Rango.....1942 Willys MB

[Metcalf]

Yes, I bought full 180 degree mandrel bends and then cut them to the angles I needed. I made a little cheat sheet paper template to mark cut lines for every 5 degrees of bend. That helped a lot. I purchased the bends from Summit Racing. They where the low cost versions...I think I paid about $20 per $180 degree bend. I think I did my entire exhaust with 3 180 degree bends total and just used the tails on the bends for straight pipe. I was a touch short on straight pipe but ended using some .120 wall, 2.5" tubing for my crush resistant exhaust tip and that gave me enough tubing. I totally lucked out......

 

[bishopdunn]

Thanks, what did you make the rubber hangers out of? They don't look like normal exhaust hangers.

 

[Metcalf]

I used these for the isolators. They seem to be in the universal parts section of most auto parts places for less than $5

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...insulator/_/N-25vy?itemIdentifier=110789_0_0_

The hanger was just round rod I bent to shape.

Then I used a pin from the hardware store welded to the frame, a washer or two, and a quick clip pin to hold it all together.

All in all it worked really well. So the exhaust system is great. I get a little 'off-throttle' pop from the glasspack, but I like the sound overall. Its not too loud.....or too loud for being in a 70 year old open top vehicle with a super aggressive tires.

 

[Metcalf]

Made a friend today.....

I entered the Willys in the local fathers day car show......

 

[jeepdreamer]

Coolness!

That's freakin' awesome seeing you parked next to its new friend. Guess yesterday was a good day for MB spotting... I stumbled across this as i was headed to the shop to work on my XJ...

 

[Metcalf]

I'm not very happy with my SM420, custom adapter, and D18. Its a cool one off piece....but I tend to worry about the one off parts in the long run. I have a persistent leak with the adapter also.....

So if I replace the existing transmission and transfer case what should I replace it with?

Shorter is better
Keeping my existing GM bellhousing would be nice
clearance for a 1310 front output yoke is a must

SM465, T18, T19, NP435, ???

 

[jeepdreamer]

Nothing is shorter than the 420 brotha! Is there no way to adapt it differently or use a Dana 20 or 300? I know you'd lose the rear offset but its kinda 6 one way, half dozen the other? The 465 and 435 are both physically a good deal larger transmissions. The T-18/19 maybe a little less so. Without going super right field and losing strength and gearing I don't have much to offer. Even a 'yota or Sami trans/tcase would be difficult/expensive due to the engine needs...

 

[Metcalf]

The SM420 really isn't THAT short once you stack an adapter on it. My custom 1/2" long adapter is a one off and causes more issues than it solves. The SM420 also has the reverse bulge on the passenger side that creates a lot of front driveshaft issues.

So far a T18 is winning. I loose a little gearing ( 6.32 vs 7.05 1st gear ) but the overall length is only about 2" longer than what I have now. I can use a factory input gear to the D18 ( overdrive and/or TeraLow gearset ) and a regular size 1310 yoke on the front output. I can get the T18 modded to bolt up to my existing bellhousing also.

I could do a normal SM420 to D18 adapter but that adds 4" to the length. It doesn't really solve my front driveshaft issue all the way either.

I need to keep the t-case outputs offset I think. No D300 or D20. I would love the front wheel drive capability but it doesn't fix the transmission issues really. I don't mine the D18 transfer case. I just want to be able to run a normal 1310 front yoke and all factory parts in it...no one off custom parts to break.

 

[flexiheep]

I have used the AA 420 to D18 adapter it is listed as 4" long. I fit a 1310 yolk on my front shaft with some grinding to the tranny case. Novak lists there adapter at 4.4" which might allow a 1310, or at least require less grinding than I did. Look carefully at what is included in each kit as i think the Novak includes parts you have to buy separate with the AA kit.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Metcalf]

Thanks for the info. I'm not super attached to my SM420 at this point. A T18 seems like such a better fit in the chassis. No worries about the 1310 front yoke and you can even run a normal diameter front driveshaft for the most part. The SM420 reverse bulge is still going to be in the way even with a longer adapter. This thing sits so low even the nose on the starter is an issue for driveshaft clearance.

 

[Metcalf]

I drove the Willys into work today....

I got one 'Thats ************' and one thumbs up at the gas station while I got my ice tea.

Overall it drove pretty nice. I have a slight shake in the steering wheel at 50-55? I think its probably the front tires being out of round, out of balance, or not having a steering stabilizer. You can still let go of the steering wheel and it tracks straight at 50+ ( the wheel just moves back and forth a bit? )

Think I should put a steering stabilizer on it?

Fun Fun

 

[jeepdreamer]

Sta-Bill...Stay!

Adding a stabilizer may be worth a try if you have one laying around. IIRC you got those tires used, right? I would be inclined to think your wobble is in them more than anything. Plus it hasn't seen a lot of pavement time, has it? Driving on hard stuff may actually help the tires... who knows?

 

[Metcalf]

Yup, used tires and wheels. Krawlers on steel beadlocks probably are not going to be perfect no matter what.....

The vehicle probably has more pavement time on it than anything at this point. I have been trying to get some miles on it to iron out bugs.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Did you even try and balance them monsters? I suppose you could take them to a real tire shop and see if they can "true" them on the wheel... or maybe add some ballast (I hear Airsoft pellets work?) to help with the tire?

 

[MrBeast]

Man I love the car show pics, although the stock CJ sitting next to yours looks anemic by comparison. I really like how yours is low to the ground, too many people lift them too high.