My 1950 Willys Trail Rig

[OWEN]

How much backspacing are you running with those wheels?

Looks good mang!

Thanks man, they are 4" maybe, not sure.

[OWEN]

Wheeled it about 10-12 times now. Here a few pics and a summary of how it did and what I am going to do for next year.





The Good
- Stays cool
- 4 speed is fun to drive
- twin sticks are awesome
- 4 link works great
- beadlocks

The Bad
- Shocks not very effective in rear
- Front springs sag
- Transmission noisey
- Fuel injection needs to be tuned up
- Brakes could be better
- Starves for fuel on angles with less then 1/2 tank
- Gets hung up on skid plate sometimes

The Ugly
- Broke a rear transfer case output
- Broke a couple front driveshafts
- Broke a Milemarker Dana 60 hub
- Ignition switch shot
- Detroit locker is annoying on the road








Plans for 2010

- Ordered a new fuel cell, going to setup to sop fuel starvation
- Rebuild transmission
- Rebuild TBI and get it running right
- Install OBA system with air tank
- "New" tires- Michelin XML 325/85R16s
- Install boad stereo
- Fab new mounts for shocks in rear.
- Spare tire
- Rino line tub and finish the floor
- Modify the skid plate or build a new one so it is easier to change front driveshafts.
- Add a leaf to front springs (link it eventually)
- More

Modified Sanden Compressor "endless air"


New Tires- Gotta mount em on beadlocks and groove


Spare 13/38/16 Swamper TSL


New Fuel Cell RCI 2161A

[wannabejeep]

I like how you're sticking with the military tires. What did you pay for the new XML's? They'll be goin on my big jeep eventually

[OWEN]

Same as what I paid for my XLs 4 years ago, except I picked them up in west hartford, instead of paying 200 to ship from Cali. And they came on 8 lug rims!

Someone who uses this forum asked me if I liked the XLs last weekend and I never really thought about it til then... so of course I decided to try something new. Thanks pal

[clean4drxj]

owen those tires look alot like the BFG crawlers

[Pedro]

oh hell yea

[#DEZERTDAD]

SCHWEET!

[XJtheXtremeJeep]

Someone who uses this forum asked me if I liked the XLs last weekend and I never really thought about it til then... so of course I decided to try something new. Thanks pal

Lol i think this was me

[OWEN]

I am about to order these. http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.co...x25.html#56d60

I figured it would be a good way to get it to stop better. My s10 always stopped great, it had a front hpd44 with chevy outers and 3/4 ton calipers. Right now I am not getting full lock up out of my front brakes, the calipers are huge ford dual piston, and the master is a 79 corvette. I do not think I am getting the pressure or volume that I need to get them to lock up the brakes. Not really applicable for me, but it is a great solution for someone looking to run a 15" wheel on a d60

Also ordered some inserts and jam nuts to make a trail spare upper link for the rear

[Wide-J]

I bought the Blackbird front brackets for my front 60 and they are super stout and fit precisely. Good call Owen!

[OWEN]

Nice, I heard about them on Pirate, glad to know someone I know has had good luck with them!

[OWEN]

It has gotten a good thrashing and not much lovin...

Now I have it back in the garage. My brake caliper mounts came in from Blackbird and the parts to fix my broken MM hub. The front axle is sitting on the bumpstops. I am going to start by pulling the front axle and rebuilding the front leaf packs and tearing down the axle to put on the new calipers/mounts. Also gotta order new greasable bolts for everything. Pics to follow

[OWEN]

Saggy springs


Shocks with frame rash


$5 ea greasable bolts



Disassembled


Rebuilt sprindles





Blackbird brackets
Start... Good instructions


Put it togther and find I do not have enough room for the pads to fit



Face .1 " off rotor mounting face to bring rotor away from caliper bracket


Everything went smooth after that. Ditched the old 1/2" wheel studs for some new 9/16" ones so now all my lug nuts are the same


Went from 3 leafs to 5 and made new lower shock mounts. Drilled out greasable bolts and put in new zerks, and shortened them up so they don't hit rocks.



XMLs mounted on beadlocks

[Burton58]

damn that thing is sicker than ever Owen. i can't wait to see it when the front is linked

[Pedro]

This thing gives me a boner every update..... I love it