Grand Willys Project
 

This project has been brewing in my head for many years and been slowing gather parts and building a workshop and sheds to be able to do it.

The plan is to build a bit of a hotrod from using all the running gear, wiring, instruments, seats etc for one donor vehicle as much as possible.

http://willyshotrod.com/Willys1.jpg
Back in December 2007 I bought a Willys Pickup off eBay but it was a year before I got it home as had nowhere to store it. After much jumping through hoops with the council I built my workshop to house it.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand4.jpg
http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand5.jpg
After much looking and watching insurance auctions I was finally able to get a donor for the project. Ended up with a 2008 WH/WK Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 Hemi. It was first registered in 2009 and 12 months later T boned by a Harley rider doing a 100 mph! Hit it so hard that the foot well locked the throttle and he steered off the road into a paddock until he hit a tree.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand4a.jpg
One day these two will become one.

http://willyshotrod.com//WHgrand19a.jpg
Getting the Grand into the workshop.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand19b.jpg
The Grand is in place ready for lots of measurements and then the strip down can begin!

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand7.jpg
Got a start on the project this week. Started by taking every measurement I could think of so I can setup all the suspension under the Willys when it gets transferred across. Also been labeling every wiring plug that I have found so far. Done the whole engine bay and have it all disconnected ready for removing once I can get to the others ends of the harness under the dash. Also unbolted every panel that can come off and removed the seats.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand8.jpg
Being careful not to damage any of the trim when taking it apart in case I can sell any that I don't use.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand10.jpg
Still go a few more things like the chrome roof bars, rear bumper and tail-lights to go outside.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand11.jpg
Airbag under the dash cover was quite fiddly to get out.

http://willyshotrod.com/WHgrand13.jpg
What it looks like under the dash with the top cover off. Going to be fun getting all that into my Willys Pickup later.

How much was it Marcus?

got my Wj manual Online.
Cannot remember site
Gooble it.

A third less than just buying a second-hand 5.7 Hemi and ECU itchy. ;)

Tried looking online but they all seems to be for earlier years so far and not the 2009. Not all have the full wiring diagrams either.

Got sick and tired of waiting around for a 300c Marcus?Few and far between.
Might be able to help you with the manual, Have a dvd with all Jeep models on it. Will check what year it was up to. If its current I will let you know.
You going to register it as a Willys?

Whats that in real dollar terms?

Sure did. They were still just going for too much and getting up there in the miles. The Jeep was much cheaper and newer and like the idea of a Jeep in a Jeep.

Will be fully registered as a Willys as it is the chassis that determines that. Most likely a 48 Willys at this stage as been offered a couple.
Thanks for the offer on the FSM. Noticed that some on eBay don't include the wiring and really will need that more than anything.

Should be one cool Jeep when its done though.

If you want to sell the interior of the WH (seats and rear cargo area) then please let me know and we can work something out.

Regardless.

Good luck with it all.

mmm 5.7 v8, and no need to run a catalytic converter or any of the emissions doo dahs **)

Will be selling off what I don't need once I strip it for sure. Have had a bulk of offers for the rear taillights already!

the rear tailights?!? what the??

In the USA they have different ones so the guys there what these instead.

Are these the VVT motors or is that the later ones?
Good score by the sounds of it......

Has VVT and the Multi Displacement.

Best of both worlds eh???

Going to be one hell of a challenge getting it all working that is for sure.
Still, have been saving long and hard for this so will now take the next 5-10 years to slowly build it as wont have to outlay anything major for quite a while now.

Ha ha, it has crossed my mind. Pretty sure I can get it running with the stock ECU and TCU but not sure about the rest as have to run the full instrument panel as that is the 'brain' of everything else that communicates through it.

Or search mobs like Painless Wiring for a simplified loom.......

Exactly, there are ways around it if needed. Just cost more. ;)

Just found out the mileage when I connected the battery and it is only a bit over 35,000 km!

Got it running alright as the old owner was king enough to send me his spare transmitter. :)


Let me know if there is some thing you would want that I might not be using as I start stripping this soon. Just got to wait until I finished digging out for where a new shed is going to be and pour the slab and set to the new shed on house all the Willys and Grand parts!

Turns out when I got the build sheet for it that it is a 2008 spec Jeep that was not registered until 2009 so miss out on the extra ponies the VVT gives. :(
Think I will have more than enough anyway mind you and might be good do have it a little less complex than it already is!

Gojeep, I'd be interested In the wheels as I have a habit of bending them on my fathers WH!!! Opps!!!

wowsers. This looks like an epic project and it hasnt already even started! :shock:

Be keeping the wheels while doing the setup unless I feel I need a little more track to clear things by using wheel with less positive offset than the 2" the stocks have.
Any other stock wheels fit the bill for me?

Awesome, amazed it was written off.

No idea what else would fit the bill, I haven't got any spare wheels lying around for anything here (for a change!) Get in touch though when your done with them!

G'day Jimmy, the vehicle paper work is listed as a repairable right off. The Harley's main impact was right at the A door pillar and twisted that in against the throttle pedal stopping it from coming up until I pulled the kick panel out. The whole door seal and even the B pillar has been pushed in against the seat. How anyone can survive that on a bike is beyond me!
Have a bent knuckle from the front wheel of the bike as well as well as all the frontal damaged from going off the road not being able to stop.

This is what I did too, only mine is on the mend. It's an 06 WH CRD with less than 60K on the clock, also from a Brisbane repairable write off auction. I'm chuffed & can't wait to get it on the road!
All it need to be complete and inspected is a rear bumper.
Marcus, are you using yours for your Willys project? I'd be interested in taking it off your hands if you don't need it. Let me know ASAP!

Attached Pics... Before and After!

Love to see the pictures but not there for some reason?
I am not using the rear bumper at all but am down in Melbourne.

Sweet buying!
 

Anyone else suprised that the airbag hasn't gone off despite the large portion of frontal damage? Its my one fear when buying accident damaged stuff- I always keep the battery disconnected until the airbag(s) is disconnected & removed.

Yep a little , although impact was sort of side on from the look & airbag G-force sensor only reacts to forwards decelerations.Am suprised curtain side bags didnt deploy tho.

Surprised by the curtain airbags myself too and when I first rang the previous owner, he was hoping I was from Jeep and going to investgate it!
The frontal damage the tree he ended up stopping against missed the frame rail completely so would have been a slower impact and not as much speed by then.

Did you ask him how he lost it in the 1st place? Snow trip?

Elsewhere in the post he says that a Harley hit it in the side CRDSTU.

A friends son hit a landcruiser years ago on his Harley - rolled the Landcruiser...

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Yep, hit by a Harley doing around 160 kph the cops think!
Looks like he laid the bike down though because the damage is right across the whole front door as well as rubber left on the front wheel. It hit the wheel that hard that it bent the knuckle/spindle causing the wheel to lean in 3* at the top. Jeep wanted over $1400 for a new one! Picked one up in the US for $60 second-hand guaranteed to be straight. Checked the photos of the donor and saw it was not damaged on that side so went with that.

Hello CRDSTU...Saw your article in the latest Jeep Action....What size tyres are you running on what looks like AEV rims??...Lift also??

Ahhh finally worked out this Photo attachment thing. (after about 3 hours!) Had to re-size the pix etc. (Newb to this stuff!)... Anyway, I'm a new comer to the Jeep family (and the forum obviously!) with the purchase of this WH - CRD at auction. Currently (still) in the panel shop getting repaired.
Damaged on all 4 corners, but repairable! It has been a long drawn out process finding the parts (at the right price!) and issues with the panel beater! :mad:. Only missing 2 parts now... like Gojeep, bent RH Stub axle/knuckle (will look to the US for one, any tips would be welcome!) and a LH door mirror.
Will be very glad to get it on the road! Finally!

I'd love to see you running round the block like that front-less WH Gojeep! And love the Willy's project! Gees you've done some work on cars!

A few before... and afters...