Latest project is a 29/30 willys. All I have is body and frame...I’d like to build a pretty traditional roadster...what kind of running gear should I be hunting for? Just flatheads? All advice welcome..cheers
And Halibrand small window wheels, tilt 'glass front end, 'Vair steering gear, Hydro tranny, narrowed '57 Olds rear, 5" riser blocks on front end. But only on '33-'42 models.
Where to start? Sandblaster, TIG welder, Hammer and Dollies. I would be tempted to turn it into a true roadster, cut the tops of the doors and windshield frame off.... just a "little extra work" Then pick an era and start sourcing parts... I am in the midst of a flathead phase right now so.... But Nail-heads and Y-block are cool... Maybe go the unusual route and drop in a 53-54 Factory Supercharged Kaiser 226 flat 6 motor... I think they came in the Manhattan model... The possibilities are endless...lol Chappy
To fit in here, the running gear should be pre 65. It has to be expensive, hard to acquire and hard to get replacement parts for, which will require lengthy downtime. It'll help if it's not very efficient or reliable also. But above all, and most important, whatever you finally settle on must meet the approval of the HAMB.
Find someone in your area and buy him a few beers and pick his brain. There are a million ways to go about building a rod and much of it has to do with your personal likes and dislikes. Just me but I'd start with building up the chassis to where you have a roller then you can decide what kind of drivetrain you want. Looks like the body is pretty complete so there would be less work there. I run a flathead in mine with a 4 speed but think the early Olds motors are pretty cool in all old hot rods. If this is a first time effort do a LOT of reading on here. You'll get some ideas.
I think for someone building for the first time its worth considering buying a parts car. Something with a v8, trans and rear complete and running. Something inexpensive (relative term nowadays). 60s or 70s GM 4 door?? There's something to be said for getting all your drivetrain parts together and compatible. You can upgrade to more glamorous parts on your next car but there's no replacement for just getting one on the road. Keep it simple and you'll get on the road quicker and be enjoying the car. Get fancy on the next one.
What should I be looking for as running gear. Did traditional rods use any rear ends other than ford banjo type? Thinking of trying to stay pre 54...but cost and availability likely to dictate
Tis a Coupe! Don't even think, of cutting it. Else you end up w/a Coupster. bring the body back to what was, roll the winders up, and take a damsel for a ride. (Here, you have permission, to chop it.)
It being a Willys, why bother looking for Ford banjo rear end? Lots of different more easily obtained stuff out there. Keep it as a coupe instead of a botched up coupster.
Whatever you decide to do to the body you have a ton of work just making that tin useable. Those had wood inner structure so you either have to replicate the wood or build out the inner structure in metal. A good example of this is @Paul s T body he is fixing. This thread should be required reading for you. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...incredible-hulk.1098132/page-15#post-13788355
Also, those were 6 cylinder powered cars. So, you may look into early souped up 6's for engine ideas. TRJ has an issue with a Chevy couple and roadster that had hot Stovebolt sixes in them. Cool hot rods, both of them
I see my name mentioned, 'might as well chime in, First thing I would do is a mock up. Start leaning, propping, clamping pieces together. Stand back and walk around it. Take pictures, study the pictures, they give a very different perspective than what you see when standing next to it. Keep moving parts around until it looks good. Add parts to the mock up, the more complete the better, body, frame, engine, transmission, rear end, wheels, tires... Everything. There are lots of traps you need to be aware of, don't run out and buy the tires you've been drooling over, this may take years, you don't want to finally get it on the road with old tires.. take the time to plan out basics, where will the battery go? how big and where will the gas tank be? Sit in it as soon as possible, visualize. By this time you should have a plan for how everything fits, how it will go together and in what sequence. The rest is easy.
As for what engine to use, this being a traditional hot rod and custom site I assume this is your intent. Pick a time frame you want to build to and choose an engine from that period. You said flathead, that makes me think dry lakes post war. Somebody said Hemi, that makes me thing early '60s drag strip. Both excellent choices. Once you have a plan stick to it.
The way you have those parts laid out I think it's screaming for a flathead of some type! Try a Dodge for example.
@Rob Stumpf what style/era do you like? Do you picture it with fenders or fenderless? Do you like tire-smoking power or something a bit more conservative? Do you enjoy the hunt for parts or would you prefer an easier/faster project?
You started this with "latest project is a 29/30 willys", like it could be either. In other words like you don't have a title! I'd sure hate to see you spend a lot of time, money and so on, then find out you can't drive it. Don't want to sound like a wet blanket, but "been there, done that". Not fun, been lots of threads on this subject before!
Not to rain on your parade, but have you looked into the titling process in your state? When you drag something out of the woods or "barn" that is where you start. All the "traditional" parts in the world won't get it on the road if the "paperwork" isn't there. Back in the day we use to buy a 10 or 15 year old doner car and rob the drive train for our hot rods. Now days you have to go back about 35 years or more just to get a 305 and a 10 bolt out of a Monte Carlo or Malibu. Things like Nailheads, Hemi's and Y blocks are out there but they are either about the same shape as your project or they think they are worth a small fortune. Around here it is getting hard to fine machine shops period let alone finding anyone with the knowledge to work on even 60's and 70's stuff let alone anything else . I really do wish you the best on your project. Just be mind full of the pitfalls involved. Larry
Coupe has been guillotined, Becomes s coupster. Usually obvious.all upper regions may look cut & questionable. If your heart is set on a roadster, someone else is aching for a coupe!
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