| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Tracy Martin TN 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gallatin,TN
Points: 10830
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: 48-63 Willys pickup or panel?
Posted: 23 Sep 2025 at 3:25pm |
|
Do any of you guys have a Willys truck or panel these years? I am interested in one. Just like the looks, original equipment is better.What are pros and cons of them? Thanks, Tracy
|
|
No greater gift than healthy grandkids!
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
Les Kerf
Orange Level
Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Sep 2025 at 10:39am |
I owned a 51 Willys pickup about 45 years ago, sorta wish I still had it as it would be perfect for my putt-putting around the homestead nowadays.
It had a four-cylinder F-Head engine, three speeds on the floor with High-Low transfer case. It had 5.38 gears and topped out at about 55 mph wound out to the absolute max.
Sold it to my Bro-in-law who swapped in a 4.3 Chebbie V6 and used it to plow snow; he promptly destroyed the rear end so swapped in a set of Toyota Land Cruiser axles, the next to explode was the transfer case so he put in the Land Cruiser transmission and transfer case.
That worked fine until the frame started cracking so he fish-plated it, which was all still holding when he sold it after 10+ years of abuse.
He is a pretty good mechanic with a really heavy foot! 
|
|
HudCo
Orange Level
Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: Plymouth Utah
Points: 3941
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Sep 2025 at 10:43am |
|
i drive a 52 willys pickup it going in the shop this winter for a ford 300 six and some dana 60s all my orianal drive train is wore out and its to slow mine is the last year of the little back window
|
|
PaulB
Orange Level
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Rocky Ridge Md
Points: 5157
|
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Sep 2025 at 10:48am |
 Les Kerf wrote:
I owned a 51 Willys pickup about 45 years ago, sorta wish I still had it as it would be perfect for my putt-putting around the homestead nowadays.
It had a four-cylinder F-Head engine, three speeds on the floor with High-Low transfer case. It had 5.38 gears and topped out at about 55 mph wound out to the absolute max.
Sold it to my Bro-in-law who swapped in a 4.3 Chebbie V6 and used it to plow snow; he promptly destroyed the rear end so swapped in a set of Toyota Land Cruiser axles, the next to explode was the transfer case so he put in the Land Cruiser transmission and transfer case.
That worked fine until the frame started cracking so he fish-plated it, which was all still holding when he sold it after 10+ years of abuse.
He is a pretty good mechanic with a really heavy foot! |
Kinda reminds me of those that take a basic old farm tractor and do all they can to modernize it with all kinds of hydraulic and hitch ad-ons and nothing ever really does just what they wanted in the long run, when they shoulda just gotten a 3pt, IPTO, hydrostatic 4wd cab with AC tractor to begin with.
|
|
If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere.
Real pullers don't have speed limits.
If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY
|
|
Les Kerf
Orange Level
Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Sep 2025 at 3:23pm |
HudCo wrote:
i drive a 52 willys pickup it going in the shop this winter for a ford 300 six and some dana 60s all my orianal drive train is wore out and its to slow mine is the last year of the little back window |
Yup, that's why I sold my Willys, just not practical as a daily driver for a 90 mile round trip commute to work.
I drive an 85 F-150 that already has the 300 six 
|
|
Tracy Martin TN
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gallatin,TN
Points: 10830
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Sep 2025 at 11:24pm |
|
I want to find a survivor truck with original engine and drive train. Just going to use it on the farm, go to town every now and then.Rare around these parts. Tracy
|
|
No greater gift than healthy grandkids!
|
|
Les Kerf
Orange Level
Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 Sep 2025 at 6:29am |
Tracy Martin TN wrote:
I want to find a survivor truck with original engine and drive train. Just going to use it on the farm, go to town every now and then.Rare around these parts. Tracy |
That will be perfect!
|
|
jaybmiller
Orange Level Access
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
Points: 24767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 Sep 2025 at 1:54pm |
I had a '57 panel, hauled it to North Bay behind pop's caddy with a homemade towbar....brought home a '57 pickup( plus FULL box of 'parts'). It had SUPERHurricane 6 , 3 speed, 2x xfr case, WARN OD unit plus DUAL PTO. True frame off refurb. Fun truck to drive but slow ( had 4.88s in it 4 bangers had 5.38s. Never locked it...6 or 7 sticks would confuse anyone ( plus a line lock ! ) Would love to get a Willys FC-150..sigh......they all have 4 banger/5.38s so not a highway ride !
|
|
3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
|
|
dr p
Orange Level
Joined: 24 Feb 2019
Location: new york
Points: 1416
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Sep 2025 at 6:04am |
|
Anybody remember richard triumpho article in hoard's dairyman about the blind willey's mechanic they had in st johnsville?
|
|
HudCo
Orange Level
Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: Plymouth Utah
Points: 3941
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 27 Sep 2025 at 9:20pm |
|
how a bout that cw macalls classified ad song
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 88431
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 27 Sep 2025 at 9:41pm |
|
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
