Another 61 Willys Wagon build.

Hi All,


I haven't found a more appropriate site to post this on so I hope you guys are cool with me posting my progress here. As some of you may know I finished a 1974 CJ5 build a few months ago and quickly realized that there was precious little room for my 2 girls and my wife in the CJ5. Being 6'6" didn't help either so for monetary and spatial reasons I parted with the CJ. I have been looking ever since for a more roomy Jeep to build for a mild family wheeler. I found this 61 Willy's Wagon on a local 4x4 board and pulled it home last weekend.
My plan is to go with a 350/350/208 combo with Dana 44's (at a minimum) and 35" tires. I am building this on a budget and have more time than money so progress may be slow. Anyway here are a couple of pics of the last project and the current one.

1974 CJ5



1961 Willys Wagon







Thanks to MountainJeep for the inspiration. I love your build.

Mike

 

Dude, I am so stoked to watch this!

 

Yeah, wish I had that kind of income.....
Self employment is a great way to starve yourself.

This section is a good inspiration, though, and has given me lots of ideas. It'd be neat to see the two finished side by side.

 

A little more progress this morning. I pulled the fenders and grill off and then removed a gnarly piece of channel someone had weleded between the front frame rails. Also started pulling out the front axle and hopefully will get started on pulling the engine soon. Anybody want a Kasier SuperSonic, T90 and dana 18, and dan 25/44 axles for real cheap?









Mike

 

This one, I can see will be fun!
I'd take the engine (itch to build a buggy) too bad I'm almost at the opposite end of the country =/
Chevy 350 you say, lots of horse there :twisted:

 

Might want to post those parts on the willystech
site. Some should want them.
Keith

 

Junkfood,
Will do, thanks for the tip.

Mike

 

Well I located axles today. Hopefully, this weekend I can go pick them up. I got great deals on a 14 bolt and a 10 bolt front and all the parts to convert the 10 bolt to 8 lug to match the rear. I know the 14 bolt is a little beefier than I had planned but the price is right. From what I have read the 10 bolt will hold up to 35's ok so it should work for awhile until a front 60 falls in my lap. I am planning to run 315/75/16 and 16" Cragar Soft 8's. More pics to come as progress continues.

Mike

 

nice!

Its like deja-vu all over again

 

No kidding. How much lift did your SOA and waggy fronts/subruban rears net all together? How tall is your Jeep to the top? I am trying to figure out what it'll take to fit 35's and I am pretty sure I do not need SOA to do it using the waggy and suburban combo.

Mike

 

Nice project. I would like to do one of those with modern runnin' gear and AC to use for a DD.

That wagon sure looks familiar. Did I see it some where on the net - Hemmings maybe?

 

Picked it up on a local 4x4 board. Doubt it was in Hemmings but can't say for sure.

mike

 

More progress. Drivetrain is out and I posted it on a local 4x4 board for free. Took all of like 2 mins to have a taker so by next weekend all that junk will be out of the way and I should have some axles to start playing around with.

Mike

 

Mike:

The SOA I did gave me about 4" of lift, although I tried to minimize the lift as much as possible. I could probably fit 35's without trimming. I am running 40's and had to trim the rear wheel wells and really didn't have to do much to the front. I haven't had it at full flex yet, so I imagine there will be some adjustments in the future.

Is the 10 bolt SOA or SUA? you may want to just set up for SOA right off the bat, but be carfeul with steering issues such as tie rod interference with the springs. While you are going with 35's now, if you are like 90% of all wheelers you will want to go bigger later

Another consideration that is muy importante...Your frame! what conditon is it in? you will be running an engine and axle setup that is way overpowered compared to the stock I-6 Hurricane. you don't want to twist your frame apart with the torque. look into repairing and boxing the frame.

Bill

 

Bill,
The frame is in really good shape. I have had a look at boxing and looked at the boxing you did. I think at the very minimum I will have to box the areas around where I attach the new shackle and spring mounts. I still need to do some more thinking about that. As far as the 10 bolt it is SOA. I guess I need to get my springs and axles together and figure out just how much lift all that is going to give me. From looking at the stock springs vs the waggy fronts I have that there is at least 5-6" of lift just by mounting them. Does this sound about right to you?

Mike

 

The waggy springs are way thicker as they are likely 7 leaf packs. If you spring under they shouldn't add any lift to the axle if I am thinking this straight...but will hang down further....

Caveat to all my ramblings...I think in terms of rock crawling (live in Colorado) so my suggestions may not be in line with the direction of your build

You may or may not gain lift due to shackle length, and you will likely need to fabricate all your shackle mounts(to frame) as the original ones are inadequate, and/or wrong size. Have you considered shackle reversal in the front? (another rock crawling thing)

FYI good job with the 14 bolt....its a max strength for rear ends.

 

Picked up my 14 bolt this evening. Damn thing weighs like 550 punds and there was only me and another guy to load it in my suburban. Good thing I had an engine hoist to get it out.



As far as the waggy springs I'll try to get some pics to show you my idea on mounting them and why I think I'll get a fair bit of lift from them. I picked up stock CJ (76 and later) main spring hangers tonight and new shackle hangers as well. I am planning to move the front axle forward a couple of inches as well while I am at it.

Mike

 

Mike I moved the front axle forward a tad. My wheelbase is now 106"

 

I picked up my chevy rear springs at lunchtime today. 63" springs from a 94 2wd 1500. Very long but should work out fine.

Mike