Okay, so it's been a while since my last update, I haven't been working on the car as much as I have hoped to.. Got the brake/clutch pedals hung, steering column mounted, and firewall about ready to weld up. I have all the patterns ready to make the floor/transmission tunnel, which will be a huge step in the right direction. I am planning to start buying brake plumbing components and mount the exhaust system from the header rearward before I get the floor sheetmetal done. Here are some pics:

Got the body back off so I can begin fabricating the exhaust system. I will be going from mild steel wheelwell (fenderwell) headers to 2.5" stainless steel that will travel through the frame rail and to the mufflers. The trick will be to get up and over the rear end because there isn't much room when the car is dropped down onto the stops.

Next on the list of things to do is create some headers and get the brake system in place. I got a Wilwood triple master cylinder/clutch cylinder kit in the mail that will take care of the brakes/clutch, and also got the J-tubes to make some 2" headers along with the 3.5" collectors. I am going for a somewhat nostalgic feel to the car, so decided to build some wheelwell headers that will sit just above the ground when the airbags are deflated. I have now finished the spot-welding on the passenger side, and hope to continue over to the drivers side soon.

We finally have had a few days of nice weather around here, so I pulled the Willys out to snap a couple new pictures. Started to layout the firewall, got the transmission crossmember in, installed both battery mounts in the back, and received the Hushpower HP-2 mufflers that I will be using...

Just got a few key pieces in order to get the engine/trans into place. I got a Wilcap Hemi to Ford 302 adapter plate that was custom machined to match the outside dimensions of the QuickTime bellhousing that goes from Tremec TKO-600 to Ford 302. This custom work will increase ground clearance to the bellhousing and provide a very small package for the transmission in terms of tunnel size. I also got a set of Chassis Engineering motor mounts that will do the trick nicely to set the Hemi in place. Also on order is a transmission mount so that I can calculate the crossmember drop that I will need to get the engine firmly into place. Here are some pics!

Got the 331 Hemi over to my house this weekend and have been excited to get it dropped into place to check out a preliminary fit. I will be ordering motor mounts in the next couple days. I also just ordered my QuickTime bellhousing which will adapt from the Tremec TKO-600 to a Ford 302. Then I am sending the bellhousing to Wilcap where Pat will be custom-machining an adapter that will match the outer profile of the bellhousing. This will maximize the ground clearance, and provide a steel bellhousing that won't let the flywheel into the driver's compartment if anything bad happens. Enjoy!

So I just had to give a quick update because I am excited about my new purchase - a Tremec TKO600 transmission. I bought it from a fellow street rodder from Craigslist for a great deal, and now just need to figure out how to adapt it to the 354 Hemi.


Along with the new purchase, it was time to get ready to test-fit the beast into the engine compartment, so I also got the body solidly mounted so that I can start cutting away at the floor as well as remove the firewall. The firewall is out now, and the floor is next on the list. Next weekend I will be trial-fitting the engine to see what will and won't fit. Here are some pictures for now: