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

This is just too cool the same shop, same car and the same 2 working on it. Just like going back in a time tunnel.

 

it was meant to be!!!

 

When is the date it's to go for body and paint work?


Have you started on the engine and transmission?

 

quote: frank taylor.... (This build is much better than all the builds you see on TV.)
Thats a fact. Real down to earth people with a true car thats rich in history. Quain and Gene have made this one of the best threads on here. I agree would have been a great history channel show.

 

Thanks for the updates I have to agree with some of you, this is the best thread I think I've ever seen.

 

^^^ I would agree this has been the best I have ever kept up with... Great Job Quain, Gene!

 

We stopped by Gene's this morning and picked up the seats and windshield. We'll be recovering the seats, cutting/installing new windows, and installing the headliner. The best we can tell the original seats were covered by Spencer Shirley, and dad (Dennis Glenn) learned from and used to work for Mr. Shirley in the early 70's. We are supposed to receive plexiglass samples from one of our suppliers today to hopefully match the tint of the original windows.

Dad grew up about a mile from Gene's house and would walk home from middle school just so he could stop by Gene's and see what he was working on. He said on Friday/Saturday nights during the summer (sleeping with the windows open) he could hear Gene making late night test runs on the road in front of Gene's house!

 

Glad to see the Glenn's joining in on this project,,Dennis and his family are some of the best! HRP

 

Thanks Danny, this is John posting. I hope to help with the bodywork process once the body is stripped. We're thrilled to have a part in the rebuild project!!

 

saweet

 

John, this is AWESOME news!! The work you guys turn out is second to none and I know y'all will do a great job. It just keeps getting better with good hearted folks showing up to help with the Moonlighter!

 

I got the call today. It was from Dennis Glenn from this forum (Anderson Auto Glass) telling me about the restoration of Gene Cromer’s Willys. Dennis and I lived close to each other and went to middle school together only a stone’s throw from Gene’s shop in Anderson, SC. Like Dennis states in his thread, some of us used to walk home from middle school and stop at Gene’s shop to see him in action and to admire the Willys which was sometimes still on the trailer behind his Ranchero after a weekend of racing. I was 12-13 years old at the height of Gene’s racing in those days so couldn’t drive a car yet. Fortunately, my dad realized my admiration of Gene’s skills at both the mechanical side but also the driving side of drag racing. He took me many times to Ware Shoals to watch the Willys leave the line on the rear wheels and some Friday nights we watched Gene and Ed Skelton (also from Anderson) match race at Starlight Dragway in Anderson (1/8<SUP>th</SUP> mile as I recall). I turned 60 years old this past December. I’ve attached a photo to this thread of the bicycle I used to ride around our neighborhood which included many trips to Gene’s shop. The Airheart Disc Brakes sticker on the seat was given to me my Gene on one of my visits to his shop. I still own this bike which my parents gave to me sometime around 1960. I am thrilled to know the Willys is being restored and look forward to seeing the Gene and the car sometime soon. Awesome series of threads and great work.
Jack McAllister
Gainesville, GA

 

I've been following this thread from the beginning. Even though I'm on the West coast and will never get to see the car in person I'm good for 2 or more fund raiser shirts.

This thread tears me up often, all you guys making this happen ROCK!!!

Don

 

Another chapter in its return to glory. We can't wait to see the final drawling.
Don't forget the big blue oval. .... I will need a few.

 

Gene and Melvin working on the Moonlighter Nobody can guess what they are doing right now. Gene just sent these to me and I could not wait to post them. Next pic will show what they are up to. '

 

A little hint you ford guys already see the difference.

 

They have put the CAMMER in the moonlighter to make sure that all the bars I added will clear the headers and heads before it goes to Chris Harpers shop for body work and paint. . This will make cold chills on any true hot rodder.

 

Another angle. The heads have Platt scribed in the front. Gene said the story is that he loaned Hubert an engine and it broke and tore up the heads and some other stuff. So Hubert gave him a set of heads that he had.

 

Oh man, if that isn't eye candy I don't know what is! This thread just keeps getting better!

 

Best Picture of the entire thread!

 

Does Gene have everything to put the SOHC back to running order???????

 

Yea I think all he needs is pistons and Rick Panneton is working on that for him. Gene also has a set of cast iron heads for it.

 

Damn... that's enough to make even a Chevy guy drool!

-Brad

 

Ooo baby! Just gets better and better.

 

Now you're talkin'!!!

 

Gene... few people have left a willys sitting unattended in a garage and not sold it. Fewer people not only had a cammer but kept it for all these years. Shows your true love for the car. Some people call that a mistress.

We would love to here more about the story with Herb Platt.

 

I can only imagine the fun Gene and Melvin are having mocking up that cammer.

The thing that is really great about this thread is that when Gene was interviewed for Gasser Magazine (fall 2011) by Gene Catoe near the end of the interview Gene Catoe asked Gene whether he still had the Moonlighter and his response was " Yes and I planned to restore it but I've had some health issues. It does not look like I will ever get it done."

Thanks to Quain and some other great guys Gene may get to eat those words, all with a pretty good feeling nevertheless.-Jim

 

Oh my.....that is soooooo right!

 

yessir!

 

I've got to get over to Gene's,,I've been out of commission for almost a month,hopefully I can get by Genes soon.

I love the Cammer! HRP