If you could build anything you wanted

[IOPort51]

Thats right Build, not to be confused with buy.
I find myself with a bit of time on my hands and unable to do anything much more physical than typing. So I am indulging in something that will serve no good purpose and, in fact may even be damaging to the world as I know it. I am thinking about what I want to build next before I finish the project at hand.
I give you the opportunity to contribute to my fantasy or, start a personal thread. This is not to tell me what you would but rather help me do what I want to do.
I have always admired the styling of the 50-60 Willys truck. It does have some truly major technical problems that would have to be addressed.
This is where some would expect me to start comparing and justifying any deviation from the venerable CJ. Not going to happen. these are apples and oranges as far as I can see and not to be compared.
Starting from the back top, the box may have to be shortened to improve the departure angle.
The cab will need to be changed a bit. a place for an armored on the roof AC condenser with the evaporator on the inside roof or behind the seats, tilt wheel for certain and a pair of good buckets. The Dash has to be removable and the fire wall and tunnel will require changes. Electric windshield wipers!!! Anybody have experience with the heater in one of these??
I think this will be a good place for a headliner and vinyl floor, Who knows it may even make it quieter and cooler/warmer.
The muscle will be from a (drum roll please) small block chevy?? It's a possibility. tranny will be 4 speed granny of some description and the TC will depend a lot on what tranny I use.
Suspension? You betcha!! Don't know how yet but coils on all four corners, I am not looking for 6 feet of articulation and the coils may improve on what may be comparable to a ride on a mechanical bull.
33 inch tires minimum 38 inch max, depending on stance, I don't like tippy toe Jeeps.
Axles are a bit of an issue but it occurs to me that the Ford axle that allows the differential to be removed and built/serviced with out removing the axle are about the most well designed axle I can ever remember seeing. These will also have to be compatible with the Transmission and TC to be named at a later date. Four wheel power disk brakes. Power steering, maybe even hydraulic.
Two fuel tanks, one 15 gal between the frame rails with a world class skid plate and a well secured but removable tank in the bed, at least another 10 gallons. these should have fuel gauges (not sticks) for both tanks and a tank switching valve with a switch on the dash.
Bringing the lights up into the new millennium will be a must, that should not be too hard. The new wiring will be all kinds of fun, LED turn and marker lights.
A roll bar to be the envy of all, not only keeping you from having the earth smite your favorite body but also protecting most of the sheet metal as well.
A radiator will be a challenge I don't think the truck has a great amount of room to put a radiator. I have been considering the possibility of mounting it in the bed running pipe/ hoses through the cab, not too far from the lines for the AC condenser. I am wondering what would be the best material to pass through the cab.
Another interesting idea is an oil cooler, and seeing as you just freed up a lot of space in the grill by moving the radiator the possibility of a pretty fair sized cooler is very real.
This is with out a doubt going to require a structural tube frame, I would think 3/16" x2x6 would be more that adequate but I think this info is pretty easy to come by.
Can any one think of any major systems I have left out??
If you can, please make mention and I shall edit this.
come on guys, help me out I am bored spitless!!

 

[LASTCJ786]

This is what I would build (I almost have it)
1986 CJ7
Dana 44 front Tru trac L/S
T-18 , Scout Dana 300 with Tera low and twin stick
Dana 44 Rear with Disc brakes, Locker
flat fenders
1" body lift, 4" lift 33" tires
OBA with TANK
OB welder
8274 Warn winch AMC 150 ' of cable
Full cage
fuel injection

 

[IOPort51]

see post #1

I give you the opportunity to contribute to my fantasy or, start a personal thread. This is not to tell me what you would do, but rather help me do what I want to do.

​

 

[Old Dog]

I like your idea of a willys truck, the only other thing close would be an old power wagon. Ford 9" axles sounds good, just remove the 3rd member and put in a different one for the trail, they can be had for the front and rear if you got the cash.
Nobody in there right mind would run leafs if you can run coils, so thats a no brainer. (ever since the wife road some trails in a jk all I hear is how smooth that thing rode)
A chevy small block with dual t/c's, another no brainer you got all kinds of room in a truck.
The only thing I would do is run 38's instead of 33's it is a truck after all.
Sorry no real new ideas for ya, sounds like you've given this some thought already.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

i'll bite. if your gonna go all out might as well have intermittent wipers, pwr windows, pwr door locks, and pwr heated seats. you'll also require winches front and rear. if your going for coils and want articulation you'll need some nice long travel, remote resevoir shocks. as far a t/c is concerned a 203/205 doubler would be the only choice, i think i would rather have that than an atlas plus its cheaper.
now for a fully custom truck like this you couldn't skimp on the cage, i'm thinkin an in cab cage tied into a bed cage with a spare tire carrier kinda like the s-10 truggy on extreme 4x4. ok for bumpers, what ever you do please for the love of christ no stinger on the front, that would look horrible on the front of a willys truck, just some nice fairly simple looking but heavy duty winch bumpers front and rear would be enough. tires im gonna say pitbull rockers 38s should do. if it where mine i would go with 2.5 ton rockwells, then you wouldn't need to take the rearends apart because 38s would never break em. just a few suggestions take em or leave em. oh yeah you gotta be thinkin fuel injection you wouldn't put a carb on a rig like this, know what i mean

 

[IOPort51]

so the question here is where is the best source for the ford axles??
I guess I should say that the machine needs to be at home on the road as well as the trail so BFG mud terrains will do the job the 38 can stay on the table but it will have a lot to do with what the wheel width turns out to be, to be honest I don't know how wide a Willys truck is. This may be a fantasy but it kind of has to have components based in reality. Rockwell axles are bas *** but having the tire hang out 2 feet on the side or having the shafts custom machined is a bit over the top.

I like your idea of a willys truck, the only other thing close would be an old power wagon. Ford 9" axles sounds good, just remove the 3rd member and put in a different one for the trail, they can be had for the front and rear if you got the cash.
Nobody in there right mind would run leafs if you can run coils, so thats a no brainer. (ever since the wife road some trails in a jk all I hear is how smooth that thing rode)
A chevy small block with dual t/c's, another no brainer you got all kinds of room in a truck.
The only thing I would do is run 38's instead of 33's it is a truck after all.
Sorry no real new ideas for ya, sounds like you've given this some thought already.

 

[IOPort51]

All the bling on the cab would be a very cool thing I guess and I would say the intermittent wipers were a given. I think I can see an 8K Warn on the front, I don't know about the back. I do need to check the possibility for axle travel but I would not think more than a stock Rubicon. once more a number I do not know. I would try to avoid High dollar shocks if at all possible, I don't think it is necessary to have reservoirs to have long travel, at least it should not be.
Yes fuel injection, high torque, low RPM cam and an ignition system that will light wet cord wood.
More editing.

i'll bite. if your gonna go all out might as well have intermittent wipers, pwr windows, pwr door locks, and pwr heated seats. you'll also require winches front and rear. if your going for coils and want articulation you'll need some nice long travel, remote resevoir shocks. as far a t/c is concerned a 203/205 doubler would be the only choice, i think i would rather have that than an atlas plus its cheaper.
now for a fully custom truck like this you couldn't skimp on the cage, i'm thinkin an in cab cage tied into a bed cage with a spare tire carrier kinda like the s-10 truggy on extreme 4x4. ok for bumpers, what ever you do please for the love of christ no stinger on the front, that would look horrible on the front of a willys truck, just some nice fairly simple looking but heavy duty winch bumpers front and rear would be enough. tires im gonna say pitbull rockers 38s should do. if it where mine i would go with 2.5 ton rockwells, then you wouldn't need to take the rearends apart because 38s would never break em. just a few suggestions take em or leave em. oh yeah you gotta be thinkin fuel injection you wouldn't put a carb on a rig like this, know what i mean

 

[IOPort51]

It looks like I only get to edit the original post once, oh well.
add intermittent wipers long shock absorbers and fuel injection.

 

[priceg]

1954 Willys 4x4 Pick Up Truck

 

[dslywalker]

Thats right Build, not to be confused with buy.
I find myself with a bit of time on my hands and unable to do anything much more physical than typing. So I am indulging in something that will serve no good purpose and, in fact may even be damaging to the world as I know it. I am thinking about what I want to build next before I finish the project at hand.
I give you the opportunity to contribute to my fantasy or, start a personal thread. This is not to tell me what you would but rather help me do what I want to do.
I have always admired the styling of the 50-60 Willys truck. It does have some truly major technical problems that would have to be addressed.
This is where some would expect me to start comparing and justifying any deviation from the venerable CJ. Not going to happen. these are apples and oranges as far as I can see and not to be compared.
Starting from the back top, the box may have to be shortened to improve the departure angle.
The cab will need to be changed a bit. a place for an armored on the roof AC condenser with the evaporator on the inside roof or behind the seats, tilt wheel for certain and a pair of good buckets. The Dash has to be removable and the fire wall and tunnel will require changes. Electric windshield wipers!!! Anybody have experience with the heater in one of these??
I think this will be a good place for a headliner and vinyl floor, Who knows it may even make it quieter and cooler/warmer.
The muscle will be from a (drum roll please) small block chevy?? It's a possibility. tranny will be 4 speed granny of some description and the TC will depend a lot on what tranny I use.
Suspension? You betcha!! Don't know how yet but coils on all four corners, I am not looking for 6 feet of articulation and the coils may improve on what may be comparable to a ride on a mechanical bull.
33 inch tires minimum 38 inch max, depending on stance, I don't like tippy toe Jeeps.
Axles are a bit of an issue but it occurs to me that the Ford axle that allows the differential to be removed and built/serviced with out removing the axle are about the most well designed axle I can ever remember seeing. These will also have to be compatible with the Transmission and TC to be named at a later date. Four wheel power disk brakes. Power steering, maybe even hydraulic.
Two fuel tanks, one 15 gal between the frame rails with a world class skid plate and a well secured but removable tank in the bed, at least another 10 gallons. these should have fuel gauges (not sticks) for both tanks and a tank switching valve with a switch on the dash.
Bringing the lights up into the new millennium will be a must, that should not be too hard. The new wiring will be all kinds of fun, LED turn and marker lights.
A roll bar to be the envy of all, not only keeping you from having the earth smite your favorite body but also protecting most of the sheet metal as well.
A radiator will be a challenge I don't think the truck has a great amount of room to put a radiator. I have been considering the possibility of mounting it in the bed running pipe/ hoses through the cab, not too far from the lines for the AC condenser. I am wondering what would be the best material to pass through the cab.
Another interesting idea is an oil cooler, and seeing as you just freed up a lot of space in the grill by moving the radiator the possibility of a pretty fair sized cooler is very real.
This is with out a doubt going to require a structural tube frame, I would think 3/16" x2x6 would be more that adequate but I think this info is pretty easy to come by.
Can any one think of any major systems I have left out??
If you can, please make mention and I shall edit this.
come on guys, help me out I am bored spitless!!

Put in a nice fuel injection system to make that small block come to life.Plenty of power from dual batterys and complete wiring system for all the goodies

 

[BajaEdition]

well well well

first I would research, then I would watch the adds

here is the thing, you either want it to be original, or want it to be so retro it hurts.
My old boss last year took a 2001 f AMC 150 and morphed his 54 body on it

bought the f150 as a salvage and pent a few months just getting the frame strait, then he lifted the body off the 54 and started mearsuring, and mearsuring, then cut the body of the f150 till very little was left and that was to support the electronics and marked where the cab ended, and set the bed, which meant a new airbag system and a lit of fabbing. but he got i yo fit over the fram/drivetrain and then had to cut the 54 cab to fit over the firewall/dash section of the f150, that took over a month to get it ready for welding and then he took off on that, took him about a month t get that right but soon he had the cab on and had to do a little work on fenders and such and bingo, suddenly it fit, next few months were chasing down and curing problems till suddenly it all worked and he made the system solid.
First drive and he had a list 20 quirks long to cure, but now he has a true show vehicle, a 54 in on a f150.

 

[IOPort51]

dual batteries, maybe definitely a 140+ Amp alternator. covered the fuel injection and wiring. I am thinking Howell fuel injection.

Put in a nice fuel injection system to make that small block come to life.Plenty of power from dual batterys and complete wiring system for all the goodies

 

[IOPort51]

that would say the wheel base is the same for the Willys as for the f150?? I could see the 67" track width but even a short bed is pretty close to a 10 ft wheel base.

well well well

first I would research, then I would watch the adds

here is the thing, you either want it to be original, or want it to be so retro it hurts.
My old boss last year took a 2001 f AMC 150 and morphed his 54 body on it

bought the f150 as a salvage and pent a few months just getting the frame strait, then he lifted the body off the 54 and started mearsuring, and mearsuring, then cut the body of the f150 till very little was left and that was to support the electronics and marked where the cab ended, and set the bed, which meant a new airbag system and a lit of fabbing. but he got i yo fit over the fram/drivetrain and then had to cut the 54 cab to fit over the firewall/dash section of the f150, that took over a month to get it ready for welding and then he took off on that, took him about a month t get that right but soon he had the cab on and had to do a little work on fenders and such and bingo, suddenly it fit, next few months were chasing down and curing problems till suddenly it all worked and he made the system solid.
First drive and he had a list 20 quirks long to cure, but now he has a true show vehicle, a 54 in on a f150.

 

[priceg]

I am thinking diesel, that would give multi fuel options.

 

[kickitandholdit]

I am thinking diesel, that would give multi fuel options.

i agree. diesel would be a cool idea maby like a cummins haha ya dont see that everyday.

maby 4 wheel steering

and hydraulics on the axels so you could purposely move your suspension like on those big fork lifts. might not serve a purpose but wold be a good conversation piece

 

[IOPort51]

can you even imagine how much of a problem it would be to mate a Mercedes 5 cylinder to a T-18 ?? or any other combination that comes to mind I don't think I will live long enough to work the bugs out of that. I have doubts as to how much it would gain you in the real world. I want to build a truck , not re invent the truck.
nope good old 4 stroke gasoline.

I am thinking diesel, that would give multi fuel options.

 

[BajaEdition]

A Mercedes 5 cylinder diesel, now we are talking
But somehow I would forgo it
My dream would to get a mid 80s Chevy and set it up for a primo DD
I loved the 2tone look and the square fenders. New enough to be easy to find parts but old enough to be classy when done

 

[BrockGrimes]

Why not a diesel?

 

[IOPort51]

My line of reasoning on Diesels in jeeps.
There are a fair number of people that follow the sound logic that the efficiency and low RPM power of a diesel would be well suited for off road use. I think this is an intelligent train of thought.
The number of people that have and are dealing with this issue must be staggering. Most of these people have way more knowledge and experience than I do.
If one of these people were to come up with a relatively easy, cost effective way of doing a diesel install in a jeep, or just about anything else for that matter, it would have gone viral on this and every other gear head forum on the planet. so far I have yet to see such information.
I have used , for example, the Mercedes 5 hole diesel. Just because it would have some hope of fitting in an engine compartment that would hold a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . The motor itself is of sound design but the manufacturer has a reputation for being undependable, the parts would be very expensive with availability being a major issue. So far I don't see this as worth the energy. Putting a diesel in a vehicle it did not belong in would constitute a major project in itself.
I find it best to avoid projects that require the first step to be something like; repeal the law of gravity, win the lottery or go back in time. It would take just too much effort to get past step one.
What plant would you recommend for this task?
what the hell it's a fantasy and just by being a Navy Chief you got to know more about diesels than I do, even if you are in missile tracking or bomb disposal.

Why not a diesel?

 

[BrockGrimes]

LOL, a VW diesel install is relatively simple, hell if the jackasses on xtreme4x4 can do it anyone can. I'd hunt up a 1.9 turbo diesel.

If I was gonna go with a gas engine, look for a nailhead V-8 it's narrow and would be more friendly to install, but thats just me.