Behind the Ride:
Build for Off Road Adventure Ride Updates
Willie’s ’83 CJ7 – An Underdog’s Tale
Willie B is a man of many talents – a radio DJ, car collector, mechanic, and off-road fanatic – not to mention a co-host of Two Guys Garage, where he’ll be showcasing some of the mods he’s making to his 1983 CJ7 for our upcoming Build for Off Road Adventure Ride. If you’re a fan of classic iron, DIY builds, and conquering tough terrain without breaking the bank, you’re gonna love the story behind this truly unique off-road rig.
A DayGlo Diamond in the Rough
“I found this ’83 Jeep, believe it or not, from a listener,” Willie told us. “It was an ’83 and still had all the stock 1983 running gear. But [the previous owner] painted it that crazy fluorescent green, which I loved. It’s such an ugly color, I just love it, because it stands out.”
Snagging this diamond in the rough for a mere $3500, Willie didn’t waste any time getting down to business and building on the previous owner’s work to turn this classic into a capable off-roader.
“He’d actually put the small block V8 in it, which was an AMC 360,” said Willie. “And it had a carburetor on it at the time, and I had this old Holley Terminator X fuel injector system, so I put that on it so it’d wheel a little bit better.” But the real transformation came once Willie realized the stock setup wouldn’t cut it for the rock crawling he had in mind.
“It just so happened that I’d kept the 14-bolt, and I’d kept the kingpin Dana 60 from my Ramcharger set-up,” he said, referencing a 1975 Dodge Ramcharger he’d previously owned. “So, me and a couple buddies one weekend pulled that Jeep into his 4-wheel drive shop. We stayed up at his shop and literally just built that Jeep in like a 4-day weekend.”
You heard that right – a full axle swap in a weekend! Talk about dedication and resourcefulness.
Willie estimates that the entire build, including the initial purchase price, clocked in under $10,000.
“We rolled it out and it had a kingpin 60 underneath it, it was lifted 8.5 inches, we did TeraFlex springs and a few other nice little set-up deals on it. I kinda like the old-school leaf spring stuff.”
Outperforming Expectations, Old-School Style
Willie admits leaf springs might not be the most common choice for serious off-roaders these days, but he’s a fan. “Some people will tell you you’ve gotta have coilovers if you’re really doing some serious wheeling.” But he never ceases to surprise his fellow off-roaders.
“I do things in that Jeep that people would be stunned that it’s not coilovers,” he said. Willie has also optimized the Jeep’s approach and exit angles by moving the gas tank into the cab.
“I can exit off rocks and boulders and obstacles really sharp, and my approach angles are really sharp. It’s always the underdog of the trail, but it always outperforms the expectations of people, which is why I dig it so much.”
While some of the off-road rigs we’ll get to see on the Adventure Ride are built for high-profile events like King of the Hammers, Willie hopes his Jeep will provide a great example of an average “weekend warrior” off-road budget build, proving that adventure doesn’t have to come with a six-figure price tag.
“For most people, this Jeep represents their weekend builder. But still, shockingly and unexpectedly, it typically does a great job of hanging with the big boys.”
And when breakdowns inevitably happen on the trail, he says the simplicity of an older vehicle has unexpected benefits.
“It’s all mechanical. So, fixing it on the trail becomes much easier, in my opinion. Simplicity allows you to keep going when most people would have to stop, or most people would have to figure something out.”
Preparing for the Adventure Ride on Two Guys Garage
Willie acknowledges that the Adventure Ride route will present some challenges for this old-school Jeep. Thermal management and navigation will be important in these demanding environments – and without the advanced technology enjoyed on newer Jeep models, those areas may need to be addressed when the CJ7 rolls onto Two Guys Garage in an upcoming episode this season. Plus, there may be one major shift in store for Willie’s rig before he attempts the Adventure Ride.
“My Jeep is a manual,” Willie laughed, hinting that he may be tempted to convert it to automatic given the ride route. “The Jeep has a really interesting setup in it now. It’s a split transfer case and the old T-136 TREMEC transmission, which is kind of a brutal, old-school Jeep transmission. So, it’s a very well-equipped transmission split transfer case, but it’s manual. An automatic is a little safer.”
Check back soon for more updates on Willie’s CJ7 – and the other incredible builds that will be joining us on the Build for Off Road Adventure Ride. We’ll be diving deeper into the modifications, the challenges, and the sheer grit it takes to prepare for an epic off-road adventure – proving that passion and ingenuity can go a long way.
What do you think of Willie’s budget-built CJ7?
Does it inspire your own projects? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on all the action.
What do you think of Willie’s budget-built CJ7?
Does it inspire your own projects? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on all the action.
Does your company have parts and solutions to upgrade Willie’s CJ7 for the Build for Off Road Adventure Ride?
Reach out to us about being featured in this project on Two Guys Garage.
Does your company have parts and solutions to upgrade Willie’s CJ7 for the Build for Off Road Adventure Ride?
Reach out to us about being featured in this project on Two Guys Garage.
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