1952 Willys on 1978 Wagoneer chassis. AMC 360 Engine. I discovered 3 Willys pick-up trucks South of DuBois PA. They were in pretty rough shape, but I believed I could make them better than new, with a “little rubbing”. As it turned out, it took a lot of rubbing. I always believed I could take a Willys body and set it on top of a more modern chassis. I wanted to have the look of a Willys and the performance and ride of newer technology. I found a 1978 Wagoneer that was in running condition, but needed work to get it in good running order.
With some research, I discovered the Wagoneer had a 9″ shorter wheelbase than the Willys Pick-up. I believed I could still do it. I was so convinced I could do the project, I purchased the 3 pick-up’s and the Wagoneer. I couldn’t buy just one. I had to take them all. The owner said he wanted to clean up the mess. With the help of 2 in-laws, I rented an auto transport from U-Haul and took the Willys to cam and the Wagoneer to my house. At this point, everyone questioned my sanity. I cleaned out the junk from the inside and removed as much as I could from the Wagoneer. Front end, bumpers, and interior. The project just came of the “complete loss” list—– I found $.26 under the seats. I saved the light hook-ups to be used in the updated 12 volt system. I used cutting torches and, except for the floorboards and firewall, removed and discarded everything from the frame up.
I determined I would need the following:Â Fuel Pump, Spring hanger Bushings and brackets, Rear window, windshields, left front U joint, door bottoms, cowl bottoms, gas tank, door glass water pump, tires, cab corners, 12″ steering wheel, wing vent glass, right front tie rod, wheels, and rocker panels.
I then went to camp and got the cab of the 1952 Willys ready for removal. It was in the best shape of the three and had the two piece windshield and the small rear window (also the inside push button door handles). I removed the cab with the use of a chain fall and a large oak tree limb. Definitely your “back yard mechanic project”. I hauled it home in the bed of my Silverado and mounted it onto the Wagoneer frame. The cab became a lot lighter when I removed the bushels of hickory nuts the squirrels had stored in there over the years. It looked good if you used lots of imagination, however, my wife, in-laws and neighbors had a tough time seeing the “silver lining in THIS dark clout”.
I then removed the Willys cab floor and firewall so it would fit on the Wagoneer chassis. Lots of careful adjustments to make sure the doors fit properly. I missed getting one of the squirrel nest from the door and caught it on fire while I was cutting off the door bottoms with my angle grinder. I sure had a lot of people excited with all the smoke coming out of the garage that’s attached to my house. Nothing a garden hose couldn’t put out, though. The real tough part of the project was making the 118″ Willys fit on the 108″ Wagoneer chassis. I had to shorten the bed 5 1/2″, remove the clutch fan, manufacture a new fan, and move the engine back 2″.
Although you can purchase new beds for these pick-ups, they are all steel and I like the wood look with the stainless steel wear runners. It also had to be 5 1/2″ shorter. I had a local metal fabricator make “one off” bed parts and frame skirts and welded 1 1/4″ conduit on them to give it that rolled steel look.
I was unable to come up with a “WO” tailgate, so I used lead in the WO relief of the old rotted out tailgate to create the stamped look of the “Willys Overland” logo. I purchased and installed used front fenders. The ones I had were too far gone to salvage. My wife and I went to Bowerstown Pa. to pick up those and new cowl bottoms. Maybe she was starting to see the beauty in this thing, or more likely, she just wanted to go to East Strousburg and do some shopping. I also purchased chrome grill bars. I guess I was doing some shopping too. A lot of visitors came by during the project. It seems almost everyone knows someone who had a Willys. Some say they have seen them in movies like “The Flying Nun.” I rebuilt the AMC 360 engine; installing a new crank, bearings, timing gears and timing chain. While the engine was out, it was a good time to install a new transmission seal, clean and paint the engine, and clean and paint the front frame and steering.
There isn’t much chrome on these trucks, but all chrome, except for the top grill bar and the parking light bezels, is available from numerous sources. I purchased new lower grill bars, the hood ornament, “4 wheel drive” hood markers, and headlight bezels. I had the top grill bar and the parking light bezels stripped and re-chromed. Since I’ve finished this project, I use my Willys as a daily driver in nice weather. SURE IS HEAD TURNER!!! My Willys continues to be a “work in progress” as I added some things like electric windshield wipers, power windows and remote door locks.
FLAT FENDERS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!