Taking Forever...the Willys Build

[McCracken]

Alright, I decided to do a build thread. I'm not big into build threads because A) I lose interest in posting pictures and B) my builds take forever and I'm more concerned with getting it back running then updating the internet. With that said I will continue on...

This was my wife's uncle's ride. He at one time completely restored it and drove it to work. It had pinstriping and a custom interior. He also swapped out the original 6-226 engine for a CJ5 drivetrain, which is cool because now it has power steering and more woo-pow.

The sad part is that one day it died and was left to sit. I have no idea why but after some diagnosis it appears the distributor took a shit. I replaced it with an MSD I had along with a coil and ignition box and it fired right up. So now I know it runs but I'm not sure I want to keep the drivetrain. Part of me likes the old school stuff like the engine and Warn overdrive but at the same time I want a few things like power steering, a small lift and larger tires (which means I'll probably need more power). I don't want to go extreme because I already have a crawler and I definitely don't want for it to end up that way. Plus, I've got another one that's in rough shape that I can do that with.

So without further ado this is what I want:

1) A daily driver
2) Decent gas mileage because of #1
3) A mild wheeler that I can take on forest service trails and possibly moderate trails at some parks
4) A cool truck

 

[shawn]

Upload them from your phone.



Noob.

 

[Loganwayne]

Upload them from your phone.



Noob.

He's probably sitting at his office computer lol

 

[McCracken]

Upload them from your phone.



Noob.

I typed this on my work computer (Logan gets it) but the pics are on the phone. Secondly, I have already put some of them on my hard drive at home but not at work. So now I'm digging trying to find some pics to put up before I tore it to hell yesterday. tough crowd

 

[McCracken]

Here look at this awesome headliner.

 

[XJsavage]

Glad to see there's no sign of rats or anything.

 

[McCracken]

Glad to see there's no sign of rats or anything.

Exactly. I don't think I could have handled working on it if they were in it. I would have probably burnt the thing to the ground.

 

[shawn]

I typed this on my work computer (Logan gets it) but the pics are on the phone. Secondly, I have already put some of them on my hard drive at home but not at work. So now I'm digging trying to find some pics to put up before I tore it to hell yesterday.

In the 21st Century, our photos will be on the internet within minutes of being created, making it quick and easy to share them with friends.

Won't it be amazing? I can't wait.

 

[McCracken]

I too look forward to those days

 

[shawn]

You have a Tracphone, don't you?

 

[McCracken]

 

[McCracken]

This thread already sucks. Whatever pictures I've taken are gone of the whole thing. WTF knows.

So I decided to assess the damage. The floors are rough and some of the cab mounts look shady. Also the rockers are gone. I can fab the floor but the rockers I'll have to buy.

 

[McCracken]

I also took the doors off and began the process of taking them apart. It appears they also have the cancer. From what I've researched this bottom portion of the door you cannot buy. The outside skin, yes. The bottom, no. Luckily for me I have another set that are much better. It does have a dent in the upper portion but I can bondo that away if need be.

 

[McCracken]

I'll come back and add the pics later but tonight I got the steering column out, the power steering box off and that's about it. I only had a short period of time because the new baby is being a baby and obviously they need my help in the house. You can also see from the second pic that I removed the brake booster.

 

[McCracken]

Others things I've been working on is removing the wiring. What was in it looked good but from what I've been told fuses were not a stock item at the time.

 

[McCracken]

Last update and I think I'm all caught up. I've also removed the hood, fenders, grill and all the lights. This is how it currently looks.

Next steps are to continue to remove the dash components and prep for engine removal. Here's the dash. It has a bunch of cheap gauges I want gone. I don't have another dash so it may end up looking like a spider's face unless I feel like patching the holes.

 

[XJsavage]

It's good to see the tub isn't rusty. Nice score.

 

[Loganwayne]

This thing is a piece. Stopped by and helped pull all the wiring harness and anything else that was in the cab that needed to come out. The cab is ready to come out as well as motor and tranny

 

[McCracken]

This thing is a piece. Stopped by and helped pull all the wiring harness and anything else that was in the cab that needed to come out. The cab is ready to come out as well as motor and tranny

A piece of history worth restoring. Here I was trying to educate you on the finer things that are Jeep and this is the gratitude I recieve.

 

[McCracken]

Well since @Loganwayne said we worked on it I figured I'd update this. Logan came over Friday and we kept tearing the interior apart. I kept on with the gauges. Hindsight is 20/20 but in this case I got what I got. I guess some of the gauges are useful but I could have done without them. There were also extras like that plastic up and down switch. That's for an antenna that goes up and down... yeah that shit's out of there.

This is what it looked like later that day. No wires and no gauges.

Next I tore the rest of the firewall stuff off like the heater box, windshield wiper assembly and other misc crap. It all went into a box that'll sort through later. I went back to the engine area and took the radiator off and go the engine ready to come out.

I then surveyed the inside again. Not sure my wife's uncle did this but somebody hacked the shit out the transmission tunnel.

Last thing I had to do on the inside was take out these strips of cardboard or something. Around the doors and up top on the windshield they had these channels that they packed with what looks like twisted cardboard. They're held in place by about a thousand tiny metal tabs. I looked like I got into a fight with a bear. Anyway, here they are (the channel and cardboard looking stuff).

I also took out the glass. The windshield frame is pretty rusty. When I pulled the glass out water came with it. Never a good thing.

 

[McCracken]

Lastly, with a mighty sneeze this happened.

Now we can see a better look at the cancer I will be battling.

It's not awful but it definitely needs repair. I'm not that great at body work so we'll see how it turns out. I'll have to purchase the rocker panels but other than that I think I can fab everything else.

The more I looked at this truck while I worked on it I began to suspect this thing has been wrecked before or something isn't all the way there. The truck sat further back on the frame on the driver's side and there were some weird washer stacking taking place is some parts. I won't know till I pull a tape but I may have to use the other frame I have. However, I'm not sure the condition of it because there's still another truck sitting on it. I did notice on this frame there is some major rust/cancer in the area in front of the rear springs. I'll get pics later but right now I'm going to keep pushing to get it tore down. I've still got to get the bed off. Maybe I can knock that down this week.

 

[McCracken]

Well, FML. I tore into this thing some more and what I found was nothing short of disappointing. Here we go...

Every body part is off the frame. The truck bed, fenders, skirts, cab, hood, etc. etc. It looks like someone tossed a grenade under it and everything flew off.

There are a few redeeming things. The rear fenders don't need that much work to get back going and the skirt pieces just need a quick blast in the cabinet and some fresh paint.

The bed however is 50/50. I think the floor could be salvaged but the sides and ribbing look shot under the rust. All the rust is puffed out and it looks like it'll be more work to clean up and try and save than it will be worth. Custom flat bed it is!

Now for the good stuff...

 

[McCracken]

Now it was time to inspect the frame. From the first glance it doesn't look awful...

Let's take a closer look shall we?

Eww, those shock mounts are gone. What's that I spy just ahead?

Pretty rough. I wonder it looks like just a little further.

Aye fucking carumba!!! That is beyond what I want to repair. However, if you look closely it almost looks like the frame is smiling through that hole. Let's check the other side.

She gone.

So here we are folks. The frame is trashed in the back. I have two spare J-10s so it looks like I may have options. I also have another Willys but I'm afraid the frame will be in the same shape. This isn't really the path I wanted to go but I don't have the space to build my own frame. I'd like to but I've got to embrace reality. Stay tuned... or not. I've got to figure out how I'm going to tear down a J-10 and make it fit a Willys or let the Jeep gods bestow upon me a perfect truck frame from my spare truck

 

[Loganwayne]

Damn....

 

[Loganwayne]

So let's find a 4 door wrangler there wheel base is 2" different