Projects Gene (Moonlighter) Cromer's A/G Willys Resurrection

The reason I built my willys is because of Gene now getting to restore the original is a dream come true. Here's the link to my build http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=729572

 

Another great Willys thread. Subscribed!

 

Ya'll don't be offended if Gene don't respond to the comments he hasn't learned to post on here yet, plus like me he types slow. But you can bet he is reading every word and loving it. So keep the comments coming he is very excited about this rebuild. Thanks ~Quain~

 

Awesome resurrection of one hell of a Willys! Keep up the outstanding work and pictures

Welcome aboard Gene

 

I'll be following this one with keen interest - obviously the rest of the Hamb Willys crew are asleep behind the wheel - holeshot guys....

 

Is this you Gene? I found this in my Dad's old photo's

 

Gene/Quain,
Do you still have the SOHC 427 and injection?
Is the car a 4 speed?
What rear gear ratio and rear end did you run?
Glenn

 

Gene hasn't learned to post on here yet but we will get him up to speed later. But yes that is gene's funny car it came after the willys.

 

Ya'll don't get me started again today I need to get to work here's another pix of Genes funny car.[/IMG]

 

SAAAHWEEEEEEET!

 

I agree 100%!!! I can't wait to see this peice of history come back to life! Thanks Quain and Gene.

 

That pic was taken around '67 at either Warner Robins International Dragway or Camp Wheeler in Macon. Looks like WR track with all of the pine trees.

Anyway thanks for sharing this fine build with us

 

subscribed, thanks for posting

 

Frank Gene would love to see any pix's you have he don't have very many. We can use them for the restoration also need some inside shot's if any body has any.

 

That is so cool to see Gene welding on it in the same shop he built it! Looks like very special radiator, nice that the original parts remain and the car was never modernized. The Moon tank is actually an Eelco tank. I am really looking forward to following the rebuild.

 

Not only was he welding he has been getting the brakes apart and working on all the little stuff getting it cleaned and back in working order. And yes it's the same shop just remodeled years ago. Your probably right on the tank it has moon mount's so I didn't look to close to the tank it's self. We need some front brake drums for a Henry j The ones on it are beyond repair.

 

We don't have any progress pix's and won't have for a little while so here's a pix the moonlighter it it's hay day to keep the blood pumping for today.[/IMG]

 

Subscribed, very interesting thread

 

love the car. the old racer i got my coupe from was influenced by gene and the moonlighter ( he was from greer, sc) saw the car run. i never saw it run (to young) but love the story and all willys. cant wait to see the progress.

 

It's hard to put in words,,let's just say Gene was and still is my childhood hero,growing up we lived less than a mile from each other and my dad took me to see Gene run several times,,I was mesmerized.

I feel fortunate to count Gene as a friend and am extremely happy The Moonlighter is being brought back to life.

Welcome to the Hamb Gene,,so how long have you been keeping this a secret? HRP

 

Nice history lesson going on here, nothing like having the people that were there telling it like it was. Yesterday while at a little garage tour we were looking at pictures from old Niagara Dragway, one shoe box nova had a big chain hanging down in the engine bay.
I said what the heck is with that chain, can't be a travel limiter or torque strap. Right away the guys that were racing back then said "the rules required a chain to be run under the engine to support it incase the bell housing broke" I was like wow...ok ha ha still learning.

 

I am really looking forward to the rebuild of Gene's car! Glad to see he's part of the rebuild!

 

Here's a link to the Gasser race that we had a few weeks ago It shows us Honoring Gene Cromer as grand marshal. By the way the white chevelle in the video was not in our group.
http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/22321-video-feature-a-day-with-the-gassers-in-greer

 

WOW ... you guys have it down pat, the burnouts over the line, the multible dryhop starts, no 2-steps, 4-speeds.... I see a road trip in my future to drive over and watch. Top shelf job to all, keep it growing and going! Glenn

 

Awesome! Simply awesome!

 

This is not the willys but good stuff, Cromer ran some big names in funny car back in the day also.

 

Way cool thread.

 

Very cool thread!! Hey Quain, are you going to keep the car SOHC powered? Sure hope so....

 

Gene still owns the car so I will do what ever he want's. It would be cool to have the SOHC back in it.

 

Quain, If you are back home, we will send the water pump. Chris