Todays work: Finished the brake lines to the master cylinder. Residual valves to the rear and front brakes and a brake proportioning valve to the rear brakes. Now it only remains to tighten the nuts and fill the system with brake fluid and bleed the system. I can hardly wait and see the results, I hope it's works. /Mike
Jipiii!!! Finally work my brakes. I got pressure throughout the system and the rear drums works. This was a huge progress for me. Now I can focus on other stuff /Mike
Some progress... The body is on the chassis now. I had to remove some material of the body floor at gas tank filling, second exhaust pipe over rear end axle and at the new master cylinder. /Mike
Have done some since last time. I made the plates at exhaust pipe/body floor and at master cylinder. Plate at exhaust pipe was a little tricky to form. It would have been nice to have a "English wheel", but with simple tools and stubbornness I got it in place. /Mike
Some progress today. The body i adjusted and assembled on the frame. Have adjusted the inner fenders to fit better against the body. Then I was so inspired so I mounted the fenders, doors and the hood (I have a better hood). I think it starts to look like a car now /Mike
Hey Mike, Nice work so far your sedan is taking on nice shape. I have one question are you using the stock Willy's steering box and column, just wondering, I am setting my steering up right now, going to use a Corvair box along with a Corvair column so was wondering what you used on your sedan. Keep up the nice work soon you can turn the key a take that first ride. Tony
Thanks, I'm looking forward when I can take the first ride, maybe soon..... I'm using a mix of parts for the steering. I uses the Willys column and a Ford F1 (1960) steering box (better gear than Willys). From the beginning was my choise to use the stock Willys parts, but after asking the Swedish Traffic authority I changed my mind. They said the car would be too heavy for the steering gear with a V8 and not be approved to run with it on the street. I think that the rules are too strict here /Mike
Little more done this weekend. I have installed fuel filter and fuel hoses. Shall assemble hose clamps later. Then I assembled upper attachments to the cooler and the fan. I also fixed the radius at right back fender. I think it looks better now and I'll do some welding to get the last one to match. /Mike
I just found this, nice work. Reason I was interested is my buddy is building a 38 same as yours, but he's running a 283 that I sold him years ago. How are your door hinges? He's had trouble finding good ones, but is sorted now. I'll have to show him your thread when he's back in town.
Thanks! I have some issues with some of the door hinges too. I must align some of them for a better fit. Does your friend have any thread of his car on H.A.M.B.?
Hey Mike I see you did what I did on the radius, after I got into mine they were pretty easy to make them fit the big 10.50 x 29.5 Tires that I plan on using under mine. Keep up the nice work, mine is at a stand still right now, other things I have to do has slowed me on my build. Tony
Hi Tony! Yes, I looked on your job with the radius and the result was very fine. I also looked on several other Willys and most of them I think had done the same. I have also unfortunately been forced to take a longer pause with my project, but keep up your nice work. /Mike
Ha, my friend is a total car freak, airbrush artist, pinstriper, and sign painter, who hates computers. I've tried to turn him, but he won't come over to the dark side, haha. As for hinges, he found caravan hinges were real similar, but think he had a guy make some. He needed all of em.
Little more done... I have welded the fender. I also have done a support bearing for the steering column. I took suitable tough plastic material and took away material with a knife so it would fit the steering tube. It would nice with a lathe sometimes.... Afterwards I assembled the steering wheel properly for the first time and now the steering works fine. /Mike
Have installed some electrical now. Battery shelf, fuse box, relays, start solenoid, cables etc. My intentions were to fire up the engine and maybe take a test run this summer. But for some reason I believe my project is cursed . The flexplate (B&M external balance) I mounted between the engine and gearbox is wrong. The starter wheel is prevented from coming until the toothed rim (converter). The flexplates differs from each other between the 727 and 904 gearbox models. I used one from a 727, I had one left and the bolt pattern was the same, but the diameter differs. Now I have ordered a right one for 904 gearbox. /mike
Hey Mike, things are looking good ,slowly taking shape, very cool. So could you post a couple pic's of where the column is mounted to the dash, that is where I am on mine, just wondering how you set your's up at that point. Thanks Tony
Hi Tony! Yeah, I hope I get the flexplate this week so I can do a new attempt to start the engine. I looked for images of the column and its bracket and noticed that I only had some pictures taken. But I found a couple. I hope you can see something of it. If you want better pictures I can take new ones. I took the original bracket and remade it so that it would fit according to my specifications. Have you started a project thread yet? It would be nice to follow your project. /Mike
Hey Mike, Thanks for the pic's, I also am using the original column drop and am fashioning it to fit the Corvair column that I am using. Years ago when I got the car it was going to be build as a Pro Street car and like a dummy I threw away the original column and steering box. Your setup is sort alike mine, and was just curious how you did yours. No, I have not started a build thread which I need to get of my duff and get it going. I need to take a few more pic's and then move on to doing my build thread. Thank you for your pic's and keep up the good work, us low buck guys do what we can afford, but to me fab'ing our own stuff is what make it part of the fun. Tony
Hi Tony! I also have done same mistake and throw away parts that I thougt I do not needed. Now I save all stuff I collect. My wife doesn't say anything about all parts I have in our house and garage, but I can guess what she think The way we fab'ing our own stuff is quite traditional I think. You take used parts and remade them and use them. Keep up your good work and don't forget to take pictures. /Mike
Hey Mike, check out my Willys Firewall Thread I added some more pic's of the firewall, Chat with you later, Tony.
Finally I got my new flexplate for mopar 904 transmission (external ballance for sb 360"). I have begin to remove parts so only one screw hold the transmission in place. It's really minimal with space between the firewall and transmission, but with a little patience it should be able to remove the screws. /Mike
It's alive! It's alive! I started up the engine for the first time in the Willys. My own manufactured open headers generates really great sound. !! It sounds very angry /Mike
Yesterday I took the first test run with my Willys. She has been sleeping for 45 years and it was a great feeling to drive. The car acted as I expected, tough suspension, loud engine, vibrations.... I have also adjusted the left rear fender radius. It is some welding left. I wonder some thing and it is if the chamber angle shall be so positive on this car? Does anybody have some experience and advice about it? I have mounted new bearings. Perhaps I have mounted it wrong? /Mike
What fantastic thing, that first drive is. I take by the frontal photo the Camber issueis only on one side, unless its the camera angle. The camber angle on Beam axles is adjusted by bending the axle, a truck wheel alignment shop would be the place to have that done. Looking very good, Mike. JW
Looking good I would check the spindle as in the pic the axle looks fine but the spindle looks to be bent or upside down or something
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