elminero67
Precision Fit
- Jun 1, 2011
- 829
- Willys Model
- Willys Year:
Exactly what it sounds like-I'm hoping to do 1000 miles of dirt roads in a 1948 Willys. My wife has expressed her opinion of this road trip. She is so skeptical that I am not allowed to take the family pooch.
I’ve been daydreaming of doing a roadtrip to Nevada for some time. Last week I was encouraged to take some time off work (long story, not a bad thing), and decided to drive the Willys to visit some ghost towns and historic sites in Nevada. I basically want to chill out away from crowds, TV computer or cell phones.
I should give a little background on the project truck for those who haven’t followed my build thread: My original intention was to get the 1948 truck running well enough to get firewood and cruise backroads around southwestern Oregon. I never thought this truck would be something I would do a road trip in-but this truck has surpassed my expectations, so this trip is somewhat of a make-or-break to see if this is just a firewood truck-or something ill continue fixing up. I first replaced the F134 and three-speed with a Nissan SD22 diesel and five-speed transmission. After a couple of years I replaced the Nissan SD22 with an overseas version (SD23) that puts out a bit more power. It is only rated at 73 horsepower, but it cruises 55-60 nicely. Other than that, it is largely stock, down to the 1948 Potomac Grey paint, the sloppy Ross steering box, the funky Timken axle and stack of ten leaf springs that give the old truck the riding characteristics of backhoe on a cobblestone street.
I should also mention that the truck is not ready for an extended road. I’ve done a few daytrips, but as of today, none of the gauges are hooked up (except aftermarket temp gauge). The radiator leaks. There are no windshield wipers, no speedo, no heater or radio-pretty much have the starter, radiator fan and headlights hooked up. The list of things I wanted to finish before doing a road trip is long: I hoped to finish the electrical stuff, pgrade the brakes, throw in the Dana 44 rear axle and change the gear ratio to a 4.10 or 4.56 instead of the factory 5.38s. Also hoped to put in seat belts, roll bar and build a modest expedition-style camper to sleep and store stuff in. Instead I’ll be roughing it a little, and just bring a sleeping bag and crash out under the stars.
The way I look at it, I could spend a week fixing those things (along with the honey-do’s the wife would assign if I hung out around the house), or I could do a road trip. Worse case scenario, I spend a week fixing those things along some godforsaken road in the middle of the Nevada desert(that’s what full coverage insurance with free roadside assistance is for).
48 hours and counting, Will post an itinerary before I head out…
I’ve been daydreaming of doing a roadtrip to Nevada for some time. Last week I was encouraged to take some time off work (long story, not a bad thing), and decided to drive the Willys to visit some ghost towns and historic sites in Nevada. I basically want to chill out away from crowds, TV computer or cell phones.
I should give a little background on the project truck for those who haven’t followed my build thread: My original intention was to get the 1948 truck running well enough to get firewood and cruise backroads around southwestern Oregon. I never thought this truck would be something I would do a road trip in-but this truck has surpassed my expectations, so this trip is somewhat of a make-or-break to see if this is just a firewood truck-or something ill continue fixing up. I first replaced the F134 and three-speed with a Nissan SD22 diesel and five-speed transmission. After a couple of years I replaced the Nissan SD22 with an overseas version (SD23) that puts out a bit more power. It is only rated at 73 horsepower, but it cruises 55-60 nicely. Other than that, it is largely stock, down to the 1948 Potomac Grey paint, the sloppy Ross steering box, the funky Timken axle and stack of ten leaf springs that give the old truck the riding characteristics of backhoe on a cobblestone street.
I should also mention that the truck is not ready for an extended road. I’ve done a few daytrips, but as of today, none of the gauges are hooked up (except aftermarket temp gauge). The radiator leaks. There are no windshield wipers, no speedo, no heater or radio-pretty much have the starter, radiator fan and headlights hooked up. The list of things I wanted to finish before doing a road trip is long: I hoped to finish the electrical stuff, pgrade the brakes, throw in the Dana 44 rear axle and change the gear ratio to a 4.10 or 4.56 instead of the factory 5.38s. Also hoped to put in seat belts, roll bar and build a modest expedition-style camper to sleep and store stuff in. Instead I’ll be roughing it a little, and just bring a sleeping bag and crash out under the stars.
The way I look at it, I could spend a week fixing those things (along with the honey-do’s the wife would assign if I hung out around the house), or I could do a road trip. Worse case scenario, I spend a week fixing those things along some godforsaken road in the middle of the Nevada desert(that’s what full coverage insurance with free roadside assistance is for).
48 hours and counting, Will post an itinerary before I head out…