It's done. So now I can say I did it, I built a Rock Buggy. I know you can get a Hendrix chassis, but I wanted to do something different, really different. I had a Willys CJ-3A and it was lot of fun but all of those parts we so old and not all that great. So I had always wanted to put a Toyota Engine and Drive train in a Willys. So basically that is what I did. It a little weird, but so am I. It's a lot of fun to wheel something so minimal with zero regard for a body. That is really nice.

In a nutshell, the equipment is:

22R on Propane
Marlin Rebuilt L-52HD 5-Speed
Front and Rear ARB's
30 Spline Longfields in the front with hub gears and ARP Studs
Poly Performance Cro-Mo in the rear
Ultimate Marlin Dual Cases, Marlin MC07 and Marlin 4.7 Gear
BudBuilt Crossmember
Downey 79-83 Front Leafs
Stock 2004 Tacoma Double Cab Rear Leafs with Deaver Add-In
4th Gen 4Runner V8 Rear Drive shafts, redone by JE Reel to be Front and Rear Drive shafts
Bilstein 5125 Shocks
Super Swamper TSL 38x12.5x15 on the wheels from our old FJ62
Spidertrax 1.5" Wheel Spacers
All-Pro T-Case Parking Brake operated by VW Bug Center Pull Lever
Jeep YJ Seats and Tracks
Jeep CJ2A Hood & Grill
Reproduction Cowl and Lower Windshield Panel
Hella Black Magic Lights
Auto Meter Gauges, Water Temp, Oil Pressure, Voltage & Onboard Air Status
Pyrotec Harnesses
U-Bolt Flips with Daystar Super Soft Bumpstops
Old Man Emu FJ-80 Steering Stabilizer
Warn M8000 on BudBuilt tray
ViAir Extreme Onboard Air System
"Dixie" Air Horn
Fully Arizona Street Legal
All 1.5" x .120 DOM tube construction

Probably a lot more stuff I forgot, it's a vehicle built from scratch. More work than you would ever imagine. One of those things you do once. I have taken it out a few times and it is a lot of fun to drive.







The 1981 4WD Pickup as it looked when I brought it home.



A few Days Later



4-Speed went and in came the 1983 5-Speed with Marlins Upgrades.



March 2007



Here it is fully done as it looks today:



Front



Rear

Upper and Lower Woodpecker














Hackberry - Power Line - Devils Canyon - Oak Flats














I will paint it Yellow. When I feel it is good to go and there will be no revisions needed. Also "I" really like Leaf Springs, I can predict them and I like they way the feel, that's just the way I am.


Now for the "real" shocker. I am NOT going to sell my Dana 44 Swapped 1999 4RUnner. Sure it will lead a much more peaceful life than it had and this buggy will get the snot beat out of it, but that 99 4Runner is a great truck and a big part of my life, I could never let it go.

I am tow rig challenged at the moment, but I'll survive. It's street legal.

 

Dang Steve, that thing is rad.
Very cool buildup.

 

Good to see it out and about.

What are your plans for your next project?

 

There is always the Red Truck........

 

Well it's about time you got that thing done. Between you and the propane I'd hate to be driving behind you...

How do the boys like riding in it?

Good call on not selling the 4Runner and the red truck is fine the way it is. You need to have at least one semi-stock vehicle. But if you decide to SAC it and throw a flat bed on it like Westy's you can always sell it to me.

 

I could tell you like driving around in the red truck. It is a very nice vehicle. I just go it re-painted. It also has 2005 Tacoma seats and a T-Case from an 1983 4X with a Marlin 4.7 in it. Little Red Bitch can crawl.

 

That's what got me looking at the older trucks again. I blamed you when I told the wife what I was doing.

I'll stop hijacking now.

 

Sweet rig looks like a ton o' fun! Are those side rail high enough to protect the LP tanks if you go over?

 

Very, very cool, Steve. I'd love to see that Will-ota in action!

 

My Father already pointed that out and I'm working on that. I'll add some cross bars that will protect those and hold a Yakima rack as well.

 

Very nice.

 

Nice rig!!

 

I just asked if I could see pics of it, I didn't mean you had to show it off to everyone.

 

It was finally time. It's basically done.

 

awesome buggy! Now you know you cant go destroying the legend of the red truck and its 29" tires of fury

 

Sweeeeeeeeet!!! I guess if I'm going to get to ride in it I'm going to have to make a very long trip and come see you.

Jim

 

I'll find a way to get it to Moab. You can take it for a spin then, but you'll end up wanting one too.

 

Cool crawler, I'm a big fan of your red truck too.

 

Thanks, the Red Truck is still my favorite to wheel.

 

It will be nice to keep it the way it is for some old school wheeling. It must get boring (sometimes) being able to crawl over almost everything.