DHR Darren
Well-Known Member
Well I figured it is time I started a build thread on my 53 Willys I picked up from a member here in Sedro Wooley.
My plans for this are for it to be fun first and foremost. The build,parts sourcing,shop time and finished product all need to be fun. My drag race cars are so high maintenance and high end that I needed an "Escape" and this was it. I had a 56 Willys pickup on 60's back in the early 90's but it was stolen as it sat on the trailer in Kapowsin and I have wanted another ever since and finally made time for one.
My goal is a solid trail runner,good snow wheeler and fun woods cruiser.
It is to be powered by a mild 400 small block,TH400,Divorced 205,Big hub 44 with high steer and 5.13's and a locked 14 bolt in the rear. It is spring over with 2.5" BDS YJ springs and many fab parts sourced from site sponsor Barnes 4WD.
I have built a simple flatbed for it as it had no bed on it before. I bobbed the rear rails when I did that also.
Don't beat me up too bad as I have to tie the bed into the cage in-cab when I build it and the sliders,ect.
I stretched the front rails 8" when I did the spring and axle swap as I figured it would give me more room for the steering box,winch and I like the look better with the axle set forward.
^^This shot doesn't show the finished front end as I gusseted the hangers,capped the frame ends and am building a tube crossmember also.
Here is another angle.
Well I hope you like it, critique it, follow it and contribute to it as it has been a LONG time since I have built a wheeling/play rig and it's main goal is to be FUN!!:beer:
My plans for this are for it to be fun first and foremost. The build,parts sourcing,shop time and finished product all need to be fun. My drag race cars are so high maintenance and high end that I needed an "Escape" and this was it. I had a 56 Willys pickup on 60's back in the early 90's but it was stolen as it sat on the trailer in Kapowsin and I have wanted another ever since and finally made time for one.
My goal is a solid trail runner,good snow wheeler and fun woods cruiser.
It is to be powered by a mild 400 small block,TH400,Divorced 205,Big hub 44 with high steer and 5.13's and a locked 14 bolt in the rear. It is spring over with 2.5" BDS YJ springs and many fab parts sourced from site sponsor Barnes 4WD.
I have built a simple flatbed for it as it had no bed on it before. I bobbed the rear rails when I did that also.
Don't beat me up too bad as I have to tie the bed into the cage in-cab when I build it and the sliders,ect.
I stretched the front rails 8" when I did the spring and axle swap as I figured it would give me more room for the steering box,winch and I like the look better with the axle set forward.
^^This shot doesn't show the finished front end as I gusseted the hangers,capped the frame ends and am building a tube crossmember also.
Here is another angle.
Well I hope you like it, critique it, follow it and contribute to it as it has been a LONG time since I have built a wheeling/play rig and it's main goal is to be FUN!!:beer:
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