Not much to show this week as been stripping down the 48 cab. Was so much harder as had extra welds where the 58 didn't and far more spot welds too. Don't know if it had some thing to do with the change of ownership when Willys Overland merged with Kaiser-Frazer Corporation which then traded as Willys Motors in 1953?
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Can see this cab has extensive rust in the lower quarter panels on both sides. Fortunately the upper half was much better. Even the 58 cab is rusted here but not as badly so will repair those.
I have been looking at where I will add extra width to the grille and bonnet. This example they have added 5" each side extra between the headlights and the grille. Makes the grille look a bit too tall and skinny in my eyes.
The other thing is if done this way as the grille stays stock width and will cover about 5" of the radiator core from the donor I will be using.
On this one they have added 10" only to the grille area which changes the grille slots from 8 to 12. I think it looks too wide now and is more than the radiator needs as well so a lot of airflow passes by the sides.
So I am thinking of going some where between the two examples. Adding 2" next to the grille and only 2 extra slots in the grille to make 10, which is actually the same number the 48 cab had stock, just narrower ones. The photochop I show has the 10 slots now but have not added the extra 2" each side next to the grille in it. I will also be adding a total of just under 9" to mine rather than 10".
The only problem this gives is that it is a lot harder to add the extra to the bonnet/hood which must be added in the same spot. So rather than just one weld seam each side, will have to add 2 for a total of 4 full length welds running down the bonnet. That is a lot of heat to control to stop the whole lot buckling.
a total of 4 full length welds running down the bonnet. That is a lot of heat to control to stop the whole lot buckling.
