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Builds – 1951 m38 Glendale, Az on Ebay — The Rhino Hunter

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, M-38 • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This build is for sale on eBay.  There are plenty of pics.  Note the m606 in the background of one of the ebay pics.

“This is a really unique combination of old and new and we’ve had a ton of fun in it. This rig started it’s life as a military M38 until the previous owner started modifying it as a back country rock crawler. When we got it, it had wasn’t much to look at, was missing a windshield but ran and drove so well we had to have it. It is heavily modified to be a safe, comfortable, go anywhere ride. We call it The Rhino Hunter as it has effortlessly shamed a few ORVs in the mud and rocks…”

 
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Drag ‘Jeep’ … Archive

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

This is ‘jeep’ only in look.  The rest of it is all drag.

“this is a race only jeep one piece all aluminum body center seat funny car style drag jeep INSANDITY for sale turn key or minus moter or minus moter&trans 383 alcohol injected chevy w/ air shifted 2spd lenco w/ reverser full floater ford 9 inch w/ 35 spline summers axels disc brakes, nodular 3rd daytona support pro gears. too much more to list possible trade for early streetable willys or cj5 or cash could be converted to a mud bogger w/ some suspension work …”


 
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Builds – a Build from the MYCJ3A.com website

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

Many of you may have seen this site already, but if you haven't it's a treat.  The author nicely details the experience of rebuilding his titled 1953 CJ-3A (which he discovers to actually be a CJ-2A).  One of the more interesting details, to me anyway, was his write-up of the swing pedals.  This is the first time I have seen these type of pedals (in my 1st jeep I used a swing pedal set from a Vega — with significant mods — and in my current jeep I've modified a set of pedal set from a jeep cherokee.  

See all the different pictures and write-ups at the author's website (The author never mentions who he is)

 
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1964 FJ3A Willys Fleetvan, Riverside CA **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $6800

“1964 Jeep Fleetvan Fj-3A,Great on Gas original 4 cyl. 3 speed trans. runs and drives good! miles unknown due to speedo cable was broke when i recieved it, 7 years ago. have recently installed disk brakes on rear, very rare, dont see these evey day driving down the street.”

 

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    Rebuild in Ohio — from offroaders.com

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

    mike-cj3aHere is a rebuild from Ohio as seen on offroaders.com.   It’s a very nice, clean rebuild that resulted in a playful looking flatfender. The before picture is on the left and after on the right.

    Mike writes, “The Jeep had a rough  life for some 8 years wheeling the local 4×4 haunts of southern Ohio and it was looking pretty rough and was needed some serious TLC. In early 2005. I stripped it down to the frame and this is the end product after nearly 2 years work.

    SEE THE FULL WRITEUP FROM MIKE AT OFFROAD.COM

    mike-cj3a6

    mike-cj3a2

     
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    Desert Dog Tires

    • CATEGORIES: Tires and Rims This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

    **OLD POST PRESERVED FOR COMMENTS**

    UPDATE: This thread is being kept for discussion and information purposes. See the updated post here.

    Oldies but goodies…

    “Hey you jeep racers I have 6 dogs 4 with tubes in great shape, and 2 in fair condition, 6 lug chrome spokes, mounted ready to go! only used on the weekends! with only 4 weeks till racing starts you need tires! or if your a jeeper who needs a good set of old school tires please write!”

    Formula Desert Dog History

    Anyone know the history of Desert Dog tires?  Apparently, according to the CJ3B Page Website (See comment at the bottom of CJ3B Page), “Louie says his Desert Dogs were the first out of the mold, given to him for testing and photographed for advertising in the 1970’s.”.   “Louie” is Louie Larson, aka Gopher 4×4.

     

     
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    CJ-3B Fiberglass Bodies

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

    UPDATE: Since I wrote this back in April of 2008, I have learned that someone in the Seattle Area purchased the Parkette molds, but I still haven’t learned who.

    In April of 2008 there was an ad from a buyer looking for a CJ-3B Fiberglass body.  Frankly, he was the only person I have come across on Craigslist looking for a fiberglass jeep body other than I.  The CJ-3B bodies are very rare.

    I did search and found a guy named Rick in the Northwest who says he has a CJ-3B mold (looks like a parkette mold with the side stripe).  Here’s a website that show’s a variety of pics of him building his CJ-3B. (see more of his pics below)

    According to the CJ-3B Page, there are no sellers of CJ-3B fiberglass bodies.

    To the right is a fiberglass CJ-3B body I found for sale back in 2008.

    “This is a Willy’s Jeep that i got off a friend in a trade. it was sitting in his field for years. it used to be covered but the tarp blew off a couple of years ago. someone put it together in the 80’s with a fiberglass body tub and fenders. they didn’t do such a good job, the wiring is atrocious and it needs alot of other work, but they did put lockouts and disc brakes up front, thats a plus. it needs to be completely stripped down and re-done.”

    Here’s more pics of Rick’s Fiberglass CJ-3B with a Parkette (?) Fiberglass Body.  You can read more about it here:

    ricks-cj-3b-jeep-home-made-2

    ricks-cj-3b-jeep-home-made-12

    ricks-cj-3b-jeep-home-made-20

     
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    March 2008 Attaching the Grille

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

    Another item I felt comfortable installing with the engine in place is the grille.  I was already pretty confident where it would go, but I wanted to be sure.  As a reminder, because I'm using the post '72 Cj-5 frame, I have to extend the fenders and hood approximately 3" as you can see here in this test setup below.  So, there was no default location for the grille anymore.

    Continue reading

     
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    March 2008 Fixing the Transmission Shifter

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

    After installing the engine, tranny and tc, I thought I'd better test to make sure the body fit over all three.  The good news was that it did.  The bad news was that the shifter was hitting the dashboard when I shifted into park.

    So, I took the bracket and extended it with a piece of halved 2×2 square tubing.  Then, I used a convenient hole bracket in the tranny (I have no idea what it is for) to add a back mount to the bracket.  The results are below:

    Continue reading

     
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    March 2008 Putting a few things together

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

    I put the body on and placed the seats on their mounts.  The body slopes backward a bit, but that will be fixed when I put the correct suspension brackets on the back. 

     
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    March 2008 Engine Mounts

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

    The CJ-5 I bought last year had been modified to accept a GM 350. I really liked the way they put together the engine mounts, so I chose to reuse the mounts and then modified my frame to accept the mounts.

    To make the mounts, I took the standard buick v6 mounts and removed the rubber blocks, leaving only the steel.  Then, I cut and welded some 3×3 square tubing to the mounts.  

    To make the holders that are welded to the frame, I used some recycled angle iron and added side braces to create the triangular look.  I look this setup much better than what I did in my first jeep. 

    Continue reading

     
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    March 2008 aligning the Engine, tranny and TC

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

    The tricky part of putting the engine, transmission and TC into position was making sure the TC was in the right location.  If I got it back into the right place, I would not have to change the lengths of the drivelines.  Fortunately, I had plenty of room for the engine, so I had lots of flexibility upfront.  

    Once Transfercase was in place, then I could position and weld the engine mounts.

    Continue reading

     
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    March 2008 Frame Rebuild part 2

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

    These shots show the painted frame with the Dana 44 rear and Dana 30 front painted and attached.

    Continue reading

     
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    January 2008 Dana 44 Putting it together with a Detroit Locker

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

    With my Dana 44 all taken apart (See article below), it was time to put everything back together.  One aspect I have left out of the rebuild process is the importance I placed on using the appropriate language to assemble and disassemble the R&P properly; lets just say I'm glad my children weren't about.

    Gathering tools and parts

    In terms of parts, I needed to gather a rebuild kit, a locker, and axle kits.  Using Craigslist, I found a locker for 3:73 gearing locally for $325.  The rebuild kit I got at half price from a jeeper in Bend, Oregon. The axle bearings, cones, and outer seals were purchased online through Tellico4x4.com. The inner axle seals I purchased at Schucks. At first, when I realized I had forgotten to order these (oops), I went to tellico's website.  The seals themselves were around $5 a piece, but the cost for shipping was going to more than double the price.  I thought that was ridiculous.  So, I dropped by the local Schucks to see what it would cost to get the seals (I figured they would have to order them).  Well, to my surprise, they had them in stock! $10 later, I was out the door with them. 

    Continue reading

     
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    January 2008 Dana 44 Taking it apart

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

    The Goal .. take apart my Dana 44 housing and install a Detroit Locker along with new bearings and seals.  Sounds easy enough, right?

    When building my last jeep, I did not have to rebuild either of the axle housings.  In the rear I had a Dana 44 from a mail jeep.  Mail jeeps come with detroit lockers:  note that the housing is a little narrower than a standard jeep by approx 2".  To fix this, you can have some shims machined that will allow you to use standard flanged jeep axles.  

    Fast forward to the new jeep.  I had a Dana 44 I knew nothing about and a detroit locker I wanted to install inside it.  I figured this would be a good opportunity to learn about ring and pinions; and, learn a thing or two I did!

    The First Issue – Broken teeth

    Naturally, the first step was to pull off the housing cover and examine the condition of the gears.  Unfortunately, the news was not good.  I quickly discovered that I had a very broken tooth on the ring gear.

    Interestingly, there was no evidence of broken pieces in the oil.  This lead me to suspect that the previous owner may have discovered the damage while changing the gear oil and 'forgotten' to mention it to me.  Also, once I pulled everything apart, I would also find the pinion gear broken as well.  

    Continue reading

     
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    February 2008 Fiberglass Seats

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

    Last year I purchased some plastic racing seats to put into Gus.  However, I was never very happy with them.  I never felt like I fit as well in them as I did in the seats I put into my first jeep.  After searching for months for seats, I finally discovered a pair of beat up seats exactly like what I used to own on Craigslist for only $20.  

    To get them to meet my my needs, I needed to repair the fiberglass (extensive holes and cracks) and then drill holes for side belts and shoulder belts.

    Continue reading

     
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    Fall 2007 — Gus’s Frame Makeover

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

    At left is a pretty stock CJ-5 frame.  There were some cracks where the front crossmember attached to the passenger side frame rail.  Because of this, I felt the crossmember had to go so I could box in the front of the frame.

    At the back of the frame, the driver’s side was slightly lower than the passenger side.  Also, because I wanted to outboard the back springs, I needed to add a bracket onto the side of the frame to help support both the front and the back of the springs.

    To make all these changes meant a great deal of work .. welding, grinding (and welding and grinding again) and painting.  I am pleased with the results.

    Click here to see many more pics of the frame transformation.

     
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    The Meeker Trail aka the Naches Trail

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

    I've heard rumors that a TV show in the 1960s did an episode on the Naches Trail.  Good News!  I finally found the episode, which was created by Exploration Northwest.  The best news is you can buy a copy of it and some other early jeep videos on DVD from the Don McCune Library.

    Jeeping 1 (Click link and scroll down to Jeeping 1) 

    This DVD features 3 episodes:

    1.  The Meeker Trail: "Join this spine-rattling trip with the Yakima Ridge Runners Jeep Club as they retrace the oldest route across the Cascades: Naches Pass. Filmed in black-and-white in 1965, it is based on Ezra Meeker's book "Pioneer Reminiscences of Puget Sound", which recounts traversing this old Indian trail with the first immigrant wagon train of 148 people in 1853."

    2.  The Doe Run:  "The female members of the Seattle Jeep Club leave their families at home and enjoy a weekend 'Doe Run' on the rugged backcountry roads of the Cle Elum and Salmon La Sac area in the Cascade Mountains."  (The WWJC club did something similar about this time – my mom and grandma went)

    3.  The Mud Race: " Yakima Ridge Runners Jeep Club race their specially-equipped jeeps through a mud-hole track in central Washington."

    The Desert Races DVD  (Click link and scroll down to Desert Races)

    This DVD features 3 episodes

    1.  Mattawa 100:  "The 1975 Mattawa 100 features 750 dirt bikes racing across 100 miles of sand and sagebrush near the eastern Washington town of Mattawa.  Aerial and slow-motion photography offers an exciting view along with comments by contestants.  The Everett Highriders Jeep Club and the Stump Jumpers Motorcycle Club assisted in the event".  (I think I was at this race.  Our jeep club was helping run a checkpoint.  Guys were coming to the checkpoint bloody from falling. Very memorable).

    2. The Sunfair 300: "Sponsored by the Washington Off-Road Racing Association, the Sunfair 300 is a desert race with 4-wheel-drive vehicles and rails (dune buggies) on a 225-mile course near Yakima that ranks as one of the toughest in the nation!  Members of the Yakima Ridge Runners staff the race course check points."  (I believe this was what my original racing jeep — that I purchased for $600 — was built to compete in).

    3.  A retrospective of the life of the host, Don McCune. 

     
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    1948 CJ-2A San Diego, Ca $4500 obo

    • CATEGORIES: CJ-2A • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

    I find this jeep slightly puzzling. I love the nice detail and old school upgrades — the full roll cage, the extra large windshield, a good front bumper mod, the nice paint job, updated seats — yet it still sports an F-head?  This jeep looks like it should go fast, but can’t.

    “Fresh F-Head 4 Cyl., new exaust, 3 speed w/overdrive, 8000# Winch, full roll cage, front disc brakes, custom tall windshield, custom seats, rock bars, custom bumpers — $4,500 o.b.o.,”

     
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    1946 Sand Jeep

    • CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

    Looks to be street legal. Has lights and a license plate.

    “Selling my toy. 1946 Willys Jeep .The only thing on the jeep that is a 46 Willys is the Tub and Title. Motor is a Pontiac 468 with 1970 Ram Air heads 500+ HP, New narrowed 9″ 31 spline axels with limited slip,frame lengthened 12”,aluminum hood,aluminum fenders and tail gate.Turbo 400,new transfer case,new paint,custom headers. Have full canvas and doors.two sets tires sand and street. street legal, Jeep is at the dunes at Coos Bay until April then will be in Grants Pass …. “

     
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    April 2007 Purchasing the CJ-3A Body and parts

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

    I purchased this jeep CJ-3A body and parts for $450.  It came without running gear, but with a recently rebuilt engine and transmission.   I just happened to have a rolling frame without a body, so I put all the parts I didn’t want on the rolling frame and sold that.  I ended up making all my money back from this purchase and was left with the fenders, hood, windshield and the data plate that goes on the dashboard 🙂

     
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    March 2007 Buying the CJ-5

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

    I decided to purchase a CJ-5 to get a better frame and running gear.  Here's some pics of it.  It's a 1973 CJ-5 with a Chev 350, a sm420 tranny, center rear differential with the dana 20.  I ended up parting out most of it.  

     
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    Biscuit’s Bobcat Body Makeover

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

    In January of 2007 I traded some cherokee axles for a Bobcat fiberglass body.  It was a bit hacked up, but after many hours I revived it. Here’s an accounting of some of the work.

    The body before any work was done:

    fiberglass2 fiberglass3 fiberglassbody

    Body after some trimming:

    body_getshome1 body_getshome2 body_getshome3

    Continue reading

     
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    Unknown Body out of California

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

    Anyone recognize this body?

    fiberglass-body-onepiece-unknown-mfg1 fiberglass-body-onepiece-unknown-mfg2 fiberglass-body-onepiece-unknown-mfg3 fiberglass-body-onepiece-unknown-mfg4

     
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    ANSWERS to 1951 Salesman Quiz

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

    ::ANSWERS ::

    Here are the answers to the Salesman Quiz.  To see or take the original quiz, click on this link.

    Thanks to Colin for finding the answers.

    1. There are ……….. different Willys chassis.
    (1) 2
    (2) 5  — 2WD station wagon and panel; 2 WD Jeepster; 4WD station wagon and panel; 4WD pickup truck; 4WD Jeep (CJ3A and M38)
    (3) 6
    (4) 8

    2. In the Jeepster, the basic rugged frame is made …………………… to compensate for the open-type body.
    (1) more flexible
    (2) stronger — Jeepster frame has a huge X member in the middle for strength.
    (3) more streamlined

    3. Planadyne suspension provides a comfortable, big-car ride without ……………………..
    (1) shock absorbers
    (2) unsprung weight
    (3) excessive weight and long wheelbase — Planadyne suspension provides comfort and ride without excessive weight and long wheelbase.

    4. Hotchkiss drive uses the car’s ……………………………… to transmit the push of the drive wheels to the total car.
    (1) drive line — Hotchkiss drive uses the driveline to get power to the drive wheels
    (2) rear springs
    (3) torque tube

    5. A measure of long clutch-life is ……………………, and on this basis, Willys clutches are outstanding.
    (1) frictional area per horse-power handled
    (2) horsepower per cubic inch of piston displacement — Long clutch life attributed to frictional area per horsepower handled.
    (3) area of clutch throwout bearing surface

    6. The Hurricane engine’s ………………….. is in the cylinder head, resulting in better control of the temperature of the air-fuel mixture
    (1) intake manifold — The Hurricane engine has the intake manifold cast into the cylinder head.
    (2) carburetor
    (3) exhaust manifold

    7. The F-head design of the Hurricane engine permits ………………..
    (1) a larger intake valve — The F-head design permits a larger intake valve.
    (2) a smaller exhaust valve
    (3) location of the exhaust valve in the cylinder head

    8. The Hurricane engine has the high compression ratio of ………………… yet premium priced gasoline is not required.
    (1) 7.2 to 1
    (2) 7.4 to 1 — The Hurricane engine has the option of 7.4 to 1 compression ratio( Willys ad from 1950-51)
    (3) 7.8 to 1

    9. In the Hurricane engine the arrangement of intake and exhaust valves is ………………..
    (1) both in the cylinder head.
    (2) both in the block.
    (3) intake valve in head, exhaust valve in block. — Hurricane engine design has the intake valves in the head, exhaust valves in the block.

    10. On the basis of horse-power per cubic inch of piston displacement, the Hurricane engine is the ………………….full-sized American-built automobile engine.
    (1) lightest-weight
    (2) most efficient — Hurricane engine is the most efficient engine based on horsepower per cubic inch (.53 horsepwer per cubic inch) Divide horsepower(72) by cubic inches (134) or 75hp divided by 134= .55 hp per cubic inch depending on which horsepower rating Willys used at the time
    (3) highest compression

    11. All of the Willy chassis are designed and built …………….
    (1) identical in construction.
    (2) to do their particular transportation jobs. — All Willys chassis are designed for the job they are intended to do.
    (3) with excess weight to get comfort.

    12. The Willys ………………… is universally recognized as the most dependable 4-cylinder, L-head engine in the history of American motor cars.
    (1) Hurricane engine
    (2) Lightning engine
    (3) ‘Jeep’ “Go-Devil” Engine — The Willys “Go-Devil” is the most dependable L-head 4 cylinder engine in the history of American cars. ( Hurricane was 4 cylinder F-head, Lightning was an L head 6 cylinder engine)

    <======= Go back to original quiz, click on this link.