51 Willys

[willierat]

Here is my 1st project, any advice welcomed!

 

[Sam_Fear]

Advise: your probably gonna want to fix the floor.

Any plan what you want to do? Chop? Section? Low? Bobber? Suicide front end? To me, all that sounds good.

Like the grill too.

 

[willierat]

51 willys

Just started cutting and tacking!!! Have no idea what I'm doing but it sure is fun! Chopped the top 4", sectioned the body 6". I cut the windshield frame out around the outside and inside so I could keep the full height hope the glass will fit. Oops didn't brace anything gonna be fun getting the doors to fit and what about that floor? Thinking about a 1' square tube framework to weld sheetmetal to, sound good?

 

[Sam_Fear]

Sounds like you're on a role! Hope you can get those doors back on. Live and learn.

 

["Desert Rat"]

I did the my chop on my wagon the same way, what are your plans for the roof ?
oh ya good luck with the doors.

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[hotwheels]

Hellz yea, that is gonna be an awesome ride......

 

[willierat]

Thanks, I plan on cutting a little off the bottom of the top and splitting it into 4 peices then TRY to get it back in one peice. Gonna go fenderless also. Gonna cut the wings off the grill shell and make some sides for it kinda like an old 30s ford. Need help figuring out the frontend. Like to use the old dropped axle set-up. Is this frontend similar in width to the old fords?

 

[mikec4193]

I love that truck. You have a lot more guts than me; cutting that old truck apart. You may wanna look for a front axle off of a 1950's Chevy or Ford pickup truck they have the two leaf spring set-up the same as your truck does. Also watch how much you cut the cab down. You wanna be semi-comfortable when you are driving it especially if you are tall or long legged.

just my 2 cents
Mikec

 

[pegasus]

nice to see another willys PU!!!! are you keeping 4x4??

 

[willierat]

Think I have the doors half way right, boy what a job. Now I know why bracing is so important. Learning how the welding distorts everything too. I think it will be pretty cool anyway. Hope to get the cab all welded up then I'll wait on the "money fairy". Think I found a lincoln 9in rear w/ discs for cheap and also found a 350 block for near nothing. Still unsure about a front end. Any ideas?

 

[mitchs66]

Cab is looking good. Like said above probably a 50's front axle.

 

[willierat]

I want to get away from the parallel leaf springs if I can. I found an axle but I don't even know what make it is for $100, it has the spindles and brake drums( which I would have to change). Not sure if that is a good deal? I've been looking at the 1/4 elliptical way of mounting it but I still don't understand it. Also I want to have it about 5 or 6 in off the ground.

 

[Tim...Ok]

Love what your doing..keep it up I'm new here,so ain't got much to offer other than I want to do similiar with an old Willys jeep body (tub),suicide front,sbc etc....I've learned alot by reading and looking at pics of others builds and in the tech artlicles..good luck with yours..

Tim

 

[Sam_Fear]

Dual or single 1/4 elliptical (per side)? How about a cantilevered system?

 

[willierat]

Not sure. From what I've seen most have no shocks. How does that ride? I do know I want the frontend to be compact without alot of stuff everywhere. I plan to have the bed around 4ft or so and would like the front in proportion to that. As far as the rear I want to have a ladder bar set-up w/ coilovers. I'd like to be able to drive 75 or so miles to cruise-ins and shows but also be able to go to the strip and bracket race a little. Thanks for the help and encouragement!

 

[DougnDog]

I built one years ago early 90's I chopped 4" out of the top . being a Jeep it had to be 4 wheel drive so I grafted a Chevy Love 4x4 front end to the frame torsion bars and all put a 350 with transfer box I did the math and figured the difference in ring gears and made the rear tires big and the front small so it would not wind up the transfer case on the blacktop. it was cool I would do burn outs in all 4 wheels. my buddy's thought I was nuts. I have pictures but I have no idea how to put them on the computer.

Have fun Guy that's what its about.

 

[DavidJ]

I had one a few years ago they make great projects you do not see many of them. I have found a 53 hope to get it. Keep posting I like what you are doing.

 

[willierat]

Well got myself a donor truck! 70 Ford, 302 w/edelbrock carb. and intake, mild cam?, and headers. Has a C4 trans and 9in rearend that happens to be the same width as the Willys. My cousin who runs a junkyard should have me a frontend pulled sometime today or tomorrow. It looks like a Ford from the thirties, not sure will post pics when I get it.

 

[willierat]

Got my frontend not sure what year or anything? Also traded an old free piano I had for a full sheet of 16gauge sheetmetal and 48 feet of 2x4 steel.

 

[Tripper]

Really lookin' kool... I love it!!! Please keep us posted!