News Research Archives

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Helping out a ’42 MB Owner

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

When I got to “dickhead”, I started laughing.  Can someone help him out?  Tell him eWillys sent you and if he doesn’t know what eWillys is, then tell him to drop by the website.

“I have a 1942 willys mb,that has extensive damage to the Drivers side of the tub.What I need is sombody that Has a tub that is intacted,with the slots for the ax and shovel to contact me so I can get measurements to make repair pannels.If u call I can tell you exactly what I need.I guess I could Pay you for the info,but most people who own Jeeps are not dickheads, and are willing to help a brother out,thanks.Brian 509-460-2577”

http://kpr.craigslist.org/wan/1411317869.html

 
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The CJ-3B Page Interviews Jim & shows off his past 3Bs

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

Jim’s become a good friend.  He is full of stories, jeeps and life (and apparently cooks some mean brisket, too).  Derek Redmond gave him a call the other day and asked him to do a story for the CJ-3B Page.  It’s a great story and a nice synopsis of a good niche he’s carved for himself.  You might also remember that Jim builds seat covers that have been selling very well — buyers around the world are enjoying the covers.  Congrats Jim!  Below is one of his before and after projects (go here to see more pics of this):

Before:

After:

 
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Dennis’ Hand Crank Heater 796-A by Stewart Warner

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

UPDATE:  Dennis has added a picture of the original Heater Hose

Dennis reports this is a picture of his “heater muffler flex hose (looks the same as in ad).  The handle is from an old gas can and a tea kettle.  The holders are from Satellite dishes from the dump (I also salvage the stainless steel nuts and bolts). ”  Now, that’s some creativity!

heater_hose_dennis

More links: http://www.ewillys.com/?p=15492 (Dennis’ night image) & http://www.ewillys.com/?p=5776 (Original post on the handcrank heater)

This post has pictures of the Hand Crank 796-A Stewart Warner Heater from Dennis and Brent.

Dennis pics:

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Here’s an idea of the size:

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Brent’s Images:

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Continue reading

 
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Don’t Be a Joe Dope …

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

Here’s a Joe Dope poster advocating for soldiers to take it easy on the jeeps.

 
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Avast Me Hearties …

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

art.pirate.day.courtesyYep, tomorrow is September 19, International Talk like a Pirate Day.  How did this great holiday begin?  The story is it began with a couple of guys on a racquetball court when they spontaneously slipped into piratese.  Following the match, having had more fun than ever, they decided there needed to be a ‘Talk like a pirate day’.  So, on June 6, 1995, they arbitrarily decided to make September 19 (a day picked because nothing else happened on that day) the magic day.

All they needed now was a spokesperson, someone to inform the masses.  Who better, they thought, then Dave Barry.  Well, it took 7 years, but they finally got Dave’s attention and he wrote a column about their unique holiday.

 
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New Comments Subscription System

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

There were a few strange quirks to the old comments subscription system so I have installed a new one.

What does this mean to you?

1)  Re-subscribe: You might have to re-subscribe to those posts that you were previously following (sorry about that).  One short cut for that is to sort your incoming emails by ewillys and then click on the post links to get there.

2) No Commenting necessary to subscribe to a comment: You no longer have to comment on a post to subscribe to it.

How does it work?

When you want to follow comments about a post, you scroll to the bottom of the whole post or click on the comments link at the top of a post.  Then you’ll see two options for receiving comments on the post via email.

Either (1) make a comment,  click the “notification box”, and then click the submit button to submit your comment OR don’t make a comment, enter your email address and click on the “subscribe” button.

If you have any questions, email me at d@ewillys.com.

 
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Updated Site

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

ewillys_homeAs you can see,  a couple days ago I updated the site design.  I had several reasons for doing this.  (1) the drop down menus were sucking, (2) the drop down menus wouldn’t allow me to do the top sliders like I tested (3)  the previous design was having some problems in Internet Explorer, and (4) the logo design wasn’t well designed for t-shirts, merchandise and an expansion beyond the web.

The next step in the process is to go back through all my posts and reorganize them into new sections, so changes will be ongoing …

– Dave

 
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1969 International Harvester Trinidad, CA **SOLD**

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

1969_ih_trinidadUPDATE: **SOLD** Was $975

This looks like a very good deal on a vintage looking IH.

“1969 IH Travelall 1100 (1/2 ton 2×4). Runs, drives, registered. AC, PS, 392 V8, 4 spd, and limited-slip type differential. Straight and solid. No door mirrors. Will consider parting-out. Trades considered ( willys mb cj jeep ford gpw dodge wc m37 kaiser m715 international scout vw beetle thing buick riviera honda yamaha suzuki kawasaki street bike ).  Email or call Drew at 601.2468. Please make certain to reference the truck so that I can discern legitimate email from spam.”

 
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Pictures: A handcrank heater and M37

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

If my addition is correct, readers have located 6 rare Stewart handcrank heaters in the US & UK.  They are rare enough that the antique Road Show people couldn’t get any information about them from their buyers (see the 2nd to last post on this page).

Dennis, who’s heater is featured here, decided to fire up his heater at night, creating this cool picture.  He also sent an unrelated artsy pic of an M37 he thought he’d share.  Thanks!

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The new eWillys?

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

I spent the day pondering a new design for ewillys.   One goal was to get more of a script for the ewillys brand that I could use to create t-shirts, etc with.  Also, I wanted to reorganize things a bit.  Finally, I want to more tightly incorporate the dynamic areas into the overall design (similar to what I have tested in the current design).  NOTE:  I haven’t filled in anything in the sidebar, but most of the side bar info on the current design would appear in the sidebar of the new design.  click on the pic to get the full effect.

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Crystal River Jeep Tours

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

Once again, wandering the internet today looking for information on mounting my steering wheel know resulted in several interesting posts.

This post is about a jeep tour business out of Marble, Colorado called Crystal River Jeep Tours.  You can visit the website or learn more about it from this 2008 trip with some video and this post with videos as well.

Here’s a little bit about the tours, ” Crystal River Jeep Tours is located in Marble, Colorado, where the pavement ends and the beauty begins.  CRJT was established in 1951 and ranks among the oldest adventure tour operations in the state. Take one of our guided tours to historic Crystal City and the Crystal Mill, experience the breathtaking views and wild flowers along the Lead King Basin road or the valley panorama from the top of Sheep Mountain. Overlook the Yule Marble Quarry from Treasure Mountain, or experience the Devils Punch Bowl at the foot of Schofield Pass.  Our guided tours are an experience found nowhere else in the world, which skirt the edge of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness area in the White River National Forest.”

crystal_river_jeep_tours

 
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Playing with different technologies

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

As you probably noticed, I’ve been testing out some different technologies, like the javascript slider on the front page.   Unfortunately, the menus don’t roll over it, so that’s not going to work.  I’ll be mucking with this stuff the next few days, so bear with me.

I’ve also noticed that there’s a number of issues with IE-6 with this design (drop down menu problems and sidebar issues for starters), so I may do a total redesign over labor day weekend.

It’s true that I could use a development site, but what fun would that be.

– Dave

 
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Lots of jeeps for sale

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

I’ve posted a number of jeeps tonight.  I still have 12 more to post, but I’m going to bed.  I’ll get them up in the AM.

– Dave

 
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PNW4WDA Summer Convention Starts Today

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

summer_convention_tshirt2009The Pacific Northwest 4WD Association’s Summer Convention starts today.  I had hoped to go as it is the Carter’s (long time family friends and jeep cohorts) 40th anniversary of their first summer convention back in 1969.  I think I was there too, which would make it my 40th anniversary as well, because I think it was a Wandering Willys Club Event if I remember what my father told me correctly, however I was only four, so don’t remember a thing.

There will racing all weekend, including barrels, drags, team relay, obstacle course, cross country course, and something called a side by side (?), but I haven’t figured out what the heck that is.  So, if someone could explain that to me, I’d appreciate it.  Thanks!

It runs from the today through Sunday at the Straddleline ORV park near Olympia, Washington.

 
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Bender, Notchers and a Roller

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

harbor_freight_tubing_rollerToday I ran across an Harbor Freight Ad for a tubing roller for only $139.  That got me wondering if I could use that for bending too.  So, I went did some searches on the HF tubing roller and read some pretty postive reviews for it in a variety of forums.  That said, the bending radius is too big for rollcage angles and corners in most cases.

So, I did some additional looking around at low priced benders and notchers.  As I went, I recorded some sites that I felt others might be interested in looking at.

One of the more interesting tidbits I found was a Tubing Coping Calculator that creates a 2 dimensional cutout for tracing around a tubing (in place of a notcher).

Building your own — Free plans:

Tubing benders:

Tube Notcher:

 
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Trade your jeep for a Gremlin

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

gremlin_nashvilleHere’s a seller who will trade his Gremlin for a Willys Jeep.  Somehow, I just don’t see that happening, but you never know!

“I have for sale a 1972 AMC Gremlin, restoration started, mechanically good condition, has auto transmission and PS, some rust, has patch panels in floor, solid, ill take $2500 cash (firm) or trade for 60s or early 70s jeep (Willys or Kaiser Ph: 615 888 2385, before 10 pm ”

http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1270860417.html

 
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1959 FC-150 Cape Cod, Ma $5000

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

1959_fc150_capecodThis FC looks in good condition.

“1959 jeep willys fc-150 pick up rebuilt engine but body has 7900 miles on it. sandblased frame alot of work is done but needs some minor thngs plus a new paint job to make it amazing”

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/1276816421.html

 
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Gone Fishin’ … No updates ’til Sunday Night

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

I think the title pretty much says it all.

– Dave

 
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New earlyCJ5.com website emerging

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

UPDATE:  The guys over at the earlyCJ5.com website have been working diligently to get the website back online.  They’ve updated the software, using wordpress as the new foundation (the same used here).  They have plenty of work left, but I think the results will be worth it!

(from May 8th) I’m sure some of you know that a virus/worm got into the earlyCJ5.com website and chewed up the content (that’s about the best metaphor I could come up with). In the meantime you can access earlyCJ5 regulars at http://www.universal5.com/ or follow the twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/earlycj5. I wish them the best of luck in getting that great resource back online!

To hopefully keep this from happening to eWillys, I have a daily database backup emailed to me.

earlycj5_down

 
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Jeep Caravan through Utah

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

UPDATE: This is the MPVA Carvan. Read more about it below.

A caravan of 50 or so old flatties (mostly military) with license plates from a variety of states was spotted heading down the new Legacy Highway (the new north/south alternative to I-15) in Utah yesterday.

A reader named George pointed me to the MPVA website to answer the questions of who, what, where and why.

From the MPVA Website, “As part of its mission to honor our country’s military vehicle history, the MVPA has decided to recreate the famous 1919 Convoy in 2009 as a 90th Anniversary celebration of the achievement and in conjunction with the nation’s President Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.

This is a Convoy of historic military vehicles – of all eras, from WWI through to current-issue military vehicles. The vehicle roster currently includes WWI “FWD” cargo trucks, through to Harley Davidson WLA motorcycles, staff cars and jeeps to later model M813 5-ton cargo trucks.

Learn more about this ongoing convey from the MPVA website.  The Convoy should be arriving in San Francisco on July 8th.

 
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A Boat named JEEP

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

My kids and I were visiting my Aunt in Seattle yesterday where she owns a houseboat (in this case, defined as literally a house built on floating logs or concrete blocks with trapped air) on Lake Union in Seattle.  My son wanted to go rowing, so we climbed into a row boat and checked out some of the local scenery. We hadn’t gone more than two docks of boats when I spotted this boat named JEEP tied up to a local houseboat.  How could I resist taking a picture of it?

jeep_boat_lakeunion

For those movie fans who liked Sleepless in Seattle, it is a couple houseboats to the left of this picture (it is not pictured).

 
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Vote for a 1948 M-38A1? I can’t do it!

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

The Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union is sponsoring a 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise Calender Contest, along with the Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily and Daily Tribune.  As a part of this contest, the group has developed a website where readers can vote for the cars they want to see on the new Calendar.

A reader pointed to this contest out to me via a craigslist ad.  The Ad shows a Willys Jeep and asks people to vote for the jeep.  So far, so good.  I’m into it.

I’m ready to launch a grassroots campaign.  I’ll encourage, prod and poke people to cast their votes for the jeep.  We can do it.  We can get it on the calendar.

My hopes high, I go to the actual contest.  I view the approved list of 72 vehicles.  Cool, lots of nice vehicles.

But then, I spot the jeep.  It’s listed as a 1948 M-38A1.  It’s such a classic, that it was never produced!  How can this be?  Oh the horror!  I mean, this isn’t just some kind of incorrect listing of a jeep for sale; instead, it is supposed to be a list of classic cars.

Well, I just can’t support that.  So, until the correct model gets listed, I can’t vote for it.

1948_cj2a_m38a1_calendar1

 
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New Page Coming Soon for Vendors

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

As a part of Jim’s effort to meet the parts needs for early jeep owners, I’m planning on building a section that highlights various smaller vendors who create useful products for jeeps.

Examples of these include:

  • Jim’s Seat Covers (along with his expanding product selection as it grows)
  • Rod Shaver’s MV Dataplates (http://www.mvdataplates.com/)
  • Jeep Books (http://www.jeepbooksales.com/jeepbooks.html)
  • Stainless Steel Parts (Brian & Troy)
  • Fiberglass bodys

If anyone has any other suggestions, send them my way.

Thanks,

– Dave

 
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1952 M-38 Fresno, CA **SOLD**

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

1952_m38_fresnoUPDATE: **SOLD** Was $800

“Willy’s 1952 jeep, low Hood Flat Fender Jeep.  Buick small block V8 300 cub, power steering and full roll cage”

 
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Jim’s Camo Seat Cushions

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

Jim sent out a some images of his Camo Seat Cushions this evening.

He writes, ” They fit CJ2A CJ3A CJ3B M38 M38A1 M606 Early CJ5 CJ6.   Note:The set of seat cushions in the picture are not screwed in place, just set up to show you what they’ll look like installed. Once screwed into the seat back, fit will be tight and correct”

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