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

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Steve, enjoy putting some miles on that coupe. Don't be shy with the pics of it out and about.

Managed to get back on the pickup last weekend, I had been fed up with kicking the wheels around every time I wanted to move it so first job was a steering column so a rummage through my scrap and I came up with a piece of 1.5" diameter stainless tube and a few offcuts of aluminium bar, I had some 3/4" round on the shelf so we were good to go

First job was to dummy up with an old steering wheel and measure up 28" needed and the bit I found was 28.5 Trued up the ends in the lathe and I had an outer

I had planned to use 3/4" needle roller bearings so I turned up a couple of bearing carriers in aluminium to be a press fit into the tube.










Next I turned my attentions to the inner shaft, I like to use 3/4"DD uj's so the end of the inner was machined with 2 flats on the mill.
and a groove for the securing bolt.









I machined up a decorative finisher for under the wheel mounting hub (which I forgot to photograph but is basically a 1.5" x 5/8 steel hub welded to the end of the inner)








Heres the finished column, not too shabby for an outlay of £15 ($20) including bearings Next job a custom column drop.





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Very cool, Steve. Will be interested to see what you come up with for a column drop.

Originally Posted by rspears

Very cool, Steve. Will be interested to see what you come up with for a column drop.

Didn't want to keep you waiting Roger

These pics explain the steering hub end better.












Yesterday I started on the column drop, I wanted something to match the brake pedal etc which are I beam styled, started with a boss for the column and added curved sides, the edges are all radiused to soften the look, I cut a cardboard infill panel with holes but i'm still thinking about the design etc, It might change.









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Very nice! You have a great eye for layout and design, keeping things totally functional with a nice "look". I really like the style of the drop.

Originally Posted by rspears

Very nice! You have a great eye for layout and design, keeping things totally functional with a nice "look". I really like the style of the drop.

Thanks Roger, I try

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Love the look. Kinda looks like an oversized bent con rod with the big end cut off.

Jack.

Was thinking you could fill the holes you cut out with some cool vintage gauges! Or maybe an old clock and panic button!

I got the column support insert made up so silicon bronze welded it into place, then the weld was dressed with a bull nosed tungsten burr to create an invisible joint (I wanted it to look like a cast piece)








I had to paint some small parts for a customers car so gave the support a squirt of satin black epoxy, I love it !!! Its exactly what I wanted it to look like















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Looks great (as usual) Steve.

I clamped the column in place just to check and make the bottom mount up.








While I was looking at it I thought the column drop looked a bit bland so went home and spun up some thin finishers for the holes.







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Very nice work as usual sir.

Would a silver dollar fit in that bottom hole?

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Very nice work as usual sir.

Thanks Ryan.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Would a silver dollar fit in that bottom hole?

Maybe, the bottom holes 1.125" diameter

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