'41 Willys Build...

72_Chevy_C10 Wednesday, 2/25/2015

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Hey Guys,

Ever since the Cops and Robbers race, I've been wanting to build a '41 Willys...Smitty had build a very cool one, and I wanted to do my own version!

Here is where I am starting out...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_090930_zpstwyqlmbv.j...

An original Neet Streeter '36 Ford and a current '41 Willys Coupe. The Willys had the wheels tucked in very narrow and that seldom makes for a fast racer, so the Neet S treeter will be donating it's chassis.


Discussion

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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

I came across this Willys I in an issue of Hot Rod Deluxe...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150223_221431_zpsfkzgvyuy.j...

And it has a great stance...it doesn't have the 'nose bleed' high front end that most Gassers have, but it does still have a great 'classics drag car' look. 

I'm going to try to get a similar stance with my car

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150223_221408_zpsl32blkzm.j...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150223_221233_zpsrr7j3m7x.j...

It's hard to imagine now, but Willys coupes were like the 'Fox body Mustang' of their day. They were a small car that came with a lousy engine that often blew up...so their were lots of them around! Just ad some power, and you had a cheap race car!

Time to drill some rivets!


  • Bring it on! — CrzyTrkrDude
  • Keep an eye on this build, it will evolve throughout the next week or so :) — 72_Chevy_C10
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CrzyTrkrDude 2/25/15

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah305/CrzyTrkrDude/IMG_20150209_121626174_zpshtu6ttft.jpg

Saw this rolling through The Cumberland Gap southbound into TN the other week. 

Thought you might like....


  • Awesome! — 72_Chevy_C10
  • Looks like a '36 Ford...with a Big Block Chevy! :) — 72_Chevy_C10
  • it looks like your Neet Streeter all growed up! lol — CrzyTrkrDude
  • yup, 35 or 36 5 window... looks like an A grill shell... roll bar.... ready ! — model40fan
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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

You can see how narrow the Willys chassis is...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_102011_zps2ovspzmp.j...

And the Neet Streeter is metal also, so that helps make it a little heavier


  • yeah, I'm not a big fan of the tucked in wheels. it was hard building the Chevelle for my wife. That, and I picked some HUGE 5 spokes... — CrzyTrkrDude
  • she liked the body, so I found a way for the '71. I prefer the '70 myself. — CrzyTrkrDude
  • With Chevelle's, I like the '66 and '67's, myself...see my Smokey Chevelle build — 72_Chevy_C10
  • I saw that. Nice Ride in black and gold! — CrzyTrkrDude
  • I like the trunkless winshield to rear bumper swerp look myself. — CrzyTrkrDude
  • IMO... if the body rubs the track edge, you lose, wide axle track rocks — model40fan
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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

Of course, this Neet Streeter body has a pretty cool patina...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_122514_zpszfkp2nzb.j...

...so I might have to come up with chassis for it after the Willys is done!


  • save the grill for the '36 — model40fan
  • Yup, I have to cut the grill off the chassis to get it to fit right on the Willys — 72_Chevy_C10
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model40fan 2/25/15

I did a '41 Willys body to Nomad base swap a while back... wide track, metal, right wheel base mmmmm....


  • Sounds like a plan...they do have a short wheelbase — 72_Chevy_C10
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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

Always be careful when drilling the rivets. I like to support the car in a vice...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_155341_zpszrwk9acg.j...

One nice thing with many newer cars is that they often only have one rivet to drill!

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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

All of the Willys parts...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_155758_zpsdxmfddwb.j...

I will be using all but the chassis...and I'll be modifying the blower :)

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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

The Neet Streeter parts couldn't be more simple...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_160005_zpsacyjghgl.j...

I will show you how I cut the grill off the chassis later tonight

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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

As you can see, it isn't a bad fit as is...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_160846_zpsvawlniui.j...

The wheelbase is a little off and the grill is still on the Streeter chassis

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72_Chevy_C10 2/25/15

Making the cut behind the grill on the Neet Streeter chassis. ..I used a cutoff wheel on the Dremel and carefully made an angled cut...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_214131_zpsvqtje1y5.j...

And the grill cut off, ready to be glued back onto the body...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150225_214542_zpskszxhhom.j...



  • hmmm. that 36 body is short, will morris wagon's base fit under it ? — model40fan
  • I used the original chassis on another build...I really just like the NS chassis for this car because of the headers and ladder bars! — 72_Chevy_C10
  • i mean for something to set the ford body on after the willys is done. — model40fan
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72_Chevy_C10 2/26/15

You can see here that the wheelbase on the Neet Streeter chassis is a little long...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150226_091310_zpsoailw8mo.j...

I will mill grooves for axle tubes later today and I will adjust it then

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72_Chevy_C10 2/26/15

After the mill work is done, the time consuming part begins...fitting the Neet S treeter chassis to the Willys body. You can see that I've already started marking the chassis where I will have to start grinding away....

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150226_100545_zpsh2cdz7ea.j...



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