1928 Willys Whippet and a blown V12

I started this project about 2 years ago. I saw the project on craigslist in portland. it looked interesting so I decided to take a road trip. The car is a 28 Willys Whippet 6 chopped down to make a 5 window extended cab truck. Looked like a decent start so I bought it and dragged it home.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...project/18.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...project/11.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/1-1-1.jpg

The rust was minimal and it was different enought to save, so we made a deal and loaded it up. Looks kinda like a Model A except the doors are 7" longer and the cowl is 4" narrower. The bed is from a 40's Willys truck and now has flowers growing in it in San Jose.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../temp001-1.jpg

On the other side of the garage I had a 8V71 Blower with dual Holley 390 Carbs. I sat back and drank a few beers and thought to myself I can make this work. This is the progress so far

lets start with the body.
The top was a little too tall so a 4" chop was the first order of business

Before
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...project/16.jpg

Off comes the top
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../project/2.jpg

and back on it goes
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../project/3.jpg

We flush mounted the doors and added a little suicide action, shaved the handles and hinges, then cleand up the rust at the bottom of the doors.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...roject/004.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...roject/003.jpg

More rust repair around the front window, shaving the Cowl vent and starting the flange for the new recess firewall.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...oject/0072.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...oject/0042.jpg

Ok now that we are up to date with the body, lets move on to the motor.

1991 BMW 850I 5.0liter V12 stock hp is about 315 and 332torque, 8.8 to 1 compression so it is just screaming for a supercharger.
The stock 850 weighed in at 4300 pounds. My truck will weigh under 3000 way way under.


The first thig I did was ditch all electronics and convert the motor to run 2 MSD boxes.
I made some lake headers and the intake for the blower.

The motor went from this
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../temp001-1.jpg

To this
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...r/DSC02582.jpg

and finally this
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSCN1018-1.jpg

blower is set up at 20%underdriven for a target of 6 pounds of boost

and now this
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ss/motor12.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0818.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0817.jpg

Made a little progress on the front of the roof section this weekend.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1363.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1364.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1365.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1359.jpg

My son grabbed a fender trim I had in the shop and put it on the top of the truck, he told me since I was using a hood for the roof section I had to use a hood ornament too...
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1362.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/DSCN1361.jpg

Finally a little bit of progress, I have been so busy with work I havent had any time to work on her. This weekend got some more work done on the roof and the visor found its home again.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/026-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/027-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/023-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/025-2.jpg

made some progress this weekend, We started the cab corners and back wall. Next week we will finish the back wall and start on the rockers.


http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../backwall5.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../backwall4.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../backwall2.jpg

Made a little progress on the floor bracing, back wall and the rocker support. We had to put the body back on the frame to check clearence for the headers.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ct/rocker1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ct/rocker2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ct/rocker3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ct/rocker4.jpg

Work has been crazy but I finally got a little work on the front suspension.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...tss/front1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/4.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/1.jpg

Firewall is finally done,,,, Started the rockers as well. The truck actually made progress this weekend

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../firewall4.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../firewall3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../firewall2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../firewall1.jpg

one side is looking better
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v.../backwall4.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/2-1-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...roject/5-3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...roject/6-3.jpg

and now the passenger side takes shape

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rightside1.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rightside2.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rightside3.jpg

The truck is really long, it turned out longer than I expected. You dont realize how large the cab is until you are next to it. Just the doors are about 7" longer than a Model A.

Today we cut the rear window to center it, when I bought the project the rear window was 3" to the left......

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...earwindow1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...earwindow2.jpg

one window down,,,,one to go

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/2-1-3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/3-1-1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/4-1-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ject/1-1-2.jpg

Finished on side this weekend the top corner was a pain but I found a steel mixing bowl in my kitchen that had the right shape.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ect/photo5.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ect/photo1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ect/photo2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ect/photo1.jpg

Today was a happy day,,,all of the missing bady panels are now welded in place
WOO HOO. Cut the doors back off now for the floor and door hinges. I need to take some photos of the frame, one more shock mount and the frame is ready for paint.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo1-1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo2-1.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo3-1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo4-1.jpg

I actuall made it to the shop on a wednesday. Cab came off of the dolly to meet with the frame for body mounts and the start of the floor.


http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo2-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo3-2.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo4-2.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo1-2.jpg

ok guys so I took your advice and shortened up the front end a bit.......7 inches..

before
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ect/inside.jpg

AND AFTER

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo3-3.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo1-3.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...t/photo5-2.jpg

and here is a sneak peek at the dash, its starting to take shape. it started as a 59 impala dash shortened 24 inches to fit. Still needs a shit ton more work to look right.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rtss/dash3.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rtss/dash4.jpg



Made alot of progress the last couple of weeks

I finally made my door hinges. I read all the tech threads on suicide door hinges and didnt like any of them. I wanted my doors level and straight I didnt want to angle the doors so they would stay open. So I robed a early 70's ford truck of its door hinges. THey have the spring on the top hinge to keep the doors open.

Door closed
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/photo2-1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/photo3-1.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/photo4-1.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0822.jpg

and now for the engine I painted it

I will get better photo tomorrow if the sun coomes out.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0818.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0817.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_0811.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ss/motor12.jpg

I'm glad you rescued that from being just another piece of garden art. I take it then that you managed to obtain another pickup bed if your wife is now using the old one as a garded feature.:LOL: That is going to be and unusual rod but that is what makes this hobby unique.

That's gonna be one mean looking rod. What is the wheelbase on that thing? One thing for sure, you shouldn't be cramped for room in that cab. It's looking good.................:D

seen it over on the hamb, that thing is bitchin

Looks pretty cool to me. What is the overall length of it?

130ish" wheel base

Made some more progress on the doors, now they both open and latch and lock

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rtss/door5.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...rtss/door4.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ss/door1-1.jpg

The metal work is nearly finished one more day and the skin will be ready. I was looking at some old photos and didnt realize what a differance the before and after was.

Firewall before
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...npartss/fb.jpg

Firewall after
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...ss/photo13.jpg

Drivers side before
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...partss/1db.jpg

Drivers side after
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...partss/2da.jpg

Passenger side before
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...partss/3pb.jpg

Passenger side after
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...partss/4pa.jpg

you have done a heck of a job

Things are changing once again. If I stop changing crap I would have been able to drive her a long time ago.

I cut off the ugly ass rear suspension, and decided to go with a ford 9". I built or I should say I rebuilt the back half of the fram last weekend now Im just waiting for brackets to built the four link. The frame rails are about 4" below the top of the bed

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/photo2-3.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/photo3-3.jpg

I have not updated you guys in a while now, not much progress has been made. The body got sent off to a friends shop for a little lower rework. I wasnt happy with the cab corner transition. I will post photos when she comes back.

I finally welded in the rear suspension, its only take three on the rear end design. I finally decided to go with the ford 9" and a triangulated 4-link with coilovers..I will not change it again. She rolled outside for the first time in 6 months, man does the gold motor look good in the sun.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_1619.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_1624.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_1628.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_1631.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_1625.jpg

Looks very cool! Keep us updated..I don't usually venture too far from this forum.

It has been a busy summer with not much to show in the way of progress, but she did get a little more metal work. Thanks to Peterson Bro's in Petaluma.

So the cab corners looked like crap before and now they look so much better.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...npartss/13.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...npartss/16.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...npartss/11.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/8.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v...inpartss/5.jpg

This thing is awesome! Keep up the good work!

Looking cool and yes the redo corners to improve the overall look. That V12 is some else also and heck it is going to be a shame to cover that metallic paint job. Good to have you back here posting also.Please keep us involved with your build as I like it oh so much, thanks.

The motor will not be covered, no hood and no hood sides. I will however have to cover the tranny,,,,

Man you are the "MAN" Great workmanship I envy you please post more pictures as you go along. I"m putting my 32 roaster together taking the whole drivetran from 1993 gmc vandura 2500 series. I was burnt out, but seeing your work gives me a whole new fire thankyou deanraye!