WILLYS GASSER BUILD

BOB RYDER . November 09, 2022 . All Feature Vehicles

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Single Barrel Jack

Jim Bostick of Yorba Linda, California was an avid drag racing fan as a kid during the “Gasser Wars” era of the 1960’s. The ’40-‘42 Willys coupes like the popular Stone, Woods & Cook “Swindler II” ‘41 Willys, coupe was the dominant war machine of the ¼-mile. Other wild Willys of the ’60s included Big John Mazmanian, Junior Thompson, George Montgomery, the Mallicoat Bros. and K.S. Pittman.

Jim wanted to relive those days by owning his own version of a Willys Gasser. He approached Ron Cambra at Cambra Speed Shop (CSS) in Orange, California who orchestrated a previous build of Jim’s award-winning ’55 Chevy Gasser with David and Greg Engle that was featured in sister publication, Maximum Drive, Issue 8.

After the frame was media blasted to bare metal, it was sprayed with sandable primer then sanded smooth. The primered frame was then given a couple of coats gloss black and cleared.

The large assortment of components were chromed or polished by Steve Jones.

The traditional “Gasser” front suspension was created by installing a Larry Wagner chromed 1 ½-inch dropped straight axle front suspension.

Ron had discovered an all-steel ’42 Willys complete with 392ci Hemi and trim molding. After Ron and Jim inspected the vehicle they both gave it a thumbs up! So Jim peeled off a fistful of Grover Cleveland thousand-dollar bills and the Willys was loaded inside the trailer and delivered to CSS.

I was invited to follow along as Ron and his crew created another Gasser masterpiece, and spent so much time covering the build I was given my own timecard at the shop. I would stop by there three or four times a week during the day, night, late night and weekends. Every moment spent at CSS during the build was both educational and entertaining. It was an experience I will never forget. Working with Ron and his talented designer/fabricators, Gregg Petersen and Rick Kersh, and the rest of the crew on the Willys project exposed me to a lot of tricks of the trade I hadn’t seen before, and I shot everything I could to share with readers.

Follow along and witness the Willys journey from a concept to a truly spectacular reality.

A pair of early Ford spindles and steering arms were attached to the dropped straight axle with a pair of kingpins.

The Steve Jones chromed Deaver front leaf spring packs pivot on the front shackles. While a pair of SoCal gas filled front shocks help dampen any wheels up launches.

The Vega steering box was mounted to the driver side frame rail. The original rough pitman arm square shoulder edges were radiused and filed smooth by Rick. The pitman arm was then sent out to Steve Jones Chrome. When it was returned it was engaged and slid onto the steering box splined shaft and secured. The pitman arm was then secured to the drag link.

Wilwood Dynalite chrome four piston front calipers and 11-inch vented rotors provide superior stopping performance up front.

A pair of CSS custom thread-on dust caps finished.

The Cambra Speed Shop all-star team. Back row, standing left to right, Gregg Petersen, Mike Swan, Ronnie Cambra Jr., Rick Kersh, Ryan Cambra, Ron Cambra Sr. Front row kneeling left to right, Hitoshi Umekage and Jason Brunner.

The crew at Allen Tire mounted and balanced the Firestone/Coker 560-15 bias- ply tires and E-T Team III “Kidney Bean”, polished aluminum wheels.

The Firestone/Coker “Skinnies” and E-T Kidney Bean wheels were ready to roll.

After pressing on the outer axle bearings, Rick inserted the Mark Williams Master Line 35-spline axles through the ‘57 Olds chromed drilled backing plates and ‘57 Olds chromed rear end housing.

A pair of Bendix rear brake, shoes were attached to the top brake cylinder and bottom, adjusting star. The shoes were secured with retainer springs and return springs.’’

‘57 Olds brake drums were slid over the brake shoes and wheel studs.

A pair of E-T Team III, “Fueler” polished aluminum 15×10 wheels were wrapped in Radir/Speedway Motors (15×10.00) piecrust cheater slicks.

Ready to roll in style while grabbin’ traction.

J&SGear in Huntington Beach, CA stuffed the Moser, 3rd member with a Moser 4:11 gear set and Moser/Eaton posi-unit. A custom CSS panhard bar was installed to eliminate any lateral rear end movement.

A pair of 60’s style chromed Deaver 1⁄4-eliptical leaf springs suspended the Olds rear end.

The rear end was anchored with a pair of five-foot long tubular trestle ladder bars.’’

The Hemi 392/400ci engine was disassembled, machined, assembled at Superior Automotive Engineering. The mighty Hemi was then broke in and tuned on the Superior Automotive Engineering dyno, producing 750 horsepower.

Using an engine hoist, Ron lowered the engine as Gregg and Rick guided it onto the engine mounts.

The boys aligned and bolted the Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission to the bell housing.

After the engine and transmission were mated Rick tightened up the engine mounting bolts. The impressive Missile aluminum HEMI roller rocker arms and valve rotating assembly was exposed for all to admire.

Ron covered the valve rotating assembly with a pair of Hot Heads, HEMI “Donovan” style, aluminum valve covers with dual breathers. (Also see next pic.)

Rick mounted the Hilborn injectors and Hilborn scoop, atop the Weiand Supercharger.

A Hilborn injectors fuel rail delivered fuel to each of the four 3503 injectors.

The Hilborn Supercharger, bell cranks were set up and synced by Andy Starr.

Rick designed and machined the throttle plate linkage, and return spring assembly.’

Gregg designed, bent, welded-up a very unique set of dual headers. The 2 1⁄2-inch diameter block hugger headers were Siamesed with and set of 2-inch diameter zoomie style headers.

This Miller Speedsports header slide-plate manifold was mounted and secured to the zoomie header manifold. A pair of header slide-plate manifolds were activated by a pair of Patriot electronic actuators. When the plate’s closed it delivers the exhaust impulses through the block-hugger headers. When slid open, it’s directed through the zoomie headers.

An MSD distributor was connected to the HEMI head sparkplugs, with a set of Taylor 8mm ignition wires.

The 2-inch chromed zoomie header tubes were positioned and secured into the Miller Speedsports slide-plate manifold.

Very impressive dual header exhaust system.

A 3-inch wide belt was fitted to the Hampton Blower, idler and crankshaft pulleys that were set up 1:1 drive ratio producing 6 pounds of boost. A GM 6-blade fan was bolted up to the water pump.

A dual 3-inch diameter exhaust system flowed through a pair of Borla baffled mufflers with turndown tips. Check out that pinion angle on the driveshaft.

The all-steel Willys body was delivered to the PPG Training Center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, then rolled into the PPG cross-flow paint booth. PPG instructors, Frank Ramos and Paul Stoll, educated Hitoshi Umekage on the correct way to spray PPG Vibrance VP 2050 High Performance Build Up Primer…’’

…as well as PPG ECS 27 black sealer, PPG Enviobase High Performance “Gasser Root Bear” basecoat and PPG 530 EN-V High Performance Clear.

After the Willys body and other sheet metal parts were delivered to CSS they were set out in the sun to bake for a day.

Giving the PPG clear coat ample time to cure, Hitoshi spend many hours cutting, buffing, and polishing ever square inch of the Willys skin both inside and out.

The front fender/hood section was the first to be mounted to the frame.

The Willys on jack stands (see lead photo) resembles a traditional wheels-up launch. The rear view was also a common view of many Willys competitors.

Rick installed the headlight buckets, headlights and bezels.’

The body was mounted on the frame. The fenders, trunk lid, taillights, and a cool 3” diameter arched chrome rear bumper were installed. The doors were hung on the hinges and aligned, handles were added and mirrors mounted.

After a pair of 1967 Dodge A100 bucket seats were torn down, the frames were sent out and powder coated. Pete Engel at Westminster Auto Upholstery in Anaheim, CA designed and shaped new seat foam that was covered in brown leather with diamond tuck inserts finished with black piping. The seats were then mounted on a pair of custom chrome dimple-died seat pedestals.

An ididit chrome steering column, Grant three-spoke steering wheel and one-off billet aluminum gauge cluster are the product of Rick’s design and fabrication wizardry.

Hidden in the glove box were pull/push switches; (top) lights, (bottom) ignition, toggle switch, (turn indicators). Classic Instruments volts and fuel gauges were also neatly mounted inside the glove box.

Period correct Mooneyes gas pedal with matching clutch and brake pedal pads. The chromed brake and clutch pedal assembly was fabricated by Gregg.

Gregg fabricated a custom 17-gallon fuel tank with a trick brass filler cap assembly.

Superior Automotive Engineering’s founding wizard Joe Jill Jr. controlled the throttle, while Ted Banzuela programmed the ECU from his laptop.

Jim Bostick’s “Single Barrel Jack” made its debut in the PPG Paint booth during the 2014 SEMA Show.

SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

ENGINE

Machined and assembled – Superior Automotive Engineering Anaheim, California.
Engine – Chrysler HEMI 392/400ci, 750 horsepower
Crankshaft – Mopar

BODY

’42 Willys coupe (all steel)
Hood – exit hole for supercharger bug-catcher
Rear fender wheel opening lips – fabricated by Brady Fabrication and installed by Gregg and Rick
Trunk lid- Brady Fabrication

INTERIOR