Willard Battery Cover

1941 - 1945, Willys MB & Ford GPW jeeps, NO EBAY, Craigslist or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Post Reply
Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rustman » Thu May 12, 2022 5:01 am

As promised here is another update. And it's a BIG ONE!

First the caveat that we aren't ready to ship yet, we still need to make the tops. More on that in a moment.

But here are cases! We have cast four Jeep cases. So if you are on the waiting list and near the top chances are in these pictures is YOUR case.
IMG_9618.jpeg
IMG_9620 2.jpeg
IMG_9619.jpeg
IMG_9617.jpeg
Here's the reproductions sitting with our reference originals:
IMG_9621.jpeg
And the Tops... After a year of making Tops one way my wife suggested a different method. Below is a picture of one of our new version of the Tops for the Napa/Deka batteries. We are working with Bryan to get 3D design files to make a casting master to make tops for these cases that are as authentic as possible without pouring actual hot tar. The below picture gives you an idea of what is coming.
IMG_9616.jpeg
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


SGM (ret)
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 174
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:47 am
Location: Lower Pineland, South Carolina

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by SGM (ret) » Thu May 12, 2022 7:31 am

Very, very nice!

I'm looking forward to when you're ready for regular production and orders.

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rustman » Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:03 am

Crawling slowly towards the finish line. We don't have the Tops yet. I was out of the country for 3 weeks... But as we are headed to the convention I wanted to do a mockup to give people an idea of what's to come. So here it is. Using one of our East Penn battery Tops and some castings. This is very close to what the final appearance will look like. The openings for the posts will be smaller and aligned correctly for the Optima, there will be different lettering and the fills & vents will be lined up how the originals are, not in a straight line like they are to accommodate the fill on the East Penn battery.
IMG_9808.jpeg
But where's the seam? Here's a little peak under the skirts. This is where we took some Holywood Prop license with the process.
IMG_9810.jpeg
Instead of beating ourselves up trying to make mechanical and functional joint visible on the top, we moved it to the side where it's hidden by the hold down. In this picture I'm using 3M VHB trim tape dots in the four corners (same stuff that holds the cell connectors down), but black CA glue or epoxy could be used for a smooth but rather permanent solution. But with the hold down there's really no need. In fact there's no need for the trim tape dots when putting this in your engine compartment. But I wanted it all to stay together nicely for the drive to Indiana and will have a second case with no top showing the battery inside it.

A few points. The Top is 1/8" thick and the final version for the cases will match the profile of the corners etc. This one here is a touch too large.

Come on by and chat batteries this week at the Century Center. We will be in the lower main hall opposite the displays right at the bottom of the stairs.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:17 am

Rustman wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:03 am
Crawling slowly towards the finish line. We don't have the Tops yet. I was out of the country for 3 weeks... But as we are headed to the convention I wanted to do a mockup to give people an idea of what's to come. So here it is. Using one of our East Penn battery Tops and some castings. This is very close to what the final appearance will look like. The openings for the posts will be smaller and aligned correctly for the Optima, there will be different lettering and the fills & vents will be lined up how the originals are, not in a straight line like they are to accommodate the fill on the East Penn battery.

IMG_9808.jpeg

But where's the seam? Here's a little peak under the skirts. This is where we took some Holywood Prop license with the process.

IMG_9810.jpeg

Instead of beating ourselves up trying to make mechanical and functional joint visible on the top, we moved it to the side where it's hidden by the hold down. In this picture I'm using 3M VHB trim tape dots in the four corners (same stuff that holds the cell connectors down), but black CA glue or epoxy could be used for a smooth but rather permanent solution. But with the hold down there's really no need. In fact there's no need for the trim tape dots when putting this in your engine compartment. But I wanted it all to stay together nicely for the drive to Indiana and will have a second case with no top showing the battery inside it.

A few points. The Top is 1/8" thick and the final version for the cases will match the profile of the corners etc. This one here is a touch too large.

Come on by and chat batteries this week at the Century Center. We will be in the lower main hall opposite the displays right at the bottom of the stairs.

Matt

Hello Matt,

That looks great, well worth waiting for !!
Keep up your great works !!
I am looking forward to getting a few :D :D

Best Regards,
Ray

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rustman » Thu Jun 23, 2022 5:08 pm

Ray, thanks for the kind words. We are creeping along. Been some printer issues that I've had to work through. 3D Resin printing is not my strong skillset but we are getting there. Bryan has been doing some incredible design work for us. Here's the updated lettering for the center cell cover:
IMG_0137.jpeg
Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

User avatar
whatthecrunchyo
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 252
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:21 pm
Location:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by whatthecrunchyo » Fri Jun 24, 2022 9:08 am

Very exciting! I can’t wait. This is by far the #1 most needed part in the G503 world. I am really surprised no one else has tackled it yet!!
1944 Willys MB 305597 (2-15-44)

User avatar
1942 Ford GPW 352nd
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 286
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:24 am
Location:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:19 am

Rustman wrote:
Thu Jun 23, 2022 5:08 pm
Ray, thanks for the kind words. We are creeping along. Been some printer issues that I've had to work through. 3D Resin printing is not my strong skillset but we are getting there. Bryan has been doing some incredible design work for us. Here's the updated lettering for the center cell cover:

IMG_0137.jpeg

Matt
Hi Matt,
Hopefully, you have been able to work through some of the issues as the finished product will look great!

Rick E.
G-First Sergeant
G-First Sergeant
Posts: 143
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:07 am
Location: Curtis, Washington

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rick E. » Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:48 am

I'll take one!

Ginasjackpot
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2021 8:22 am
Location: Czech rep

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Ginasjackpot » Thu Oct 13, 2022 9:01 am

Rick E. wrote:
Wed Oct 05, 2022 6:48 am
I'll take one!
Me too :-) I'll take one :-)
Mb 42

Afg -vet ...

User avatar
Jon Lewis
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 304
Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 8:47 am
Location: Tampa, FL

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Jon Lewis » Thu Oct 13, 2022 9:07 am

Still interested... :lol:
1942 Columbia Bicycle
1942 Ben Hur
1943 Dodge WC52
1968 M715 w/winch
1969 M416
1969 M101A1

mmamajor
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 499
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:53 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by mmamajor » Thu Oct 13, 2022 9:27 am

Please add me to the list for one also.
42 GPW 19671 5-18-42 Louisville
42 GPW 53244 7-28-42 Dearborn
43 GPW 116885 5-18-43 Louisville # 20388364
43 GPW 124588 6-28-43 Dallas # 20386887
44 GPW 184360
M-1 Bomb lift
M-5 Bomb Trailer

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rustman » Mon Oct 17, 2022 6:16 am

Thanks everyone for your patience. We are still creeping slowly forward. Waiting on some design files now for printing the master for the tops of the cases, now that the printer is sorted.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

User avatar
Michael O.
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6131
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2003 12:29 am
Location: The Great State of Nebraska

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Michael O. » Mon Oct 17, 2022 12:04 pm

When things are sorted out I’d like buy one, please.
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

Gizzard
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri May 21, 2021 7:39 am
Location: Greenville Texas.

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Gizzard » Mon Nov 14, 2022 1:08 pm

I would like to purchase also.

..............lemme know and I'll send the dough.

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Cover

Post by Rustman » Mon Nov 14, 2022 8:29 pm

Work on the casting master for the top of the case will resume on Black Friday. I'm out of town for work right now. Just ordered more casting materials.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


Post Reply

Return to “Willys MB & Ford GPW, For Sale Section”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 48 guests