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Jeff’s Fiberglass (Bobcat Body) Flattie

August 21, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Racing • TAGS: , , , , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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After seeing some of the posts about the old Desert Dog and Bobcat ads, Jeff dropped me a note saying he’s been enjoying the old ads and old pics as it reminds him of the busy Northwest days of jeep clubs, playdays and racing in the northwest.  So, he forwarded me a pic of one of his jeeps (he also has a sand drag jeep listed below for sale).

He’s been nice enough to let me post it.  I really love the creative paint job — I haven’t seen anything quite like it.

Jeff writes, “This bobcat jeep was bought back in 1983 as a project.  It was a body and a HUGE pile of parts, to which I’m sure your readers can relate. Currently, it runs a 355 chev w/ ford toploader 4 speed, a dana 20 case, a ford 9inch w/ 35 spline summers axles spool nod case and 6.00 gears.  The front is a gutted mdl 27 w/ a mustang rack.  The cage is chromoly.  The car weights 2250lbs w/o a driver.”

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Colin’s ’48 Jeepster

August 19, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Jeepster • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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As I mentioned yesterday, besides his grandkids mini-jeep, Colin has worked on several different Willys.  Here’s his Jeepster that was featured a couple times in JP Magazine, specifically the June 2007 issue and the January 2008 issue.

Colin writes, “Here are some photos of our 48 Jeepster.  We have had this car for over 33 years and when we bought it, it had a non running Studebaker Champion 6 engine in it.  Once we got it running and back in decent visual and mechanical condition, we drove it that way for many years. Around 1990, I stored it in our garage and worked on other vehicles and a house remodeling project (a happy wife makes for a happy home!).  I did our Corvette restoration from 1994 until 1998.  After I retired in 2003, I began putting ideas together about re-doing the Jeepster.  I wanted a car that looked original on the outside, which it did already, but with an improved drivetrain and suspension under it to keep up with Phoenix area traffic.  After a lot of research, I decided a Buick V6 was the way to go.  I found a freshly rebuilt (still in the plastic) 1982 Buick 231 even fire V6 for a very reasonable price.  I pulled the front sheet metal off the Jeepster and got to work.  With an updated engine going into it, I chose to put a Mustang II front end kit with tubular A-arms, Ford disc brake rotors (I wanted to use stock Jeepster wheels, hubcaps and trim rings), and rack and pinion steering into the chassis.  A buddy of mine and I did the majority of the front end work in a weekend.  I used a set of engine mounts from Novak Engineering in Utah and bolted the engine to a 1967 Muncie close ratio 4 speed that was in my parts bin.  For the rear end, I found a 1969 Ford Mustang 8 inch with 2.79 gears.  That rear end is a bolt in for any of the 46-63 Willys 2 wheel drive wagons, panel deliveries and the 48-51 Jeepsters. I also used a front sway bar and on the rear, a Willys Jeepster/station wagon sway bar. I did upgrade the Buick with a set of finned aluminum valve covers from TA Performance,  a 4 bbl Holley 390 cfm carb from a 65 AMC 327 engine and dual exhausts.  The end result is a Jeepster that runs great( 1750 rpm at 65-70 mph), gets excellent gas mileage(about 26 at 65 mph) and handles like a sports car(better than our Corvette!).  All of this work was relatively easy, even though it took me a while.”

In this first pic you see both his Jeepster and the 1960 Surrey he purchased that can be seen here.  Colin has been restoring the Surrey as well.

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Builds: Mike’s Truck

August 3, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mike’s built a nice looking truck.

Mike writes, “This is my Baby. It took 3.5 years to build it was going to be a restore but it couldn’t be done. So I took a 1/2 ton chevy truck frame and narrowed and shorten it. I dropped in a 454 chevy and many other goodies. It is a show winner and a great off road toy.”

Here are a couple pics.

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Some Updates …

July 5, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Biscuit, Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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For the Fourth of July, I celebrated by heading back to the formerly snow bound roads near Boise’ only ski area, Bogus Basin.  As you can see in this pic, the snow is gone (see snow pics here), the mountains are now in bloom, and more progress was made.  More on that tomorrow ….

A 1950 CJ-3A: Today, Darrel had to talk to me.  So he stopped next to me, while I waited at a stop light, rolled down his window, and started asking me questions — what year was my jeep, who did my roll cage, and more …

Now, I had no idea who Darrel was.  However, in the time it took for the stop light to finally change colors, Darrel had explained through his passenger side window that he A) liked what I had built, B) had a 1950 CJ-3A, C) wanted his jeep rebuilt for his daughter, D) had his jeep nearby, and E) wanted me to follow him there.  If I learned that much at a stop light, I wondered how much I would learn about him once we stopped to see his jeep.

True to his word, he lived very close and had a 1950 CJ-3A that needed some work — hadn’t been run in 15 years.  It had a V-8 conversion, solid body, rotted top and plenty of potential.  And, to my surprise, based on my jeep, he asked me to do the work (and will pay me). I don’t have pics of this just yet.  I’ll share more about this if we go forward with the project.

Brian wrote to me late last week to share a sad tale.  As a part of the continued testing with his new build, he learned the hard way what happens if the oil in the front pumpkin housing gets too low AND the 4wd somehow gets accidentally shifted into gear (how that happened is still a mystery to him).  The result:  his front pinion started freezing up, resulting in some ugly sounds and a twisted driveline. See the pics to the right.

The good news is that everything else continues to behave well.

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Upgrading a Single Master Cylinder into a Dual set up

June 17, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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A reader ask me about replacing the stock single brake master cylinder, found on many early jeeps,  for a dual master cylinder.  Can it be done?  It turns out there a variety of threads and pages on this alteration.  Here are some of the links I found if you are interested in this mod.

1) http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/dual-master-cylinder_topic14193.html
2) http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45099
3) http://cj3b.info/Tech/BrakesDualMaster.html
4) Herm’s conversion kit: http://www.hermtheoverdriveguy.com/id2_dual_reservoir_master_cylinder.htm

OTHER BRAKE UPGRADE OPTIONS HERE

(Image from the CJ-2A Page)

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Gerald’s First Jeep — a $60 Commando

June 10, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Jeepster This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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A reader had mentioned at some point about a modification that involved replacing the front clip of a Commando with a CJ-5 front clip.  I asked for pictures and Gerald produced some from the first jeep he owned.  I really like the looks of the CJ-5 front clip on it.

He writes, “Since you are talking Jeepsters, this was my first ride.  I bought it for   60 bucks in October of 1979.  That means it was only 11 years old; yet look how rough it was.  Compare that to a 99 vehicle today.  Vehicles have certainly improved.  Anyway,  I though I was the shit at 14 with my own jeep.”

We got her going with another axle, tiger hair and spray can red from K-Mart. Dad would take it to the trail and then I could drive.

Then at 18 came the lift, new body panels and paint.  I had to knock the corners off the grille and put a CJ-5 Hood on it.

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Builds: Brian Wires His CJ-3B

June 1, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Brian has provided a very thorough look at his approach to wiring his CJ-3B. My only wish is that he had written this BEFORE I had wired my Jeep, because I would have created a mockup dash like he did.  Many thanks Brian!

Brian writes, I had a major setback in my 3b project when I damaged the valve train on my CPI engine, stopping oil from getting to the lifters. So, I had to swap engines before I could really start my test-drive shake-down period. As part of my swap, I chose to go with the TBI 4.3L V6.   What really hurt was that I almost had the wiring complete for a CPI engine, but I knew what worked for the CPI would not work for the TBI engine. This meant a major layout change was in order.

If I had to label this part of my build I would have to call it “The things Painless does not want you to know”, because I feel I was able to save well over $1000.00 by utilizing a free wiring harness I pulled from a Blazer I junked.  By working with the stock harness, I was able to use fuel pump relays and other items that help me avoid the nickel and dime effect that can add up to big bucks. I also learned some sort-cuts and where to get OEM parts to help complete the job correctly.  So, here’s my adventure ….

LAYING OUT THE WIRING

Because the limited amount of space under the dash of my 3b, I had to move things around from the stock location in the Blazer. Fortunately, the harness I salvaged had enough wire to do this. However, trying to rewire and do everything I needed to do underneath the dash wasn’t an option.  So, I made a mockup of the dash out of wood that allowed me to easily organize, size and create a well designed electrical layout.


Fuse box firewall bulkhead connector assembly used for mockup.

The harness enters the engine space in the same place as the Blazer.Note the valve covers, anyone seeing a nice set of center bolt aluminum valve covers for a 4.3 let me know.

THE CRIMPING TOOL

One important goal of mine was to shorten some of the wires and avoid some bird nests of stock wire under the dash.  Doing some research I discovered GM uses Packard 56, 58 ,59 and Delphi Metri-pack connectors/terminals that you can buy at PCS Connectors. The advantage to using connectors and terminals “to shorten” is pretty obvious: you eliminate the potential of a splice failure; also, it looks much cleaner.

Having the right tool for wire splicing and terminal connectors is a key. I contacted a small company I was an engineer for and borrowed a ratcheting-crimping tool that you can see below. It took only three tries to get the crimping technique mastered, making my wiring appear professional. (crimping tools from PCS)

Read the entire post by clicking on the link below:

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Paul finds a MB with an unusual Ford Cab Mod

May 25, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Unusual • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Paul writes that the days are getting longer and the temperatures warmer, allowing him to check in on friends across Alaska.  While looking over one collection recently, he spotted this unusually well done transformation. Those terra tires sure looking in good condition, too! Paul, be sure to thank your friend for sharing this with us!

Paul writes, “I’ll try to remember what he told me concerning the construction / modification of this Jeep but it appears a Ford pickup cab was grafted onto the Jeep body, the four cylinder engine was replaced with a V8, Scout axles replaced the original axles and I think he said the transmission was replaced with a T90 along with numerous other modifications but you can see for yourself when you check out the pictures.  With the power of the V8 this little Jeep can quickly dig holes with the tires while in low range and gassing it just about makes the Jeep jump in high range…”

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M-38 FireJeep @ Mississippi State University

May 23, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, M-38 • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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A student from Mississippi State University named Cliff contacted me yesterday.  He’s in the Aerospace program and also employed at the Raspet Flight Research Lab.  The lab owns and operates the M-38 Fire Jeep shown below. They have a problem with their jeep and need some help.

According to Cliff, the M-38 had developed a knock (after being loaned out temporarily), so Cliff and another co-worker tore the engine apart during some down time recently.

Cliff writes, “Here comes the bad news, once we got the motor on the stand and pulled the rod caps we find that the rod bearings on the 3rd and 4th cylinders have ground in to nothing, which was thought to be the case when a ton of metal shavings were found in the oil pan. The motor is not original to the jeep, it had been replaced in ’88 with an F-head and a hole cut in the hood to accommodate it, and seems to be a rebuilt engine because the crank has already been turned once. So here is the dilemma. The lab is low on money and is not wanting to pay a lot for repairs but many of us here would like to save the jeep from the scrap yard and return it to its duties as our fire truck. So I am here to ask for your help in saving this Jeep, we are in need of a new crank and badly need a new wiring harness and am asking for donations on these parts but am also willing to trade the entire F-head motor(which other then needing a new crank is in great shape) for a L-head motor.”

I responded to Cliff to see if I can get a little more information about this project and what else they might need (for example, bearings, seals, etc) to get this running again.

Unless someone wants to contact Cliff themselves (I’ll be happy to forward an addy) and provide assistance (maybe you live close or graduated from the Mississippi State or for some other reason), I will be happy to organize some help for Cliff and his project.

Here are some pics of the jeep before disassembly:

View more pics by clicking the link below —

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