Thread: Oh no not another Willys Gasser build, this time a Willys shop truck

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That little truck is looking sweet Steve. I always wondered if the ez wiring window kits were worth a darn. They must be good if you sell and install them.

Thought I would have a break from GRP for a few days so looked at the rear of the chassis, It dips downward slightly which wasn't making fitting my fuel tank easy, also as I want a towbar it wasnt that strong so I decided to chop it off and replace with some nice sturdy 3" x 1.5" x 1/8" box section.
While I was making the U section on the bench I incorporated the towbar, Its a receiver type so it can be removed.

Sue was out shopping so had to tig weld it myself, it ain't that hard really








Once the box was welded a 2" hole was bored in the centre to accept a piece of 2" x 1/4" wall CDS tube, this tube comes up at 1.5" ID so before welding in place it was bored out slightly to 1.630 to accept 1.625" CDS roll cage tube, this will be the removable section and will be swan neck shape to get the ball height down a bit. A stainless steel bolt gave up its life to become a securing pin after a short time in the lathe










I added some braces and gave it a quick squirt of primer. Hopefully weld it in tomorrow night.







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Got the new rear chassis section in, first time i've used my mig for over a year !!!

This was the offending part, out with my fave tool Mr 9" grinder , it never stood a chance














Next I got my gas tank out and measured up for it, I got lucky with this tank as my mate Gary Layton originally ordered it but the dimensions were wrong for his project so Summit resent the correct tank, they didn't want it back as shipping was too dear so they said keep it , Oh look it seems to be the perfect fit in the Willys truck












I welded in some struts to make the towbar even stronger and these also will mount the tank.






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Originally Posted by roadster32

.......Oh look it seems to be the perfect fit in the Willys truck

What good luck!! Almost looks like it was built to fit as opposed to simple good fortune!

Originally Posted by rspears

What good luck!! Almost looks like it was built to fit as opposed to simple good fortune!

Yeah I couldn't believe it when I took a tape to it !!!
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Great work and nice score on that cell!

Excellent catch on the fuel tank Steve. Can you take a photo of the Tow Hitch from the rear please from down level as I am thinking along the same lines for making one for my T but I have two problems with my idea, one, I don't really want it to be visible when not in use and two, I think our laws have stopped us making our own tow bars as they have to be rated etc. so may have to have a tow bar manufacture make it with their rating stamped on it.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Excellent catch on the fuel tank Steve. Can you take a photo of the Tow Hitch from the rear please from down level as I am thinking along the same lines for making one for my T but I have two problems with my idea, one, I don't really want it to be visible when not in use and two, I think our laws have stopped us making our own tow bars as they have to be rated etc. so may have to have a tow bar manufacture make it with their rating stamped on it.

Yeah no problem Whip, mine will be a bent piece of roll bar tube, like a swan neck shape.

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Not much last night as it suddenly got freezing but I did get to make a mount for my Carter fuel pump and pre filter, I mounted them on a plate as the plate is in turn mounted on 4 x Mini exhaust rubbers, yes the pump does have rubber mounts but a bit more don't hurt.







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Now fitted

Wanted to get the tank mounted up and needed some 30mm aluminium angle, nothing on my shelf so popped over to my mate Garys who had some spare, whilst there the angle was welded to the tank, my tig will do aluminium but the Miller Dynasty Gary has is the dogs doo dahs for welding aluminium.








Today I got it mounted, 3 x 5/16" bolts each side is just right








Next job was a bit of one step forward and two back as I had already fixed the bed floor in place but I was never happy with how high it was, I wanted it lower, So I decided to reduce the height of the kickup, out with Mr Angle grinder and a few minutes later a piece of 1/4" plate was welded in, The original frame here is 2 pieces of 1/8" where the 2 C's meet.









I then made up a 2" x 1" x 18swg box ring frame which is welded to returns on the bedsides.








Much better now and it gives me more clearance on the tank.





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Great work and those aluminum welds look awesome!

I reckon all gassers should have a weight bar, so lets make one of them !!! A piece of 3" stainless tube was cut at 56" long and a 2.5" hole bored in the centre, next a piece of 2.5" tube was welded in and the edges smoothed. This is for the towbar to fit through.








Next we needed some brackets to mount it, wanted 5/16" or 3/8" stainless but the scrap bin was bare but I did find some 3/8" aluminium plate
I bored a 3" hole in it and shaped it up/








Got it mounted and centered up, just need to make some end caps for it and then can polish it.
Oh tube is held in the brackets by some hidden grub screws.
The piece of tube sticking out is simulating the removable tow bar, thats a job for later.









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Very nice work! That turned out pretty slick!

One of those days today where don't seem to get much progress !!! Plus short day due to temperature not getting over 5c today, anyway the 30mm x 5mm stainless bar I ordered arrived so I got the bed strips sorted, Willys had steel bed floors if I remember right but I wanted a rubber floor for hard wearing.








The rear strip needed to be angle really as I wanted it to cap off the end of the ply, I knew this was gonna try and bow so clamped it down to the bench welded it and left it to cool, u clamped it after a few hours and the barstard was like a boomerang !!! Spent the next 2 hours getting it straight again !!!





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