G-Body Willys Wagon

B

Boydness

Not-quite-so-new-guy

Feb 5, 2014

23

0

0

West Ohio

• Feb 7, 2014

• #1

I will be restoring and modifying a 55 Willys Wagon that was mounted onto a '78 Cutlass Cruiser frame during the late '90s. Additionally, the body was chopped 2" with the rear folding/lift gates were joined to form a single door that swings open to the side now.
The original 3.8L has a dead cylinder (#6) and has been sitting for several years.

55 Willys Wagon on '78 Cutlass Cruiser frame

The original 231 3.8L

 

B

Boydness

Not-quite-so-new-guy

Feb 5, 2014

23

0

0

West Ohio

• Feb 7, 2014

• #2

I managed to get the wagon into the garage right before the snow storm hit and buried the state in snow this week.

notice the tire that allowed the wagon to make it in the garage

the fenders on a Willys are normally fairly easy to remove, the issue I had involved the brake booster, lines, and the firewall electrical connections. When the driver-side fender goes back on, I don't want to have to try to remove it again. :wink:

motor and transmission removed. Incidentally, the black spots on the firewall is what is left of what appears to be the rattle can black spray paint that was used on the vehicle. They seemed to have failed to prep the firewall at all, so what is left of the paint can easily be scratched off the top of the original paint. And I had to remove half a dinosaur worth of grim from the frame.

 

B

Boydness

Not-quite-so-new-guy

Feb 5, 2014

23

0

0

West Ohio

• Feb 7, 2014

• #3

So, that is all the pictures for now. I have to finish removing the remaining grease from the frame and then I will POR-15 the frame and front suspension parts.
That will also give me time to sort out the replacement motor and transmission for the wagon.

A buddy had a 4.1L 252 and TH350 out of a Grand Prix that met an unfortunate end from a falling tree branch. The motor and transmission had been sitting in his garage for a number years; he is no longer sure of the year of the Grand Prix. From my post questions in the other areas of the forum, the carb is CCC and I will need to find an older 4-barrel to work with the current '78's setup. And I should be able to re-use the current transmission crossmember.

 

1evilregal

Comic Book Super Hero

Apr 23, 2009

3,075

4,419

113

Greensboro, NC

• Feb 8, 2014

• #4

 

DRIVEN

Geezer

Apr 25, 2009

8,215

15,243

113

*CENSORED*

• Feb 8, 2014

• #5

This will be fun to watch. I've always liked the Willys wagons and pickup. Almost bought an abandoned project last summer. It was a pickup on an S-10 chassis. Not radially different from a Gbody chassis like yours.

What are your plans for it? Long term keeper?

 

liquidh8

Comic Book Super Hero

Feb 16, 2011

3,531

3,858

113

Shippensburg, PA or wherever the military takes me

www.cardomain.com

• Feb 12, 2014

• #6

 

williamattop

Master Mechanic

Apr 9, 2014

455

53

28

50

Appleton WI

• May 27, 2014

• #7

Cool project.
Any updates?