'48 Willys ratrod pickup

I saw another thread here regarding a Willys truck, so I thought I'd share the project we're building at Advanced Distributors. Its a flathead Ford V8 powered setup in true ratrod style. T5 tranny, S10 diff, 4-link rear suspension, early Willys front 2WD suspension with a transverse leaf spring and independent suspension. Soon to have 4 wheel power disc brakes, Triumph TR6 rack and pinion, and a full engine rebuild we're hoping will fall in around 175hp & 275 ft lbs tq. with a custom cam and triple Webers.

The front frame section is lengthened 10" to place the wheels forward like a typical highboy. Fenderless, possibly without hood as well. Narrowed flat Jeep grille. 33" Dick Cepek rear tires, still trying to figure out the fronts.

Hopefully the photo works? Jeff

Rear frame is C-channeled and reinforced. It'll get the stock box back in place to hide it all. The rust you see on the diff and frame is all "Rustoleum" multi-color paint. Simple 4-link kit from Summit Racing. The coil-overs haven't gone in yet since it looks so cool sitting LOW. I have blocks to put in place for now while we work out ride height.

The engine is being built by a good friend while this mock-up motor sits in place. Guy Henson of Damn Good Motors is the genius behind the flathead power going into this ride.

The engine mounts are actually tabs cut off the transverse leaf spring perch to better expose the front A-arms and the leafs. The frame section I used is from a much earlier Willys station wagon, extended 10" to push the front tires forward of the radiator. I'll add the steering rack hidden behind the leaf spring.

Hopefully this thing will handle like a Miata when its done, since a lot of the suspension design is done using proven autocross setups, albeit using unproven and modified suspension compone nts...

By the way, this started as a cheapo project, as the truck AND a parts truck with 6 spare doors cost a whopping $800 including a flathead ford engine installed in one of them.
Unfortunately, things get out of hand and we're breaking $10k at this point, but that includes the engine rebuild components, a second engine core, new wiring harness, new fuel system, new disc brakes all around, tranny, diff, front and rear suspension, radiator, etc...

Still have to make a driveshaft, figure out the appropriate steering column and wheel, and a few other less important bits, but for the most part its all paid for and just being assembled!

Pictures aren't working for me...

I can't see them them either on my phone

You need to host the pics on a site like photobucket first, it appears you're trying to hotlink from your email.

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Let's see how this works...

I like it!

Wow, what are the chances of that, another hot rod Willys pickup showing up on this board?!

Looks good, like that you kept the full length bed and I've never seen that front suspension before. Is that what the 2wd trucks had or did this start out as a 4wd?

I hindsight I kind of wished I had kept the original frame for mine rather than the frame swap but oh well, I'm so far into it now that it doesn't matter. Hopefully mine will be rolling again by the end of the weekend.

That's the front suspension from a 2WD station wagon, retrofitted to a 4x4 frame so I could lengthen it and push the front wheels forward. My understanding is that is WAS used on the early trucks, but I have yet to see one in person.

I also like the transverse leaf with independent front suspension. It was a bit of extra work to "uncover" the outer ends of the leaf and open it up, then reinforce the crossmember internally rather than externally (which wasn't done from the factory because the motor was in the way), but it was s blessing in disguise. This way I could use the removed outer ends of the crossmember as motor mounts that look factory.
The best part is that an entire 2WD frame and front suspension (disassembled but complete) was delivered to my doorstep for $100.
Gotta love Craigslist!!!

This is the front crossmember before modification.

Weekend update #1: Just narrowed the grille a couple slats, and narrowed the hood to match. I still need to relieve the sides of the box around the C-notched frame so it will sit down in place properly (just a sheetmetal panel on the lower side of the box hidden behind the tires.)

The front frame section sticking forward of the grille needs to be modified, still thinking about how to do that elegantly, but in a way that still says "Willys."

Today is all about figuring out steering geometry and installing the rack and pinion in a place where it works and you can't see it, since ratrods don't use rack and pinion steering. Then I need to find a way to easily safety wire a leather bellows over the rubber rack boots in case it is spotted.

Very cool.

I like where this is going. Are you keeping the bed full length, or are you shortening it? What kind of wheels and tires do you have in mind? I hope wide and fat in the rear AND the front. Are you running it fender-less?

Keep at it and don't forget to take pictures, like I always do

fanfoy wrote: What kind of wheels and tires do you have in mind? I

Supremes or Radirs with wide whites would be so bomb.

The rears are what I'm running - cheap rims with the right offset were difficult to find. 33x12.5x15 Cepeks. I plan to shave the sidewalls to show a wide whitewall!!! The fronts? I really want to find tall and narrow (so it steers easily) and bobbed motorcycle fenders just in the back of the front wheels. If I decide to put steps back at the front of the box, I'll probably add a short fender from the step-upward so you can't hit the front tire with your foot.

I may have to channel the box so it sits lower? I was considering angling the tailgate in at the bottom as well, but we'll see. This will be an active shop truck so it has to have style AND usefulness. And be able to handle an autocross without total embarrassment.

I've been working on the steering and hood the last few days. Hopefully I'll have time to get deep into the top chop next week. I'm thinking 3" should be proportionally good.

Ok, so the top got chopped 5" and it could have gone much further. The stance is still high, but I need ground clearance here in MN, so it can actually be driven into town without shredding the oil pan.
I managed to do the chop without cutting the back window OR the windshield, which isn't easy if you've tried!!!

The radiator and engine mounts are done, aluminum driveshaft should be here in a few days. You can see how far forward I tipped the grille now that the radiator is in place!

The rear shock mounts are done, designed to look like crayons. I'll paint them different colors and add the label when I have time. Corner scales will be used this weekend to determine spring rates so I can be done in the back. The disc brakes are stock S10 stuff, moved for frame clearance but not shown.
http://advanceddistributors.com/shocks.JPG

Sorry. Shock pic:

distributorguy wrote:

You're definitely making more progress than I. My Willys build is on hold while a new garage goes up at my place. Have to get mine at least to a roller so I can relocate it to a location where I can get more work done on it.

Like the look! Starting to think I should've kept the o'all length a bit longer on mine.

awesome Willys

Still working on it, just slow to post progress.
Made a new dashboard

Made caliper brackets and installed the Wilwood calipers, rotors.

Made rear steps and fenders. Its now ready for the Jerry cans I'll use for fuel tanks.

Built a new (old) hood as I didn't like how the old one fit. I still have more "sculpting" to do so it flows properly.
Not shown is the new power brake master cylinder as well!

Hoping to fire it up Fri/Sat!

I made the Headers Sunday, since I wanted an "extraction" design, with the center branch double the length of the outer branches to balance the exhaust pulses. The exit angle of the exhaust is also critical, and is commonly ignored in ALL aftermarket flathead headers and exhaust manifolds.
The window glass is in, just forgot to take photos!

Cool truck. The jerry can gas can idea is kind of terrifying, but rat rods are supposed to scare you I suppose. Keep the updates flowing as you get them.