Projects Nasty Habit Willys.....part 4, Bodywork

A couple of weeks ago I worked out a trade with a friend to trade some fab work for some bodywork. I can do my own bodywork but I don't really enjoy it and I'm alot slower than a real body man. I dropped it off last Monday and picked it up today, Saturday. It has come a long way in one week! Nice to have that part behind me but there are some fiberglass panels that still need attention.

First Larry used paint stripper to remove the old paint and then chemically treated any rust. No rust holes but there was some surface rust......



Looks like it was originally a green car from the factory and then yellow as a race car some time in the past. There are some holes around the windshield to hold in plexiglass and the old cowl had a chunk cut out. Nice solid body now with no patch panels unless you count the half a sedan body it took to make the coupe body complete.









Had some stainless trim holes brazed up in a past life......



Factory seam used to have lead filler......

 

Looks great...I cant wait to see this come together!!

 

This is what I started with......

 

Wow, the body looks great. You have come a long way since the starter photo.


CBB

 

I's good to have it back home. I have taken a week vacation from work next week to stay home and work on it. I should make some progress and I'll have another udpdate in a week or so.

 

LOVE IT! That car is going to be SICK!

 

Thanks for the update Kiwi Kev - as always a motivational thread for us lesser mortals. This is really helpful as I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of my 'carport find' I posted a few days ago. Not meaning to hijack your thread, here are some pix for those who may have missed my earlier post. There are more than a few of us who can never get enough of those Willys!

 

Yup, I hate you both! Looks great Kev!

 

I see Dragfest in your future.

 

killer...

 

Looks good Kev!

 

Wow, what a cool car!

 

What's the plan for the body? Primer(God NO!), Paint(it's straight enough, so why not?), metallic or pearl base-coat(please say yes to this as a bare minimum).

 

From the looks of it, you've got a sweet ride coming along. Nice work.

 

Groucho....I am leaning towards white with some kind of custom panel paint job ( not too wild, just simple) It will eventually have lettering. It will just be a primer roller for the Dragfest. I am building this thing on a tight budget so I don't see any pearl painjobs coming up. If it had stunning paint the rest of the car would never match. I want it to be clean looking but low maintenance and useable. I'm not against primer for a while but it will have paint eventually. Wish I could build cars a fast as you do!

 

I'm not a fan of stunning paint jobs either. I just think it's way too cool for primer. But, keep in mind that primer is porous, and as a result may compromise the foundation for what comes next. Try to at least seal it in some kind of inexpensive white base-coat over the primer before exposing the car to the elements. Especially the night's air in Ventura

 

great gas pedal collection

 

Nice Kev!

 

Looking good Kev - keep it up! It was good to see you at the GNRS last weekend....




Malcolm

 

And to think I was almost over hating Kev for that cool garage and collection of STUFF. Then he has to go and do this. Seriously, that is going to be one bad Willys. Can't wait see it come together.

Frank

 

I feel these urges of owning a Willys in my future. These are feeling I have never had but now they are strong. I believe that you are to blame. Man some 5 Spoke Ansen's would look so rad on this thing!!!

 

you mean like these. Fronts are Crestlines. The Halibrands are for my 34 project but I'll run them first.......

 

Dammit boy, that is looking GREAT. I hate you!

 

You too? seems like everybody hates me on here. I must be doing something right.

 

Kev's building again ! Ahh .... sit back and enjoy the magic .

 

LabRat......I checked out your albums, NICE SHED!!

 

Hatred is soooo gay!

 

Man, I feel like you could cut glass with the corners of those slicks. They are some sharp looking tires.

 

lookin good kev

 

Real cool. Cant wait to see it done.