RJ Fabrication, led by the talented Rob Lindsay, came to the 2024 SEMA show loaded for bear with an outstanding 1949 Willys pickup transformed into an extra cab off-road machine packed with modern technology and luxury amenities.
Known for their expertise in luxury prerunners, UTVs, and pro-touring cars, RJ Fabrication has made a name for itself with award-winning high-profile builds. This Willys raised the bar even higher for them, showcasing 9,000 hours of labor and unmatched attention to detail.
“We wanted it to look factory—like if Jeep were to make an extra cab,” said Rob. To achieve this, RJ Fabrication combined parts from a Willys wagon, extending the cab while retaining original design elements like the beltline moldings and door indentations. The roof was manipulated and welded to perfection, with Sylvester's Customs from Nuevo, California, handling all the paintwork, resulting in a one-off candy color.
The truck rides on a full chrome-moly tube chassis, with Triton Engineering’s front suspension providing 22 inches of steerable wheel travel. It features a suspension setup similar to what Loren Healy runs on his Ultra4 car. The rear suspension boasts a custom-designed four-link setup and a whopping 30 inches of travel.
Under the tiny hood of the Willys resides a 427ci LS3 with LS7 Frankenstein heads, topped with a 2.9L Whipple supercharger, making 8 lb. of boost. The engine puts out 870 hp and 930 ft/lbs of torque and was built by Moruzzi Race Motors. The EFI is managed by a Holley Dominator ECU.
All that power is transferred via a 4L80E transmission built by Maximum Transmissions, featuring modern sports car paddle shifters from Powertrain Solutions.
The interior includes more modern luxuries, such as two reupholstered Baja XP seats with storage underneath. Two Holley Pro Dash touchscreens are mounted in the dash to control and monitor the vehicle. The cabin also features a rugged radio for car-to-car communication and a KC light bar that can be raised or lowered from the steering wheel—a feature perfect for adjusting visibility when tackling dunes or trails.
Cooling was a particular challenge for this build, given the compact dimensions of the Willys. RJ Fabrication devised an ingenious system that pulls air from the front and channels it under the vehicle to cool the transmission and engine radiator. The top exit scoop handles engine cooling, while the bottom scoop manages transmission cooling. All of this is facilitated by fans and ducts that exit behind the cab.
“This is probably the most extensive thing that made this build a lot different than the others,” said Rob. “This is a small vehicle, and we are packaging a lot of stuff in very tight spaces. It was difficult to make everything work.”
Dry-break fittings allow for easy maintenance without spilling fluids or introducing air into the system. “One key thing we really pride ourselves on is serviceability,” said Rob. “The whole dash just comes right out. No other wires. Just one. And most of the components on this are like that.”
RJ Fabrication also went all out with the vehicle's exterior details. The bedside panels were hand-formed from aluminum, with widened stake pockets that house electronics and taillights. All suspension components were Cerakoted, with over 400 individual parts coated throughout the build.
Jackson Motorsports handled the wiring, creating one of the most complex harnesses they’ve ever worked on, running everything on a CAN bus system for streamlined control and diagnostics. The system includes Holley Power Distribution Modules.
“This is the highest-end build we’ve ever done, hands down,” said Rob. It was a true family effort, with the client wanting something that resembled a Willys but included features that his grandkids could enjoy, since they’ll be the ones inheriting it one day.
