Starting with the chassis, TMG got to work building a foundation for this radical, contemporary Gasser Pickup. The customer had plans for a wild engine, so the chassis had to be stout. It also needed to look trick, since this gasser-inspired pickup was going to sit tall and proud, everything is visible and had to fit the overall theme of the truck. The crew carefully planned and designed a wild round-tube chassis made from .083”- wall chromoly in various diameters.
This radical Willys Gasser Pickup is the result of meticulous engineering, expert craftsmanship, and a bold vision. With a custom round-tube chromoly chassis, extensive body modifications, and a one-of-a-kind 498ci V6 Hemi, every detail was purpose-built to push the limits of design and performance. From its aggressive stance to the raw power under the hood, this build embodies the spirit of classic gassers while showcasing modern innovation. The result? A show-stopping machine that not only turns heads but also earned the prestigious Al Slonaker Memorial Award at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show.
Knowing the truck was being set up for the monster v6 Hemi engine the chassis had to be built stout. It also needed to look trick, since this gasser-inspired pickup was going to sit tall and proud, everything is visible and had to fit the overall theme of the truck. The crew carefully planned and designed a wild round-tube chassis made from .083”- wall chromoly in various diameters. We began the build by first fixturing the top of the chassis itself. That set the stage as we then flipped the entire jig over and built the bottom portion of the chassis virtually upside down. It was eventually flipped back over to set ride height. The entire chassis weighs just shy of 270 pounds. In the front, a custom straight axle was fabricated to provide more than enough strength to keep things pointed in the right direction. A steering rack was tucked up close to the engine so the steering components are largely hidden when viewed from the front. A gasser-appropriate floater rearend hangs from coil overs and custom TMG-fabricated chromoly ladder bars. It rolls on real magnesium Halibrands, with spindle mounts in the front and 6-lug 16×12-inchers in the rear.
As far as the body, there wasn’t much to salvage—only about 25% of the original sheet metal remained. Being that the Willys pickup was built only to be affordable and utilitarian and came from the factory with terrible fit and finish, beads and body lines with no rhyme or reason, and sheet metal that was nailed to a wooden structure, we had our work cut out for us. The back of the cab was especially poor with strange proportions and an awkward rear window. We jumped in by starting with a big block of foam and began trimming and sanding until it looked right. From there, the measurements were transferred to make a wooden buck, then new sheet metal was shaped over the buck. The result is how it should have come from the factory.
The powerplant is immaculate and unexpected. Legendary engine wizard Nick Arias Jr. cut down his big V8 to create a massive, all-aluminum 498-inch V6 Hemi. To harness this monster, a ton of custom parts had to be built to fit an engine that was literally wider than it was long into a famously cramped Willys engine compartment. TMG worked together with Missile Engineered Race Components to make the rare Hemi look at home in its vintage surroundings. A Hilborn stack injection was cut down and made to work with modern EFI. 11:1 pistons squeeze the mixture and spark comes from a custom crank trigger, coil-on-plug setup. The fire-breathing monster roars through custom fabricated zoomies with 2 ½” primaries based on the customer’s design. The combination makes around 800 horsepower and gives off a nasty roar.
Absolutely no corners were cut as this project debuted and won the Al Slonaker Memorial Award at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show—an extremely proud moment for TMG and our customer. A true testament to a carefully thought-out and well-executed plan and the craftsmen who made it all work.
