Ultimate Adventure 1956 Willys Pickup with Jeep Guru Rick Péwé at the 2023 SEMA show

Our flat fender guru Rick Péwé checks out the Bubba Rope/Complete Off-road '56 Willys pickup at the 2023 SEMA show. Built on a Jeep Wrangler JK chassis, it sports Super duty Dana 60s axles with Yukon gears and ARB air lockers, an Icon suspension, PSC steering, Currie Anti-Rock sway bar, and Milestar Patagonia MTs on Raceline Wheels. Up front is a Warn winch and pair of vintage KC HiLiTES Daylighters...and some cool Ruff Country LEDs.

[@WhipsawWillys]

The JKU frame being only 2 inches shorter than a 54 willys pickup is a dangerous thing to tell a guy with a welder and one of each in the driveway...

[@Gone_Gpn]

Sorry bud, go to town on that build.

[@jeepteam5370]

Nice! Keep the Willys videos coming.

[@Gone_Gpn]

We'll keep'em coming, thanks,

[@chaosplan]

Speaking of Rusty floors… I had a 49 Willys overland wagon with a 327 Chevy V8. One night, my friends and I took the truck to an underground party in the warehouse district. When we went to leave I turned the ignition key on and there is a large explosion and flames shot through the rusty floorboards into the interior. It was pretty dramatic, we were stomping out the flames on the interior while people were pouring beer into the engine compartment to extinguish the flames. The hood was blown off. It turns out that there was a plastic fuel filter that made contact With the hot exhaust manifold. Turning the key made a spark in the starter which caused the gasoline to ignite. I had to replace the wiring in the engine compartment and repaint my hood, but otherwise the truck fared well considering. That was 43 years ago and I still miss that truck and the great memories that came along with it. It was my first car. I now have a garage full of tools and fair wrenching skills. What guy doesn’t dream about having a do over with their first car.

[@Pompomgrenade]

Nice gauge cluster 🐒 I know a guy that can polish that, to a mirror shine, for you✨

[@Gone_Gpn]

Cool, thanks for that and we'll pass it along.

[@nealesmith1873]

Time to get a new truck...looks beat up. Just kidding, very awesome!

[@Gone_Gpn]

New truck...? Thanks for the input.

[@jeepexpeditionteam1298]

Rick Pewe, Jeep guru...yep

[@Gone_Gpn]

Agreed!

[@expediciondelasamericas4284]

👋👋👋👋

[@Gone_Gpn]

Thanks

[@expeditiondelasamericas6075]

Love the vintage Jeeps

[@Gone_Gpn]

Thanks

[@herbf2700]

I have a 1950 Jeepster I'm going to be working on in the next year or two. No way I have the skill to do this kind of crazy build-- I'm more of a body guy than monster truck designer. But this is incredibly inspiring, gotta say. I plan on putting a Buick 3.8 in there-- I cant believe you wedged a V8 in this!

[@Gone_Gpn]

Hey Herb, thanks for the input and good luck with your Jeepster build.

[@8Lugproductions]

Rich and all the guys at Complete are wonderful people. Rich, Chris, Terry and Sam great job on the build. It looks better in person than it does on camera.

[@Gone_Gpn]

We agree, they never fail to impress us.

[@bruceklassen8261]

That is one gorgeous rig

[@Gone_Gpn]

Agreed, super cool, ey?

[@garlandweissenfluh4549]

I love the build. The round dash gauges are perfect. I had a 1950 Willy's about 30 years ago. I hauled firewood, fence posts and fence stays in it (barbed wire fencing materials). It had an AMC 232 motor. Had a life time of fun in it.

[@Gone_Gpn]

`50 Willys, awesome. Thanks for the input

[@saywhat2014]

Kinda sad to see the Chevy motor. Been done a thousand times, would have liked to see a Mopar/Jeep Hemi.

[@aired-downdisconnected4125]

Been wondering what Rick Pewe has been up to.

[@Gone_Gpn]

Mr. Pewe actually never slows down (unless we hand him a Corona); always has some kind of Jeep project or consulting in the works.

[@steveegbert3554]

Very cool build

[@Gone_Gpn]

Thanks for the good words, Steve!

[@1hasbeen531]

Very nice build.

[@Gone_Gpn]

I'm glad you like it

[@keithanderson-j4d]

I want one

[@Gone_Gpn]

Right!

[@randyhemker792]

👍👍😎

[@Gone_Gpn]

Thanks, Randy!

[@michaeldriggers474]

That's the best looking wheelies I've seen in

[@Gone_Gpn]

And we love wheelies as well...especially with flat fenders.

[@Pompomgrenade]

Needs 🪄more chrome...🐒

[@Gone_Gpn]

More chrome?

[@andyevans2336]

Maybe more cowbell, too