1941-1945 Willys MB

[RangerBoy94]

Anyone know anything about these things??? I have the opportunity to get one probably for free and just wanted a few things cleared up. I was going to get it running good and do a spring over lift and run some 33 or 35 inch tires. The one thing im kinda stumped over is that it comes with pretty weak axles(Dana 25/Dana27). Would it be easier to just throw a Dana 30 and 8.8 in it for sake of strengthen and part availability??? Also I know the engine is only rated at 60hp but is there any easy engine swap options with out getting a new tranny and t-case??? And if not will the stock engine be fine if I bored it out and cammed it and did some other smaller thing to it??? Thanks in advance.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Basically as they sit stock they are pretty tough. Start hanging different tires and engines in them and you will probably have to change everything though.

If it is in good shape, it would be nice to see it restored back to its former glory rather than beat to a pulp. For that matter if you can get it cheap and it is in good shape you might be able to find a collector that wants it and buy a more build friendly Jeep.

 

[RangerBoy94]

Its kinda beat up and not in the greatest condition otherwise I would restore it back to original.

 

[CHKNFKR]

I'd keep that thing as stock as possible, as it sits its value is going up.

 

[RangerBoy94]

But thats no fun lol!!! Itd be my crawler.

 

[Sunk]

A friend of mine dragged one out the bushes back in HS... His grandpa promised it to him before he died. He managed to find an engine rebuild kit for it, and a few other things that cost an arm and a leg..... It's still sitting in his mom's side yard in many pieces.

 

[NEVERDONE86]

My father is hiding a MINT 52 willys and I'm not allowed anywhere near it. Stock sucks. Id love to see it on 37s with full width axles, v8, soft top with a custom cage.......(and the list goes on and on) This would be a awesome build platform... id say, if u got the time, space, and money...... hell yeah! go for it!

 

[RangerBoy94]

Ya im leaning towards the dana 30/8.8 or yota axles. Id probably keep the engine stock for the most part I'd make a custom cage for it a soft top and probably 35's.I'd like to end up with somethin like this.

 

[NEVERDONE86]

If you do get it.... make a build thread and let me know! Id like to see this!

 

[RangerBoy94]

Ya i will probably on pirate.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Anyone know anything about these things??? I have the opportunity to get one probably for free and just wanted a few things cleared up. I was going to get it running good and do a spring over lift and run some 33 or 35 inch tires. The one thing im kinda stumped over is that it comes with pretty weak axles(Dana 25/Dana27). Would it be easier to just throw a Dana 30 and 8.8 in it for sake of strengthen and part availability??? Also I know the engine is only rated at 60hp but is there any easy engine swap options with out getting a new tranny and t-case??? And if not will the stock engine be fine if I bored it out and cammed it and did some other smaller thing to it??? Thanks in advance.

My neighbor has one of those. Trust me, it's fun as hell just as it sits.

The reason it has weak axles is because it has a weak drive train and it's not exactly a heavy vehicle. 60hp? HAH, not likely. They often slicked one up just a bit and ran it without accessories or anything to suck down power in order to beat the other guy's numbers. My bet is around 40-45 new and probably closer to 30hp now. Should have a flathead in it if it's the original engine. Which is still plenty to move it around.

If you do anything to the flathead just put a nice rebuild on it. They'll never flow enough air to be a performance engine. You can get them better, but say if you spent the money to have a 900HP v8, you'd have maybe a 180/200HP flathead, and we're talking fancy forced induction and fuel delivery too. They flow enough air to putter around pretty good, but that's really about it. It's simply not cost effective.

If it's an actual MB, and it's still all there and runable. I'm going to have to go with leave it. They're all correct that it's value is only going up. They made these things SUPER simple, and most parts should actually be quite easy to come by still, mainly because they used the same parts for so many years. Though some might still have to be ordered (truthfully the same goes for modern cars).

But at the same time I hate telling people how to build THEIR projects.

I tell you what, poke at it and at least get it moving and reasonably driveable. Cruise around in it for a few months, maybe a year. If you still want to mod it, go for it. Just be sure to get in contact with collectors in the mean time so the discarded parts don't go to waste.

 

[RangerBoy94]

My goal is to keep the body as original as possible and just build the suspension and drive train a little.

 

[wrecking-crew]

My goal is to keep the body as original as possible and just build the suspension and drive train a little.

Don't. They are worth a lot totally stock. Restore it. It is easier to do. I have driven one of these and there is no problem with them stock. They will go anywhere. My grandpa bought it 6 years ago, semi restored for 12k. A nicer one would probably go for more.

 

[CHKNFKR]

And when you do get them stuck, they were specifically made light enough that 4 troops could pick them up and carry them. One guy can usually rock it off whatever its hung up on and two guys can usually overcome the suction of a mud pit, unless it's completely mired.

 

[Captain Ledd]

My goal is to keep the body as original as possible and just build the suspension and drive train a little.

Why? it'll handle things stock.

Restore it. It is easier to do. I have driven one of these and there is no problem with them stock. They will go anywhere.

x2 on easier. And yes, they will go surprisingly far in stock form.

Also, because I was curious and Googled around a little,

http://www.justdifferentials.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24_46_281&products_id=3806&zenid=a4c71695159faac95c4297a05eb65116

I just searched for Dana 25 locker and Dana 27 locker and it seems they make lunchbox lockers for both (they seem to take the same part actually?). That'll REALLY up the capability, FAR more than new suspension and bigger tires. And that engine will not make enough power to break things.

A quick search says that if it IS an actual MB, it'll have a Spicer 23 rear axle. It should still have the D25 front.

It might have a Dana 41 for a rear axle otherwise, then it'd be a later Jeep. Or someone swapped it in for whatever reason.