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.

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

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

The 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.

Today 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:

• Classic broncos
• Bender plan from pro tools
• Got Trikes Plans
• Blind Chicken Racing

Tubing benders:

• http://www.lowbucktools.com/hydbender.html
• Various Models from JDSquared
• JD2 Model 3 with home made stand and harbor freight hydraulic
• Pro Tools
• Trick tools
• Baileigh Industrial Video
• TJ Diesel Benders
• Go Fast Parts

Tube Notcher:

• Tube notcher TN-100
• Harbor Freight
• Notch Master
• Baileigh Notchers
• TJ Diesel — scheduled for release in 2009 (click this link and go to bottom of page)
• TD Industrial 0-60 degree from tool planet.com
• Here’s a Link at Pirate 4×4 on how to use a grinder to make the cut
• Tubing Coping Calculator

Here’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

This 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

I think the title pretty much says it all.

– Dave

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.