We've seen posts on the difference between the '32 and '34 Ford with the '32 deuce being the stand alone body year. We know the difference between the '28/'29 model A and the '30/'31 model A, we even know the difference between the '55-'57 chevies but what the difference between the '37- '42 Willys bodies? I've heard they are all the same except the windshild wiper location. Back in the Gasser Wars of the '60 with the advent of fiberglass body parts I'm thinking you could have a '37-'39 body with '40-'42 front fenders on it and unless you knew what to look for wouldn't know the difference. The '37-'38 front ends looked almost the same. the '40-'41 front end looked the same (except the spreader bar in the middle of the grille) with the '39 being the stand alone year, but i'm guessing the '40-'42 front fenders could be put on any body. Maybe some of you Willys aficionados out there could be able to teach us how to spot the diffrence, where and what to look for.
Willys ‘37-‘38 frames have a 100” wheelbase, the ‘39-‘40 were 102” and they went to 104” for ‘41-‘42. Mixing and matching frames/bodies and front fenders can make the wheel position look odd in the wheel wells. A friend runs a nostalgia gas class car with a ‘39-‘40 chassis and a ‘41 glass front. It’s noticeable but not really horrible or anything.
Gas Class allowed a 10% engine set back so as long as that measured to the rules everything was OK. The ‘37 set back could be 10” and a ‘41 frame would be allowed 10.4”, hard to say how tough the tech guys were, but a touch more than 3/8” wouldn’t make any car a world beater.
Since it's been 1/2 a day with no bump by any Willys gurus, I'll throw out my shakey non-Willys guy knowledge. The base of the door handles was round on the 40 and earlier cars where as the 41-42's had more point. I also think the early ones had actual drip rails (up to 39?) or maybe it was the other way around, later ones had drip rails.
there are 2 different firewall pressings 37/38 then 39-42 38-42 front sheet metal is all interchangeable as they all use a piano type hinge on the top of the cowl where a 37 hood had scissor style hinges but fenders fit the same as other years. 41/42 chassis are wider at the rear. 37s had no drip rail above the door. 37-40 wipers above the screen 41-42 below. 39 pickups and possibly earlier coupe/sedan? had 38 sheet metal and were designated model 48 37/38 and model 48 had mechanical brakes 39-42 had hydraulic I'm sure I'll think of more
Here's one for you... (Mixing and matching frames/bodies and front fenders can make the wheel position look odd in the wheel wells.) Just do what Willys Motors did many years ago...I have a factory parts book sheet that states that the spring length for Willys cars from'37 on, all had the same rear spring length ( will double check that), and the way they changed wheel base distances was to move the center spring bolt...you could do the same when building your car to make sure the rear axle was centered on the fender. Obviously I am refering to drilling a new spring bolt hole in a newly built rear spring that will center the rear axle on your fender. g-willys
The rear fenders on different years had fender openings in a bit different position, as the wheel base changed, but Willys often used parts from previous production years, so who knows what you might end up with! ***The 41-42 sedan rear fenders mount a bit different and will not fit on anything but the 41-42 sedans. The other years (37-40) will fit coupes and sedans, but may need to alter the wheel opening to center it on the tire. Pickup rears are totally different. g-willys
Good article on differences. https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/mcg-car-spotters-guide-to-the-1937-to-1942-willys/
I liked your Willys information from motor city garage...I have researched the number of Willys cars produced from 1937-1942 for years and from a factory parts book have a somewhat acurate count of the production from '37-'41. I knew they didn't produce many in 1942, but never had any figure until I read your material from Motor City garage. 3.800 sounds like a reasonably accurate number, and I will add it to my production list for the years 1937 to 1942.....the 171,079 represents total production ...new number would be 174,879. g-willys
And you just know that when people read those numbers they are collectively saying "where are they now".
Well...those were relativly low production numbers in their time, when Ford & Chevy were putting out 600,000 Thousand per year, but I have 2 of them ...sorry! g-willys ...& my buddy has 2 !!! At one time about 18 years ago, my buddy and I had this many (25-30)...they weren't great, but we had lots of parts
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