Willys Station Wagon, Supercharged with 800 HP

Description

This 1949 Willys Station Wagon is a ground up resto-mod.  The only part original is the body. Sitting on a completely custom made tube frame by Steve’s Custom Rods in Fresno CA, “DaBeast” is powered by a supercharged Chevy LSA motor from a ZL1.  With a smaller pulley for the supercharger it was putting out 630HP at the crank and 500HP at the wheels.  Now after a “freshen up” with new crank, rings, bearings, LS9 cam and larger injectors it should have an estimated (and soon to be dyno’ed) 800 HP at the crank and 635 at the wheels with E85 fuel. 

Power goes through the ZL1 6L90 6-speed automatic and can be controlled either via the shifter on the transmission tunnel, or via paddle shifter on the column.  A custom built NP205 transfer case with twin sticks drives power to the axles.  In addition to normal rear powered 2-wheel drive to the rear axle, or 4 wheel drive to both axles, power can also be sent to only the front axle for certain situations, such as a blown driveshaft, etc..   (Ask me why I know)  🙂

Evidently that much horse power and vehicle weight (~6500 lbs) proved to be too much for the Rear axle (at the time a High-Pinion Dana 60).  Again, ask me how many times I proved that fact.   Now there is a fully trussed GM 14-Bolt in the rear with Detroit Locker and has so far proven to hold up to the task with no problem.  The front axle is a Ford Super Duty High Pinion Dana 60 with Air Locker.   Both axles have original Jeep 5 x 5.5 bolt patterns and disc breaks, powered by a hydro-boosted master cylinder.   The tires are 13.5 x 37 x 17 Toyo and work very well.  Despite the large heavy tires and vehicle, the brakes can be made to lock up with little effort at the pedal.  Suspension is via 16″ travel Fox shocks, with dual rate springs.

Creature comforts include AC, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, Kenwood stereo with 750 Watts, a Kenwood HF (160-10m), VHF (6m-2m), UHF (70cm and 23cm ) radio with 500 Watts for HF dx-ing (talked to Russia from it).  Passengers are securely and safely encase by a full custom roll cage and 5 point harnesses.   All Ham antennas are mounted on a custom made antenna rack, mounted on a custom tire carrier that has a spare 37″ tire, and a 5-gallon jerry can.
For VHF & UHF dx-ing, in addition to the mobile antennas, an 18′ Comet GP-9 VHF/UHF vertical base antenna can be easily erected from the antenna mast.  The GP-9 is easily transported in the “Jousting mode” as one friend calls.