Big
Jim's '41 Willys Coupe -
A Lifelong Dream
UPDATE: September 2008
The old tranny and engine have been removed. The firewall has been prepped
and painted prior to installing the blown 454 big block Chevy. Here is a picture
of the fire wall with it's new color " Spectra Blue Mica ". PPG, paint code 5437.
The firewall was painted now to eliminate removing the engine when the
rest of the car is painted.
Update October - December 2008....
Installing a an 7.62 to 1 compression Chevy Big Block 454 cube motor with an 8-71 BDS Blower with
dual quads. Additionally, the existing Turbo 400 is being swapped out for a
TCI Turbo 400 racing transmission with modifications by A&S Transmissions - Phx. AZ
Also installing a new 10" converter built to withstand the horsepower and torque developed by a blown motor.
Shown below are pictures taken after slipping the 454 BBC engine & TCI tranny (rated for 1000 HP) into my Willys Coupe.
Note: headers are bolted on to determine what modifications are needed to improve clearances from the body .
These fender well headers are designed to fit 55 Chevy. They will be retrofitted by Rick Proctor to fit the Willys.
After adjustments are made they will be ceramic coated to match the engine.
I plan to run the blower (10% under-driven which should allow the use of 93 octane pump gas and still provide 600-650 HP
for street/strip action. The car should run easy 10.0's in a detuned mode. If we decide to do some serious racing....
A change of pulleys on the Blower and some 110+ octane race gas would net us close to 1000 HP in a
2800 pound car . That could lead to some really fast times.....
Specs on the new "Silver Bullet" & related Components
-BDS Fully Polished 8/71 Blower - 54 top and 49 bottom 8mm Pulleys provide 5.9 pounds of boost @10% Underdriven
-Big Block 454 Chevy - bored .030 over with billet 4 bolt splayed main caps - providing a total of 460 cubic inches.
-Heads: Brodix BB-2s with 119 cc CNC combustion chamber, 2.250/1.900 valves. Double springs
-Rocker Arms: 1.72 Miller stainless steel roller rockers
-Head Bolts: ARP Stud Kit
-Cam: GM Performance Billet hydraulic roller, 112 C/L, 211/230 Duration at .050, 510/540 lift.
-Lifters: Crane Hydraulic Roller
-Pushrods: 1-piece Manley
-Crank: Scat 4.00, 2 piece rear main
-Crank Main Bolts: ARP studs and bolts. (Bolts for splayed locations)
-Rods: GM HP "Dimple rods"
-Rod Bolts: 7/16
-Pistons: Speed Pro forged D-Cups #L2453F
-Piston Compression ratio 7.82 :1 with 119cc Brodix Aluminum heads
-Final Compression Ration with 5.9 pounds of Boost is 11 to 1
-Rings: File fit, plasma moly
-Oil Pan: 7 Quart Milodon
-Oil Pump: TRW High Volume
-Fuel Pump: Edlebrock, 6 vein mechanical
-Distributor: Low Profile MSD Billet
-Plug Wires/Boots: MSD 31293 - 8.5mm Super Conductor Racing
-Ignition: MSD AL6
-Carburetors: Two Holley 830 Double Pumps prepared by BDS
-Jets initial at 72 and 85, Power Valve are 4.5 ,
-Squirters 31 - One small whole in each prim. butterfly
-Lokar TC-1000U Throttle Cable
-Edelbrock Polished Aluminum Water Pump
-
Custom Griffin aluminum radiator - 15" by 32.5" dual core with 1.5 " tubes-Lower Radiator Hose - NAPA 7716 Upper Hose - 16" Flexible
-Radiator Coolant Additive - NAPA Kool 4056
-Dual 13 inch HP Spal electric fans VA13 AP6 63A - each provide 1710 CFM at 18.5 amps
-Jegs 10569 dual fan & relay wiring harness
-Jegs 511010 Catch Can & 511020 Aluminum Bracket
-Starter: mini-high torque
-Flexplate: SFI
-Converter: TCI 2800-3200 RPMS 10"
-Transmission: TCI 890212016 Competition Turbo Hydro 400 with
additional modifications By Alger at A&S Transmissions - Phx. AZ
-Transmission Shield: Hughes SFI
- B&M Pro Ratchet Shifter
-Drive shaft: Custom Steel shaft with 1350 U-Joints and yokes
-Rear-end: Currie 9-Plus with Randy's Posi-Traction, 31 Spline Axles - 3:70 Gear Ratio
-Rims are 15" by 12" wide Cragars in the rear and 14" by 6" wide in the front
-Rear Tires are MT Tubeless Drag Radials 30" tall by 13.50 wide
-Front Tires are P195-65 R14 Radials
UPDATE: 2008... Installing a roll bar.
Chassis modifications, welding, roll bar, etc., is being completed by
Rick Proctor Chassis - Phoenix, Arizona
Future Vintage Air Conditioning Unit.
FUTURE LICENSE PLATE OPTIONS:
Shown below are pictures of my new "Silver Bullet" 454 BBC motor
along with pictures of the 8-71 blower prior to being installed:
This video taken 10-30-08 ....
Update 12-22-08
Powered my the super charged 454 motor on 12-26-08…
sounded great (even though it was through the mufflers
with shorty headers until new fenderwell headers are modified).
02/02/2009
Reinstalled tilt front-end, new fenderwell headers altered & in place, installed line-lock,
installed Currie 9 Plus rear end with Positraction and 3:70 gears, installed
new boost gauge, trans. temp. &, water temp gauges, new floor shift, cut hole in hood
to allow carbs to stick out and put the hood down. Also installed new wheelie bars, and
altered front-suspension to raise car in front by 2 inches for curb clearance
More to come.... stay tuned!!
Jim....
Note: Car is a little dusty after cutting the hole in the fiberglass hood !!
Proposed lettering on the sides of the Coupe.
Note the new wheelie bars!!
Interior shot with new floor shifter, roll bar setup, some added gages, shift light, etc…..The red safety switch
on the back of the shifter is for my line lock… Although you cannot see them…there are 2 fan switches for
the radiator and a separate trans cooler at the back of the shifter. Eventually there will be a custom console
on the trans. hump. I am also converting all gauges to larger 2 5/8 Auto-Meter Sport Comp gauges like the
three mounted to the bottom of the dash. (need big gauges for old eyes)
03/10/2009
Fired motor to adjust carbs & timming... motor overheating.
Overheating due to deffective steel heads. I have ordered new set of Brodix BB-2 Aluminum heads.
More to come.... stay tuned!!
Jim....
05/18/2009
New aluminum Brodix Heads have arrived .... after preperation at Standard Machine they will be installed on
the new motor.
July 16, 2009...
Engine is re-installed with new Brodix Aluminum heads and seems to be running well except it still
runs on the warm side and carbs are set way too rich. Which brings up the next issue cooling. We are going to try several
things with the radiator, but I suspect a new larger radiator is in order.
Here is a Video of the engine running in my garage:
UPDATE: April 2010
Below are a few pictures showing construction of a new tilt front end mechanism.....
This is the prerequisite to installing a new custom built aluminum radiator by Griffin. This way we will be
able to position the new radiator directly in front of the car's grill.
Below are a few general pictures of the Willys showing the current configuration less a new Griffin Radator.
At last .... the 15" by 32.5" dual core 1.5 " tube Griffin radiator is here with dual 13 inch Spal electric fans.
The Spal fans are rated at 1370 cfm each... that will keep things pretty cool!
Plenty of clearance between the radiator and blower drive...... :>)
These new Spal fans create a real wind storm through the radiator !! Tested the new radiator setup
in 105 degree Arizona heat... ran 30 minutes at idle never exceeded 200 degrees...Success !!
TO BE CONTINUED.......
Below is a list of people I would like to thank that have done work on my
Willys or have helped me with their insight, knowledge, and support !!
Alger @ A&S Transmissions - (623) 910-9880 - Transmission Modifications
David Hoyt - Friend and Fellow Car Nut
Don Marsh - My Dad and Mentor
Harry Stoner - Friend, Advisor, and Fellow Racer
Jeff & Tim Marsh - My Brothers and Fellow Car Nuts
Jerry Kochanski - Friend and Fellow Car Nut
Jim Flagg - Friend, Mopar Expert and Fellow Car Nut
Mark Artis @ Texas Thunder Performance - (972) 712-6558 - My friend and Advisor
Mark Mahorney - Friend, Expert Paint and Body Man, Advisor and Fellow Racer (502) 245-5355
Mopar Ron Podsiadly - Friend, Mopar Expert, Advisor and Fellow Racer
Rick Proctor @ Rick's Chassis - (623) 297-0137 - Chassis modifications, Wiring, Roll cage, etc., etc..and more!!
Roger Lorton @ Stantard Machine - (623) 939-1431 - Friend, Expert Machinist, Advisor and Fellow Racer
Tyler "Dude" Marsh - My son who's help is irreplaceable !
And last but not least... My Wife Patti of 30+ years who puts up with my addiction to cars!
