Thread: 41 Willys Gasser project

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Steve, I think you're correct to consider the Caddy torque. The 8" can take more abuse than most think, but if you're going to play this car all out with slicks and occasional burn outs the 9" would be a much safer bet. I don't know how custom axle suppliers work for you folks across the pond. Here's a suggestion to consider. Yukon, probably others, make a cut to fit axle. Around here they're less expensive than the custom cut, plus you control the fitment. Basically they're an axle with a longer spline cut so there's room to trim: http://www.yukongear.com/ProductDeta...px?ProdID=2174 This is only one of several options they have, search the site if it's something you're interested in.

Whether this pencils out with transport, duty, and whatever else you have to deal with I don't know.

Thanks Bob, yes i'm aware there are a few doing those axles, its just the shipping & tax costs that hurt plus i don't have a centre section either, If anyone in the SoCal area has a diff let me know as i'm shipping a car from there and it could go in it.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Steve, I think you're correct to consider the Caddy torque. The 8" can take more abuse than most think, but if you're going to play this car all out with slicks and occasional burn outs the 9" would be a much safer bet. I don't know how custom axle suppliers work for you folks across the pond. Here's a suggestion to consider. Yukon, probably others, make a cut to fit axle. Around here they're less expensive than the custom cut, plus you control the fitment. Basically they're an axle with a longer spline cut so there's room to trim: http://www.yukongear.com/ProductDeta...px?ProdID=2174 This is only one of several options they have, search the site if it's something you're interested in.

Whether this pencils out with transport, duty, and whatever else you have to deal with I don't know.

Well its like the old days at the moment as i'm having to work on it on the drive, at least the sun is out

Finished the rear part of the centre crossmember & welded on some of the body mounting tabs.








Got the wheels out of the lockup last night and removed the spinners as i won't be using them and found that someone had drilled the wheels to bolt on the spinner plate , Not too much of a problem but i hadn't noticed it before, I will TIG the holes up later, heres one of the 8.5" rears, The radials will be going soon.








Set it all up on the drive to get an idea of height, Its high at the moment but I put 3 x 200lb mates on it earlier and it dropped to a nice height.
The Cadillac 500 is 625lbs but with an aluminium intake & headers is more like 580lbs so not too far off.
Put the steering arms on and I remembered i had made a stainless tierod for someone a whie back and they had never collected it so tried it for fit, It was 3/4" to long so i put it in the lathe and shortened it, Fits a treat now








Hopefully i will get the 9" rear mounted tomorrow evening and the night after get the motor in place.

Steve,
Love to watch your fab process and welding skills. What's the function of the round projection from the ends of the square tube crossmember at the rear?

On the stance, I always thought Mazmanian's gasser looked tough with the extra couple of inches of height in the front, but the SWC coupe would offer a bit better aerodynamics for cruising and one can't criticize their stance, either. Your Willys is going to be very cool!

Steve, that makes a lot of sense on why you put the front springs solidly mounted at the back. That would provide a little more lateral resistance to movement from the forces of the steering action. Smart move.

That frame shape is really ideal for building a car on. Nice to see you guys on the other side of the pond have some different vehicles to draw from, like that taxi. Some cab restorer is probably going to hate you though.

Don

Wow just tuned in to this thread. Great body! Maybe my favorite, and inspired as a kid from watching Hotrod, which I have a poorly made dvd of. I just love the car in the movie, and searched until I found a guy selling the dvd. I guess it was a made for tv movie. The frame looks great. And seeing how your marrying all of the different parts together is great for those of us, who haven't the nerve to try something like that, you make it look easy and simple!

Originally Posted by stovens

Wow just tuned in to this thread. Great body! Maybe my favorite, and inspired as a kid from watching Hotrod, which I have a poorly made dvd of. I just love the car in the movie, and searched until I found a guy selling the dvd. I guess it was a made for tv movie. The frame looks great. And seeing how your marrying all of the different parts together is great for those of us, who haven't the nerve to try something like that, you make it look easy and simple!

We have that same DVD, Steve. The plot is dumb, the acting is horrible, but MAN do we love watching it! It's a lot like Two Lane Blacktop in that regard, but the cars were the real stars of both movies. If I were to build a Willys gasser it would be just like the one in Hot Rod.........crude, primered, and bad***!! Same with the 55 from Two Lane.

Don

Thanks Steve, I guess experience counts for quite a lot of what i do, someone asked me today how i decide what to do first and where to start, I told him i make it up as i go along, pretty true really !!!

Originally Posted by stovens

Wow just tuned in to this thread. Great body! Maybe my favorite, and inspired as a kid from watching Hotrod, which I have a poorly made dvd of. I just love the car in the movie, and searched until I found a guy selling the dvd. I guess it was a made for tv movie. The frame looks great. And seeing how your marrying all of the different parts together is great for those of us, who haven't the nerve to try something like that, you make it look easy and simple!

Yes Don the Taxi owners club have already registered their disapproval.
Yes the frame is a nice shape and not that different to a Willys really.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Steve, that makes a lot of sense on why you put the front springs solidly mounted at the back. That would provide a little more lateral resistance to movement from the forces of the steering action. Smart move.

That frame shape is really ideal for building a car on. Nice to see you guys on the other side of the pond have some different vehicles to draw from, like that taxi. Some cab restorer is probably going to hate you though.

Don

I think they may of been shock mounts, I left them as they may come in handy for something but i don't know what yet !!!

Originally Posted by rspears

Steve,
Love to watch your fab process and welding skills. What's the function of the round projection from the ends of the square tube crossmember at the rear?

On the stance, I always thought Mazmanian's gasser looked tough with the extra couple of inches of height in the front, but the SWC coupe would offer a bit better aerodynamics for cruising and one can't criticize their stance, either. Your Willys is going to be very cool!