WJT Build

[Bart]

Thought I'd share what the plans are for the new build. I looked back over all the rigs I've built, bought, and sold, and tried to come up with build that captured my favorites. The LTJ and the Willys buggy were the two favorites I wish I still had. Incorporating those into something very capable off-road but street legal(ish) brought me back to this plan. After I built the LTJ, I wished the wheelbase were a bit longer and I didn't like all of the tub in the rear. Thus the concept of the Willys Jeep Truck.

Here are the first 3 items purchased for the new build. Early 50s Willys Jeepster hood and grill, and a XD9000i winch. I also ordered a set of 40x12.50,x17 Maxxis Creepys M8040s. From what I hear it's the sticky compound from a year or so ago with a DOT rating.



The rest of the plans include:

CJ or early YJ, (want a Vintage Vehicle plate)
Injected 350, 700r4, Atlas, 1 ton full width axles, lockers
4 link rear with coilovers, about 111 to 116 wheelbase
Bob the tub to an extended like length
Build a tubed bed for the rear
Eventually 3 or 4 link the front w/coilovers
Graph a Willys truck hood into the wider CJ/YJ hood
Use a matching Willys truck grill (v nose)
Add a Willys truck tailgate to the tubed bed

I’ve got a wrecked TJ hard top that I’ll cut down to fit the tub for winter wheeling. Goal is to have a capable off-road wheeler that is street legal.

Guess I'd better buy a Jeep one of these days. : )

 

[TJDukit]

Looking forward to this.

 

[BCGPER]

It'll be good to see you back where you belong....


(in a Jeep)

 

[Bart]

Looking forward to this.

Hope it turns out like I want it.

It'll be good to see you back where you belong....
(in a Jeep)

Yeah buddy

Picked up the Jeep for the project on Saturday.

112" wheel base, TBI350, 700r4, Atlas II, front 60, rear 14 bolt, 4.88s, Detroits. First projects include 4 link in rear, new seats and belts, the new DOT Creepys, dropping the height, and trying to get it licensed.

 

[mbryson]

Looks like a clean place to start!

 

[BCGPER]

Hurry up and ditch those square headlights and I won't make fun of you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rock Taco]

That front end is my favorite jeep front end. Sounds like your off to a nice start.

 

[Greg]

IIRC, that YJ was built by someone on here several years ago...? Looks like a great base for what you're doing Bart, excited to see it come together!

 

[XJEEPER]

Subscribed....sounds like a cool build

 

[00harpdawg]

Funny thing is I almost bought that jeep from the guy that built it a few years ago

 

[Bart]

Not sure who built it, but it's been for sale a few times over the years. I hear Just For Fun (Charlie and Curtis) have done a bit of work on it. I almost traded my last TJ for it before I sold it and bought the Super Ranger, but we couldn't come to a deal. When I saw it in KSL Rockcrawlers this time the price was too good to pass up.

 

[Bart]

Baby got some new shoes this morning. The new 40" Maxxis Creepys. From what I've been told they are the older sticky compound but now have a DOT rating. Can't wait to wheel this thing.

 

[skippy]

Those were the exact tires I was running on the YJ. They seemed to do really well!

 

[Bart]

A little update. I had another home project and couldn't start on this until last week. Hope it moves fast because I leave for EJS in 10 days. YIKES.

Big thanks to All Jeep for getting the 16" FOA coil overs in.

All the rear suspension is now cut off so there's not turning back. Big thanks to Carl (I Lean) for building this cool frame side bracket or the control arms.



One more big shout out to JC at Midnight 4x4 that set me up with all the brackets, joints, and link parts to put the rear 4 link together. This is a strange build as I've never wheeled this yet. It's been driven on and off the trailer a few times, and around the block once. I have lots of little stuff to fix before Safari also, like leaky steering parts, CB antenna, front fender flares, license and registration, .... The list goes on and on.

 

[Bart]

Little update from last night. Finished fitting the frame side mount and the rear truss. Got the lower link tabs on the axle also. Finally cut and fit the upper and lower arms. The 4 link is ready except for final welding. Tonight we will mount the rear coil overs and hopefully it will fully welded, painted, and driving on all four tires tomorrow. I may actually get to work on some other stuff next week and be ready to leave Friday for EJS.

 

[sixstringsteve]

there's nothing like a good tight deadline to move a project along. Looking really good Bart.

 

[Kirk]

Looks like you got a lot done in a short amount of time - like maybe you've done it before What else do you have to get done before leaving?

 

[Bart]

Add exhaust after the 4 link, fix a massive steering leak, that is intermittent and kind of hiding. Fix blinkers, CB, shim the front end, add seat belts, oil change, nut and bolt it. Lots of other stuff that I'm forgetting or haven't found yet. Looking forward to actually wheeling the thing.

 

[UPNO4]

Looks like FUN Subscribed

 

[Bart]

Looks like FUN Subscribed

You would know Matt. The fun is never ending. Thanks for all your help. You da man!