Projects Belly Tank Build, NZ.

Thanks, Pete and yes i have been into Willy from 75...someone had to be.
The 37 Willys could whip any V-8 in a gymkhana but not the Model A's.
Will see if this can beat some V-8's too. JW

 

Setting up for the axle mounts. JW

 

Made a simple jig to hold the mounts in phase for tacking, worked a treat. JW

 

Plasma cut the mount plate at work. JW

 

Lining it up and triple checking. The fuel tank will go behind the axle. JW

 

Height adjusting mount holes drilled and a couple of bolts to check it's all good. JW

 

And the other side. Will make templates for some gussets next week. JW

 

Looks good JW, sounds like you have some good events to go racing at, have you got a target year for going to Bonneville? I'd love to ship my car out to the state's and race at Bonneville but I think my wife has other plans for what to do with my income but you never know.

 

IF i can get there it would most likely to be 2024 as i retire in December 2023 but in the mean time i am pulling out out all stops (within reason) to get it racing here sooner. My wife wants to drive the Tank as well and also drive our RPU as push car.
Your build is giving me good inspiration. JW

 

Axle mount plate tacked in and gussets on the axle. JW

 

I also got the lower chassis rear pieces in place. JW

 

Next will be to flip the chassis and put the lower body over it and start making the lower hoops and rear axle reliefs. hope to get the front hubs back soon so i can mount the front axle and make it a roller. JW

 

Looking good JW...will you be canopied in (closed cabin) or in the wind?

 

Thanks, Stogy. closed in is what i am working on, just need to see how low i can get head and roll cage... its looking promising, i just need to work the framing under the seat without safety and structural compromise. JW

 

You are moving right along on it now.

 

Yip.... on a mission, been dreaming about building this for way too long and with Land Speed events here and only hours away i NEED to get it done. JW

 

Small amount of progress this week, chassis bracing tacked in. The chassis is upside down at present. JW

 

Also made the templates for the chassis hoops. JW

 

A Belly Tank ain't real till its got its push bar. JW

 

With the bottom half sitting over the frame.the push bar will come out through the bottom section of the body, this will be cut when the body is bolted to the chassis as i only want to cut the relief once. JW

 

progress well.
I will never complain again that its narrow in a T.

 

Thanks , Anders...i'm only 5'8'' so the T's not that bad but this is very different. Before i mount the seat and sort the drivers compartment i will need to get my full race suit to make sure i will still fit as i don't want any ''take two's or plan B's'' JW

 

Working on the rear of the chassis and made some gussets to support the frame over the axle. JW

 

I started the lateral chassis hoops, and things didn't go to plan, i had the use of a pipe roller at a place i used to work at but it was slow going as it kept cutting out so i decided to try using my cheap pipe bender and do many small kinks. Well all was going well until the pump shit its self, after four hours i got four of the six done. JW

 

The offending piece of impeccable Chinese quality, i still have four days left on the one year warranty. JW

 

The four hoops ready for trimming, will fit them this week. The piece of pipe in front is the effort with the pipe roller. JW

 

Nice work, love the engineering and design. I built one a wee bit smaller !
Good luck,
Ed.

 

That's very cool and thanks. JW

 

Lots of progress since the last time I stopped by, looks great. Bob

 

Thanks, Bob. Progress is slower than i would like, i feel a bit impatient with it but with designing as i go i have to be methodical. JW