Alright, I guess its time I start my build thread. Ive read most all of the threads in the willys forum, so I feel compelled to share my story as it unfolds.
Sometime last year i found a M38 on craigslist, so I loaded up and went and took a look at it. Later that evening, this beauty/turd made its way to my house.
After removing 7,412 sheetmetal screws and the patch panels that the PO installed, I was left with this.
Next step was to remove the swiss cheese floors and put in some healthy metal. New floors and hat channels made from 1x2x(1/8)
After that I started working on the brake system. I adapted front disks from a 77 CJ5, very easy upgrade. Also, I installed swing pedals from a CJ5 and the MC and prop valve.
TADA! Here it is mostly put together. Notice the cooler as a drivers seat and the gas can bungeed to the front frame horn.
Next up was the cage. Measure, measure, measure, bend, notch, tack...over and over.
Ok. As all of the stuff was getting done I was browsing craigslist for other rusty gold and stumbled across a 71 CJ5 with a Buick 225, T14, D18, 2.5" lift. So I loaded up and went to take a look. It was a train wreck. Not salvageable at all. So, I gave the guy $250 and drove it onto the trailer. When I got it home the tear down started immediately. I kept the 225, T14, D18, the lift and the offset 30 spline rear Dana 44 with one piece shafts. Then I invited a few buddies over for beer and barbeque, started the oxy-acetylene torch, and the rest of the 71 was made into bite-size chunks.
Fast forward to a few days ago. I pulled the tub and was gonna start the engine swap. Took a few measurements and realized that the frame was tweaked...BAD. More than an in off square and the drivers side frame rail was trying to go horizontal. So, ******* ingenuity to the rescue.
Sometime last year i found a M38 on craigslist, so I loaded up and went and took a look at it. Later that evening, this beauty/turd made its way to my house.
After removing 7,412 sheetmetal screws and the patch panels that the PO installed, I was left with this.
Next step was to remove the swiss cheese floors and put in some healthy metal. New floors and hat channels made from 1x2x(1/8)
After that I started working on the brake system. I adapted front disks from a 77 CJ5, very easy upgrade. Also, I installed swing pedals from a CJ5 and the MC and prop valve.
TADA! Here it is mostly put together. Notice the cooler as a drivers seat and the gas can bungeed to the front frame horn.
Next up was the cage. Measure, measure, measure, bend, notch, tack...over and over.
Ok. As all of the stuff was getting done I was browsing craigslist for other rusty gold and stumbled across a 71 CJ5 with a Buick 225, T14, D18, 2.5" lift. So I loaded up and went to take a look. It was a train wreck. Not salvageable at all. So, I gave the guy $250 and drove it onto the trailer. When I got it home the tear down started immediately. I kept the 225, T14, D18, the lift and the offset 30 spline rear Dana 44 with one piece shafts. Then I invited a few buddies over for beer and barbeque, started the oxy-acetylene torch, and the rest of the 71 was made into bite-size chunks.
Fast forward to a few days ago. I pulled the tub and was gonna start the engine swap. Took a few measurements and realized that the frame was tweaked...BAD. More than an in off square and the drivers side frame rail was trying to go horizontal. So, ******* ingenuity to the rescue.