Thread: willys coupe

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Who are the manufacturers of good willys coupe bodies. I read about all the horror stories and appreciate the input
rj

Outlaw and Dennis Taylor. I have seen Outlaw bodies, and they are excellent in every way. Although I have not seen a Dennis Taylor body, I have heard they are also a very good body. Me--since I am very satisfied with my Outlaw '32 body--I would not hesitate going with Outlaw. Check with www.yogisinc.com and see what kind of price he can get you. He sells more Outlaw bodies than anyone else in the country. I got my '32 there, and they are great people.

It all depends on what you want in the end.

Most people who buidl a Willys have dreams of a high end car because they see them sell for ell over $50,000+. If that is your goal you will probably have to invest that muchbefore your done. Take it from me. When I started mine I did what I thought was extensive research, but I learned I really knew nothing at all. I bought a Heritage body for $8,000 and built my own chassis. I thought the body would take maybe anther $10 to get it in paint . WRONG!!! I will have upwards of $27,000 just to get the body straight and painted, that does not include over 120 hours of my own work on the body.
Since I bought mine I have investigated other companies and I find that even the "best", read that as expensive, still need $10,000 + to get them in paint.

Now remember when I asked what you want to end up with. I have seen only a handul of Willys that were inexpensively built and they looked like it.

Expect to invest an absolute minimum of $25,000 If you do most of the work yourself.

Look carefully at all of the ancillary stuff you will have to buy, the grill and headlights alone will be $800-1000. Willys stuff is stupidly expensive.

I am an old time hotrodder and drag racer and if I would have had not had my head up my arse I would not have invested the $50k I already have. I have found out that this kind of car is just not really me. So THINK before you plunk down any where from $8 to $20 for a Willys body.

John

thanks guys for your input. Anybody know if Dennis Taylor has a web site.
I know clayton custom cars uses his bodies
rj

I don't think he has a website. But here is his phone number: 501/675-2870.

It would be interesting to see what Dennis Taylor gets for his body/frame package. I see Yogi's gets about $23,000 for the Outlaw body and frame and that's a pretty simple package. Just the added parts to make it a rolling chassis will be another 5K+ easy. That's a big chunk of cash to lay down for a roller. add engine, drivetrain, wiring, plumbing, interior, bodywork and paint and you have $40+ pretty easy.
I think for that is a big expenditure for most guys let alone for someone just contemplating Hot Rod ownership.
John

When Kenny Davis gets back from SEMA, he can comment on his Willys body and the effort required. Here is a pic of his car. It is considerably better than most.

Willys are expensive to build. That is why you see finished ones for sale for between $60,000 and $90,000.

hah. I'm not the lone wolf I thought I was. I have a 41 Willys from Antique and collectable. The body is absolutely flawless. No kidding People ask me who painted it and I say it is natural gel coat. That asside. it gets darker.
I didn't like the rear suspension (pro street frame) so I cut it all up and installed a true 4 link which I made myself. I added my own shock mounts and panhard rod. I changed the front end around a bit to better fit the Mustang and prepare it for power steering if the mood arises. Made my own transmission mount. Sectioned 4 inched vertically and horizontally out of the transmission hump so there is room for my size 12's. Installed my own glass and power windows. windshield wipers etc. Made my own radiator mount for a horizontal aluminum radiator which I got as a universal GM so I had to make mounts and brackets.
I reworked one door which fit but not what I thought it should. 8 hours alone.
I then had to rework the headlight buckets which are repops and supposed to bolt right in. hahahahah. Something you have to do when building a Willys is learn to laugh a lot. Just remember it is good for the face muscles. haha

oh yeah. I asked around about how the front wheels would fit since the Ford stuff is pretty close. and the Willys is a good bit narrower than a 34 Ford. The master Mustang front end supplier said no problem and don't even consider narrowing the A-arms. WTh. the tiree hit the fenders. Now lo and behold it is common to use narrow A-arms on a Willys..front end geometry be gone to hell... hahah keep laughing.
Ever notice how many of the Willys steering columns look like you are driving a bus??? Didn't want this oh no oh no. Guess what the reason is that the typical GM steering column runs righ into the SBC head and headers when you straighten the angle out. Got the fix for that cut it up and shorten it. a few u-joints, couplers, double D shafts, and supports, custom dash mount $250 hahahahaha two days later.

I wan't going to pay 550 for a cheap casst repop grill so I made my own out of aluminum tubing. Well 40 bucks for tubing not bad 50 hours labor....lets see */-+ a little math senior in high school should be able to figure this out. dang $11 and hour. sob I made more in 1970 at a gas station filling tanks.. hahahahahahhah.

This get's even better hahahha hohohho Next summer my beloved Willys is to be sold.

and guess what?????

I'm going to build another one. gauddam there is a crazy guy on chrf hahahahahhahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahha

How about this all steel one

That is sweet

Great job.

Originally Posted by bentwings

That is sweet

Great job.

Can't take the credit for it, only the Cobra in the background .604cubic inches of blown BB chevy in an all steel chassis and body. For sale local to me