Page 53 - Issue 44

Wha
What grabs you fi rst? Is it the sheer length t grabs you fi rst? Is it the sheer length
of the vehicle? The big Caddy motor sticking
of the vehicle? The big Caddy motor sticking
out of the middle? Maybe it’s just the fact that
out of the middle? Maybe it’s just the fact that
it’s a ‘31 Willys and you’ve probably never seen
it’s a ‘31 Willys and you’ve probably never seen
one before. It kind of looks like a mechanical
one before. It kind of looks like a mechanical
praying mantis, ready to devour any wayward
praying mantis, ready to devour any wayward
Kia or Honda that crosses its path.
Kia or Honda that crosses its path.
Inspired by Pat McNeal’s crazy V12 ‘42 GMC
Inspired by Pat McNeal’s crazy V12 ‘42 GMC
COE, Jarrod designed his own mid-engined
COE, Jarrod designed his own mid-engined
creation. He says, “I looked at so many Facebook
creation. He says, “I looked at so many Facebook
pages to fi nd anybody else who might have done
pages to fi nd anybody else who might have done
it. We couldn’t, so we just winged it”. Starting
it. We couldn’t, so we just winged it”. Starting
with a rare vehicle to begin with, as only 3,000 or
with a rare vehicle to begin with, as only 3,000 or
so were ever built, he added a Pines Winterfront
so were ever built, he added a Pines Winterfront
grille. A which? Also, super rare, it was a slatted
grille. A which? Also, super rare, it was a slatted
insert designed to hold the engine heat in during
insert designed to hold the engine heat in during
the winter when the slats were closed, and let
the winter when the slats were closed, and let
air fl ow through the radiator when the slats were
air fl ow through the radiator when the slats were
opened during the summer. The cab of the Willys
opened during the summer. The cab of the Willys
has been chopped four inches and channeled
has been chopped four inches and channeled
another four inches over the frame. A foot of real
another four inches over the frame. A foot of real
estate was removed from the hood.
estate was removed from the hood.
That huge frame was built by both Jarrod and
That huge frame was built by both Jarrod and
his new bride, Susan and is constructed of 3/16”
his new bride, Susan and is constructed of 3/16”
wall 2”x4” rectangular tubing.
wall 2”x4” rectangular tubing.
The thick tubing paired with the tremendous
The thick tubing paired with the tremendous
amount of bracing make for a very rigid frame
amount of bracing make for a very rigid frame
with no fl ex. This is no simple task with a 167-inch
with no fl ex. This is no simple task with a 167-inch
wheelbase and so much weight in the center.
wheelbase and so much weight in the center.
Jarrod pieced the front suspension together on
Jarrod pieced the front suspension together on
his own using Camaro spindles and brakes, control
his own using Camaro spindles and brakes, control
arms of his own design, QA1 coilovers, and an
arms of his own design, QA1 coilovers, and an
Omni/Horizon steering rack for its rear-steer setup.
Omni/Horizon steering rack for its rear-steer setup.
The rear is a complete IRS out of an ‘86 Jaguar
The rear is a complete IRS out of an ‘86 Jaguar

RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 53

48x55 DesertRats.indd 53 6/5/17 11:40 AM