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Sam creates E-Brake Basic Training

August 24, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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No one can say that Sam and his wife Alecia don’t have a sense of humor.  This tutorial had me laughing for a while today!

From Flatfender Willys Academy comes Sam’s explanation of the center emergency brake mod. …. Take it away Sam …

E-BRAKE BASIC TRAINING

2. This is a 78 Merc Capri E brake. There are 3 bolts that hold it in place. The wires are for a dash warning light. The hole to cut is just larger then the width of the fulcrum and slightly longer than the fulcrum travel.

3. The part in the image below goes under the floor and the cables from the rear loop through this cable guide. If the cable is too long, cut to length and use your cable locks.  The best location for the brake is close to the seat.

4. This is the housing which is screwed down with screws.  Use the housing to determine the location of E-brake.

5. Double check for clearance and reach by working lever up and down. If it feels good, install!

6. This E-brake is from a Hyundai. Most Japanese cars will work, but Ford is the easiest way to go.

7. This is also from a Hyundai, but boot needs to be modified. So you get busy with that E-brake while I give that maggot who shrunk my jeep a major malfunction….FALL OUT!

More Information:

It usually takes about a hour to install with 3 bolts, nuts, washers, and two cable clamps. Once you get the brake installed in the vehicle where you can grab it comfortably, hooking up the cable underneath is a no-brainer, no matter what year it is. I have also used this unit on drum type brakes.

In the image below, I’ve installed a brake in a CJ-3B with a CJ-5 Chassis.  The installation is slightly different from that of the CJ2 etc. Total cost of the E-brake and cover at Pick-in-Pull for this project was $5.00. Cost of the clamps (2) and 3 bolts was $3.25 for a total of $8.25.

Comment by Dave …. This is the only other floor mounted emergency brake that I’ve seen.  Unfortunately, the pic isn’t that good.  But, you pull back on the stick to set it and push the button at the top to release it. You can see the rest of the pics related to this jeep here.

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Is this possibly a GP or MA Body? California City, Ca **SOLD**

August 24, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, GPW (Ford MB), MB, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  This appears SOLD, but was listed at $800.

I could be wrong, but the slopes and cut of the passenger and driver’s sides look very similar to a Willys MA, thought maybe a Ford GP as well?.  This has been hacked up a bit, but it’s worth a look.  Check out what appears to be an emergency brake as well.

“Clear title has orignal old style pink slip non op for 20 years but probably off dmv record now… 4×4 ran when parked 10 years ago”

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Bruce Finds Some More Las Brisas Surreys

August 23, 2010 • CATEGORIES: DJ-3A, Features, International • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Bruce forwarded me these unusual and rare posts cards of some unusual Surreys (here’s a compilation of Surrey & DJ info). Bruce has attempted to contact the Las Brisas Manager to learn if they have a historian of sorts for their jeeps in use, but he hasn’t had any luck. If anyone has any Las Brisas connections, please let me know!  Thanks for sharing Bruce.

Check out the guy driving the jeep, a stick no less, carrying a tray of food!

Brian writes, “These 2 jeeps offer clues but also leaves one with more questions. The extended tub, tailgate, baby moon hubcaps, valance panels, and an absence of chrome bumpers.  Also, there was no date stamp on the card, but it looks to be from the late/early 50-60s.

On the back of the postcard, written in both English and Spanish, it reads Room service by jeeps- unique at hotel Las Brisas in Acapulco where every room a has it’s own pool.”

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DIRT: The Movie

August 21, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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In an email today, Jeff mentioned a movie I had not heard of called DIRT (IMDB Link).  Released in 1979, the movie follows a narrator around as he explores the wide-world of offroad racing.  It’s got some especially great/scary clips of early auto racing. The rest of the movie shows all kinds of different offroad racing in the US during the late 70s (sand, water, hill climbs, baja, snow climbs, and more). One item I had hoped to see, but didn’t, was PNW racing, though I didn’t have time to watch every clip.

Currently, you can watch the movie for free via YouTube.  However, you can also order a DVD from Turner Classic Movies (about $11) or from Amazon.com (About $6).

Here’s the first YouTube installment.  At the end of each installment, there is a link to the following installment (10 total).

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=MfByldRKTo4

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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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Metal High Hood Jeep Toys from Colombia

August 19, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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As I looked through Sebastian’s pictures from his trip to Colombia, I noticed the two images with toy jeeps.  It’s so shocking to see a toy made out of metal any more that they really stood out.  I asked Sebastian about them and this is what he told me.

Sebastian writes, “yes they are metal jeeps and done with such detail that is hard to believe. Even the interior (not shown on the pictures) is done exacalty as the real thing. The cars have stearing wheals and shockers. I never saw those before, the only down side was the price: $75 US Dollars, it is probably worth it because all the labor that requires, but it is still expensive specially in an economy like Colombia. They had red, pink, and olive green. On the other hand, in most cities of Colombia you can find small pottery Willys, they are probably 2 inches long, 1 to 1.5 inches tall, made with clay and decorated Colombian style as the “Yipao”, those are probably $2 US Dollars each; you can see the price contrast.”

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A Jeep for the Grandkids

August 18, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Colin contacted me a few days ago.  As a tech article writer for the Willys Overland Jeepster Club site, a restorer and owner of multiple willys, and, as you can see below, a very creative guy, Colin has a wide range of Willys experiences.

He’s been kind enough to share images and information from both his restorations and a friend’s as well.  I’ll be publishing them over the next week.  Tonight I thought I’d share this unusual project. Thanks  Colin!

Colin writes, “Here are some photos of a little Jeep I built for my middle son and grandkids.  It is a 1/2 scale Bemak 1941 Willys MB Slat Grille body mounted on a 1980 John Deere 111 lawn tractor chassis and powerplant.  It has an 11 hp Briggs and Stratton engine with 5 speed manual transmission.  I had to do a little cutting on the body to get it to fit the chassis, but most everything worked out pretty easily.

It has a 12volt electrical system with working headlights from Harbor Freight, WW II blackout lights for the front parking lights, and a WW II blackout lens with red LED for the taillight, a Harbor Freight 2000lb winch and a trailer hitch and receiver on the rear.  I fabricated the front and rear bumpers to match the Willys stuff.   I used EZ Go golf cart front hubs to get 4 bolt pattern for the  Harbor Freight wheels and tires.  I modified the rear axles to accept the 4 bolt wheels.  I mounted a spare tire on the rear and fabricated a “jerry can” mount for the 1.5 gallon jerry can that is the fuel tank.  I used the old clutch and brake pedals from the CJ3A and fabricated the shift linkage for the 5 speed transmission.  The seat is a 1950s Willys station wagon driver’s side seat that I modified to do a double fold forward, where it covers the 12 volt battery. The windshield has Lexan inserted and a buddy made me a to scale WW II rifle mount for the back of the windshield.  He also has restored WW II Jeeps, one MB that he just sold and the other is a 1944 Ford GPW US Navy Jeep.  I painted it in WW II US Navy paint scheme, as our son is retired USN.”

See many more images by following the link below ….

Continue reading →

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Sebastian Returns from Colombia

August 17, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features, International, Reader Stories • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I hadn’t heard from Sebastian for several months, so it was a nice surprise to get an email from him.  It turns out he just returned from a trip to his native country of Colombia.

Among his exploits on vacation was a 2 day trip in a CJ-3A with his dad that took them from Medellin to Bogota, covering nearly 400 km (about 250 miles) with elevations varying between 1300 ft to 8500 ft.

Sebastian provides images from his trip as the Flat Fender Club of Butler’s website.  I’ve linked to a couple below.  I’m hoping to sneak into his luggage on his next trip to Colombia — it’s a beautiful place.  Thanks for sharing Sebastian!

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