Well it finally happened....! It's out....

[Willys]

OK, this isn't starting out as a mod or tech thread but I'm sure it will soon end up being one...lol.

Today I, with help from Nigel, spent the day taking my restored/lifted and extended good car out of the garage. FINALLY....lol
No there wasn't a specific rush to get it out, just thought it was time..and as I type this it's SNOWING...!!!!!
If you do not know.....it has been stripped to the bone, every nut and bolt removed, either replaced or cleaned within an inch of it's life and reassembled. The all mechanical items have been again either rebuilt or replaced. Engine, transmission, drive train, bearings, steering, suspension the lot. The body restored and painted. A clever-End was installed. All wiring reworked and repaired. Belly pans all repaired and welded back to like new. Home made exhaust, a Honda CBR1000RR new exhaust was modified to work. New windshield. Painted inside and out, absoluted zero rust now, not that there was much except surface rust starting. It now is dripping with Rust Check products coming from every possible area where rust may start... Almost all mods done that looked interesting or were required to better the vehicle. Then it was lifted 2" using some of a DayStar system and also by lowering the sub frame 2" and not modifying the rear suspension meaning the ride didn't change for the worst. No leaning when rounding corners or going around round a bouts etc. No more blasts from transport trucks as they blast past you. Also four rear 9 spoke wheels with 195/65-15 were installed.  Also 1" spacer on the rear simply to space the rear wheels to equal the fronts. Any way you get the idea. It took me far longer than expected as I wasn't in any hurry and took on other projects at the same time.

OK, now for the initial results.....I need to address the slightly lower boost issue, hopefully just a wastegate issue. It's only making 13 lbs and it should be 16.4 lbs. Also the clutch actuator has a bit of play in it requiring adjustment. I also need to adjust driver's door to get glass tighter into top seal. Once boost has been figured out it will like 6th gear better I hope. And yes it took some careful adjusting of the inner fender to allow for tire clearances. I still need to trim slightly the inner lip of the front fender and lower valance as it still rubs when turning. Should be an easy solution using cut off disc and adding a inner plate/brace to help with fender to valance attachment.

The car now has 10 1/2" of ground clearance, not what I was looking for but an added bonus I guess. The main reason I lifted it was to be able to run larger side walled tires to allow a smoother ride over gravel and broken roads where I live and where I may want to take the car. I hate the bone jarring/teeth rattling feel of the stock suspension, great on smooth roads but dreadful of broken or gravel roads. imho.  To each their own.

Not everyone's cup of tea but it was something I wanted to do to fill my days so to speak. I'm retired and need to keep my hands busy. It started out simply dealing with the oil chain sprocket stripping issue. After which I thought....I wonder what the valves look like, then pistons, then sleeves, then a complete engine rebuild seeing as I'm already in there why not. Then it snow balled....lol.

IF the wheel bearings can be drilled and a grease nipple attached, yes that too will be added to the list....lol.

[Nigel]

As they say, didn’t happen without pictures.