Willys Wagon build

[Cobound]

Love the updates...that you're doing this all in your little garage, hawt damn, man!!

Can't wait to see it in person in a couple months

[nblehm]

Its coming out killer man. I am going to start saving my pennies just in case you ever sell it

[Cobound]

Originally Posted by nblehm

Its coming out killer man. I am going to start saving my oennies just in case you ever sell it

Get in line

Hell, as many cool things as he's built, this one will likely stay in his arsenal forever, his little girl won't let him sell it, I'm sure

[6DoF]

so much sheet metal :twitch:

looks awesome man!

[myjeepsbigger]

I need to hear it run or see it out in the daylight or something. I'm running into SEVERE fab fatigue.

[Cobound]

Originally Posted by myjeepsbigger

I need to hear it run or see it out in the daylight or something. I'm running into SEVERE fab fatigue.

I can ONLY imagine

ROLL IT OUTSIDE

[myjeepsbigger]

Tons of late nights going into this thing, trying to get ready for the KOH trip. I've temporarily wired power to the engine harness and had it running. Sounds AWESOME. Plumbed brakes, added Wilwood proportioning valve, regeared axles (5.13) and installed Zip locker in the front, Grizzly in the rear, made PCM mount, finished engine/trans/power steering cooler mounts and plumbing (all AN lines), framed-out the center floor portion and started on the cage. WHEW! Only a few pics to share.

The cage is just the start. I want to use it to help support the body (since it's basically just a skin now), as well as protect in case of a roll. But there isn't much much room at the B-pillar (this thing is narrow), so I recessed the B-pillar cage tubes into the body. I'll eventually sheet over them, to make it clean. Cage will be tied to the rockers and the frame.

I still need to get the rest of the interior sheetmetal done, cage done, some sort of dash made (possibly just temporary for now), and get it wired all within the next week-and-a-half.

[Cobound]

[nblehm]

Youre a mad man! Will feel good to drive that thing.

[6DoF]

those tacks are REALLY well spaced! are you measuring them out or just eyeballing it?

[myjeepsbigger]

Eyeballing. They're not all that well spaced.

[6DoF]

i looked closer, you're right ... total trash.

[myjeepsbigger]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

i looked closer, you're right ... total trash.

I'm my own worst critic. I'm already wishing I had started with a better body. But at this point, I'm married to it. I guess that will make it easier to smash it on a rock. I keep having to tell myself that it's a wheeling rig, not something going to a car show.

[6DoF]

[myjeepsbigger]

Cage outer perimeter skeleton is done, rear floor done, wiring finished enough to verify that it starts, runs and revs up again. Wiring took me two full days, and I'm still not finished. There is the Painless fuse block/harness that will handle most of the body/lights, then a separate fuse block for the powertrain, and another relay box for Starter, Fuel pump, Cooling fan, and the N/C brake 12V signal to the Throttle Module (needed to make cruise control work). Took me a while to get the tab geometry just right on that rear hatch window, too. That pivot has to be just right, or the supports will bind on the window frame, or the body, as you close the window. When they're perfect, it clears both by just a freckle.

Edit: And before anyone makes a comment on "all the plain white wires"... Those are each going to an ignition-on circuit in the computer harness. For anyone that's had one of these harnesses apart, you know that they're all pink. Well, I couldn't find a spool of pink wire. I still have each of them labeled with tape at the firewall. That will all be covered with wire loom, but the labelling is still there if I ever need to troubleshoot a circuit.

The list of stuff is trimming down, but I still have this to do before leaving for KOH Friday morning:

Dash fab
gauges
Shifter & mount
Lights
Rear tailgate
door latches
winch
Currie sway bar
Radiator puke tank
battery mount
seats and seatbelts
alignment
sheetmetal cage dimple die tie-ins
rebleed brakes and power steering
top off gear oil
windows/lexan
Door sill sheetmetal
Air supply to Zip locker

That doesn't include getting my truck serviced, checking over the trailer, packing tools, etc. Fukk. I'm going to need a vacation after my vacation.

Few pics attached.

[Cobound]

Originally Posted by myjeepsbigger

That doesn't include getting my truck serviced, checking over the trailer, packing tools, etc. Fukk. I'm going to need a vacation after my vacation.

That floor is downright sexy, I'd take a nap on it

Dude, that's how it goes...trips like ours lately have been that way, getting ready is damn near as much work as a job...but holy hell does that make for a great vaca...and needing a vaca after vaca

That's a lot to do, you confident this will be on the trailer and drive when you get there vs being a show piece

Stoked to see it, thanks for taking time out of your build to post updates for all us sorry saps that can only live vicariously through your work

My RZR is waiting for me out there, just hope nobody rolls it before I get to drive it

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by myjeepsbigger

The list of stuff is trimming down, but I still have this to do before leaving for KOH Friday morning:

good luck sir!

[6DoF]

[Cobound]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[myjeepsbigger]

Well, it made an appearance at Johnson Valley. Had a lot of stuff going on through the week (i.e. crashed UTV's to fix), so I didn't get a chance to drive it around as much as I'd hoped. But it at least got me re-interested in it. Hopefully get rolling on it again soon, albeit at a much slower pace that pre-KOH. I need to spend some time tweaking the suspension/shocks, but I think it will be a hell of a crawler. It was just a little loose on the faster stuff (sand whoops) than I had hoped. Once I get the bumpers on, and more of the finished weight in place, it'll be easier to get it dialed in for good.

Pic attached. This was taken by CJ Cooper.