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

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 1943 Austin 16 car that someone had started to restore off Ebay for $700, 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 luckily 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

 

OK I'm hooked already

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Singlefingerspeedshop.com. Detroit

 

Looking forward to this Steve! Looks like a gasser front end already.

 

Until I get that heavy old Y block mounted !!!

 

Oh this should be good! lots of stainless goodies I hope. I was hoping you were gonna work on your T now that the willys coupes getting finished up though.

 

Uh oh, here we go again - this is going to be another epic attention to detail build....

 

this should be good,very good

 

This won't be anything like my coupe mate, doing it more as a driver.

 

Not this time Guido, more of a driver look, if your good and send me them pics I might just put a bit of detail in it just for you

 

YES! Great to see you're building another one. Love the informative build threads you post. Nice one Steve!

 

Well Im sure its still gonna be awesome, I mean it is a Willys.

 

Sounds like a great idea for a shop truck! Nice to have a classic vehicle to do the daily chores in!

 

Yes Val i'm hoping the Y block with progressive linkage should get reasonable mpg, I hope !!!

 

Gotta keep busy Eric yours is looking sooper !!!

 

From the looks of your past builds; this will be a heck of a cool shop truck. Looking forward to it.

 

Sign me up, and I thought the weather was to bad over there to build right now.

 

I'll be watching this.
Don't you ever rest?

 

And it's a "Y" block no less.

 

Hi Phil, its actually been very mild for this time of the year, calm before the storm I reckon.

 

I'll get plenty of rest Steve when i'm dead, I like to keep busy

 

Thanks Bowie, appreciated.

 

I loved the coupe build, al though it made all my work look like a hack job!
So a Driver would't be so hard on my own self respect ;-)

Is this gonna be American-inspired tupperware on pre-bmc build frame?
In a "rough finish"? To a regular guy that would be ; I did good and it looks nice. LOL

All Kidding aside; Subscribed!!

 

Yes the body will be GRP, I'm gonna use the front of our 41 coupe mould and mould a pair of doors and rear cab off a rough pickup and then bond together, then take a mould from this body once its all straight and nice, it will be as close to correct as we can get it. Nobody here sells a Willys pickup body.

 

Good for you, expanding the product line!
I am sure we will all learn alot! Thanks in advance!

 

Looking forward to following this build too Steve!

 

Great stuff Steve. So does this mean you will able to deliver parts to me now?

subscribed

 

Hold on, this is going to be another exciting build....

 

Only if you pay the fuel bills Ray , hahaha

 

I've been patiently waiting for this.. subscribed!

 

worth it to see it up close I reckon.