Ever since my dad took me to see Coal Miners Daughter and I watched that beat-up red flattie climb the hill at the mine I have wanted a flattie ! Since then, I can't count the times I looked at one that was either a pile of rusted scrap or way out of "my" reasonable price range. Well, all that changed this weekend, I found one on a non-vehicle facebook buy and sell site and managed to make a deal before anyone else scooped it up. It has been "molested" and wheeled so upon a close inspection it is not a good candidate for resoration but man it is going to make a sweet modified with enough of the original Jeep there to still be a Willys in almost every sense of the word.
It is 1951 CJ3A, it is from the coast so the body, including the original "Mighigan Yellow" paint is in good enough shape to keep it the way it sits, with just enough rock and trail rash to add character and show it as a driver that gets wheeled. The fenders have been trimmed to fit 33's with a two inch (best guess) suspension lift (a previous body lift has been tossed aside). Inners have been cut out on the front (they come with) but I'll probably leave it that way as the intended use will be down south and dryer conditions out here. The frame has been professionally boxed and only needs the very back end and rear bumper finished. Comes with a spare carrier a bunch of extra cross members and a box style rear bumper - front box style is on the front already. A rear cage is with it but I will build a fullcage for it. Racing seats are worked and non suspension so they will be replaced. As it sits it fits 33's comfortably
It has a nice running carburated Buick V6, SM420 (with the 7.xx low range 1st) and a T-18, Stock 27 and 44 both with auto lockers and 5:38's (previously run hard in this format with 33's and occaisonally broke a key stock on the rear outer which is a good easy trail fix and makes a nice driveline fuse if I go 35's instead ) T18 twin stick has a broken output shaft so, like everyone else with one of these I'll be hunting for a T18 with the Warn/saturn OD so I can get that classic 4 stick set-up going. Already set up with an electric fan. Looking at the wiring I am just going to rewire the whole Jeep. Gas tank is still in great shape.
Although I love my YJ this Willy's is going to be way more fun to build and a total hoot to wheel. I'll do up a build thread once I get building but for now the focus is finishing the YJ (what a great motivator to finish that up eh !) I feel like a kid at Xmas !!! Here are some pics
Topic: New Project ! (Read 1545 times)