1963 Willy's jeep gladiator, slow build

[fiero377ci]

This is my first ever jeep project. 2 months ago I Picked up this awesome gladiator at an auction for $50 title included. Drove it on the trailer, after disassembling the starter twice @ 8 degrees. Flanged rear axle is wasted, PO tried to push the back sideways with a dozer while it was froze in. Anyway the axle and hub are bent way out. While it's possible to replace all this, it's a perfect time for an upgrade.
Forward to yesterday, picked up what most people consider obsolete junk. It's an Eaton ho52 with 4.57 gears, for $100. Main reason I bought it was the brand new disc conversion, which I promptly stole for my Chevy g30 14b ff. I will use the drums from that back on the Eaton. Width is just right about 65". I will need to either go to 8 lug outers on existing or maybe a gm hd44 with 8 lug and disc.

PO also swapped in a 258 2 barrel, still has a 3 speed and dana 20. hopefully soon i will find a 4 speed. parts are hard to find around here as wv doesn't give salvage licenses. in other words the only yard around here are grandfathered in, and knows he has you over a barrel whenever you pull in. just last week tried to get me for $800 for a chevy colorado rear axle. we promptly made the 2 hour drive to johnnys u pull in altoona, for $130. sad thing is this guy has over 20 gladiators and wagoneers.

[fiero377ci]

Trying to find a better way to get pics on here

[fiero377ci]

pics

[fiero377ci]

other than the missing bed, its reasonably complete. also in pretty good shape rust wise, for a jeep. will need outer rockers, partial cab corners, and a little bit of floor. here is the axle going in, many hours from being finished.

[Crankyolman]

Looks like a nice truck, and a great deal

[rang-a-stang]

Good times! Looking forward to seeing it get back on the road!

[Joodan24]

Hey. Full disclosure, i dont really know what im talking about. Been rebuilding a 63 gladiator for 6 months now. But Ive done a ton of research in a time when you have to find the original, 55 year old BOOKS to get good info.

You call it a Willy's Gladiator . . I find this interesting because I have only ever read about a Kaiser Jeep Gladiator starting in mid '62. Funny enough,, '62 to '65 Gladiators were built using left-over Willy's truck beds and rear axles. But even funnier, based on the pictures, looks like the frame is a Willy's Truck frame (looks shorter than even the '63 J-100).

[fiero377ci]

I'm sorry but are you trying to be sarcastic? The id tag does say willys

[Crankyolman]

For the first year of Gladiator production, maybe even only half year the VIN tags were Willys tags, they changed the name of the company somewhere around 63-64 to Kaiser Jeep, that may have even happened mid year of '63. So a '63 model year is likely to have a Willys tag. I think some may even have Kaiser-Willys VIN tags. I will also add that my '66 had a Willys tag under the hood, as does my '72 but they are not VIN tags, as used in '63 model year, although I seem to remember my '66 having a Willys VIN so it's entirely possible it was a '63 registered as a '66. To my knowledge '72 was the last year the Willys name was used on a tag on a Gladiator. As far as a short frame, although some may argue the point, I remember my '66 had a 6 ft bed on it, not a 7 ft bed. I believe this was available until around '66 but can't really say, I know that extra short bed was original to my '66 and the suspension was so heavy duty it was like not having suspension at all.

Now I am going to complain about that damn photobucket I have really grown to HATE that stupid website. I saw the pictures this morning but now all I get is "3rd party hosting has been disabled". This website has become so difficult to try to see any pictures on because of that stupid website.

[JPSwapMohn]

photobucket = no see ‘em pictures...

[63J200atLSU]

Would really love to see pictures as you go along with this. I've been bringing a 63 back from the grave for about 2 years now. Turning into a great little truck.

FLICKR is a great alternative to photobucket. After photobucket pulled that nonsense last year, trying to get people to pay 400/year for a service offered elsewhere for free, that they previously offered for free, I really don't want anything to do with em, myself...

[rang-a-stang]

... After photobucket pulled that nonsense last year, trying to get people to pay 400/year for a service offered elsewhere for free, that they previously offered for free, I really don't want anything to do with em, myself...

PREACH IT BROTHER!!!!