Unfinished Projects-ideas(long)?

[toyotajeep]

This is a long post, but I believe it is applicable here. I'm a shop teacher at a small school. For years I have built various 4x4's and a 440 Mopar car as a way to teach all phases with one car-I use a very small multi-purpose shop.

Anyways, years ago I kept getting all these Wagoneers given to me, probably 5 in a year one year. I kept the most desirable mechanicals of each one. I wanted a Willys Wagon but without the issues of weak frames and bad springs etc. I searched and purchased one with a lead from a member here. This was probably 5 years ago.

The intention of the truck was something that I could wheel pretty hard with, and still drive to work if I had to. Reasonably presentable if needed, and yet rough enough to not whine with a ding or two. Dead reliable and somewhat decent on fuel.

So, a couple of seniors and various other students we started to put it together. It took a partial spring build, and then the majority of the next school year. We made custom mounts obviously and replaced half of the floor in the Wagon.

Here is what we ended up with:

75 Wagoneer frame
Dana 44's
High steer
7-leaf fronts
Rear springs moved under frame
tilt column
4.1 Buick V6 with a TH400/dana 20
Long shocks etc.
Set-up to clear 38" tires which it does.

So, I cheaped out on paint, my first paint job. It came out a horrible color. I drove it home with no glass, seats, wiring etc. off-road. It was the best riding 4x4 I have owned bar none. Awesome.

The paint grated on me, I had to finish my J truck plow truck, life continues and kids graduate.

Last spring we needed something to do for about month, so we repainted it a brilliant orange inside and out under the dash you get the picture. This job came out really nice. I like it.

Now it sits. I needed a project that was applicable to the needs of my kids so we are building a Toyota Jeep CJ-5 from scratch currently.

So now you know the story.

What to do now with it. I am probably into it over $2000 by a ways. It runs good, drives good, but is not finished.

I can't part it and get half of my money out.
I could-but shouldn't sell it.
Let it sit, and then lose all the new parts that I have put in it while the paint rusts off of it......

It has taken so long to build that my life has changed since I started it. My skills have changed etc. It is very well built and has no rust. I would do things differently now though.

I live in a rural area that gets alot of snow. Here is what I am thinking.

Get some 5.38's, spool the rear, and run 44's for the deep snow. I can wheel and never touch the HWY for miles in any direction. I know what the Dana's can handle, and they'll do for this situation.

I picture something that is licensed and insured, but would really only see 2-3000 miles a year on road at best. Just something local to use and have fun with.

Any thoughts, ideas or other musings.

I can't be the only one that this has happened to..........the unfinished project, life changes what to do now club!

Sorry so long, ROB

[armyfsj]

If it were my truck and I was in the same dilema I would finish it up the way it is that way if you do need to sell it you can recoup some more of your money and if it works out that you have more time and money for it fix it up the way you want to now. Then you can wheel the snot out of it legally either way. my .02 cents

[jaber]

I've always wanted to do the same thing, so I'd say finish it and drive it like you stole it.

I also want to be the first to say-

[joe]

If it's a good runner I'd stuff the glass back in and finish the interior which as you know ain't much in a Willys.
Only thing I'd do different for snow running is go tall skinny rubber to dig down through the crap. Yeah not the cool macho look but look at what the loggers are running for tires to get to the job site.

[toyotajeep]

I can put the SUA and run probably 33-35" tires. It is tall, not huge but definately a bit tall. One of the things I would change if I were to redo it.

I really like the wide tires for deep snow. I know what the loggers run, I live in a neighborhood of them.....QR78 Buckshots. Very good to dig. Not good for 4-6' of snow though. I learned to wheel in Walla Walla which about ten years ago was a town where 35 x12.50's were small. I've been stuck on the bigger rubber since then. I DD a Jeep with 38x15.50's for about ten years.

Anyways, I think we agree that it needs to be finished one way or the other.

Let me get some pics rounded up.

ROB

[toyotajeep]

I seem to be having some trouble resizing the pics to the appropriate size for the forum.

I will see what I can come up with.

ROB

[goldhammer]

I remember seeing pics of that thing in bare metal awhile back, definately would be a head turner when completed.

Toss the glass back in and get it street legal, and the front seats in. Then sit back and see where you want to go with it.

I know how you feel, still miss the crew cab project I had going, no place to finish it after the boss said it had to go.

[toyotajeep]

It actually was the final paint Art............hence the need to repaint. I bought some cheap silver paint at Napa. It came out looking chrome. We finished the paint in mid -june and in the sun you could not see it because it was too bright.

The repaint came out great, if you like Orange......lots of orange.

It is going to have to be completed I guess.

ROB

[toyotajeep]

Here are a couple of pics before I painted it.

ROB

[jaber]

WOW!!! That looks sweet.....

My dad had a '53 Willys truck. It had a mustang 6 cyl? and the original 3 stick setup and push button door levers that worked. He let it go befor I got my licence. Might get another someday..............

[toyotajeep]

Here it is in Orange. I'm thinking 44's. May as well, it is too tall for any "normal person". I could go SUA again, but that would be wrong.........

ROB

[Rogue]

that's effin sweet Rob, I'm a member of that club too good luck with her, I say get it runnin' and drive the pee out of it Its been waaaaaaaay too long since I tore up some mud with my jeep