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

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Well now my Coupe is up and running and just needs final tuning and put away for the winter months I decided to start my Willys gasser shop truck project, I've been wanting to do a shop truck for ages as i'm fed up driving to the big shows in my daily estate loaded up with parts and the combi camp trailer on the back, plus it can double up as a tow car for my Gasser coupe

I picked up a complete Austin 16 car that someone had started to restore off Ebay for £500, came with a V5 too the bits i didn't need were sold off.
At this point I should thank Dusty Laugher who picked it up for me from North Wales, A very reliable and professional service. thanks mate

The Austin frame is just about perfect for a Willys as its a 104" wheelbase (same as a Willys) Its also already boxed so is very stiff torsionally, It also looks great with its riveted construction and tidy x members. Its slightly less heavy duty than the FX3 frame I used on the coupe but still more than good enough.
I wasn't sure what expect having not seen the frame but was more than pleased when it arrived, it only has a tiny bit of surface rust here and there and will be perfect after media blasting.

Heres a few pics










I will be using the complete front axle & springs as its remarkably similar to a Willys axle and its all in very good condition, the spindles will have to go though and be replaced with 37-41 early ford jobbies, these will mount 56 Ford F100 drum brakes.
I also hope to keep the lever arm dampers as they look cool and are in good working order, I will strip them to check and upgrade them with a thicker oil. The arms need a clean up but I think they will look and work great.
Steering will be good old faithful Vega box setup as cross steer, column, tierod & draglink will be home made.
Brakes will be F100 master operated by swinging Ansen pedal box.












Rear suspension/axle will be either a 8" or 9", I have both but havn't made my mind up which to use yet, seems a waste to use a 9" on a shop truck when the 8" will be fine,
Rear spring will be a 40 Ford transverse leaf spring I have hanging around, located by a pair of square tube ladder bars triangulated and a pair of tube shocks and a panhard rod.
Rear brakes will be 11" Ford drums.

The case in the middle looks favourite to be used





Wheels are a set of 4 x 15 & 10 x 15 Radir 5 spokes I picked up for peanuts, can't believe nobody bought them !!!
They will have 590 x 15 and 30 x 10 x 15 piecrusts on them.









I'm gonna be using a 1959 Ford Y block for the motor, I bought this about 8 years ago for £120 but sold the gearbox for £100 so it owes me nothing really, over the years i've picked up some goodies for it a i've seen them at various swapmeets and Ebay.
Its a 59 292ci from a truck so has a forged crank as standard and I have added Forged performance rods, Wisco forged pistons, gas flowed G spec heads, a Isky cam, post 57 Dizzy, 3 x 2 94's on a fairly rare Fenton intake, An aluminium timing cover, an aluminium water pump and the final touch a pair of polished original Thunderbird valve covers.




















Transmission is a Art Carr C4 i picked up for £50 but needs a slight refreshing, this is bolted on with a Flat O Products adaptor kit.










Body will be GRP and hopefully be done soon, Bed will be homemade and may possibly be made in either aluminium or steel depending on costs of materials.

Thats about it so far folks

Looks like you're off to a grand start, Steve! Lots of good stuff there, and the Y-block is going to be a great fit for the project. Looking forward to watching it go together from afar. Thanks for posting the start!!

Ahh,,the beginning of another masterpiece.. kool.. Like the idea of the ol Y block,too,Steve.. I have one sitting in the corner,along with a couple of 332's..Waiting..waiting... Looking forward to it..

Can't rest can yah? I like the idea of a Willys pulling a Willys. My only concern is if you use one of those rear axles, what will hold up the roof joist?

Anything with a Y block as part of the build is first rate in my book!!!!!! Looking forward to the build, Steve.

Good old Y blocks--IIRC those valve covers were $12---don't know if that's what I paid each or for the pair----And I had a dual quad fenton--used carterwcfb? off straight 8 packards----nobody wanted Packard carbs-------they were 1 3/16 venture where GM corvettes were only 1 1/16----------

Originally Posted by rspears

Looks like you're off to a grand start, Steve! Lots of good stuff there, and the Y-block is going to be a great fit for the project. Looking forward to watching it go together from afar. Thanks for posting the start!!

I reckon I have everything except a Vega box Roger, hopefully it won't take as long as the coupe, thanks for the kind comments.

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Originally Posted by lamin8r

Ahh,,the beginning of another masterpiece.. kool.. Like the idea of the ol Y block,too,Steve.. I have one sitting in the corner,along with a couple of 332's..Waiting..waiting... Looking forward to it..

Yeah I like Y blocks, great sound. I like to use non mainstream motors if I can. just picked up a 409 Chevy cheap but that would be too thirsty for a shop truck.

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Originally Posted by stovens

Can't rest can yah? I like the idea of a Willys pulling a Willys. My only concern is if you use one of those rear axles, what will hold up the roof joist?

Hahaha, I'm not sure about pulling my willy though

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Anything with a Y block as part of the build is first rate in my book!!!!!! Looking forward to the build, Steve.

Cheers Dave, Havn't told Sue yet, I thought it would be a nice surprise !!!

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Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Good old Y blocks--IIRC those valve covers were $12---don't know if that's what I paid each or for the pair----And I had a dual quad fenton--used carterwcfb? off straight 8 packards----nobody wanted Packard carbs-------they were 1 3/16 venture where GM corvettes were only 1 1/16----------

I picked up the T bird covers for $120 about 8 years ago, turned down $350 last year, I love em !!!

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I encountered this little jewel of an article a while back. Seems like a good fit on this thread.....
Vintage Looks, Modern Guts - Custom Classic Trucks Magazine


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Originally Posted by roadster32

Hahaha, I'm not sure about pulling my willy though

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Yeah don't take pictures of that

There can NEVER be enogh Willys Gassers!!
:-)

Well the first part of the jigsaw puzzle is made As the front is already rolling it made sense to get the rear to do the same and it makes it easier to move, so last few evenings have been spent making a pair of ladder bars, on gasser cars I like the square tube type so thats what I made up, material is 1" x 1/8" wall square tube, the threaded ends are 1" solid square bar. Clevis joints are stainless 5/8" UNF thread with 3/8" hole, front mounts are stainless urethane joints 5/8" UNF thread 1/2" hole. The bars are 47" long.

First job was to plasma cut some axle brackets out of 3/8" plate.








Next the square bar was set in a 4 jaw on the lathe to turn a round end so it could be held for drilling and tapping, then 6 ends made up.











Next the tube was cut to the required length and the threaded ends welded into the ends, holes were drilled in the ends of the tube and the ends were also plug welded into place.










The square bar has sharper corners than the tube so everything was ground smooth to match up.









Everything was then finish welded and I gave them a couple of coats of Rust-oleum brown primer, this primer is great stuff and dries fast and gives a nice finish, I searched everywhere in the UK for it but couldn't find it so became a dealer for it and now stock it, its way better than any aerosol primer i've used from here.

I really like the colour, Hmmm








Next job is to fit the brackets to the rear axle and get it all mounted.

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