumper bracket...which I cut off anyway. If you're doing something like this, you can find a lot of minor front collision frames out there that are being sold as "rear section only", but they usually don't have damage past the crumple zone. Anyone that can fab a jeep, can replace that section easily.

[nblehm]

Originally Posted by myjeepsbigger

Frame came from a salvage yard that I do business with occasionally at work. Got it for $500. The only damage on the whole thing was a tweaked front bumper bracket...which I cut off anyway. If you're doing something like this, you can find a lot of minor front collision frames out there that are being sold as "rear section only", but they usually don't have damage past the crumple zone. Anyone that can fab a jeep, can replace that section easily.

Interesting. I have tossed around the idea of throwing the waggy body on a jk frame after watching your build. But quick googling wasnt bring up cheap options.

[xj_man_646]

Can you post some closer shots of the link mounts and such?

Also what is your IG? I joined it finally...

[xj_man_646]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that its the same as your screen name here.

[myjeepsbigger]

Actually it's my real name now. I changed it a while back.

[myjeepsbigger]

I'll see if I can snap some more recent stuff soon. This is from January this year when I was just tacking things together, to see if I could get it all packaged in the available space. I've made a few changes here and there. The frame-side brackets are from RuffStuff, Barnes or Ballistic. I can't remember which. They come as an unwelded kit, and fit together nicely.

[Cobound]

ABOUT F'N TIME, SON

Ugh, that work is so pimp!!!

[Hoofmann]

This looks like it’s going to be a fun build to watch!

[6DoF]

get after it! hell yeah!

[Blue XJ]

Awesome build, jealous on this one!

[Scott00TJ]

Very cool!

[myjeepsbigger]

Don't have much for pic-worthy updates, but I've been knocking out the floor structure. It's been tough. With the engine pushed back to clear the front axle, t-case clocked up to keep a flat belly, frame channeled up 6" or so, and cab chopped 3", there isn't much room left! And the fact that I had to cut out the entire floor to make it all work. So, it's really been a challenge. I decided to frame it all out with 1/2 x 1/2 square tubing, just to give the sheetmetal a little extra structure (knowing that there are going to be a lot of irregular shapes, in order to maximize interior space, and still be able to work on it.) and to help me visualize where to start. That center access panel is all riv-nutted with 10-24 screws. There will be similar panels on the sides of the bellhousing pieces. So, anyway, here's a few pics. All the welds will eventually be ground down and the whole thing sprayed with Lizard Skin or something similar, then likely some removeable outdoor carpet. Once I get the steering column set, I'll work on seat position, then pedals, then fab up a removeable dash. It's probably going to be multiple removeable panels, so I can pull it apart for service.

Did all my radiator mounts yesterday. It's mounted off of the frame, instead of the grille. That's the only way I could do it with the big PSC box in the way, and given the remaining vertical room that I had to work with. It's pitched back slightly, and will hopefully give me enough room to mount the trans and engine oil coolers...and a A/C condenser later down the road. I did the upper and lower mounts, and shroud, out of 18ga.

Oh, and my seats have been a debacle, too. I have two nice power/heated leather buckets that I was going to use, but they simply won't fit. The power mechanism on the passenger side will not clear the transfer case. And they are VERY heavy. So, I've given up and gone to a split bench seat. I think my kid and dog will like riding up there, anyway.

[myjeepsbigger]

Vertical mounts for the radiator are just 1" square tube that's mitered to a frame crossmember. Isolated the radiator with rubber small-engine mounts on the verticals, and foam rubber on the sheetmetal mounts.