Putting the body on an A frame/ch***is. Plan is for modern rear end with suicide front axle, and for a twist either a Dodge 318 OR... a 92 Ford SHO engine (have both)... I know, I know, the SHO motor is going to draw some derisive comments (not traditional), but I'm going for cheap and the two choices are what I have... Anyhow, should be a great family rod and definitely different... I'll keep the post updated. Right now I'm squaring away the ch***is, which was in pretty good shape. Right front spring mount is kicking my *** getting it out of the beam! Got the ch***is for $50, body for $200, not bad... Goal was to get 'er on the road for $500, but will probably be over budget... Goal is to get it somewhat like the Dodge Touring attached... Dave
its Ok about that SHO I like dare to be different's like that (but In would prefer the 318). P.S keep it like a budget of $1500 than you will probably fell better about not going over
Yeah, I know, the budget is borderline... but the lower I shoot for the better... I had a 54 Ford, I'll attach that, but I sold it and the wife was pissed...
Okay... so I am selling a cowl and a firewall for same era vehicle to finance some of what I need. I have vacation coming up (Most of next month) and am hoping to get quite a bit of work done on the ch***is, maybe even get to mounting the body! This may mean running down to KY to get the 318... we'll see. I am in need of front brakes!
Biggest consideration for the SHO is the electronics involved and that the motors design makes it sit really low in the frame... Looks like I'll need at LEAST 12" of frame clearance as bellhousing bolts very high on block... Could increase the distance between rear of motor and body to compensate, but I don't have a lot of room to play with putting a stock touring body on an A frame. I'm leaning that way, but the Mopar motor has the big advantage in ease of install/time to get on the road...
mopar i recon cause no one here wants to see a 90s engine. i like T tourers and hope you going trad. after all, thats why we,re here.
Neat project....There is a 270 hemi in the cl***ifieds running with under 5 k on the engine... that would be my choice..... but none the less..i LIKE TUBS........
The Mopar would be easier to do, and would be pretty cool, and you could probably build it a bit more than a SHO... but a SHO would be cool because I guessin' not to many people would either no what it is, or have done it...
The SHO engine could be polished and such to look like an older racing engine from the 30's. I like that idea.
Isn't the SHO one of those Ford V6's that are prone to blasting the head gaskets out and giving you a ****load of problems to deal with? Even if not I think the 318 overall will be more reliable, I had a buddy who used to commute 75 miles a day and he ran one until "the valves were square" without any major issues.
Nope... a SHO isn't even a Ford engine... It's a Yamaha! The new ones are Nissans.... Your probably thinkin' of a 3.0L or the 4.0L which is next to garbage...
Spooky- Love that wagon! I've wanted one for the longest for my daily fam mobile... The SHO engine was completely designed by Yamaha and is a good engine... Have got way over 150k on a couple of them. And yes, definitely different, but as pointed to, may be a big p.i.t.a. 318 would still have some kool to it and am leaning that way. Thanks for the input, and hope to post some new pics soon... and no, I don't have any old front end parts to spare. Sorry.
Working away on the frame... getting ready for suspension parts that I've been trying to trade for (rear end, springs, etc.). Got a local guy that wants to swap rears in his project and said if I did it for him, he'd give me the one coming out of it (FREEBIE)! Anyway, neighbor had a hurky scaffolding made of 1/4" L channel he wanted to get rid of, so I took it (FREEBIE), and cut it up into usable sections. After a lot of research and thinking, I decided to use it to stiffen the frame... I know, I'll probably get some heat for this, but it seems to have really done the job so far. It was yellow, so it's easy to see it in the pics. Thing doesn't flex at all now. Little more welding to do, but considering I'm looking at 300 hp or less, it feels good. I plan on putting some gussets in the corners for extra strength and to spread the torque. Made my own 2" front tube crossmember as well. Next, if I can get that rear end, and I have to go pick up front and rear springs, I can get it on its axles... luckily I have a pretty flexible schedule this month.
That's gonna make a slick car. Think-out the engine issue. A little more work (or Money) now will pay off in the long run.
Had a pretty fruitful week... picked up front spring ($50), rear spring hangers and front perches ($20 total) rear spring and 2 A 16" spoke wheels (swap), and an 8.8 Mustang posi rear with brakes ($80) for the Willys! Now maybe I can flip her over and put her on the axles as soon as I finish my final welding on the frame! Next step is rear wheels, tires, front brakes and setting the eng/trans... although not necessarily in that exact order. Front spring is Speedway 4 leaf (pretty soft) but I need to remove a leaf or two from the original A rear spring for comfort. Psyched for sure!
Okay... finished stiffening the frame with the channel iron. So far I've spent a total of $430 for a '21 Willys touring body, '30 A ch***is, Speedway ft spring & perches, 8.8 rear end from a 93 'stang with shocks and brakes, '40 front backing plates with rebuildable hardware, mopar ****** (yes, I am going with the 318 for you Mopar fans), old/working ft lever shocks... going through the process of engineering the rear ladder bars/radius arms and the spring hangers now. Probably fab it up with 2" L channel (since I have a lot of it on hand) and switch to tube later. Looks like the mounting brackets on the rear can be cut off and re-used for mounting the rear links and the rear spring... not an engineer, but just looking at it I think they will work. will also have to detach the radius arm mounts and spin them to the top of the axle to get the arm angle as close to parallel as possible. Just received orders to move to Huntington, WV, so objective here is to get it on the road, then make improvements as I go. Shout out to any WV rodders! Be there in July!
Just pondering some future tasks... Front grille- how about, following the Willys theme (some will hate this, but bear with me), a 60s Jeep CJ grill, flipped upside down, narrowed and trimmed around the outer edge of the bars/light buckets? I would take at least 1 bar, if not 2 out, and attach wire mesh to the backside. Have a mock up drawing, will try to post a photoshop rendering. I can pick one up for about $30 to try it. Would look like a tractor grille with round lights attached at the bottom corners... Just a thought.
cool project just a request please please dont use a jeep grill lol , use a tractor grill if you have to but keep it looking like an old car and not a shriners parade rig ,
I know what you are saying, but let me post a mock up so you can see what I am thinking... I was hesitant at first too, but then the juices started flowing (or maybe the beers) and I have this idea... It really wouldn't look too different from the grill on my avatar by the time I'm done. I'll see if I can't post something tonight.
Something roughly like this, but look at my avatar as I foresee offsetting the headlights forward... Yes, I know, a little ol skool photo shopping...
Well, it's coming along... just welding up the rear spring mounts (behind axle), have the rear radius rod brackets tacked up- found a set of 58 Buick rear rods on that auction site for $40 that will work. Still have to get that damn stuck front perch pin out to mount the front end! Tried drilling it but afraid I won't get it straight enough, so I'm going to fab up a press using a bottle jack. Frame welding is done, just have to blast and paint it when the wx gets decent. Got the ******, the Jeep grille (I know, cringes, but you'll see) and radiator, the seats (freebies), lever shocks, brake pedal, steering box, steelie wheels and tires... I may get this thing on the road this spring after all, and I only have about $500 in it right now. Body comes inside next and after replacing the bottom rails and putting a floor in it, it's mountable. Just have to bring the motor (going with the 318) and the steering column/wheel back from KY next time I go down. I'll post some pics this weekend.
You got it... I've always been a fan of other than Chevy and Ford, although I have no probs with either, just like to do something different. Even thought of putting an AMC in it, then it would be somewhat brand loyal, but Chrysler has always been kind of lumped in with the AMC brands anyway. Plus I have a running engine just waiting to be used that will mate up to the 904 ****** and give plenty of power without the electronics that the SHO engine would have had.
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