Projects Willys PU build....from sedan panels.

It's perfectly legal for the street for side and rear windows as far as I'm aware but scratches easily so not really practical. I think you can get film in a similar color.

 

That is unusual as here in the states that would not be road legal in the side windows and blighty is usually more strict.

 

Just back from the Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, blisteringly hot weekend which makes a nice change...
It was my first time racing with the Gasser Circus and was made to very welcome by all the other racers.
Nice friendly group to run with and looking forward to the next round at Dragstalgia in a couple of weeks time.
Didn't quite make the bump of 13.90 during qualifying but made up for it on race day by running a string of mid 13's culminating in a 13.3 @ 98 mph so definitely going in the right direction.
Maybe a high 12 isn't out of the question after all........

 

I love it!

 

Thought it was about time I put a name on the truck, only vinyl at this stage as can't afford to get it signwritten this year, also gives me the option to change my mind.
Theres a tenuous link in the name to Kevin Perrys backyard junkpile that most of the parts on the truck came from.
Had to fit some rear lights as well to comply with regs for the Gasser Circus class.

 

The last outing for the truck was at Santa Pod Raceway on July 12/13.
Awesome event with the Rat Trap & Pure Hell fuel altereds in attendance, they put on a great show.
Took part in the first Annual Willys Wars which was a huge success with 23 coupes and pickups gathered together, no winners or losers just bragging rights.
Gasser Circus was also part of the show and the Gas Junkie went all the way to the semi finals before being eliminated, had to rerun the race due to a fault on the tree but the motor was too hot and not enough time for it to cool down so done the sensible thing for once and elected not to run.
Still came away with a smile on my face as thats my best result to date.
Testing again this weekend at North Weald Airfield hoping to solve the overheating issues.

 

Puts a smile on my face!

 

Certainly looks the part in that last photo, nose up and going for it. Congratulations on the build you two and the name certainly finishes the look.

 

Thanks for the compliment, Kevin certainly gave me a great base to work from.
I had a little help today getting the truck ready for Sundays race meeting, Jack my 4 year old Grandson is coming to the races for the first time this weekend and wanted to make sure it was looking it's best.

 

AWESOME

 

Nice to see it out on the track, congrats man !

 

Great thread,cool car enjoy the ride.

 

That's the way to educate the young fella, get him out in the workshop washing things and then out to the track and before you know it, he will be suiting up and putting the helmet on after you have washed it down for the next race. They grow up so quick so enjoy your time with him.

 

Didn't make it to the track, the remnants of Hurricane Bertha put paid to that.
Had one very disappointed 4 yr old.........

 

Sad for you both but you tell that little man that the weather may change but the dragstrip and the car is still waiting for him to come and play with his Grandpapa.

 

This past weekend saw the running of the 26th annual Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway in Stratford Upon Avon.
Loaded up the truck on Friday and headed off for a weekend of Nostalgia Drag Racing with the Gasser Circus.
As I always intended to swap the motor in the truck for the blown small block chevy I've got
waiting in the wings I've never spent a lot of time making adjustments and fine tuning the setup, I was just happy to get out on the track and run with what I'd got as long as I made the qualifying time of 13.90.
This was going to be the last meeting before the 396 came out so I spent a couple of hours
making some adjustments, setting valve lash, putting bigger jets in the double pumper carb and increasing the timing.
First qualifying run of the day, my previous best run to date had been a 13.30 so I optimistically
dialed 13.20 with the new combo and secretly hoped I might squeeze a breakout 12.99 out of the old girl.
Left the line and the truck pulled a lot stronger than I'd previously felt it and I thought this has
got to be a 12.99 at least.
Got back to the pits and my buddy had picked up my timing ticket..............12.19 @ 105mph!
An improvement of over 1 second, must have got the tune right at the first attempt as I never managed to beat it the whole weekend but every run after that was within 1 mph and .15 et.
Nice way to end the season, the truck has performed brilliantly, going from a tentative 16sec checkout pass in June to a very respectable low 12 by mid September.
Next weekend the motors coming out to make way for the small block, will post updates along the way.
No more track time to speak of this year so the long wait over the winter begins.

 

Well done Ray, that's a big improvement, like you the season can't start again soon enough.

 

Nice! That's one hell of a tune up you gave it. Nice to see that truck running as good as it looks.

 

Thanks Steve, no one more surprised than me. Shame it's the wrong end of the season though for both of us.
Hope you get your trans issues sorted out, that spare valve bodies yours if you need it.

 

Thanks, hopefully next year I'll be disappointed if I run 12.19. Got high expectations of the new motor, don't think I can live up to my username though, mid 10's more than likely.
Need to upgrade that front axle too to cope with some wheelstands if all goes to plan.

 

Saw you running at the drags, kept meaning to come over and say hi, but I spent all my time pushing my car in the queue.

It was nice to see the truck, though, I've been following this thread.

Mart.

 

Congrats on the 12 sec pass you need to bring that thing to the meltdown or hamb drags next year so we can run both of our Willys pickups I'm sure yours will blow mine off the track but it sure will look kool


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Find me a sponsor and I'll be there..................or better still bring your truck to the UK and run it with the Gasser Circus

 

I think we both need sponsors lol I would like to bring my truck over there and run it but I have the same problem you do I am poor


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Hell find me a sponsor to England and I'll go !!!

 

Nice tuneup indeed ! That had to put a big smile on your face when you seen that time slip.

 

Heck Ray, if you want to live upto your name maybe you should shelve the small block and go all out on a BBC blown, injected monster but I too haven't won a major prize in Lotto so I can't afford to sponser you either. The thing is as you mentioned, the more horses pulling the rig, the more things need strengthened to withstand the punishment. Congratulations on a 12:19 pass though .

 

Probably be simpler to change my username to "slowwillystruck" lol
Pulled the motor at the weekend so no going back now.

 

Sure did..........still grinning at the thought of it.
It's strange, I used to run 10.0's/9.90's in my old Austin but that 12.19 gave me just as much satisfaction.

 

Back to bare bones now, small block should be going back in it's place in a few weeks.
I'm going to freshen the 396 and do some upgrades as and when the right parts come along at the right price, aiming for around 550hp, it'll be good to have a backup if I need it.