50/58 Willys Wagon RAT

Thigh19 · Jul 23, 2012

This is kinda what I had to start with. The body was a free-be. Not near as nice as the pic looks. But the price was right.

Then a 50 Willys frame, 2wd with Planar Supension, Fell into my lap. The frame cost me $200, but included a title, VIN tag, and plates.

Moved the Planar supension forward about 10" to get the look I wanted.

Then I chopped the center window section out to give me that pick-up look.

skull · Jul 23, 2012

neat idea

keep the update and pics coming,

Later

Snake Farm · Jul 23, 2012

Alright, the only way this can turn out is COOL! [cl[cl

[P[P[P

rainman · Jul 24, 2012

Keep'em looks comming, looks good so far!!
[P[P

Dirtyrat · Jul 24, 2012

something new, [P[P

Thigh19 · Jul 24, 2012

After much debate, with myself, I decided to take another 14" out to give me more room for a bed

Like this look a little better.

Going with a Vega steering box, so decided a taller, narrower tire/wheel combo is in order.
Found a set of 16"x5" Dodge truck wheels with the small bolt pattern. Found a good deal on tires, $60 for the pair, and they still had the stickers on them.

rainman · Jul 24, 2012

I agree with your decission to cut a little more out!!
Looks way better!!

Thigh19 · Jul 24, 2012

Now with the power plant. This is a 403 Olds that i took out of a 79 Pontiac Firebird that had been totaled about 15 years ago. I traded it off to a guy that was to replace the diesel motor in his Chevy van. He never did so I traded back into it. WD-40 in all the plug holes, let it set for about a week, put a starter on it and it started right up.

Found this manifold on eBay, Cheap, but with a crack in it.
Found this spreadbore Holley on eBay, too, but it needs rebuilt.
And the stack is something I had lying around for another project.

These seats came out of a bus, think they'll work, but a buddy if mine has a set of FJJ Wagoneer power seats i might try out.

The rear tires are some MT ET Streets, 28x12.5 on 10x15 Speedway steel wheels. Don't know how the Dana 23 will handle it, guess we'll see.

Thigh19 · Jul 28, 2012

Got a good deal on a windsheild and gasket. Getting ready to go instal and I've never done one. Any Tips? Wish me luck.

Thigh19 · Jul 28, 2012

Got half the windshield in, cracked thye other half

Oh well, at least I'm picking up my aluminum valve covers tomorrow.

Thigh19 · Jul 28, 2012

These are the headers I ordered to solve my clearance and steering issues. Hope it does.

Come from Noxious Customs. claims shortest, shallowest on the market.
Looks the part for the theme I'm going for, too.

Thigh19 · Aug 13, 2012

Just got back from Hot August Nights and it motivated be to spend my last day of vacation working on my willys rat.

Love these headers, look how tight they fit and how much room I have for steering.

Thigh19 · Aug 13, 2012

Started to mock up steering. This column came out of a mid 70's Ford truck.

Including the steering wheel, only $40

Thigh19 · Aug 13, 2012

These shocks are out of a Suburban dually project I've recently sold.

They cost me nothing and they're Gabriel gas shocks for the rear of a 1v ton dually.

Thigh19 · Aug 13, 2012

Also started mock up on the radiator. this was a hand-me-down from a swap meet.

It was ment for a kit car, but the inlet and outlet are in the right places.

Thigh19 · Aug 13, 2012

Don't think I'm gonna paint the motor, just gonna degrease it. I was gonna go "Olds Gold", but my wife says it's a ratt, thought it was surposed to be rough, So, don't tell her I said this, SHE IS RIGHT

Thigh19 · Aug 20, 2012

Well, the powder-coater called, said that when they powder-coated my valve covers, they gassed off so they need to redo them. Another week, but they said they'd make it right.
What does "gassed off" mean?

Triumph · Aug 21, 2012

Thigh19 said:
Well, the powder-coater called, said that when they powder-coated my valve covers, they gassed off so they need to redo them. Another week, but they said they'd make it right.
What does "gassed off" mean?

In my experience gassed off means that there was poor surface prep and the underlying layer or contamination caused the topcoat to have tons of pin holes.

Awesome build BTW. I'm looking for an old willys wagon...

Thigh19 · Aug 27, 2012

Went out after second powder coating, they looked horrible. Round 3 and I've decided to go with a textured black finnish. I'll sand off the fins and lettering, should look ok, I hope.

skull · Aug 27, 2012

progress

good to see ya movin' ahead and gettin' closer to runnin'[cl

Later

50/58 Willys Wagon RAT

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