Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

No updates on the Frankenwagon in a while.... hows it coming?

http://www.jeffgross.com/willys/

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Hi Kevin,

I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

I'm kind of rethinking the 'using the entire Toyota chassis' plan only
because the motor sits too far forward in stock form to get the radiator
behind the grill with everything else lined up. Everything else looks
good to go, but I might have to move the entire powerplant back about a
foot because of the internal web in the V6 has to go completely in front
of, or behind the front pumpkin. The torsion-bar front suspension on the
Toyo chassis is something I'd like to NOT mess with if at all possible.
I'm not anti-Willys drive, but having a modern V6, suspension and a 5
speed capable of sustained freeway speeds is something that will make it
a lot better suited for my uses as well as having a much stronger set of
axles and an already fully boxed frame. Good thing I know a lot of
serious local hotrod builders I can swap help/work with!

The doors, rear gates and grill & splash pan have all been plastic
blasted down to bare metal (a beauty to behold being so clean), and
sprayed with 'green death' acid etching primer. They're all wrapped in
newspaper in dry storage in my garage attic waiting for assembly. All
the gooey undercoating has been hand stripped from the hood. I didn't
use heat because I didn't want to risk making the hood look like a taco
cleaning it. Now, the hood & front fenders are ready for the blasting
shop (it's 'U-Spray' in Butler/Milwaukee, WI. Tell the owner Dean I sent
you for a good deal if you're in the area). Once those are done, the
only thing left to blast and spray will be the naked body shell after I
rebuild the totally destroyed firewall & floor in the cab & put the
'Willys America' brand new $140 quarter panels on it. Better to just
weld on new ones than fix the rusted out ones that are there now, and
for $300 they'll save literally weeks of work.

I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
paying work done. :)

Cheers,
- Jeff G



Kevin Sperle wrote:

> No updates on the Frankenwagon in a while.... hows it coming?
>
> http://www.jeffgross.com/willys/
>
>

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Hi Kevin,

I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

I'm kind of rethinking the 'using the entire Toyota chassis' plan only
because the motor sits too far forward in stock form to get the radiator
behind the grill with everything else lined up. Everything else looks
good to go, but I might have to move the entire powerplant back about a
foot because of the internal web in the V6 has to go completely in front
of, or behind the front pumpkin. The torsion-bar front suspension on the
Toyo chassis is something I'd like to NOT mess with if at all possible.
I'm not anti-Willys drive, but having a modern V6, suspension and a 5
speed capable of sustained freeway speeds is something that will make it
a lot better suited for my uses as well as having a much stronger set of
axles and an already fully boxed frame. Good thing I know a lot of
serious local hotrod builders I can swap help/work with!

The doors, rear gates and grill & splash pan have all been plastic
blasted down to bare metal (a beauty to behold being so clean), and
sprayed with 'green death' acid etching primer. They're all wrapped in
newspaper in dry storage in my garage attic waiting for assembly. All
the gooey undercoating has been hand stripped from the hood. I didn't
use heat because I didn't want to risk making the hood look like a taco
cleaning it. Now, the hood & front fenders are ready for the blasting
shop (it's 'U-Spray' in Butler/Milwaukee, WI. Tell the owner Dean I sent
you for a good deal if you're in the area). Once those are done, the
only thing left to blast and spray will be the naked body shell after I
rebuild the totally destroyed firewall & floor in the cab & put the
'Willys America' brand new $140 quarter panels on it. Better to just
weld on new ones than fix the rusted out ones that are there now, and
for $300 they'll save literally weeks of work.

I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
paying work done. :)

Cheers,
- Jeff G



Kevin Sperle wrote:

> No updates on the Frankenwagon in a while.... hows it coming?
>
> http://www.jeffgross.com/willys/
>
>

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Hi Kevin,

I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

I'm kind of rethinking the 'using the entire Toyota chassis' plan only
because the motor sits too far forward in stock form to get the radiator
behind the grill with everything else lined up. Everything else looks
good to go, but I might have to move the entire powerplant back about a
foot because of the internal web in the V6 has to go completely in front
of, or behind the front pumpkin. The torsion-bar front suspension on the
Toyo chassis is something I'd like to NOT mess with if at all possible.
I'm not anti-Willys drive, but having a modern V6, suspension and a 5
speed capable of sustained freeway speeds is something that will make it
a lot better suited for my uses as well as having a much stronger set of
axles and an already fully boxed frame. Good thing I know a lot of
serious local hotrod builders I can swap help/work with!

The doors, rear gates and grill & splash pan have all been plastic
blasted down to bare metal (a beauty to behold being so clean), and
sprayed with 'green death' acid etching primer. They're all wrapped in
newspaper in dry storage in my garage attic waiting for assembly. All
the gooey undercoating has been hand stripped from the hood. I didn't
use heat because I didn't want to risk making the hood look like a taco
cleaning it. Now, the hood & front fenders are ready for the blasting
shop (it's 'U-Spray' in Butler/Milwaukee, WI. Tell the owner Dean I sent
you for a good deal if you're in the area). Once those are done, the
only thing left to blast and spray will be the naked body shell after I
rebuild the totally destroyed firewall & floor in the cab & put the
'Willys America' brand new $140 quarter panels on it. Better to just
weld on new ones than fix the rusted out ones that are there now, and
for $300 they'll save literally weeks of work.

I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
paying work done. :)

Cheers,
- Jeff G



Kevin Sperle wrote:

> No updates on the Frankenwagon in a while.... hows it coming?
>
> http://www.jeffgross.com/willys/
>
>

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

> I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

Good to hear. Hadn't heard anything in a while and thought maybe it got the
better of you :-)

> I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
> but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
> paying work done. :)

Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
fixing everything else first!

I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a
meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
and gold of course!

Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

> I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

Good to hear. Hadn't heard anything in a while and thought maybe it got the
better of you :-)

> I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
> but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
> paying work done. :)

Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
fixing everything else first!

I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a
meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
and gold of course!

Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

> I haven't updated the site lately, but I'm still working on the Wagon!

Good to hear. Hadn't heard anything in a while and thought maybe it got the
better of you :-)

> I'm not too busy to work on the FrankenWillys and take a ton of pics,
> but the website will have to wait a little bit, while I get some actual
> paying work done. :)

Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
fixing everything else first!

I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a
meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
and gold of course!

Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Kevin Sperle wrote:
>
> Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
> website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
> getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
> thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
> at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
> fixing everything else first!

But that's the FUN part! LOL! It's a good thing my wife likes the Willys
Wagon or I'd be selling off the parts as I clean them up! ;)

>
> I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
> game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a

If you're near Milwaukee and like Classic (old) Rock & Electric Blues,
I'll be playing in Milwaukee on my birthday (Dec 27th) at a place called
The Dr.'s Office with my band Dirty Ernie (a map to all out gigs is at
http://dirty-ernie.com). Should be quite the party - we're having free
beer and giving away an electric guitar that I play onstage.

BTW, Who died that you got their tickets? ;) Packer games are sold out
at Lambeau for something like the next 13 years.

> meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
> far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
> I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
> and gold of course!

Packer fans don't give too hard a time to foreign fans at Lambeau. ;) If
you want to root for Denver, you can do so here in relative safety. Of
course if you're from Colorado and rooting for the Packers, you'll be in
good company at Lambeau. Make sure you wander the parking lot for a good
couple hours before the game. Tailgating there is like nothing else in
any other stadium in the NFL. People will invite you to their cookout
just because you smiled at them.

>
> Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
> or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.
>

Oh, we've been having weather all right. :D In just the last week it's
been in the mid 80's, down to the 20's and rained twice. Farther
northstate, they've already had snow flurries. Not wearing a top or
doors around here this tome of year can be a big adventure all by itself. :)

- JG

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Kevin Sperle wrote:
>
> Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
> website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
> getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
> thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
> at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
> fixing everything else first!

But that's the FUN part! LOL! It's a good thing my wife likes the Willys
Wagon or I'd be selling off the parts as I clean them up! ;)

>
> I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
> game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a

If you're near Milwaukee and like Classic (old) Rock & Electric Blues,
I'll be playing in Milwaukee on my birthday (Dec 27th) at a place called
The Dr.'s Office with my band Dirty Ernie (a map to all out gigs is at
http://dirty-ernie.com). Should be quite the party - we're having free
beer and giving away an electric guitar that I play onstage.

BTW, Who died that you got their tickets? ;) Packer games are sold out
at Lambeau for something like the next 13 years.

> meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
> far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
> I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
> and gold of course!

Packer fans don't give too hard a time to foreign fans at Lambeau. ;) If
you want to root for Denver, you can do so here in relative safety. Of
course if you're from Colorado and rooting for the Packers, you'll be in
good company at Lambeau. Make sure you wander the parking lot for a good
couple hours before the game. Tailgating there is like nothing else in
any other stadium in the NFL. People will invite you to their cookout
just because you smiled at them.

>
> Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
> or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.
>

Oh, we've been having weather all right. :D In just the last week it's
been in the mid 80's, down to the 20's and rained twice. Farther
northstate, they've already had snow flurries. Not wearing a top or
doors around here this tome of year can be a big adventure all by itself. :)

- JG

Re: Ping--> Jeff Gross
 

Kevin Sperle wrote:
>
> Sounds like you have done quite a bit actually. Sometimes updating the
> website gets to be more of a headache than working on the the vehicle. I'm
> getting ready to swap in a auto tranny to my CJ, but I keep having the
> thought that I should pull off the tub and do some major restore while I'm
> at it. My tub is shot, but I know if I pull it off, I'm gonna spend a year
> fixing everything else first!

But that's the FUN part! LOL! It's a good thing my wife likes the Willys
Wagon or I'd be selling off the parts as I clean them up! ;)

>
> I'll be heading out your way Dec 26th or 27th. Going to my first Packer
> game at Lambeau Field the 28th vs. the Broncos. I only hope it's a

If you're near Milwaukee and like Classic (old) Rock & Electric Blues,
I'll be playing in Milwaukee on my birthday (Dec 27th) at a place called
The Dr.'s Office with my band Dirty Ernie (a map to all out gigs is at
http://dirty-ernie.com). Should be quite the party - we're having free
beer and giving away an electric guitar that I play onstage.

BTW, Who died that you got their tickets? ;) Packer games are sold out
at Lambeau for something like the next 13 years.

> meaningful game (playoff implications). The way they've been playing so
> far, Favre may up and retire before the end of the season! And even though
> I've been in Colorado my entire adult life... I'll be rooting for the green
> and gold of course!

Packer fans don't give too hard a time to foreign fans at Lambeau. ;) If
you want to root for Denver, you can do so here in relative safety. Of
course if you're from Colorado and rooting for the Packers, you'll be in
good company at Lambeau. Make sure you wander the parking lot for a good
couple hours before the game. Tailgating there is like nothing else in
any other stadium in the NFL. People will invite you to their cookout
just because you smiled at them.

>
> Hows the weather? I drove 2 hours to Moab the other weekend with no top on
> or doors! We have hit record highs in the low 80's the last few days.
>

Oh, we've been having weather all right. :D In just the last week it's
been in the mid 80's, down to the 20's and rained twice. Farther
northstate, they've already had snow flurries. Not wearing a top or
doors around here this tome of year can be a big adventure all by itself. :)

- JG