well, I am biting off a big chunk.

Terrible waste. I'm so sorry for your loss.
We went through the same thing last St Patrick's day.
Just,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,f%$k.

 

Jim, reading that was just like a gut punch. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Always loved Big John's candy red Willys with all the chrome, polished mags, and gold leaf.

 

Sorry to hear about your loss, I don't even want to imagine what that must be like.
As far as a Color, I like the Candy Apple Red and here are are a few more colors for inspiration.

 

I'm thinking a bright red with
Lots of pearl or small flake. Now
Back to beating it into shape.


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Red with flake and pearls would be real nice.

 

Saddened to hear of the loss of your son, I lost my youngest nearly 8 years ago in a wreck, he was 20 with his whole life ahead of him, or so we thought. They say that time heals all wounds, but there will always be that empty place in your heart. I got through mine by throwing myself into my work, but some days are worse than others when I get to missing him. I still have his old 82 F100 truck, I want to build it the way he wanted in his memory. It's just not time yet, but it will come. Good luck.

As to a color, check out SPI red. Their red is supposed to be a true red without any orange tint in it. The pics I've seen of it seems to bear that out, and it's bright red.

 

Red it is. Here is a better shot of the Candy Persimmon willys of Big John Mazmanian.

 

I worked on the willys all day today. I got one door to swing and the other one cut loose. Nothing worthy of a pic, just a lot of work.


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That's one more thing checked off of the list.

 

I don't think there's anything I could say that these guys haven't said better. Bless you and your whole family.

Getting back in the garage has to help, just don't neglect yourself. You're my favorite builder (not kissing ass, just the truth) and I look forward to seeing you stun me over and over again as time goes by.

 

Thanks Richg,
When I get the willys done I have a car in my head that I have always wanted to build. I am hoping it will be my coolest car yet. This is my therapy.


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Went upstairs in my loft. Found a big block chevy firewall that I have had forever. Also decided to build a double wall floor with 3/4 inch bracing. This way I could insulate the floor for sound and heat. From
The underside it has all of the body lines of a stock 41 willys.


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Looking good Jim. Floor looks real nice.

 

Here is another picture for inspiration.

 

I got the doors to fit the hole and swing, now onto the chassis. First order of business was to cut the body free from its frame. After putting it on the hoist I got my first look at the floor from underneath. I'm liking it so far. The frame
Is an original that was cobbled together with a pinto
Front clip before I ever got ahold of it. Plans are for a narrowed 49 ford truck
Axle with disc brakes and a vega box. I'm building a drivable gasser, not 100% period correct, just not a street rod either. Power will be a 427 Chevy, tunnel
R and a turbo400.


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Jim,I haven't checked this thread in a while and was shocked to hear of the loss of your eldest son,please except my sincere condolences. HRP

 

The double wall looks like a good method Jim.
Any tricks, so that it doesn't drum on ya?
The last Willys that went thru town had a BBC w/turbo mufflers...
Sounded magnifico!

 

I used 3/4 square tubing. This made the spacing perfect for cutting 3/4 plywood and gluing it in all of the spaces, before welding the top layer on.


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No fair... you got a floor!

I guess I've seen too many Midwest cars!

 

Jim, my condolences - as everyone else has said, I can't imagine going through what you have had to endure. Take it one day at a time and honor him in your own way.

Steve

 

Actually I didn't have floor. This was all made from
Scratch. I had a floor to
Look at and take dimensions from, but that was about it.


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Very sorry about your son.

 

A little update, gasser front end, 9 inch rear. Next comes a 427 Chevy with a tunnel ram.

 

Couldn't wait to read the updates, then saw the posts on the last page and had to go back to see what everyone was talking about. I've missed this thread for a while, I guess. So sorry for your loss, Jim, words seem pretty useless. So very sorry.

 

Yea, sometimes it's nice to just get back in the shop and build. It's therapy for the hamb minded!

 

Looking like a car now, I'm thinking it won't be much longer, and yourll be taking it for a blast up the street.

I'll be the first to ask for compulsory burnout and video.

 

If you like the look of the grill incert I have some stainless material just like it for the cost of shipping it. Really like the project. Bob

 

Mocked up the sheet metal to get a feel for where to stuff the big block.

 

I'll take it! Pm me and I will send you some money!