Steve, sorry to hear about your Brother in Law. Was this Sue's Brother ? Seems like all we hear about is Cancer these days. BTW, have you heard anything from your partner in crime (stainless steel crime) Ken, from California ? I haven't heard anything from him in a long time and just wondered how he was and how his stainless Deuce was coming along. Don
Thanks Don, Alan was Sues sisters husband, decent bloke he was I havn't heard from Ken in the last year Don, hope he is ok, Will email him tonight while i'm thinking of it, let you later.
Last few evenings have been sorting the fuel system. Had a slight problem in that where i had planned to mount my fuel pump wasn't gonna work as the pump wasn't low enough, it has to be mounted level or lower than the bottom of the fuel tank. Decided to use the rear coilover mount crossmember, I need a drop plate to get the pump down so made one from some 1/4" aluminium plate i had hanging around, because it was quite a drop i made a strengthening rib for the back, unfortunately my Tig plant is in for repair so i took all the bits over to my mate Gary Laytons to use his Tig for glueing them together (Thanks Gary) The plate is bolted to the crossmber with 4 x 3/8" UNF set screws. A few holes were cut in it to not only lighten it but to stop it catching the airflow. The pump is rubber mounted and Aeromotive ***ured me the mounts won't break but i put on a pair of 1/2" aluminium rod supports anyway just incase, I will slip 1/2" rubber heater hose over these later. Next i started running the 5/8" aluminium feed line and the 1/2" aluminium return line, these are held to the ch***is rail by rubber lined stainless Adel clamps. Had to find somewhere to mount the Aeromotive byp*** regulator, I didn't want clutter the polished firewall so chose to mount it of the offside firewall braceing tube, Had to make up a mount that clamps to the 1.5"od tube. Forgot to mention while i had the frame stripped i fitted it with a drop out trans crossmember. .
Been busy last few evenings, Got my axle case, ladder bars and panhard rod back from powder coating, (Thanks Paul), I went with powder coat as it was quicker and easier than painting it I've tried to use mostly Castellated nuts & split pins as they look older and I think they look cool Got it all back installed and fitted the diff. Suddenly realised I didnt have an axle breather, no time to order one so just copied the one of my roadster, a bit of hex aluminium bar and 15 mins later i had a breather, had to redrill and tap elsewhere as the old location was too close to the coilovers. .
Steve I swear you must have Italian blood - Italians are psychologically and physically incapable of making a purely functional item - it always has to be art....
I too am sorry to hear about your b-in-law - my condolences to your family. Eventually something will have to go to make room and finance the project - it's that simple. But, there's time enough to think about that - all the fun is in the planning right now so it's on the back burner for now. I've got some other stuff to finish up before I dive in to it. Cheers, mate!
Got a call from my mate the chromer today to say my axle was done I only gave it to him on friday as an emergency job so has done a brilliant job. Don't know why but the metal is incredibly hard to polish, I know its forged, Anyone know why its so hard to work ??? I did the roughing out polishing and he finished it off, Its bl00dy heavy and he said he wouldn't want to do another one ever !!! Hopefully get it bolted on tomorrow evening.
Well i started to refit the frontend last night but it started to rain so knocked off work a bit earlier today and got it more or less back on the car Came across a couple of small problems though, my mate Allan kindly milled a couple of castor wedges, It would appear that the taxi only had 1 degree of castor and i wanted 7, the problem was the stainless U bolts i got were a bit short once the wedge was in place, solution was to ditch the nylok nuts (didn't like them anyway) they came with and make up some barrel nuts, I only had enough material to make 4 so if anyone has a bit of 3/4" hexagon stainless bar i could put it to good use The other small problem was the locating stud on the springs was a different size to the hole in the axle, axle was 5/8" and spring was 1/2", solved this by turning up a piece of stainless bar with the size on either end, worked a treat. Heres the progress so far, hope its dry tomorrow as i want to fit the front calipers and rear drums.
met only a couple of english men, but they follow always a typical pattern: nothing serious, just bougt ole car, met woman, maybe founded family, if already bored bought some car stuff,payed off the house, watched race cars, built some, made some new high scores, and sooo ooon... nothing special, ya know. i urgent need a trip to kingdom to see how it really works! man, Steve, next year, i have to take a look of control if you're a typical empire grown rodder. that's what i'm thinkin' about tonite. Cheers, and have a good one on Eric for his birthday! and if you'd like on my brand-nu alliance-member-ship! noticed it? Yik and away, or to say it local: fill up and prost! Carsten
That's looking very nice! It's hard to believe an English taxi frame and front axle could look so right under a Willys.
I just got back from the Mall of America, I live 13 minutes away from it. I ate at the Bubba Gump restaurant and they sell that license plate for $8.99. I would get one and ship it to you, but I don't know what it would cost to ship it. $40 postage sounds high, but I have never mailed anything to England. Let me know, and the ch***is is looking very good!
Thanks Kev, I appreciate the kind comment coming from someone that knows. When i first started this project there were those that said the taxi frame was rubbish and wouldn't look right, not to my face of course just behind my back as usual !!! I kinda think they maybe choking on those words now !!! As you well know there is no chance of finding Willys stuff here in England so we have to adapt, The taxi frame isn't perfect but it is ****** close though
Hey plumbid thats a very kind offer, thanks, This is what makes the Hamb the place it is. Actually another hamber beat you to it and posted one over which cost $10 Thanks for the kind comment too.
Hi Langy.Only one thing to say about your Willis.Fantasmagorical. On the "Lever Lock".That the town where my Mother was born and raised. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo