Projects My Willys Gas Coupe build

Thanks for the compliment, it pleases me that you enjoy what I do.

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Those handles are outstanding! Well done! I love this stuff.

 

Cheers Nick, glad you like them.

 

Now the doors are virtually there i started on the hood, Its taken a couple of evenings to get right but i found the best way was to get the hood lined up with the beltline and then adjust the fenders to suit,
It fits pretty well but being a single skin it tends to be a bit floppy so needed a little bracing here and there, first i attended to the rear side corners that stick out a little, it needed a simple brace on the curve to keep it in the right shape.

A bit of measuring and a piece of tape to keep the sides constant and work progressed.








A piece of 3/8" ply was cut as a stiffner and the area keyed up, the ply is held in place with a few blobs of body filler. Then matting applied, no picture of the matting going on as my fingers were a bit sticky.










Here its fitted back on the car, 32 hood hold downs like they used back in the 60's, apart from a bit of blending and fettling of the gaps its virtually there. There will be no tight door gaps here as Willys were never known for their great panel fitment, don't want it too perfect otherwise it will look like a glass car

 

Bonded in a small glass bracket for a pin to keep the hood aligned.

 

Got to the last job on the hood over the weekend, because its a single skin it tends to move a bit, remedy was to add a couple of stiffners down the sides.
I used a piece of 1/2" x 16swg square tube either side, first i curved it to follow the line of the fenders.








Next i fitted a rivnut in either end and bolted it to the hood side, this allowed me to check the curve was right and recurve if needed, I will glass up the holes later.








Refitted the hood and it was spot on, had a nice gradual curve to the sides, so removed it for glassing in place.

 

After getting the hood 99% sorted i moved onto the fenders, they needed a bit of support as there is no inner fenders and I don't intend to fit any.
My solution was to add a few adjustable bars to support and adjust the fender to hood clearence.

The bars use 5/16" male & female cheap joints, The tube is 3/8" OD x 14swg wall so i could tap dierectly into it.
The bars pickup on the radiator bar lower mounts.

A piece of 2" x 1" wood is a temporary prop. The rear mount is glassed into the fender, it has holes randomly drilled to aid with the bonding.

Sorry this bit is a bit boring but i know there a 3 people who bought bodies from me and it may help them.




















The last couple of evenings have been raining so i carried on in the workshop and started making the headers, The Cadillac is like a Ford and has square primary pipes.
Luckily i still had a tool that i made as an apprentice for making Ford header pipes square 40 years ago, Its just a few bits of 1/4" steel plate welded together in a taper and then the pipe is hammered square, works well even with stainless tube. The primaries are 316L stainless steel 2" OD which is slightly over 1-7/8" ID

 

What a weird day today was, an hour of sun then a rain shower and then back to sun again, been like that all day, anyway during the dry patches my trusty helper Gomez came over to assist in sorting the rear windows as I needed 3 hands.

First job was to make a template








Then the shape was transferred to the acrylic sheet and marked








This is Gomez being humerous, little things please little minds !!!








Next the holes were marked for the 3/16" button head screws, also the inner was marked & cut out.








A quick check of the fit, all good.








The template was clamped to the body and the holes drilled.








Next the holes were transferred to the acrylic.








Next the windows were bolted in. I was going to paint a black border around the window but i now have a better idea that will look like they are in rubber, stay tuned.









The door & window handles are now polished.








Also the hood is finally gapped, I think i have it right at last but may make the gap slightly bigger when i do the body work as i think its still a little tight to look authentic. Maybe someone with a steel Willys will be able to confirm the gap width ?

 

dude, that glass is sick!! your whole car is sick! keep it up

 

Does that mean good ??? I'm not up with the latest street talk i'm afraid

 

its awesome.

 

Been playing with ideas for a black border around the windows.

 

I think the black border looks better........just my 2c.

 

I like the black as well Steve, I can't believe how fast your going on that coupe, thats going to be one nice ride, what power plant are you going to use?



President US Chapters Goldchainers C C
Dallas, Texas Chapter

 

I dig the glass!
Keep up the good work...Looking solid!

 

The black makes it look finished. Whats that you want to trade.....i'm going to have to think about it!

 

Yep i like it too mate, the other looks to modern.

 

built 514 ci Cadillac with 8/71 blower Gary.

 

Great build and awesome fabrication. You're the man!

 

Thanks mate, appreciated


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Cheers for the comment , your avatar car looks dead cool.

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i must have a little mind i found it funny. the cars lookin good BTW

 

Well you are an Aussie mate , hahaha, Cheers for the comments they are appreciated.

 

i,m really looking foeward that part of the build Steve, hope you got a good supply of rear tires.

 

Great build Langy!
Love to see a talented guy who is motivated!

 

Ha ha ha, your probably right mate, I've been told to expect 850 hp by MTS

 

Thanks man, glad you like it


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Last night i made up some trims for the rear windows to give the appearence of rubber trim, Looks much better.

 

Yes it does.

 

Looks perfect.