"Secret Willys Revival" (My chopped '53)

[Snake Farm]

How much is your neighbor asking for the Willy

He didn't really say, he just wanted it out of his sight I think so I put it in the garage I posed that pic for the "It might be a Rat Rod if " thread

 

[GJunktionMike]

True that

 

[falconvan]

How's the Willys coming along?

 

[Snake Farm]

How's the Willys coming along?

Unfortunately its not "coming along" at all But it is however "going along" every chance it gets

I've been way busier than I expected this fall and I've also been working on a house for my sister in-law every weekend for a couple months now, so garage time has been pretty much non-existent I had yard chores today and jumped at the chance to drive the Willys ..........

Hauled two big loads of Sweet Gum limbs and then went for a spin around the neighborhood. There's a ton of stuff to be done this winter to be road legal by next spring but two things I'd really like to get done soon are door latches so I don't have to tie the doors shut and some lights, because with these short winter days I don't get home till after dark and if I continue to take the garbage out with the Willys I'm gonna need some lights

Driving for now.....but still dreaming

Ray

 

[38fordtruck]

now thats what we like to see, putting the willys to work im sure its glad to help ya

 

[38fordtruck]

any changes to the willys?

 

[Snake Farm]

any changes to the willys?

Uh, kinda but not really Check out my "Do Rat Rods have feelings" post in the BS section I have so many irons in the fire lately that I have been getting NO garage time at all I do have lots of plans and high hopes for some free time though. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since I launched this "comeback" build

Eager to get back to it,

Ray

 

[GJunktionMike]

30+1 year Tomorrow[cl[P

 

[Hydrocarbon Rocket]

You may have mentioned it somewhere on here before but, are you located somewhere in Tennessee?

 

[shakey56]

Snake Farm
Hey Ray, it sure is hard to finish it when ya get it on the road. I know 'cause I've still got stuff I need to do to the 56....3 years. LOL.

Lynn

 

[Snake Farm]

You may have mentioned it somewhere on here before but, are you located somewhere in Tennessee?

I'm about 9 hours from you...... in West Virginia

Snake Farm
Hey Ray, it sure is hard to finish it when ya get it on the road. I know 'cause I've still got stuff I need to do to the 56....3 years. LOL.

Lynn

Yeah Lynn, I know what ya mean already. Even though I'm not road legal yet I find myself wanting to blast around the neighborhood in the Willys instead of working on it.

 

[Snake Farm]

Whoa, had to dive big time to find my build thread!

Well, here it is New Years already! Hard to believe it's been a year since I started this "Secret Revival" but I've gotten more done on the Willys this year than in all the previous 30 years put together. It was 29 years ago last night that we chopped the top, 23 years ago last night I moved the truck from one storage place to another, 15 years ago last night I moved it into my current garage, 12 years ago last night I put in the Lokar shifter I got for Christmas that year, one year ago last night I pulled the Willys out of the corner it had been buried in for nine years and began my first 'Rat Rod' build here on RRR.
So, in keeping with tradition I tried to get at least something done on it this New Years Eve.

I got these cool headlights for Christmas....

...so yesterday afternoon I went out to my back lot and cut the headlight buckets out of one of my old van/storage buildings...

I will use the buckets and at least some of the mounting panel to mount the lights behind the Willys nose....recessed a couple inches or so.

Had to enlarge the hole and cut a slot to clear the built in park light pigtail...

So, I have one modified so the light fits......

..... now I just need to get the other one done and get to fitting them to the nose. My work schedule is more hectic than usual for this time of year so I've not been getting much garage time but hope to soon.

Anxious to get back on it,

Ray

 

[Snake Farm]

Happy New Year! I have high hopes for 2011 ..........Next New Year's Eve party will be a "Midnight Cruise"........weather permitting of course.

Oh almost forgot, spent this New Years Eve with our daughter and son in-law and some of their friends. And while not quite what I had envisioned a year ago we did do a little cruising just before midnight

Rigged up a head light....

and took everyone for a spin around the neighborhood...

.....I swear I'm going to get some latches on the doors one of these days

So there you have it, my goal for next New Years Eve is to have some windows, lights and door latches and then maybe we can venture into town instead of aggravating the neighbors


I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and say thanks for all your encouragement this past year, It's been a blast hanging out here with all of you.

To be continued,

Ray

 

[38fordtruck]

awsome! keep at it

 

[shakey56]

Remember???

Hey Ray,
I don't know how you remember 30 years ago.....I can't remember last week! LOL You know it's illegal to have that much fun.

Happy New Year to you and yours. And thanks for your support on my build.

Lynn

 

[Hydrocarbon Rocket]

I'm about 9 hours from you...... in West Virginia
.

I was wondering because I saw a user name on local sales Crosville, Tn the same as yours. He had some rat rod hubcaps for sale.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Good stuff Snake! Waiting to see how those headlights turn out...

 

[Snake Farm]

Hey Ray,
I don't know how you remember 30 years ago.....I can't remember last week! LOL

Basically I cheat I kept a work journal up until a couple years ago (spanning about 25 years) and I would write all kinds of stuff down in there.

You know it's illegal to have that much fun.
Lynn

Yes, that's why I do it at night [ddev

Good stuff Snake! Waiting to see how those headlights turn out...

Me too! LOL I'm undecided at this point but I'm thinking about doing an eyebrow of sorts........

....always liked that droopy faced look

What do ya think?

Later,

Ray

 

[Flipper_1938]

I'd skip the eye lids. The jeep front end is interesting enough as is.

Maybe tunnel the lights 1.5" and weld in a sleeve going from the grill to the headlight?

 

[Hydrocarbon Rocket]

I like it. will have to see the glass in to know for sure.