Thread: Willys kit body's???

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Did'nt someone here buy or look at one of those Willys kit bodys for a S10 chassis?? Got a trade offer on my 40 tudor for a Willys PU kit body- hinged, latched w glass and dash/tubs/floor installed. Good trade if its a bolt together deal. I got to wondering if its as easy as they claim?
http://www.midwesthotrodsandmuscleca.../catalog3.html
I am not looking for a show stopper, basically a RAT street car w a gasser feel, flaws + door gaps do not bother me so much as ease of assembly.

Then that is what you will get.

Having raced in the day when gassers were still in favor and a hands on fan for much longer b4 that. Few if any had those things working for them. It is really on full show cars, fully caged(rare) or only in the last 25 years that those things became important. No car will stand up to wheelstands or even lifting to the suspensions limit w/o throwing the body off kilter. I do not know how many cars I saw the deck lids lift or doors pop open on launches until pins or positive locks were the norm..So a car with those "flaws" do not bother me much, but then I never chased trophy's anyway. I was/am more of a driving /pounding car owner. Spending hours getting a car level and gaps even is pointless in that situation. It will change w the first hard launch and keep changing. Tho an S10 chasis will stand up to MUCH better than those old spindley ladder chassis and a PU body will have much less of an issue w twisting as well.

Sounds like you have your mind made up so...why are you asking questions

I wanted to know about the kit, not whether I should or not. I know full well its not a quality kit like Superior or Outlaw, but it does not break the bank either.

I have to say something here and it is not aimed at you guys above, just a generalization and observation from the last year or so + Just MY humble opinion. I do not want to start some long drawn out argument or diatribe. Agree or disagree I do not care. It is just MY opinion.
Lately I get a more n more of a kick out just how many out there would rather empty a bank account, take years building a showy car w every detail perfect only to have all that work change the first drive out and hit a bump, dip or chuck hole in the road or worse pay someone to build their car just to take home a trophy or win a show trailering a car every where. Not to detract from the home builders who build quality show stoppers at home themselves and I personally know MANY I would call craftsmen. But even they forget there is a whole other segment of rodding that build their own cars and can care less about trophy's or winning shows. We want to drive the wheels off , pound em into the ground and start over. We rarely have over 6K into a car, Use a lot of used parts in good condition up to and including used seats, motors, wheels, chrome etc.. many parts may have visual flaws but are in good working order at a price that anyone can afford. Out of my last 7 cars ,TWO have had nice paint ,most were multiple colors of primer, I had a ball w them, parked anywhere and went to every show and run I could. One even took trophys over so called more "showy" cars. The owners of which were PISSED in a BIG way. I still get asked if I think I "deserve" those trophy's. Yes I did + do. I built a unique car that stood out, money invested had nothing to do with it. It was nice car but had flaws. None of which detracted from its drivabilty. A few runs and eventually chips in the paint, home done interior, unorganized wiring (much like factory stuff),hardware store parts like universal ign switch, bulb plugs, relays , used chrome and exaust parts etc.. door+trunk gaps were "off", But it was unique and attracted a lot of attention.
example - I had just over 4K into this running /driving car not counting an $800 car I swapped for the finish paint and a years work-(steady yes, but ONE year) you can even see the mismatched gaps in these photo's and it STILL won several times over TALL money cars. I GOT what I paid for a no where near expensive showy car that I had a BALL in and drove everywhere AND attracted attention where ever I took it.. I sold it because it was TOO showy and got tired of running around w a dust buster in my hand.(at three times my investment I might ad)
I pretty much feel the same way about numbers chasing muscle car builders and engine freaks who try to squeeze the last tenth out of a motor.(What the hell is a flow bench or dyno and who cares?) But they feel the same way as above about my kind of rodder.
This has actually gotten so bad that my club started in 1970 of which I am a 35 year member had a division last year between builders and buyers and the club split w several members quiting BOTH sides -Me included, I see room for BOTH levels in the hobby ,neither side seemed too so I left both...

you sound like any other hot rodder to me . my stuff is junk to everyone but me .. folks who buy finished vehicles are just hobbiest or collectors ( speculators ) ... not car guys ..

It is only that in the last year I have been almost attacked for not flipping open a catalog or wanting to spend big money for the latest blng parts or coil over suspension, dyno or flow bench time. I am an adapter, if I cannot afford it, I'll swap a used part or build it. A name brand means only excess money spent to me. I spend my money wisely and frugal. I'll buy aftermarket BUT only after shopping around for the lowest price. Definately not brand loyal, I am CHEAP loyal. Frankly I am getting tired of checkbook/catalog/magazine reading expert's. Until you have cut up a perfectly good part to TRY something, had grease stained hands + nails, gashed your hands and gotten flashburn you know nothing. If you were to look at my gallery- http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...0&ppuser=15360
-you will see I am no stranger to cars or car building altho no pro. That is only a fraction of what i have had.

I asked about the kit, I would not buy one new, but it is offered as a trade on my 40 at a considerable savings..
1. I am fully aware that you get what you pay for.
2. I've always wanted a Willys,
3. Steel ones are a $$$$ dream
4. The better kits are also a dream (14 GRAND for a KIT! Cummon be serious , RJ has Willys DRIVERS for less than that)
5. It is not above my skill level or ambition to "fix" some things to save several thousand $$$

Call the manufacturer and ask him to put you in touch with one of his customers. If he is not willing to do that, then pass on it. I would want to talk with someone who has done the swap.

That is my plan for today, I only asked here as a start thinking someone may have done one.I know someone on another site doing the coupe version and he says it takes some fabbing and trimming, but not beyond say a mid level nonproffesional skill and being a former Cert. welder (ret.) that part should not be beyond me either.

There was a guy building great Willys bodies out of columbus. After he sold the company, he started working for hot rod shops. Try Amherst Classic Cars 440-985-2370.
They are in the same state as the company you are trying to find about about (Willys Hot rods in Mentor, Oh). I think his name is Keith?! I think the S-10 chassis idea is neat cause it allows a running start on a project. I think you are definitely doing the right thing by asking here. Maybe someone who has a body from Mentor will answer. Give it a few days.