56 Willys p/up: project daily driver

[ELIBEEMER]

I am planning a chassis/drivetrain swap for my 56 Jeep Willys Pick Up.

The goal is to make a fine daily driver, and possibly dirt trails.

I have a 1999 Escalade chassis/Drivetrain: Vortec 5.7L, cable throttle, 4l60e and the AutoTrac 4x4 transfer case and diffs.

The wheel base is nearly identical at 117"

i plan to make a nice daily cruiser, i have looked into a Speartech or S&P harness and PCM, but am unsure of my 4x4 AutoTrac.

Any recommendations as how to run the AutoTrac in my project?

Does the autotrac tie into the PCM signals?

Here is a pic of my project: (just to prove that i am serious)



thanks in advance,

ELI

[ELIBEEMER]

slow progress...but still putting along!

rear bed has been transfered onto the new frame, mount will be fabricated next week out of 10ga Stainless Steel.


front clip off

rear bed swaped

[phillyzj]

so it's gonna be an IFS Willy's???? GROSS!

[04rubitj]

the auto 4x4, its a pain,we ran from theese when i worked for a gm dealer
have fun

[ELIBEEMER]

Originally Posted by 04rubitj

the auto 4x4, its a pain,we ran from theese when i worked for a gm dealer
have fun

yup, we have researched it more in detail, and we will go with a manual shift NP-241c transfercase instead.

we are just trying to make a nice daily driver, jet ski puller!

[800MJ]

thats cool i guess... but its just a willys truck cab and bed on an escalade frame... why dont u put the drivetrain in the willys?

[bbrennan]

Originally Posted by 800MJ

why dont u put the drivetrain in the willys?

I agree. By the way...don't forget that the rear axle on the Willys PUs is wider than the front which means that you may need to run wheel spacers in the rear.

[ELIBEEMER]

Finally swapped the cab over to the Esky Frame on 22s....just working on final positioning, measuring twice, cut once, SolidWorks, laser, press brake, install, weld etc......

then bead blast it all, paint and reassemble.


the bed-sides are in poor shape...i'll have to fab new ones, i might consider extending the rear bed 6-10 inches and pushing the cab up-front as close as possible....who knows

the aftermarket Harnesses and Magnaflow Exhaust system are ordered and soon to arrive!


So far this has become a fun project!

[sammyg]

those are the wheels you're running? and ifs?

[FordFascist]

I think you may have missed the theme in Jeep Hardcore.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by FordFascist

I think you may have missed the theme in Jeep Hardcore.

+1


Super cool project though.

[LucasFury]

IFS or not, I'm for it. I think it'll make a cool hauler. ..But it definitely needs some less blingy wheels.

Personally, I'd go with the most rusted-ass old trailer wheels I could find and do the whole body in a nasty patina. If you want to turn it into a solid-axle wheeler later, that'd be even cooler. Otherwise, I don't see the point in even wasting money on a transfercase.

[ELIBEEMER]

Thanks for the ALL the comments!!!!

I joined in Sept 2003, and I have been learning for years from these boards!
thanks for the ideas and support...keep em' coming

We love our Willys yet were sick of the 'tired' tractor flathead motor and 5.88 gears!

I decided to share my Willys Pick Up build in the Hardcore section because the STOCK Willys guys would probably kill me and my ideas.


Definately YES on the Solid Axle front conversion!

this weekend we assembled the front clip just to start measuring and finding final positioning of the body onto the frame:

we found the front wheel-width to be way too wide to fit between the Willys front fenders, so a solid front "narrowed-axle" conversion is planned based on a 1978-1979 Ford Dana 60 w/Driver Side differential to match my set up.

the ORU Solid Front Axle conversion (for my chassis) will push the wheels forward by 1" and raise it by 3" so thats a major plus!

I can likely see myself widening the front and rear fenders. I might even cut the hood and stretch it 8 inches!

Once mock up is done, well keep to the "Hardcore" theme by adding lockers, RamJet intake, Atlas case.....it never ends

[ELIBEEMER]

These 2 trucks were inspirational in our build:

[ELIBEEMER]

Still working, decided to dump the IFS Escalade frame.




Im now on a 1990 Suburban frame 350ci 4x4 set up.

Solid Front Axle, ok!

Looks like ill have to extend the bed 10" to fill that frame.

[danielbuck]

That will be nice! I'm in Socal as well, and Daily drive my 46 willys! It will be nice to see another old jeep on the streets

[ELIBEEMER]

Donor Truck:








Just a quick shot of the 56 pick-up Cab on the Suburban frame...
Stock 1990 Suburban suspension Np208/350ci 1/2 6 lug axles and 33" tires.

Gotta begin fabing and welding the new Body mounts...

Im also gonna have to widen the front/rear fenders and lengthen the rear box to make up the extra 10".

[MrWillys]

I think the Caddy IFS would have been cool? Lot's of guys have done what you're doing now as I'm sure you know.
Don't extend the bed, rather cut the frame down.

[Family TJ]

I thought my Builds were slow. LOL Glad you ditched the IFS even thought it would be a nice riding vehicle

[ELIBEEMER]

Its so tall now, it wont fit inside the garage anymore
it now lives outside on the RV storage spot.

the 33s looked puny, so I found a set of 35s, starting to look better!








Still adjusting the final position of the Cab: