Full Build: Frame Off Restoration Of A Classic 1955 Willys Wagon 

One thing I like about Stacy's builds... they're not just for show. He thrashes anything he builds. Respect!

I love these early 2000s car shows I spent so much time watching them while skipping school lol...good times 😂

This was the coolest thing built on the entire series.

you had me at full build

One of my absolute favorites! Excellent detailed explanation and "How To" restoration story without any of the "If we don't finish this project we are going to lose the shop" kind of action. From the very beginning Stacey David had the mind, the talent and the experience to excel in total restoration projects. Keep on keepin' on. Always a joy to view!-EsQue

I had a 53 wagon with big balloon sand tires in High school...I saw it sitting in a farmers field and traded him a 357 S/W for it. Got it running (flat head 4) and had so much fun with it.

Thank you for leaving this in the original 4x3 aspect ratio. Watching this on my CRT and enjoying the nostalgia.

One of my cool big brothers had one of these, & he’d gather up all us brothers in it & go off roading a lot. Many fun times we all treasured

I used to watch Stacey on TRUCKS! every Saturday -- in the 1990s. Hasn't aged a day, even the mullet is still perfect. Quality programming that holds up thirty years later? I'm not knocking that, deserves this resurrection. Hope Stacey is doing well in his 60s, like me.

Yay...one of my favorites. I hope to see some more episodes of Trucks with Stacey as a host, namely like the Lil Red Wagon, Tomb Raider, and others

21 March 2023 found me for the first time on this YTC with two guys well scripted in their concise tutelage on this 'Wicked Willys' frame off 4 X 4 restoration. I'm just 27 minutes into the epilog and I had to stop to comment on how easy this concentrated '411' is to follow compared to some of the other YTCs I've been following. Though if I'm honest the "others" I view are more for entertainment with some curiosity on automobile mechanics explained or 'thrown in' to satisfy my needs. Edit p.s. Awesome ending guys... Stacey and Mel👍👍 you two and your associates concocted the best bad as* piece of terra firma crawler ever made to look good as it dominates the mud and highway. Keep on "🚜ing"!

I had a 1956 Willys Wagon. Loved it. Had a narrow block Chevy V8, 283. Could throw a lot of mud.

Playing in the mud is fun. I had an 83 Hilux dualcab that was raised 4 inches, had 33x12.5x15 Maxxis Mudders and a Holden V8 with thermo fans.

Awesome ! I really enjoyed this video! When life was good!

Excellent modification while retaining the original 1955 willy's look , thank you for the detailed video.

I miss those days

Dang, that was so long~~~~think I’ll watch it again

I bought a 55 in 1961 that had been used in the Squaw Valley Olympic’s , did the exact same thing, it is dark gray and still runs like a top gave it to my son....new springs, shocks,wheel bearings, steering gear parts, engine, transmission, transfer case rebuild, new Warn Hubs and overdrive. Total cost less than $ 1000.00, I did the work but had a machine shop bore the block and grind the crank.

I missed this build on tv because I discovered Trucks right before "Copperhead" and I am glad to get a chance to see this project.

All that work and you kept the vacuum wipers unbelievable!

Hey Stacey, I have watch your show first time. You have win me. The accuracy of contrction, planing and engineering is superb.

I can't tell if this show is from 1995 or 2005 or current. But I sure enjoy it.

Nobody ever remembers this other guy He is to slick for the show never gets dirty

With how much he worries about the bills getting paid, that dudes credit score must be immaculate

Years ago my dad Add 1 RU-vid took the champion no. He took the hurricane engine out and replace it with a Studer Baker champion It sure ran really good

I had one of these in argentina IKA Estanciera 1965, I think the engine was different, was a six cylinder approx 3,7L and I had it full restored. It's a great looking jeep and inside volume. Great show, thank you!

I daily an almost identical willys wagon...cool seeing such a deep rebuild of one.

Nice headliner and soundproofing LoL 😂

I had a ‘55 Willys Overland in the ‘90’s. So much fun! Paid $700 for it, was faded sand colored. I ran it stock. Top speed: 45 mph. Never got pulled over for going too slow on the highway but was pulled over one rainy afternoon in Seattle for only having one rear view mirror, the stock interior. 😁

Aparte de lo hermoso y la tremenda restauración que le hicieron con ésa combinación de motor y transmisión creo que no hay otro Willis Wagon igual, Súper Good job.

Killer build, boys!

Watching this 30 years later thinking that this was a $30k build that would be close to $95k today. Lots of labor in custom parts that you probably can't get anymore. I really appreciate the guys that did all that custom work in the 90's.

Both of these guys are absoutley awsome for your show!!!!

Nice work 👏

When I heard motor upgrade. My first thought was running gear won't take it. It is only good for about 100 horses max. then they come apart. Next was frame will twist, Glad to see you guys address all those problems

A blast from the past!

Hey guys enjoyed it very much thanks for the lesson this is John from San Jose California keep up the great work and great how to tips thanks

A blue and white one of these was our family car from 1952 to 1960. It would go anywhere without complaint and was easy to work on.

what about that headliner? Excellent build and a dream truck for me!

Great build I have a buddy with the Willys too. I have to send him this link. I wonder if RU-vid is borking the audio on this video because of copyright. Otherwise yeah, fun to see.

Love this build! Always have. Unfortunately it just puts ANOTHER recipe in my head I'll never be able to build😪

A truck every gearhead wants,nicely done fellas,wish i had ur bankroll!!snooky pa.💥👍😜🤪✌️💥

Hey guys, I’m watching in Scotland (UK), just to say you do amazing work on a variety of vehicles. Any chance of doing an old Triumph Tr7 or Tr6. Awesome work 🙌🙌🙌

Excellent rebuild brother. Im inspired coz im doing some Rc toy car…

man that is one jam up rig!

A beautiful truck. The Best custumization

Me estoy divirtiendo mucho viendo su excelente y didactico trabajo, un abraxo caballeros.

Good willing ,May god protect you and protect you and support you with his victory.l have nothing to say in frond of wrath My eyes have seen .you are teachers in the full sense of the word .your brother abdu lkarim from 🇲🇦 ❤.l salute you❤

👍🏽🇺🇸👍🏽 awesome build

De lo mejor q a podido existir en vehiculos rusticos ...en la propiedad d mis abuelos termino tirada una de la marca Ranrrobert y por falta de presupuesto mi abuelo ya no la pudo reparar pero fue su vehículo de toda su juventud la uso unos 25 años recuerdo y bueno ful aventura cuando niño dentro de nuestra camioneta verde olivo ...nos ivamos donde solo existia la huella de q habia una calle y la robert se encargaba de haserla ...como no admirar esta joya de vehiculo ....saludos desde el dalvador central america ...❤️🤗

Long live tha MULLET!

Who is Mel? This guy is really cool. I don't believe I have ever seen him before.

I built a 46 wILLYS cj2a with a 64 corvette 327 .I have had Willy since 1978

Nice car build by smart people...

Great build!!!!.... But did anyone else notice that there is no headliner and above the front windshield looks unsightly being unfinished inside?

ช่างแต่งตัวเท่ห์มาก

It`s all fine and well if you have all the money in the world to do all this work.!!!!!!!!!!!!

did you add a sway bar to the willys. need your knowledge of the installation so i can add one to my 51 willys station wagon. really enjoy watching your projects. thanks bill

neat truck, would have added dynamat, everywhere, and a matching headliner...not being picky but Ive been inside boxy trucks with no sound deadoning

I had a 56 that I redid back in the 80's

I always loved watching this show on Saturdays. But now that I watch it again, I realize that this is a $200K build in a $1.5M shop.

عمل ممتاز جدا جدا جدا ❤

I hope they do the full build thing like this for project super dually 79 ford they put on a Dodge frame

1:24:26 WOAH!!!

My best friend Ted Styner had a emerald green 57' equipped the same. We got busted one 1969 Halloween because Ted myself and 4 other friends planned to go on a Halloween Egg Run. We didn't get far, the Culver City Police caught up with us behind a grocery store. They were amazed at how many dozens we had on board. We were like on a "12 O'clock High" bomber mission into our Traditional Enemy the kids that lived on the south side of the La Ballona Creek . They liked my firecracker eggs. They were thrown overhead to splatter egg everywhere. The made us smash 4 Dozen Dozen cartons of eggs into a Dumpster behind the Mayfair Market.

Early 90's vibe notwithstanding, did you just give up on the headliner?

Just noticed at the end all of a sudden tinted windows appeared and disappeared. Hilarious! I know it was for lighting as that was the thing that was done back then.

Oh my, using a SHIFTER on the strg box bolt? :O

Should have added in the clip of Stacy painting the motor.

ALL info is good & Mel is a renning god guy!!!!!!! I'm not gay by the way!!!!!!!

Where did Mel Flair go? On the final episode he is missing. Poor dude did 50% of the work and wasn’t around for the finish.

I think we need to remember that all of these structural metal pieces were not available or even thought of. Bonds at the time was a good way to go. This time period would have been the 60’s.

Early in the build you talk about a dual fan. Later you show radiator with no fan. Some time after that you show a 16"(?) single fan. Not sure if you covered this, maybe I missed it?

Those old TV shows are kinda funny to watch on RU-vid. Two guys, with perfect clean shirts, with perfect hair dresses faking wrenching =). They should had 50 people behind the camera.

I would have done the Willie with a Chevrolet stroker 383 used a Turbo 350 From the 1988 1-ton Chevrolet I own that had a 454 engine I put in the truck a 383 Stroker using the 6-inch rods and aluminum heads with 202 intake and 160 exhaust values. Pistons are 30 over Keth Black flat tops with a 9-8-1 compression with the Aluminum 68 cc combustion chamber heads. The 383 has been a great engine

omg its gorge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hasnt even got on the wagon yet !!!!!!!!!! i hope u paid BIG for it cuz im jelous !!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Really nice however it could have had some head liner.

Some ride

I am surprised you hey didn’t extend the front of the frame to use longer springs which would give a much better ride. I am torn between a coil setup on the stock frame or doing a Wagoneer ot TJ frame setup.

If you plan to actually go off road, I would have gone with vinyl for the seat and rubber mats for the front seats. An option for the front? In-door out-door carpet.

It looks like one of Stacy David's Creations!

I loved the show and watched it every weekend but to be honest it was a little disappointing because most guys could never afford to build the rigs Stacey David did

Had a 1961and they were called STATION SEDANS with a under square big mains inline six 225 cubic inch flat head with SUPER HURRICANE cast on the head a mechanical linkage part gas throttle to a push rod going into the carb pushing down the float inside the bowel for a accelerator pump with a toilet paper roll size replacement for an oil filter. Stock skid plate for the gas tank was 1/4 inch thick plate steel also one on the oil pan just a little thinner. 16 inch by 7 inch six lug wheels under the 3700-3900 lbs rig helped cut a nice track to keep moving from a crawl to 85 mph.three speed with hi/low/ neutral transfer case parking brake drum just before the rear drive shaft you lock all four or two Strong front CV joints Warn hubs to free spin wheels or with the transfer case you could allowed float all the way from the transfer case a two end shaft power take off the transmission for a wench in front or rig for something back. It was a KISS all around .

I'm just courious why you wouldn't have gone to a 440 torque monster and an 8 speed auto transmission? Great video. Thanks

Wonder how long it took them to make this hour and a half show?

Frame off resto but forgot to do ANYTHING with the headliner/ interior roof

Damn

Just curious, but why are the windows on the drivers side tinted but not pass side?

Just like this, but rebuild that flat-head six...

Stacy has much better looking hair now

Not mentioned but, Oh so important.....: 1.) How to true up (allign) the engine, tranny, transfer case and differentials. 2.) How to buy insurance for this thing. 3.) How to connect engine, and post engine.

Kind of strange...on the "payoff" episode there is no mention or pics of Mel, who did as much as Stace on the build? It was just "I did this" and "I did that!" I guess it was some contractual thing? On other PowerNation shows they have no problem mentioning the Many people that left before projects finished (Rick, Lou, Jared, Kevin, Ryan, Ian, Jessie...)

Why didn't you guys get rid of the frame rust before boxing it all in? And sealed the frame inside out?

I wish they would show how to install the windows

My brother in Christ, let's build ourselves an off road wagon. Booooyhowdy.

I forgot to say my Hilux was a 4WD.

Way didn’t you deal with the rust on the inside of the frame before you boxed it?

How old is this one?

wow price check on isle 5.

it sure does need a snorkel