Willys Jeepster Tribute Build

[66stepside]

I don't know why the pics above quit working

It's stuffed in there as far as it can go. All the work for 4"... Humm, worth it.




While the 1st round of body work on the panel delivery dries/cures... I took 3/4" lip off the "jeepster" body and ground down the frame, rounded the edges... she's up as tight as she can go. After several attempts to mount the tank and not having any more room (it's all tightly packed in there!). I opted to make this... the first of several:

[jaber]

Your making great progress.

My boss just bought a '50 Jeepster, guess who gets to reassemble it...

[66stepside]

Your making great progress.

My boss just bought a '50 Jeepster, guess who gets to reassemble it...

Thanks Jaber.

Post pics of that build you lucky dog!

[66stepside]

The rear half of the brackets are tacked in...



The next 1/2 will be ???... The body work on the panel comes first. But maybe next weekend?
I scored some wall art at the local grocery store... My favorite brew.

[66stepside]

The front brackets for the tank are bent up. I am glad I did not put the brake line bracket on, the line itself needed to be straightend all the way in order for the tank to fit. I only found that out when I went to make sure the tank was level.

[66stepside]

Here's one of three things planned for my upcoming vacation... Mocking up the heater unit so I know which holes are needed in the firewall, and which ones are not needed. When I go to rhino line the driver's side of the panel, I'll line the firewall of the Jeepster. I also have to cut a larger diameter hole for the heater fan upgrade, too (blazer fan and motor).



Then there's the power brake booster upgrade, too.

[66stepside]

Quite a bit of work to mark holes in the firewall, but it was necessary. After mounting the heater plenum and brake booster I went through and marked unused holes withe a red sharpie. When the body comes off for final paint, I know what needs to be welded shut and ground down flush.





Well, my three things I needed to do on my vacation are done, the rest is gravy!

[66stepside]

I need to relocate one of the rods that connects the radiator support to the firewall, so now that the brake booster is back off I have a question.

Should I paint the brackets and the booster?

[JeepinPete]

Frankly, I always like that finish, so I would leave it as is.

[66stepside]

Thanks, I will leave it unpainted. I guess i am so used to scrounging for used parts, I am just not accustomed to new ones! Lol.

[66stepside]

So the factory location for the radiator tie rods has to be relocated due to interference from the power brake booster.



Since they're asymmetrical anyway, I'll relocate them both so they're centered and the one side will clear the brake booster. After digging thru the scrap pile...



A bit o' work on the bench grinder, then the drill press...



So now the old ones have to come off, but the booster has to go on, after that small section of the firewall gets painted.

[66stepside]

How to vid, part 1 of 2:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=VecAGTT-Wlc

[66stepside]

The brake booster is hooked up. I painted the firewall behind the booster only. 1 step closer to a driver!

[66stepside]

The booster is in and the lines need to be bled. I guess it's time to teach my son how to bleed brakes!



I cleaned up the wiring and bought a new battery. The 383 has pretty high compression, so I went with a 700 cold cranking amp battery.

I am now finalizing the plumping of the gas tank so I can stop using the 1 gallon can!

I fired it up today and adjusted the carb. Mocked up the rear driveline... Needs to be 6.25" longer.

[twisted frame]

Is that a Classic Performance Products booster? If not, what kind?

[66stepside]

Yeah. Installation was a bit intresting with the threaded linkage , on again, off again kind of thing. I've got 33" tires planned for it, so with the 383 it's gotta stop pretty quick, so I stepped up to a nice system.

It was supposed to be my daily driver, but I REALLY underestimated the work load to get it to the level. Lol. It happens.

[66stepside]

Brakes are bled. The front driveline was 2" too short! Bummer. No test drive today. So while I search for one that'll work, wrap up the gas tank with final welds, paint the insides of the frame where the tank'll sit plumb it for a filler/breather tube... So close to being able to move it under it's own power!

[66stepside]

I've always been a big believer in keeping spare parts, but 7 sets of Willys fenders is a bit much. So I'm thinning out the herd.



It's amazing how much "crud" you can collect and recollect when you squirrel everything into every nook and cranny.

[jaber]

Its a damn good thing you are so far away, I dont think the wife would be able to handle it...

[66stepside]

Its a damn good thing you are so far away, I dont think the wife would be able to handle it...

That's just how my wife is- gotta love 'em... And the wife, too. Lol.


The Early Ford Swap Meet is this weekend. I can't wait!