53 Short-bed Willys pick-up build

[54willys925]

Hey everyone this is my 53 willys pickup i have had since i was about fifteen that only recently i have started build up to a formidable crawler/ trail truck. i am currently a poor college student, and this has pretty much been a "one man show", so i am doing the best i can with my limited resources...

Specs:

Frame- chopped original 53 willys c-channel frame fully plated inside (boxed) with 3/16 plate, all new crossmembers/ braces

Axles: rear srw dana 70 4.56r&p welded 35 spline full float with disc brakes, plans for traction/antiwrap bar

front dually dana 60 4.56r&p, welded, high steer with 1.5X.25 dom linkage, Hydro assist,

Transfer case: rebuilt chevy np205 with 32 spline outputs twin stick ready, jeds machine adapter, rebuilt np203 low range box doubler

Tranny: rebuilt sm465 4 speed

Motor: sbc 305ci, intake, headers, cam, camlehump heads ported out to 1.96 intake 1.63 exhaust, propane injection fuel system

Suspension: Front- rear chevy s-10 springs, panhard for lateral axle control,? 15 inch shocks.

Rear- rear dodge dakota springs inboarded with traction bar, homemade shackles, 15 inch bbcs shocks, wheel-base is around 108"

Tires/rims: Stock H1's up front, recentered in the back, Tires are to be determined.....

Heres what it looked like with 35's and no doubler and leaky everything, before i tore it down about a year ago to rebuild the frame and ended up rebuilding the rest of everything

[54willys925]

Ok so here is a bunch a pics of the progress up to this point:

[54willys925]

more..

[54willys925]

few more. sorry these are way out of order but u get the idea...

[cj5 buggy]

i'm digging it. looks good

[imgonnasnap]

The stubby bed looks funky, but other than that, looks like fun.

[54willys925]

Originally Posted by cj5 buggy

i'm digging it. looks good

thanks, as of right now i am almost done with my spring semester at junior college, so look for this build to really take off starting late may early june.

ill post more pics with some details as i go along

as of now here is roughly what is left to do:

finish rebuilding tranny (pretty close just needs the bearings pressed in) so i can begin mocking up the entire drivetrain

build crossmembers for tranny, motor mounts

assemble disc brakes and get the dana 70 ready for its new home

finish rebuilding steering box (which is already drilled and tapped for hydro ports)

im sure there is about a million other things to consider like wiring the beast and the like, but this will give ya'll a rough idear as to what im workin with

[54willys925]

thought, comments, ideas are all welcome

this is my first build of any magnitude so any suggestions are appreciated

[54willys925]

to put this build into a better perspective, here is what i bought about 5 years ago...

[73FJ]

I'm watching....

[toy86]

I was wondering if there was a build on here, looking sweet matt. I miss that thing every now and again. Look forward to seeing what you do with it. One of these years we will have to meet up and go wheeling

[54willys925]

Originally Posted by toy86

I was wondering if there was a build on here, looking sweet matt. I miss that thing every now and again. Look forward to seeing what you do with it. One of these years we will have to meet up and go wheeling

ya i just decided to start a little write up, im about to be on summer break real soon so itll be full speed ahead.
i cant wait for it to be done i just realized ive had it torn down for a full year now and i miss drivin it like crazy. cant hate on the mpg of my little honda civic but come onn! its killin me!
as soon as its done we will have to meet and tear it up

[KD96XJ]

What steering box are you using?

[BBcrawl]

nice to know ive had my hands all over this bitch, straight diamond diesel sponsored

[54willys925]

Originally Posted by KD96XJ

What steering box are you using?

its a 2wd 85' up chevy 1/2 ton box, not sure of the exact year, its still being rebuilt, like everything else its just not quite there yet

[54willys925]

i got a bit of work in tonight after work, i finally hunted down the right socket for the huge spindle nuts on the dana 70, turned out to be like a 2-3/4", freakin massive haha.

so i ripped off the drums/hubs and backing plates if preparation for the disc brake conversion, scheduled delivery set for monday, i bought the kit from DIY4X, looked like a decent price for a qaulity set up to me. http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...&product_id=50

[54willys925]

Originally Posted by BBcrawl

nice to know ive had my hands all over this bitch, straight diamond diesel sponsored

ill make sure to throw in some shout outs lol

[54willys925]

got around to a few things this morn, i hacked off the old spring perches and cleaned up the axle tubes a bit






also pounded the studs through to separate the drums from the hubs, which i will clean up and re-use for the disc brake conversion



and i burned in the new shackle hangers for the rear suspension




i think thats it for today... now off to study for chem. and trig.

[jeeper4life 1]

That thing is sweet!!! Great build. Looks flexy too!

[54willys925]

Originally Posted by jeeper4life 1

That thing is sweet!!! Great build. Looks flexy too!

ya i had only run the last setup for a few weeks before i tore it down to start rebuildin it from the frame up. im hopin most of that flex was comin from the leafs not the frame!(though i wouldnt doubt a good portion of the flex was in the frame, main reason why i decided to box it in)

[54willys925]

not much today, gettin the hubs bead blasted by my buddy at his work,

the disc brake kit came in today. lookin bling

[54willys925]

finally finished with finals today. now the real work can begin!

i got the hubs back from my buddy's shop bead blasted and primer'd. i got around to puttin the studs through one hub so far. i knew the studs were supposed to be a tight fit but after pressing them in i noticed stress a couple cracks around where the studs go through the rotor. apparently the stock studs from my axle are a bit too large for these rotors, funny they never mention that in the details before u buy them.

butt being a poor college student i will probably end up running them anyhow as they do not seem too serious, it jusk sucks that it happened. i guess i will have to bore out the next rotor so it will accept the studs without anymore trouble.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Dude, pick a fuckin color and stick with it, the baby blue, navy blue, red combo is making me sick!

Other than that, looks good

[Wild Hare]

Originally Posted by Arya Ebrahimi

Dude, pick a fuckin color and stick with it, the baby blue, navy blue, red combo is making me sick!

Other than that, looks good

maybe some white and the stars are next.

[54willys925]

ok i got around to putting the hubs back on the axle and sliding the beast close to its new home,








also had a little time to tack in a few gussets around where the rear leaf spring hangers will go