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Air Force Special Forces Seek Robot Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Thanks to John for sharing this with us.  The final design of these vehicles could be very interesting. It has to carry two fighters, gear over rough terrain under cover of darkness.

“Self-driving cars may already seem like a dubious idea to most drivers, but the U.S. Air Force wants to raise the stakes. U.S. Special Forces soldiers may soon trust their lives to a stealth robot jeep that can autonomously carry them to their target and back, through mountainous terrain under the cover of nightfall, without alerting enemy patrols.

The robotic vehicle must have the ability to carry two warfighters and up to 700 pounds of gear over more than 18 miles of rugged terrain, according to the request for information issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). And it must be capable of navigating enemy territory stealthily, day or night, under any weather conditions. “The mission will be executed under the cover of night and the system must be able to work autonomously with only minimal inputs from the warfighters,” says the AFRL. “The hostile area does not have radar, but they do have patrols who will respond to visual and audible cues if they detect something out of the ordinary.”

The AFRL also requested that the robotic vehicle must fit within the cargo hold of a CV-22 Osprey, the tilt-rotor aircraft that carries Marines around Afghanistan and ferried Osama bin Laden’s body out of Pakistan.

Plenty of academic and private teams have developed robotic vehicles capable of some autonomous driving, either on their own or as part of DARPA’s Grand Challenge. Google has even tested its self-driving vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area. But driving on paved roads is a far cry from navigating rough terrain and perhaps having the capability to actively avoid possible enemies. Still, the Air Force lab has wisely sought out “new ideas from hobbyists, enthusiasts, teams and organizations that have not typically done business with the government in the past.”

The recent notice precedes an upcoming request for proposals that would award $200,000 to each of up to five teams for stealthy design concepts. Each team would eventually have the chance to compete for a $2 million contract to build a prototype of their dream robotic jeep.”

 
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Black Diamond Auto Parts Sign Black Diamond, Wa

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

On the way back from picking up the new top for Biscuit a couple of weeks ago, Karson and I took the scenic route back to Renton and passed through Black Diamond (a very small town).  We pulled into a local mini mart and as I exited the car I looked up to see this old sign, still standing.  It is a very tall sign and I did my best to get as close as I could, but my phone’s camera just didn’t do a great job.  However, if you could see it clearly you would see what appears to be a CJ-3A on the left side.


 
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1977 CJ-7 + 1984 Corvette **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Was on ebay.

From the “I had this corvette and jeep sitting around see … and it suddenly ocurred to me to combine them” department comes this unusual combo.  There is work left to do.

“This vehicle was built by taking a 1984 corvette, removing the body, moving the radiator back and the gas tank forward.  Then I wrapped the jeep body around it. The jeep body is welded to the steel corvette chassis. I took the jeep body panels down to bare metal. I painted the car myself. It was the first time I ever painted a car (although I have built several other major conversions). The paint looks good from a few feet away but it does have some major runs in places. It was painted approximately 1 year ago but I think the runs can still be sanded out. Although there is very little body filler there are some dents I didn’t fix before painting. Most notably a couple dents on the hood and around the rear corners.
The car runs, drives, stops, steers, shifts, etc. I have driven it but never more than a couple of miles. The motor runs and sounds really nice.
I installed a gage cluster from a 2001 Silverado. The speedo, tach, oil pressure and voltage gage all work.
The chassis is all corvette so it has the legendary C4 aluminum wishbone suspension, aluminum independent rear suspension, aluminum driveshafts, four wheel vented disc brakes, etc.
The car is titled as a 1969 Specially Constructed vehicle, body type: CV for convertible. The title is clear and in my name. It is on planned non operational status right now. The car is smog exempt in California because of the year. The VIN has been welded onto the frame in the front but it should probably be stamped in a couple more locations. The old Corvette VIN is still on the dash and needs to be removed. …. See more on ebay”

 
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Jiffy Jeep Performance at the Bantam Festival

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a look at another quick-assemble jeep performance.

 
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Norm’s 1962 Wagon

• CATEGORIES: Features, Willys Wagons • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Norm shared a pic of his 1962 Wagon.  He notes that yes, the split windshield is from the wagon, but the chrome is from a 50’s wagon.  Nice looking rig Norm!

 
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In N Out Burger Stickers

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A while a go Brian discovered that the west coast In N Out Burger chain of burger restaurants had stickers with an old jeep on it.  It took him a while to find a 2nd sicker which he could scan.  So, here it is down below.

In N Out Burgers are one of my favorite places, as they have fresh fries and reasonably sized, great burgers. And, if you are in the ‘know’, you know you can order several items not shown on the in-store menus, but are shown on the internet.  For example, try your burger “Animal Style” the next time you are there.

 
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Allen Boyd has Passed Away

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bob sent me a note that Allen Boyd, Aka West Fork Boyd, passed away.  He was a good friend to many CJ-2A Page readers.  You can learn more here at the CJ-2A Page.

 
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Paddle Tires and the Art of Introspection

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

My mother tells me the month of July in Seattle is on pace to be one of the coolest on record. Fortunately, I didn’t move here for the heat!  And as I took a relaxing walk this morning (sunday) dodging tourists through bustling Pike Place Market, with new female friend in tow, to the Seattle Art Museum in the drizzle that defines Seattle, I rather relished it.  I relished the cool rainy July day, weather I ran away from back in June of 1992 as fast as the moving van would travel on a journey that seems otherworldly at this point.

So, 19 years later, here I was walking only a few blocks from the very spot from which I moved, an apartment at the base of Queen Anne hill in downtown.  As I walked down 1st Ave towards the SAM, I realized I’m older, yes;  I’m grayer, slighly; I’m richer, financially no, experientially yes; I’m wiser, maybe; more introspective, absolutely! I sold my jeep to finance the move so long ago and arrived back with a nicer one; maybe that was worth the entire adventure?

I guess I can’t help but be introspective at this time.  A heady move followed by a delightful time with my kids, which after their summer stays, I’m always simultaneously proud at who they have become and disappointed that their time with me is up for another summer.

And, of course, there was the added element of my father, whose dignity we fight to preserve as time weighs heavily on his formerly stout constitution.  The truth is dad is a little south of odd for the kids to recognize, as they really did not know him the way I did. I wanted to show the kids he is facing his mortality head on, despite infirmities and incontinence, and fighting for his end goal, to live to the age of 80.  Will he make it?  If he has any say about it, he will.

During all these events eWillys has suffered a bit, as time demands bit into my updates. Whenever that happens, I wonder if I have run out of time and energy to keep running the site.  And it always seems that when I start feeling that way, when I think there are better things (money making things) I could do with my time, some far flung reader I have never heard from sends me an email.  In this case, the reader’s name was Joe who hails from the Nashville area.

He writes, “Ewillys has refueled my passion for old flatfenders. I never knew much about them growing up, other than I wanted one and they were cool as all get out in all the old black and white war movies. I have wanted one ever since I was a kid. Two years ago I finally got a 46 cj2a. I traded a Harley for it, straight up. Figured both were about 3000.

I put 2000 miles on it in the first year and I am currently replacing the motor and catching up on some long over due maintenance. I will send a pic or two.  I took my mom for a ride in it last winter through the snow and it was 21 degrees out side, no heater. I have created a monster of her now. This past November she called me and told me that she wanted an “old” jeep. I figured a cj5 or 7 so she could get around, go fishing, and wat knot. She said “I want one like yours!” She wanted a flatty! After searching all over the craigslist and ewillys we finally found her a beautiful 48 cj3a in GA. She drives it everywhere! I will send you pics of it as well. Now my son is 5 and I have created a jeep nut of him as well.

I bought a parts 2a and it ended up having a title. So my son and I have tinkered with it and after getting his little hands greasy he’s hooked. He can see the corner of a hood behind something and he will shout, “JEEP DADDY!” He is also convinced that they don’t make “real” jeeps anymore and he loves cj’s. We plan on building from the ground up(with a lot of help) the parts 2a into a daily driver. When he turns 16 I am going to sign it over to him.

My father and I never had a project like this and its been great and created an even larger bond with my son. He will sit with me in the recliner and look through eWillys and give me full commentary on all the jeeps. My father is now retired and has run out of projects around his house……until now. We have dissasembled my 2a and replaced the motor and are working on the body. My family is now 3 generations deep in jeep and I hope it continues. So a BIG THANK YOU for ewillys! I hope there is many more years of it.”

I shared that letter with my kids and they thought it was pretty cool.  So did mom.  She wonders less and less why spend time on the site.  A few letters like that and she is a 100% backer.

Karson, my oldest, also informed me near the end of his stay that he’d like to have a jeep to drive around here.  With the perfect warm weather we had at the beginning of the month coupled with the hills and valleys of Renton’s East Hill, he finally got it.  He understood why I thought it was so fun to drive a jeep around here, even on the roads.

To be honest, it was funner to drive here than in Boise.  I was having a blast driving the kids on the roads I had grown up driving.  While driving,  I tortured my kids and their cousins with the history of my old jeep and where I had driven around the area.  “Oh, here is where I did such and such” and “this is where I got stuck” and even the rolling of their eyes at the sound of my history-lesson voice did little to dissuade my lesson. I was having too much fun.

So after all of this introspection, with the kids gone and my life sort of re-orienting to normal, with Joe’s passionate call for another few years of eWillys, updates will commence on a more regular schedule starting tomorrow.

Well, at least until early September when I hope to get to New York to spend one to two weeks doing research in NYC and Yale on a family project.  I will finalize that schedule this week, which will include several jeep specific stops that I know will interest readers.

Until tomorrow’s updates, I am happy to report, for the record, that four paddle tires will fit inside a BMW 540i.  Matt, who specializes in early Dana axles rebuilds (if you are near the Boise area and need axle or drive train work done, drop me a note; Matt has about 18 years of drive train experience.) sold me this set at a great price.  Since I only need two, if anyone has an interest in the other two, drop me a note.  The tires will hold air, but they really should have some inner tubes put into them.  Thanks Matt!

 
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My Newish Kayline Top!

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Good news, for the next two days you can admire my new top!  That’s because I will probably not do any updates until then.  I had hope to get some updates out, but it has gotten to late and I have to get up early for a very long drive to Boise and back tomorrow.

It is a Kayline canvas — yes not vinyl — top that I bought for $200!!!  It is in beautiful condition, having sat unused for nearly 10 years. I am very pleased.  I bought it from Daryl, who is a full time firefighter and part time jeep nut in the Bonney Lake area of Washington and whom repairs flatties.  If you need any work done and are near him, let me know and I will forward his number to you.

He was also kind enough to give me and my son Karson a tour of his jeep collection, which includes a recently purchased FC-170 and a jeep truck converted to a tow truck.  So I want to send a big thanks to him!

Here is the top draped on the jeep. Of course, the rear seat and spare tire unbolts and will be removed when the top is mounted; I have an alternative mounting bracket to mount the spare inside the back area when a top is installed.  I am pleased that the contrast in colors doesn’t look too bad (he was selling it cheap because few people want that color).

 
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Mail Jeep JeepRod

• CATEGORIES: DJ-5 & DJ-6, Features, Jeep Rods, Unusual • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I spotted this on the internet.  I don’t know whose it is or where it is located.

 
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A Retired CJ-5

• CATEGORIES: CJ5, Features, Last Ride This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I’ve seen Willys treated worse.  This image comes from Tumblr.

 
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Motorcyle Jumps a Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gerald spotted this great image on tumblr.

 
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Some Pasture Jeeping

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The weather has been perfect for driving in the jeep.  So, the boys and I have been cruising around Renton.  I have to say it’s a bit surreal to be driving along both the backroads and city roads in Biscuit, many of which I last drove 25 years ago in my last jeep.  No doubt my kids are tired of me saying things like, “I remember when ….” at which I go into some tale from my youth.

Yesterday I put the jeep into the horse pasture, or at least what was the horse pasture and is now an area full of grass, trees and bushes.  Karson got to explore a bit in the jeep, testing out the 4wd and learning to dodge trees.  He seemed to be having fun.  Here are a few pics.

 

 
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4th of July the FC Way

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features • TAGS: , , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Check out the pics on thefcconnection site.

Steve reports on the Ouray 4th of July Festival.  Learn more at the Forward Forum.  See all the pictures here.

“Here is Craig and Jason’s big day in Ouray (You-ray), Colorado.  It’s the mountain town’s signature event of the year, The Fourth Of July.  They asked Craig to bring his restored San Juan Mountain Tour Truck to join in their parade.

Jason found one of the other original tour Jeep Forward Control trucks and surprised them with twins.  He just finished the restoration just last week and headed strait for Ouray.  Jason’s truck has the yellow signs that say, “Think.”

This links you to the Town’s website describing their 4th of July Festivities. Here are photos of the Two coolest FC trucks ever restored joining their parade.  The red FC trucks came from the states of Missouri and Texas to join the reunion in Colorado.  They even went on a trail ride across the old routes where the trucks carried tourists through the beautiful San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado.  What a cool experience; I wish I could have been there.”

 
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Another ’42 GPW Scam

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPW (Ford MB) • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is the newest GPW scam on Craigslist.  There were a variety of ads for this jeep appearing across the US. I have flagged the ones I found.

See an example of the full ad here.

 
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4th of July Parade Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Doug sent me this a few days ago.  I had wanted to post it earlier, but kids, feeding kids, playing games with kids, and putting kids to work, has meant my updates have been a bit sketchy.

So, here’s a tribute to his year’s 4th of July celebrations.

Doug writes, “these flat fenders were all part of a 4th of July parade in a small Northern California cabin community. Far left is a my 48 cj2a, center is a 53 cj3a, right is a nicely resstored 46 vec cj2a with a few updated parts. All are pretty stock and daily drivers in the mountains of Northern California.”

 
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Still Getting Organized . . .

• CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I guess the pic says it all.  Biscuit got plenty of looks as I cruised northward from Boise. I’m still catching up on both emails and postings and it will probably still take a couple of days to get back into the swing of things.

 
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Classic 1960s Rubicon Video

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images Jeeping, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

While following yesterday’s video link related to roll overs, Brett managed uncover this gem.  Nice work!

 
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Wisconsin Jeep Owners Group

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I spotted this ‘group wanted’ ad.

“Wisconsin Jeep Owners Group… We are looking to start an owners group where we can share pictures/videos, information, parts, etc. If interested, check out wjog.blogspot.com.”

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/2468410344.html

 
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Glass Willys Candy Dish

• CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

My darling daughter (who is eyeing every word I type as I post this) surprised me with this cool glass Candy Dish for Father’s Day.  It doesn’t hold much candy, but I don’t eat much candy, so it all works out!  Thanks Kasia!!

 
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Builds: Bill’s Wagon

• CATEGORIES: Features, Willys Wagons • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bill forwarded some pics of his beautiful Wagon build.  I thought it was a stock rig until I saw the drag image.

This is my 1947 2WD Jeep wagon that I fixed up. It’s kida a wolf in sheep’s clothing. With the right wheels it looks kinda stockish. It is powered by a 540 BBC motor with a trubo 350 trans and a Dana 44 rear diff with a 4.10 gear and a True Trac. I have upgraded to a Rac steering and disc brakes.  It has a stock front suspension, so that’s why it looks so funny leaveing the line when I drag race. It runs low 11′ second in the quarter mile. It is driven as much as I can, and even take it out for a spin every Christmas. I do live about the 49th parallel.

 
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Custom Built Scale Model Wooden Toys

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Kevin shared the following with me.  The toys appear nicely built.

“I met a retired Army Vet ( Deep Sea Diver ) who makes replica wooden toys to scale. Anyone of your readers who might be interested in having their ride duplicated give him a call…. Paul Barnes 770-967-6433    paul2213@bellsouth.net.  Below are some samples.

1. M-38 & Trailer:

 

2. Deuce and a Half (without top on it yet)

 

3. John Deere Tractor:

 

4. Tank:

 

5. Articulating Tractor:

 

6. Motorcycle:

 

 

 
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Chris enters his first PNW Race

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Now, you probably think I run eWillys because of all the money, fame, babes and glory I receive.  Not true!  Instead, it is a story like this one that makes the work worthwhile.  Nearly two years ago I started swapping emails with 15 year old Chris Ruhnau.  He had a mostly stock 1947 CJ-2A and was having problems with some wiring issues.  We worked through those issues, brake issues, battery issues,  and even a girl issue.  Last summer he spotted a CJ-2A just down the road from him, with a full cage and more for only $1000. He couldn’t resist, so at age 16, he was the proud owner of two jeeps.  Clearly, he suffered from a case of Willys Sickness.

Over the past winter he spent time working on his jeep and going to high school.  This summer, he got everything finished and found his way to his very first PNW event.   As you will read, he had a great time.  Nice work on the jeep Chris and keep on racing!

Dave!!! You’ll never believe this! I raced my jeep today! The PNW4WDA put on a race in Ethel, Wa.  I raced twice in the obstacle course! It was so much fun. I’ve never had so much fun! In both races I got the same time… 1.61. It was really hard though because it was really soupy. I only had 2 problems, my fan wire shorted out and then my battery died, but those are minor and i still had tons of fun. everyone was coming up to me when I was sitting in line and asking about the jeep and saying it was nice. I felt pretty good about that. A guy i know that races said that he’s going to let me take my jeep to his shop and we’re going to fix my steering and he’s going to give me some brand new rancho shocks so that my fenders and battery box wont rub on the tire so much. The guy that used to be the leader of PNW4WDA asked for my email, too, to let me know when the events schedule so I can race a lot this summer!

 
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South Side Garage in Littlefield, Tx

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Steve spotted a reference to this Jeep Garage over at Willys TechThe South Side Garage was started by Earl Dow.  There’s a nice bit written by his son:

I grew up in my dad’s shop drinking 5 cent cokes, eating watermelons the farmers brought by in the summer time, and watching my dad turn old jeeps into things of pure wonder. This site and it’s photos represent him, that shop, and the experience and hardware accumulated over those long years. The shop is not a museum. It’s an old-fashioned mechanic’s workplace where things are meticulously organized by piles. But, they are piles known by heart by my dad, and which contain parts that are often hard to find for those restorers working on their favorite Jeep. If you have come here looking for that one part that will help you get the Jeep restored or your more recent model repaired, maybe we can do you some good.

 
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Cherokees Don’t Make Good River Boats

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Brian forwarded this. Wait for the Jeep Cherokee and watch it float the river, or not float it. So, here is the question, you have a camera and someone you know is experiencing an emergency. Do you keep filming?