Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => Willys Forum => Topic started by: Aeroman on March 08, 2011, 02:29:44 PM

Title: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 08, 2011, 02:29:44 PM: I was wondering what kind of parts need to be reproduced for our beloved Aeros. The only projects in the works that I know of are:

Lew Retzer & Ivan Dole are researching the '55 back-up lenses.

I am researching the roof rail weatherstrips for the hardtops (the rubber where the door vent wndows and roll-up windows meet the roof).

Neither of these are past the initial inquiry stage. We'd like to get a consensus on how many we could sell to see if these would be viable. If you're interested in either the roof rail w'strip or the b/u lenses let me know. Or maybe you have some other items that need to be done, let us know.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Chris Luecht on March 09, 2011, 05:40:21 PM: Rick,
I am in need of the backup lenses for my 55 Willys Custom. Could also use the clear insert for the hood ornament. Finally, an original radio (I know, no way these would be reproduced, but I still need one.)

(http://kfparts.com/junk/willys1.jpg)
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 09, 2011, 11:25:35 PM: Mike Fleming has the hood ornament lucite sails. Back-up lenses are around somewhere, maybe Lew will reproduce them. Check ebay for the radio, they show up regularly and there's a guy in the club that advertises he'll rebuild them. Check any one on ebay that's selling parts, maybe there's a radio in their parts car. Also check Terry Zeug.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 09, 2011, 11:27:04 PM: Chris, I like the rain visors on the '55 but you know those are '54 wheel covers, don't you?
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Chris Luecht on March 10, 2011, 05:52:32 PM: Thanks for the tips. I am aware the wheel covers are incorrect, and eventually I will change them, but for now, the red centers match the car well. Could you give me an idea of what the radio looks like, part numbers, etc. as the one in my car was missing and I am not sure which one would be correct. Did all Aeros use the same radio or is the 54-55 radio unique?
Regards,
Chris
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 10, 2011, 10:58:20 PM: The radio was made by Motorola, a WS2C 6 tube radio. The knobs were different with the later Aeros but it was the same radio from 1952-1955. I keep trying to post a pic but this fershlugginer forum keeps on messing me up. We need a simpler upload!
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: vettelang on March 11, 2011, 07:17:58 AM: Chris, I am afraid I need to confiscate your 54 wheel covers for my 54!

For repo parts the rocker outer would be a hit, also the front grille surrounds. The rocker could be generic and we could trim for door opening length and end treatment .
The front floor rubber mat would be more of a challenge.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Jim B PEI on March 11, 2011, 08:35:08 AM: Do none of the early production--because they look similar--Willys do Brasil cars supply any needs for any Willys Aero cars?
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: joefrazer on March 11, 2011, 03:25:12 PM: IKA parts for the 54-5 Kaisers and 52-5 W Aero cars are available on mercadolivre.com. IKA stuff for the 54-5 Kaisers seems more plentiful than W Aero parts.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Jim B PEI on March 11, 2011, 11:20:14 PM: Up through 1962, the Brazilian production Aero Willys seem to mimic the 55 North American Willys, front end and rear, including taillights
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: vettelang on March 12, 2011, 08:57:34 AM: Is there an English portsl to mercadolivre.com? My Portugese is a little limited.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Jim B PEI on March 12, 2011, 10:14:08 AM: No, but slow and steady can win the race. Perhaps its because I speak French, but I find the likely meanings in the Brazilian Portuguese the longer I look at it. Actually, Spanish is a lot closer than French. A few givens--where you see an H, consider it gone as in Justinho = Justin. The O with the tilde (~) over it is a sort of nazalized N as in Joao~ = John or Jon. Sao~ Paulo = St Paul. (With my computer keyboard, I can't actually get the tilde over the O.)

The REAL problem with Brazilian purchases is the "Real" or Brazilian currency. Its a 'metric' <g> conversion for Americans, as 100 Real = $60.xxx US, but the asking prices are more often than not completely "surReal" as in this ad for a 65 2600 Aero Willys http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-173912180-aero-willys-sorocaba-_JM Real 70.000 = $42,150!! It is like those occasional ads you see on Ebay for Russian cars located in Eastern Europe with completely unrealistic pricing such as $10,000 opening bid for a bare bones Lada, or $119,000 US for a Chaika. I have yet to find ANY bargains/reasonable pricing from Brazil, although I have purchased things from Argentina.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 14, 2011, 09:31:32 PM: As far as I can tell, (from 25 year old communications with Jose Penteado Vignoli in Sao Paulo, Brazil) the 1960-62 AeroWillys is the same car as the 1955 Willys Custom 4-door in the USA with these exceptions: all the Brazilians had the 161 F-head engine - this engine was upgraded a few years later to a dual carb intake manifold. All Brazilians had straight line side moldings rather than the zig zag of the USA cars. Brazilians had different interior fabrics and, I believe, hub caps, too. There may be other things, but that's all I'm aware of at this time.

For 1963, Brooks Stevens redid all the exterior sheet metal except the hood. The dash was also different on these later cars.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Jim B PEI on March 15, 2011, 07:31:18 AM: off topic, but looking through Mercadolivre, I saw this rarity

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-173413003-willys-interlagos-berlineta-1963-_JM
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Gordie on March 15, 2011, 12:13:23 PM: One thing that many of us need are the various scripts on the front fenders and deck lid. In the old days we could buy a parts car for a couple of hundred dollars that had all the miscellaneous parts that we needed but now it would be a couple of thousand if we could even find a complete car.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 15, 2011, 12:56:15 PM: Gordie,
The "Willys" script on the front fenders of the 1952-early 1954 cars and trunk lid of the late 1954-1955 cars was also used on some of the other Willys products. I see them NOS on ebay often.
I searched for over 20 years for a replacement for my "AeroEagle" script for my trunk lid and finally found one in a grabbag of parts on ebay, so I bought them all and that script was just as pitted as mine was, but at least I have an extra.
The 1952 "Aero Wing" script seems the most common and the "DeLuxe" script on the '54's was used on Eagles, Larks and Aces. The "Custom" script of the 1955 4-doors was also used on the '54 Eagle Custom, the one with the continental kit.
The toughest thing to find may be the flip-up center key cover for the trunk "W" on the 1952-54 cars. When you find one it's pitted or else the split shaft is broken.
NOS horn rings were tough to find until someone in Brazil started selling them expensively on ebay a few years ago, but they don't exist any where else.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Aeroman on March 15, 2011, 01:01:47 PM: Vettelang,
When you say "Grille Surrounds," do you mean the sheet metal the grille bolts to? If so, it, like a lot of sheet metal items, is still available in parts cars, which are not scarce yet, but are getting to be. I have an extra grille panel that I kept from a '54 Ace that I scrapped out years ago. I also have spare quarters, doors and fenders just in case. Hoods are another story since they are so rust prone.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: joefrazer on March 15, 2011, 03:45:16 PM: A few years ago, I bought an NOS 55W hood. It was perfect except that the seller stood it on end with the 'pointy' ends facing down. The weight of the hood, combined with the slightly damp barn, caused the ends to curl. It took alot of work to get them straight again.

As mentioned in earlier posts, NOS stuff is out there...but you'll have better luck finding good used parts.
Title: Re: Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:
Post by: Gordie on March 15, 2011, 06:28:45 PM: Quote from: Aeroman on March 15, 2011, 12:56:15 PM
Gordie,
The "Willys" script on the front fenders of the 1952-early 1954 cars and trunk lid of the late 1954-1955 cars was also used on some of the other Willys products. I see them NOS on ebay often.
I searched for over 20 years for a replacement for my "AeroEagle" script for my trunk lid and finally found one in a grabbag of parts on ebay, so I bought them all and that script was just as pitted as mine was, but at least I have an extra.
The 1952 "Aero Wing" script seems the most common and the "DeLuxe" script on the '54's was used on Eagles, Larks and Aces. The "Custom" script of the 1955 4-doors was also used on the '54 Eagle Custom, the one with the continental kit.
The toughest thing to find may be the flip-up center key cover for the trunk "W" on the 1952-54 cars. When you find one it's pitted or else the split shaft is broken.
NOS horn rings were tough to find until someone in Brazil started selling them expensively on ebay a few years ago, but they don't exist any where else.

Thanks Rick, that is good info for us to have!