RossD wrote:
Are you keeping the steering gear box or going with a rack and pinion?
For now keeping the stock steering setup, except swapping in a grand cherokee box for better ratio. It really is inconvenient and will force me to have to sculpt the grill around it and then hide it behind a stubby bumper, but there are not many options for swapping a rack into an s10 chassis due to its narrow width, a wider front stub from a G-body would've been an easier choice in that regard. I'll keep researching racks and trying to find something, but from what I can tell the only off-the-shelf option is not challenge budget friendly!
oh bull there has to be a junkyard rack and pinion candidate... I know its snowing here but go to the junkyard with a tape measure and I'm sure you'll find something you can make work.
Not much progress over the Christmas holiday, been working too much on my ambulance camper/tow rig :)
Got around to mocking up the hood, grill, and bedsides tonight to get a final idea what the overall look/proportions will be before I start on the cab mounts and rear suspension. We have a tentative date for a meet/greet on April 27th that I really want this thing to be able to at least drive on/off a trailer under its own power by then.
for bedsides, go to the junkyard and get some ridiculous finned quarter panels off of something obnoxious from the vintage domestic section. mount them inboard of the tires, just like those slab sides you have shown above. 
AngryCorvair wrote:
for bedsides, go to the junkyard and get some ridiculous finned quarter panels off of something obnoxious from the vintage domestic section. mount them inboard of the tires, just like those slab sides you have shown above.
The thought's definitely crossed my mind. We'll see. Not too many junkyards here that still have pre-60's tin. Too close to DC.
In reply to CLynn85:
craigslist, drives through farmland, wander around the hills of WV, inspiration (and parts cars) are everywhere!
I know where there are at least five of these within ten minutes of my house.
Though I must say that I am partial to the early grill and these are not easy to come by.
So I've had this 8.8 from an exploder that we were hauling for scrap for a couple years. Decided it deserves a home in the back of the willys.
Got most of the major components tracked down and mocked up now, time to start on the details and locking things down.
Managed to pick up some OLD Torq Thrust D's for next to nothing on CL for the front. Now I just need to find a 10" wide set for the rear!
Cab coming off today so I can work on the rest of the chassis/rear suspension mods.
Very cool! I'm building a very similar project right now, posted as '48 Willys ratrod. I'm saving the full box and not slamming it so low it can't be driven every day. 
Flathead Ford V8, T5 tranny, S10 diff, 33" rear tires so it should cruise at around 2000 rpm at 70 mph.
Balor
None
2/15/14 2:05 p.m.
Hay CLynn85 I just found this site & I can't wait for the next installment/post on your 56 willys. Thanks.http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/media/img/icons/smilies/cool-18.png
Unfortunately this one is dead. The project was sold off and replaced by the $#!t bucket: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/average-hot-rod-build/109661/page1/#post1975762
