A couple of weeks ago we installed an awesome Warn 8274-50 winch on to the front of the Colonel, since then we have been hard at work at Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California wrenching and fabbing in hopes of checking off everything else on our list before Easter Jeep Safari.

It sure has been a busy couple of weeks for myself and the Flattie project – and for Mel Wade, owner of Off Road Evolution, who without his help none of this would have been possible in this short time frame. After installing the winch, we added a new Optima Yellow Top (of course) deep cycle and shortened the winch power cables, which came from Warn about a foot too long for the compact Willys. The Optima we chose was the D34/78, which has the GM-style side posts, which we used to wire the winch cables, keeping the top of the battery clean.

Next up was some sort of rear tire carrier that would move the spare from the side of the Colonel to the tailgate, but the objective was to retain tailgate functionality (read: not bolt the tailgate shut) and to do it without drilling more holes in the tailgate. After searching internet photos for some ideas, we found one idea to our liking and modified it for this project. Mel also fabbed it in a way that used the existing footman loop holes. Using some metal stock, tubing, sway bar endlinks and half of a Revolver shackle, we came up with a working solution that allows the tire to fold down with the tailgate, yet the frame carries the weight of the tire. Lastly, the benefit to using sway bar parts is that the tire carrier is fully bushed, preventing rattles. You should see this thing in person, it is very cool.

With the tire carrier off to the powder coaters, it was time to turn our attention to other pieces of the project. One thing that has always bothered me was the non-working cigarette lighter in the dash. Obviously someone took the time to cut the hole, why not make it work? I turned to Painless Wiring for one of their weatherproof 3-circuit CirKit Boss, which safely isolates additional wiring circuits from the main electrical system. The CirKit Boss gives you one constant and two keyed power sources and is, as they say, Painless, to install. We chose the constant for the cigarette light/power point, and plan on saving the other two for future additions, maybe a CB radio or something. Each circuit gives you 20 amps to play with.

The rest of the items waiting to be installed were contingent on having the cargo area lined with Line-X, so Mel and I got to work stripping the Willys before I headed over to Line-X of Huntington Beach where they got the Willys turned around in half a day with a quality job, really adding some serious functionality to the cargo area of the Willys. While I was there, my friend Tom – an old school pinstriper, took a little time out of his busy day to paint the raised “Willys” letters on the hood, really giving the Colonel some serious pop in the style department.

Back at Mel’s, we reviewed the list and got to work installing a Tuffy Security Products Series II lockable console, which will give me secure storage, as well as an armrest and cup holder, adding a modicum of comfort that wasn’t there before and allowing me to feel a little bit better about leaving the Colonel unattended. We also installed a couple sets of  Mac’s Custom Tie Downs VersaTie Track Kits to the cargo floor and sides of the wheel wells. With the yellow Mac’s straps that were also sent, we will now be able to secure the cooler and recovery gear in the back of the Flattie.

The finishing touch to all of the work was a simple Hi-Lift jack mount that utilizes the bow pockets behind the seats and miraculously does not rattle.

With most of the items crossed off the list, we took the Willys out to Mel’s 30-degree RTI ramp before loading it up on a trailer and heading out to the annual Tierra Del Sol event at Ocotillo Wells, California for a pre-Moab shakedown run. How did it do, do you ask? Stay tuned for an upcoming blog.

The Moab countdown continues… with a new fuel pump, and bell crank repair kit on the list. I’d love to do 11-inch brakes before the big event, but that will have to wait.

--Sean P. Holman
Tech Editor – Four Wheeler Magazine