This incredible 1948 Willys truck has been part of the same family since the 1950s. John Conrad’s grandfather bought it new, and John—now in his 60s—grew up riding in it. He even remembers grabbing a brush each spring to help repaint it and keep it looking new.
John eventually took ownership of the truck and went all in—a full frame-off restoration, four-wheel-drive conversion, diesel power, and plenty more. We caught up with John’s work at the 2025 Fall 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Danville, Indiana.
Cummins 4BT Turbodiesel Power
Bolted to the powder coated factory frame is a Cummins 4BT turbodiesel—the former bread-truck workhorse that replaces the Willys’ original flathead four. John didn’t leave it stock. It’s been upgraded with a Scheid Diesel pump and larger injectors, ARP head studs, and custom-made parts of his own. Cooling is handled via a custom radiator and a clutch fan from a 1991 Cummins truck, while dual Optima YellowTops handle the electrical load.
NV4500 Five-Speed Manual Transmission, Dana 300 T-Case
Behind the 4BT sits a rebuilt NV4500 five-speed manual transmission from a 1995 Dodge truck. Power runs through a Dana 300 transfer case sourced from a late-1980s CJ-7, now fitted with twin-stick shifters and a JB Conversions output shaft upgrade with a 1350-series yoke.
1-Ton Running Gear And A High-Steer System
Up front, there’s a Dana 60 from a first-gen Dodge truck. John narrowed it six inches to match the rear axle’s width and fitted it with custom disc brakes. The setup runs GM 3/4-ton rotors, Jeep J-truck calipers, and custom brackets, plus Warn Premium hubs and the factory limited-slip diff. Steering is handled by a custom high-steer setup with PSC hydro assist. Out back, a Dana 60 yanked from a 1988 Jeep J20 also has a factory limited slip and custom disc brakes. Both axles turn 4.10:1 gears.
Custom Leaf-Spring Suspension, 37s
John, the owner of JBs 4×4 in Kingman, Indiana, custom-built the suspension using Jeep J-truck springs up front and 1972 Chevy truck springs out back. The front uses a reverse-shackle setup, while the rear shackles were moved 2.5 inches to make room for the longer springs. The combo nets about four inches of lift over stock, with Bilstein 5100 Series shocks residing at each corner.
The suspension helps clear 37×12.50R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3s wrapped around 9-inch-wide Raceline 935BZ wheels.
Custom Bumpers, Warn 8274 Winch, More
John fabbed up both bumpers himself. Up front, a pair of KC LEDs, dual clevis mounts, and a rebuilt Warn 8274 winch are on duty. Fun fact: John scored that winch off a wrecked Jeep CJ-5 when he was just 15.
Out back, there’s a one-off tailgate. It started as a Jeep Honcho piece before John cut out the center and grafted in the original Willys inset. Finishing touches include Truck-Lite LED headlights and paint matched to the color used on 1946–1949 Jeep trucks.
Interior: A Mix Of Vintage And Modern
The inside of the truck retains its vintage vibe but has been upgraded with some modern touches. The factory seat frames were fitted with new padding and leather upholstery. There’s an Alpine head unit with four speakers and a Dakota Digital instrument system. The truck originally had a column-shift transmission, so with the switch to the NV4500 floor-shift, John installed a steering column from Ididit. Other features include a custom center console, a Momo steering wheel, and Dakota Digital cruise control.
Ode To Conrad Family History
John and Hope Conrad’s one-of-a-kind 1948 Willys truck looks great, sounds great, and it’s oozing vintage Willys goodness paired with Conrad family history.
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