See How a Chevy V6 and Toyota Axles Breathe New Life Into a Willys

There’s something magical about watching a classic Jeep get a proper second life, especially when it involves the kind of thoughtful fabrication work that transforms a rusted yard ornament into a legitimate rock crawler. Paul’s 1947 Willys CJ2A tells exactly that story - a tale of family legacy, smart engineering choices, and the kind of garage-built craftsmanship that makes every wheeling enthusiast nod in approval.

The backstory alone makes this build special. Paul inherited this project from his father-in-law, who had big plans for the old Willys but never got around to making them happen. Rather than let it continue rotting away, Paul decided to honor those original intentions by creating something his father-in-law would have been proud of.

Starting with a completely custom frame was the right call here. When you’re dealing with a 70 year-old chassis that’s been sitting in someone’s yard for who knows how long, sometimes you just need to start fresh. Paul fabricated the entire frame along with all the suspension components, which gave him complete control over the geometry and allowed him to build exactly what he wanted rather than working around compromised factory pieces.

The powertrain choice shows real wisdom too. That Chevy 4.3 V6 from a ‘00 Blazer might not sound exotic, but it’s absolutely perfect for this application. The compact package fits beautifully in the engine bay, the torque curve works great for low-speed crawling, and the reliability factor means he can actually wheel the thing instead of constantly wrenching on it.

Behind that 4.3 sits an SM420 transmission, which is basically rock crawling gold. That granny gear delivers a nearly 7:1 ratio, and when you combine it with the Dana 300 transfer case and 4.10 gears in those Toy axles, you’ve got the kind of crawl ratio that lets you pick your way through technical terrain with surgical precision. The Toy axles are another smart choice - they’re bulletproof, parts are readily available, and they handle 35" tires without breaking a sweat.

The bodywork deserves special mention because Paul didn’t just restore it - he improved it. Those high-line fenders are a perfect example of form following function. By cutting the body down and raising the fender lines, he dropped the center of gravity while maintaining plenty of wheel travel.

Paul fabricated his own fuel tank and mounted it in the rear for better weight distribution. The interior got a complete custom gauge panel that he water-jet cut at work, complete with proper switch placement and plenty of grab handles positioned where passengers won’t instinctively reach for dangerous spots during technical sections.

The 1 3/4" DOM tubing cage with .0.120" wall thickness provides serious protection without going overboard. Paul kept it simple but functional, which is exactly the right philosophy for a rig that’s actually going to see trail time. Too many builders get caught up in building show pieces that look impressive but don’t perform when it matters.

What really stands out about this build is how much of it came from Paul’s own hands. He made everything he possibly could make rather than just throwing parts at it. Paul didn’t just build a rock crawler; he built a tribute to his father-in-law’s original vision while creating something that can handle serious terrain for years to come.