Features Research Archives

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Another cool flattie from R&P

May 5, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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John, from R&P 4WD, forwarded another neat flattie.

John writes, “Steve, our resident AT/wiring guru has had this in one of the back bays for the last year.  The pictures don’t do any justice to the super slick paint job on the frame.  Boxed and stretched frame (8″ in the front horns), small block Ford, C4 automatic, Model 18 TC, and an overdrive from Herm.  Here’s the reallt slick part, Jeep XJ rear leaf springs, under all 4 corners.  R&P Dana 44 front, with disc brakes, and a R&P full floater kit in the rear, with 11″ drums.”

 
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Nice Flattie Build

May 5, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-3A, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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John from R&P 4WD forwarded pics of his customer’s nice flattie build. It has YJ SOA, R&P High Pinion Dana 44’s front and rear, Buick V6, GM SM 420, Dana Model 20, crusing around on 35″ rubber..

 
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Custom RC Jeep

May 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Models, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Jerry spotted this at the scale4x4rc.org forums.

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64939

 
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Pontoon Bridge over the River Po

May 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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According to the Denver Public Library’s Digital Archives, this photo “Shows pontoon bridge over the River Po. Two Tenth Mountain Division soldiers drive a jeep loaded with boxes. Four more loaded jeeps drive through a cut in an embankment. Twelve soldiers sit nearby or stand ready to work near the bridge. Italian citizens and more soldiers sit at the top of the cut and watch the passing convoy. Many of the Italians have bicycles with them.”

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42747/rec/18

 
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Gary Updates his CJ-5

May 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Gary forwarded these updates on his CJ-5.  See an earlier post about his jeep here.

“I first want to say the NP435 transmission was a challenge but it was worth the work. It shifts very well. I like the extra low first gear and reverse. In one of the pictures you can see the transmission cover with cup holders I made. I took and modified an electrical box and covered it with spray on bed liner then, I used the same boot that I had on my T90.

I decided to go back with stock manifold on my exhaust. Lawrence uses a good method instead of using a Y-pipe he uses a dual flow muffler with two inlets and one outlet. I am much happier with this. It puts all the fumes out the back and is a lot quieter. I will send you a picture of the build Lawrence is working on which shows this application. After looking at his, I took my Jeep to the same muffler shop and ordered a duplicate.

The master cylinder reservoir works nice as well, you can see it on the driver side in one of the pictures.

I added a detachable Reece brand tow bar, the brackets are on the front bumper.

I am finished working on it until cold weather comes again. I have some axles out of a parts Jeep that have 3.73 gears. That will be my next project.”

Below is the exhaust system Lawrence has installed on his jeep.

 

 
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Ice Skating in East Tawas, Mi

May 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Treb found this great old picture from East Tawas, Mi.  Great pic.  Kids, if you try this at home, don’t tell you parents you saw it here!

 
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DC’s CJ-3A/M38

May 2, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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DC bought this jeep back in November.  He’s spent sometime doing some updates and just got done taking some pictures.  It looks like a great little ride.  Enjoy it this summer DC!

 
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Mile High Jeep Club in Central City, Colorado

May 2, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Museums, Old Images Jeeping • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This great photo was shot August 14, 1965, and can be seen at the Denver Public Library Digital Collections.

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/194/rec/1

 
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Jeep Pics at the Denver Public LIbrary

May 2, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Library Collections, Museums, Old Images • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I was looking for something, can’t even remember what at the moment, when I ran across this picture of jeeps at a race in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Hemmings.  That lead me to the Denver Public Library Digital Collections where I found a variety of pics.

Here is one image of kids on a jeep as part of a war bond effort.

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9467/rec/7

Here is a second photo:

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9461/rec/8

The caption on this photo notes these men are wounded vets and are touring the Gates Rubber Plant in Denver.

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/36084/rec/20

Here are some post war jeepers exploring mining areas in Colorado in the 1950s.

http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/14795/rec/23

 
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Old Jeep Pics from Medellin, Colombia

April 30, 2012 • CATEGORIES: CJ-3B, CJ5, Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, trailer This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Kerry spotted these pics on a friend’s facebook page.  They are part of the Fotos Antiquas de Medellin and may have come from this Facebook page.

 
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May 2012 Issue of Hot Rod Deluxe Magazine

April 30, 2012 • CATEGORIES: CJ-6, Features, Magazine, Old Images, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mark reports that the recent edition of Hot Rod Deluxe Magazine has a variety of jeep pictures in it.  Here are a couple.  I have yet to pick up my copy.

Mark writes, “Found this cool copy of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine – May 2012 edition while in Barnes and Noble the other day. This nice little gem features a ton of Willys cars, trucks and quite a few Willys Jeeps as well. See pics attached. Page 6 features the first Four Wheel Drive Grand Prix in 1965 with allot of Jeeps in the pic. Page 33 features Bob Panella’s huge collection of Willys cars and trucks. Scattered throughout the rest of the pages you will find race jeeps and tricked out jeeps from back in the day which are pretty cool.”

 
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Nicely Shaped Aluminum Body for Willys Sedan

April 30, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This has nothing to do with jeeps, but Steve forwarded it thinking I might like it.  I did.  I figured some of you would too.

According to the attached text of the email, “Check this out… a hand-formed all-aluminum Willys Coupe! It’s amazing what some people can do with an English rolling wheel, sheet metal brake and a lot of skill and knowledge. No, he is not going to paint it.  I love the polished flames!  It’s got the right stuff under the hood, too! The hood scoop has yet to be installed in the photo below (Look closely). This is Walt Austin’s aluminum Willys coupe at Jim Hume’s shop, south of Bellingham , Washington.”

 
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Reader Builds — Paul’s 1944 MB

April 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, MB • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  Paul just forwarded me a new video of his nicely modified flattie.  He first sent me pictures of his jeep back in 2008.  Below is the original post.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgJPOX1QIoM

Published November 14th, 2008

Paul wrote to me the other day, professing he’s stricken with the dreaded flatfender disease.  I told him to take two pills and send me more pics in the morning.  Fortunately for all of us, he followed my advice and has sent me a variety of images of his labor of love for the past 3 decades.

Back in August of 1979, he innocently purchased a 1944 MB for only $800.  It was pretty much all original, worn out, but in running condition.

It didn’t take long for Paul to decide to make a few upgrades, changing the engine to a V-6, purchasing a new body, and more.  Then, at some point he decided the drive train needed updating, the tranny and transfercase should be swapped out, a bigger engine was needed, and the dreaded flatfender sickness had overtaken Paul.

The good news is that I believe the sickness has run it’s course, as he’s ended up with a beautiful jeep that will serve him well for years to come. Also, fortunately for Paul, he seems to encountered a disciplined form of the illness, as I don’t see 7 or 8 other flatfenders in various stages of disrepair out on the lawn :-).

You can view some additional pics of the tilting hood in this post.

Here are the specs:

Body: Acme all steel, replaced in 1980
Tilt front end: all steel, tilts on a roll cage fabricated from ½” pipe
Frame: From a 2 wheel drive Jeep Dispatcher.  Frame is boxed, has dual shock mounts up front.  This is a much stronger frame than the original.
Roll cage: custom made, mounts to frame in 6 places.  Seats mount to cage along with spare tire.
Engine: I started with the original 4 cylinder flat head, then an odd fire 225 V6, finally the Chevy V8Chevy 350, 4 bolt main, bored .030 to make 355 cubic inches.  Has all Eldelbrock aftermarket equipment including internals, aluminum heads and intake,  along withdual quad carbs.  The combination of 400 horsepower, short headers, and small glass pack mufflers, makes the thing sounds like a demon.
Transmission: Turbo 350 with B&M shift kit and converter
Transfer Case: Dana 20, Novak brand adapter
Differentials: Early 70’s Jeep, 3:73 gears.
Steering: Chevy column out of a Chevy Caprice along with Chevy manual box.  The crazy thing is that the two bolt hole spacing that held the column in the Chevy was the exact spacing needed in the Willys
Brakes: Chevy master cylinder along with swing pedal (out of a Chevy Vega), has updated 11” drums along with emergency brakes.
Seats: The tilt column makes it easier to get into the high sided bucket seats.  I lowered the seats down about 4″, and about 4″ to the rear by notching the body without making it look too butchered.

Some pics of the build process:

Continue reading →

 
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Finding Virginia’s Magazine Review

April 28, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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My first ‘official’ reviewer, from Arches Magazine, took a look at Finding Virginia and had nothing but good things to say about it.  I’m very happy about the review and hope it leads to more sales!  The review was long and detailed.  Here is the final paragraph, which sums up the review well, even capturing one of my favorite poems, Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken:

You can read the entire review here.

 
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Pocket War Comics Jeep

April 28, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here are some interesting jeep comics Buz found.  They were published in Pocket War Comics.  Pocket War Comics were published in Britain and, as the name suggest, were pocket sized.  I tried to find more information about them, but didn’t have any luck.

One great resource for this genre is http://pocketwarcomics.blogspot.com/.  These came from this same site from this link: http://pocketwarcomics.blogspot.com/2011/03/war-picture-library-99-spearhead.html

 
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@ Fort Lewis (now JBLM)

April 27, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This morning’s updates have come directly from Fort Lewis, which is now known by the term JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord).  Well, technically I’m at the VA hospital waiting on Ann, so  it might be more accurate to say I’m very near JBLM.  In commemoration of my visit, I thought I’d post a couple Fort Lewis related images.

From Ford42GPW comes this picture of a couple of soldiers from the 15th Infantry.  You can read more at the website.

Old Cars Weekly’s website published this overhead shot of the 15th infantry.  There are a couple different early jeeps in this picture.

The G503 website has this thread about a Ford GP and Bantam BRC-40

 
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Soldiers Guarding a Ship in Africa

April 27, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I ran across this image the other day.  It’s a surreal composition. The AP Photo is part of a collection of 45 pictures from Africa published on the Atlantic Monthly’s website.  View all the amazing photos here.

According to the caption, “A U.S. army soldier with a sub-machine gun and another in a jeep guard the looming S. S. Partos which was damaged and had capsized against the dock when the Allies landed at the North African port, in 1942. (AP Photo)”

 
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Paratroopers and Paratrooper Vehicles in Carentan, France

April 26, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, International, Museums, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Jeff was vacationing in France and Belgium when he ran across two businesses located in Carentan:  Paratrooper and Paratrooper Vehicles.  He thought I might have known about them, but nope I did not know about them.  Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy.  If anyone else has been here (or can translate the website better than I), feel free to comment!

Jeff writes, “I was just in northern France and Belgium with the family on vacation and was in the Normandy area which incorporated a D-Day beach tour. Stayed in Carentan and came across Paratrooper. I am sure you may have known about them. I visited both businesses which are in different locations. I took some photos of the restoration location, Paratrooper Vehicles and thought you would like to see them.”

Thanks for taking these.  I will add this to my list of must visit places when we do our Great European Jeep Tour.  When are we doing this tour?  I’m hoping in time for the the 70th anniversary of DDay.

Continue reading →

 
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A Fire Truck from Kvalsund, Norway **SOLD**

April 26, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, International, Willys Trucks • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was KR45000.

Here’s a 1957 fire truck from Norway that is still in great shape.  This jeep is located in the far north of Norway.

Here’s the Norwegian ad (click here to translate):

Veteran/brannbil fra 1957 selges pga plassmangel. Flott bil og samleobjekt for den interesserte. I 2011 ble den kjørt fra Sarpsborg til Hammerfest uten et feilslag, Har desverre ikke tatt bilder innvendig men di kommer om noen dager det er tank i bilen tror det er plast nyere rør og kuleventiler følger med en bensindrevet pumpe til å kjøre trykk fra tanken, det er slangetrommel i bilen og to sitteplasser helt bak samt hjelm fra den tiden…har også satt inn 3 brannslukkere fra 60/70 tallet av typen Nu Swift bak i bilen, det er også gammeltypen hampslanger både 2 1/2 ” og 1 1/2″ med nord kupplinger.

Har tatt bilder under bilen og det er ikke rust, startet forøvrig på første forsøk etter å ha stått ute sin første vinter.  Har redusert prisen dersom hurtig avgjørelse på salg. Det er en 6 sylindra motor Flatsix Hurricane”

Continue reading →

 
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Jeep Reef — I know, it’s not really a jeep, but it’s cool

April 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Originally posted November 24, 2009

It’s been about four years since I last scuba’d in the Caribbean.   Getting my picture next to “Jeep Reef” in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park would be a great next dive.  Note to self:  Book trip to Bahamas …. leave jeep at home.

According to this website, The Jeep Reef  “is one of the prettiest reefs you will ever see. The strong current that sweeps through this cut keeps the reef ‘s corals very healthy. This dive can only be done at slack tide because of the strong currents . It is in the middle of the Exumas Land & Sea Park, so you will find a very healthy population of fish. This dive site gets its name from a coral encrusted jeep that sits near the mooring.”

jeep_reef_smaller

jeep_reef2_smaller



 
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Esteban finds some more unusual images

April 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Originally posted Feb 3, 2010

Inspired by the Castro/Guevara video I found, Esteban went hunting for a couple more vintage pics from that era.  Sebastian has generously shared those with us below.  Esteban also found what Sebastian believes is “a very special since it could be the first Willys ad ever in Colombia. It was published before the jeeps arrived to the country. It is basically inviting people to reserve their jeeps before arrival time.”

 
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Kempner Power Wagon Museum

April 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Museums • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Originally posted June 15, 2009 (See, there is even a Power Wagon Museum!)

At some point early in his driving life, my dad owned a red Dodge Power Wagon.  I’ve never ridden in one myself, however I found a place where I can explore several different models: The Kempner Power Wagon Museum.

The Kempner Museum is an owner-owned museum, with the owner displaying vehicles and other items he has collected over the years.  Recently, the owner, with his wife’s blessing he notes, built a building to house the trucks and other related materials.

This museum does not take a ‘hands off’ approach, rather people can climb into these vehicles, touch and explore them.

The museum is located in Kempner, Texas (museum info), which is roughly 150 miles south of Dallas.  I’m adding to my list of places to visit soon.

 
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Roberto’s M-38 Caricature

April 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Roberto just completed this caricature of a M-38.  You can see his progress from start-to-finish here:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/Roberto67/Caricature%20Willys%20M38%20jeep/?albumview=slideshow

 
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Kool Nights in Redding, Ca

April 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Steve forwarded some images from a Kool Nights event in Redding.

He writes, “Today wraps up the final day of the week long event, Kool April Nites in Redding, Ca.  Over 1800 vehicles came from hundreds of miles around to attend the 23rd annual event.  Here are some photos of the “Jeeps of Kool April Nites”.  I didn’t get away from my working my car club’s booth, so I didn’t get very good pictures this year.  I also needed a better camera to take evening photos of the Friday Night Cruise.

Below is Steve’s Jeepster

Continue reading →

 
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Image from New Jersey State Police Museum

April 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Museums, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Steve discovered this image in the New Jersey State Police Museum archives.  The museum was kind enough to allow us to publish it.

Steve rights, “I did some research with our museum staff and found this picture from 1951 of a state trooper driving a WW II Willys MB that had been converted for police use. Looks like it may have been used in rural areas as a sorta fire jeep. See the large fire extinguisher on the left fender skirt …. Coincidentally, one of our troopers (Trooper Joseph C. Walter Jr. #685) was killed in the line of duty in a motor vehicle accident on 9-7-52, I believe in that very same jeep.”