OT: Retro Wrangler/Willys Pickup (long)

[CJ-8_Jim]

From what I remember from my days working in Dearborn on the LVC (Large Vechicle Center) product development teams in the 1990s, that was initially designed for a 1998 Ford.

However, it could have easily come off a later Ford if the part was a carryover on later model years. Spare tires don't get redesigned each year, so it could have been OEM part on a later Ford.


F8VC-1007-EB

F= 1990s
8= 8th year of the 1990s
V= vehicle line... can't recall what V represented
C= the engineering group responsible

1007 = part family

EB = engineering's version of the part

 

[jscherb]

...
F8VC-1007-EB

F= 1990s
8= 8th year of the 1990s
V= vehicle line... can't recall what V represented
C= the engineering group responsible

1007 = part family

EB = engineering's version of the part

Thanks Jim, with that info and a quick google search I found a site that explains it all... http://www.classicmustang.com/decoding_part_numbers.htm.

From that it would appear to be from a 98 (or later) Lincoln. Good to know in case I want to snag another one at the junkyard... it's a pretty cool wheel and very lightweight compared to the steel one, so it will hang nice and easy on the bed side :-)

Jeff

 

[Randyzzz]

I couldn't log on at work today, so I'll jot down the # and check tomorrow. But- 98 and up Lincoln looks correct...

 

[Randyzzz]

Ok, got a chance to get on at work-

The proper part number is F8VZ 1007 EA. (Your number is the engineering number.) Retail price $294.58. Original equipment on 1998-2002 Lincoln Town Cars. Checked Crown Vics, not OE on similar years.

 

[jscherb]

Ok, got a chance to get on at work-

The proper part number is F8VZ 1007 EA. (Your number is the engineering number.) Retail price $294.58. Original equipment on 1998-2002 Lincoln Town Cars. Checked Crown Vics, not OE on similar years.

Wow! $294.58 for $9.00, can't complain about that deal :-)

Thanks for the info, I'll keep my eye out for another one at the Pick-N-Pull for that price...

Jeff

 

[jscherb]

Fabrication has begun

Began working on the fenders this weekend; below is one page of the design drawing for them and one early photo. I'm starting with some trailer fenders that are more or less the right length, but too narrow, so I've sectioned two of them to make one that's wide enough. The vertical lip of the trailer fender is too narrow also, so I'll be adding an inch to the lip as you can see in the drawing. The trailer fenders are a pretty good match for the TJ's front fenders in terms of curve and angle. In the photo the fender is sitting in front of an old Willys fender, which is a bit too rounded to match the TJ's lines, but I put them side by side for comparison. You can also see the deeper lip on the Willys fender I'll be replicating on the new fender. Also in the drawing you can see the ridge I'll be adding at the bottom of the fenders to match the ridge on the lower edge of the TJ's front fender.

 

[jscherb]

Build progress

Here's the progress on the rear fenders so far. In the lower right you can see the new fender sitting on top of an old Willys fender for size and shape comparison. They have the same basic size and shape but the new fender's corners are a bit more square to better integrate with the TJ's lines.

In the lower left you can see the front and rear edge detail; this also will match the TJ's front fender edges when everything is faired together with some filler.

Next up is widening the lips another inch and a quarter - they are 1 inch now and look much too thin; the Willys fender lips are about 2 1/4". After that a skim coat of body filler to smooth the flat surfaces and the fairing work on the ends.

More progress photos in a week.

Jeff

 

[jscherb]

Fenders mocked up on the LJ

Fenders are nearing completion, finished the wider edges. Below is a photo of one of the fenders sitting in front of the LJ (on some high tech "fender stands", fender is sitting maybe 2" too high). Since the last photo I decided to "widen the legs" of the fenders to better match the TJ flare shape; the smaller photos show a TJ flare sitting on top of a fender (almost exact size/shape) and one of the fenders sitting on an original Willys fender so you can see the additional spread.

Oh BTW this is the LJ after the 2" lift and 32" tires on Rubi Moab wheels so it is now at the height it will be for the pickup conversion.

I'm pretty happy with how the fenders look against the Jeep and with the front flares but I'm looking for your comments please.

Jeff

 

[bigwalton]

I think they look great, would love to see them painted

 

[Randyzzz]

I think they look great!

 

[jscherb]

Thanks guys! My next step is to do a skim coat of body filler to smooth over the welds and then get them primed. My plan is to get them to 95% perfect (probably the best I'm capable of anyway) and then let the body shop do the final smoothing when they paint everything. I've invested in a 17" air-powered stright-line sander so I can get the flat parts perfectly flat with the filler, should make the job easier. Eric, if I can find an oxide red primer I'll use that so you can see them sort of painted :-).

After looking at the fenders mocked up as in the photo earlier, I do think that they will look fine with the front fender flares painted the body color. The shapes aren't all that different so I think they'll integrate well.

But... Eric here's the other front flare/fender idea in case the stock flares just don't look right - I could build new flares (or maybe should call them fender extensions) from the same trailer fenders. In the photos below, I'm holding a scrap from the rear fender project up against the front. This scrap is too narrow, but you can get the idea. These could either be built to bolt on exactly like flares, or I could make the top of this extension flush with the TJ fender top and actually weld it to become part of the fender. Either way they would be identical to the rear fenders. Anyway, that's the backup idea in case the painted stock flares don't look exactly right.

Jeff

 

[bigwalton]

OOOOH, I like that idea

 

[Truck]

Me likey too!!

 

[donaghy]

very nice

very nice.... great work..

matt

 

[Randyzzz]

Welded, contoured front flares...that's awesome!

 

[twmattox]

Been a while since I have chimed in on this thread...

I agree, the stock flares look fine. However, the metal ones you are looking into look much better (in my opinion). Either way, I am jealous...

 

[jscherb]

One down, one to go...

Here's a couple of pictures of the first fender in primer. I'm pretty happy with how they worked out; I think they will match the TJ front fenders pretty well. All the flat parts are actually flat and the curves are uniform, they are about 95% there. I'll leave the last 5% for the body shop when they paint the entire pickup.

 

[trust]

My gosh I love your work! Those fenders turned out exceptionally well, far better than factory thats for sure. I'm really lookin gforward to seeing this come to fruition.

do you do work for others? I have this MG that needs some work......

 

[bigwalton]

Right on!

What's next? Front flare welded extensions?

 

[jscherb]

I'm still finishing the other fender, that will be done by the end of the week.

Since my garage still isn't ready to begin the main build, I'll keep working on fabricating the various components. Next up will be the tailgate. You probably know I'm planning on using a reproduction bed for a 41-46 Chevy; it is the same size as the Willys bed but the repros are higher quality than the Willys repros and have better aftermarket support.

The aftermarket provides smooth custom tailgate covers that weld on to the stock 40's tailgate. Typically those building custom rods will use these either for a smooth custom look or sometimes they'll put louvers in it. I've ordered one of these smooth covers and I will be cutting the embossed Jeep logo and surrounding rectangle out of the tailgate that was left over from my Scrambler World Cab project and welding it into the cover to end up with a tailgate that looks like it could be factory Jeep. At the bottom of this post you can see an example of one of these custom smooth covers on a later model Chevy, an early photo of the 1:25 scale model showing the tailgate, and a drawing of how I expect the rear of the completed pickup to look.

So the tailgate is the next mini-project for the build. Comments on this part of the project welcome as always...
Jeff

EDIT: updated tailgate drawing below with step bumper.