Where is everyone?

[Carls_jeep]

 :-/ we have more joining but not much in the way of posting. I guess we are going into hibernation huh?

[mud pie]

Well, I know I've been in my garage tearing my Willys apart, maybe others are doing the same...

[Jesse]

Just got on the new board, haven't seen my jeep for a few months now so there really isn't much for me to say

[p3ferris]

We are here reading with nothing to say. :-/

[Carls_jeep]

 :-/ Me too. [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

[jamesr]

I too am rebuilding from the frame up.  Slapped some plywood on the frame, mounted the gastank, grill, radiator and shroud, filled it with gas and water, and was ready to drive a "running chasis".  Noticed fthe radiator was dripping and could not get the carb to prime.  So, off came the rad. off came the gas tank, and sent the radiator to the shop for a repair, and a rodding while there, Same shop cleared the gunked up fuel outlet by removing the fitting and "rodding" the fuel tank "pick-up" tube. Today I will put it all back together and perhaps drive it this afternoon.  And that is where this week went. So to firure it is going to take a given amount of time to do a frame-off, is very optimistic. You might not drive it this summer, it could be the following summer,
I removed my engine and found it full of "gunk"  it sat on the engine stand while I rebuilt the front steering knuckles, hubs, bearings, front diff, ditto for the rear diff. then the xfer case, transmission, tie rods, shocks brakes, etc. then I took the engine to the machine shop for a tear down and hot tanking to get rid of the "gunk" that a never serviced PCV valve left.  Upon teardown we found a piston that had burned through the edge to the compression ring, but that problem had just began occuring and had not touched the cylinder wall (yet).  OK, now we need a set of pistons and might as well do a total rebuild, which they did. So you see, things do not necessarily go as planned with the Willys or the time and money. fI began a year ago in late August, and it is now 15 months later and I am to a running chassis (today) I hope.  I have already rewired the dash, instlalled a rebuilt Harrison heater (converting it to a 12 V motor also) added blinkers and 2 tail lights (as Calvin suggested--saftey over originality in my case).  I could drop the tub on next week, and bolt up the fenders and hood, but I have no doubt the something new will pop up that requires a weeks worth of attention.  So I plug along working every day on it that my wife does not haul me to the mall looking for something that she never buys. It is the unknown problems, the mall, hunting season and family visits that screw up a serious timetable. But it will all be worth it, and I really donf't mind.  At least I know it is done right!  Jim

[Carls_jeep]

Went flying with a friend for a $100 breakfast this morning. We went to Rough River Lake in Ky and man was it windy. �:o �There was 11 of us and 7 aircraft. Last night as I was driving to a Friday night guitar jam my cousin the pilot called and asked if I wanted to go, HELL YES, said I. He said that was to easy, he didn't have to plead or twist my arm at all. What a great morning we had.

[calvinhunt]

Hey Carl, With seven planes you must have had quite a fly-in.  Wish I could have joined you.  Didn't anyone ever tell you that airplanes and Jeeps are dangerous?

[Carls_jeep]

Yes, but aren't they fun though. �;D  Lately I have given some thought to an Ultra Light aircraft. I could fly it off our property.

[calvinhunt]

I was only kidding about airplanes and Jeeps being dangerous. �But ultra light airplanes really are dangerous. �I have over 3000 hours logged in real airplanes. �I had a chance to fly an ultra light a few years ago. �A good pilot friend with over 12,000 hours had just flown one a few months before. �He said it was the most scared he had been in his flying career. �He said he felt lucky to get it back on the ground in one piece. �He honestly begged me to not fly the ultra light. �I didn't. �I have never been tempted since. �However, I must add that I feel it's more difficult for a pilot of real airplanes to fly an ultra light.

[Carls_jeep]

I understand where your coming from about the Ultra Light aircraft. I have not been up in one and before I would buy one I would want a flight in a two place to experience how it feels and fly it. I think the real fear is being in the open just sitting on a seat with nothing around you  :-/. It is a different feeling from standard aircraft. I also think much of the issues of Ultra Lights come from the pilot flying the aircraft. I have seen some pilots do dumb *rear end maneuvers in them that should have caused a crash. There are many maneuvers you shouldn't do in them for sure. You have to keep in mind it is basically a kite with an engine and I would not even consider flying a hang glider, PERIOD.

Our CJ2 and 3 Jeeps are a little dangerous in that we are sitting ducks in traffic. People are in a hurry and driving on a major highway or large city streets at 45-55 mph in a CJ2-3 is tricky. Aside from people admiring our Jeep they also want to get around us fast. Sometimes I have the feeling they treat us like a motorcycle and abuse us.

I am uncomfortable driving on the major highways here because almost everyone, including me, drives regular vehicles at 55-70 mph and dislike slow moving vehicles, however I do respect them and give them room. Even on our narrow hilly winding back roads some drive at 50-60 mph so coming over a hill with a vehicle coming at you at 50 mph gets real interesting. I always try to pull over and let others by because I do not drive my Jeep over 45-50 mph. I always watch traffic as far ahead and behind as I can see. People come roaring up on me and tailgate me until they can get around or I pull over. If you don't observe at least 1/4 mile in front and behind then your setting yourself up for a crash.

[mrman5917]

I'd have to agree with you there Carl. When driving my 3A I think everyone forgets that this jeep may be small, but with stock drum brakes it takes a long distance to slow it down, even from 40 MPH which is as fast as I'll take mine right now. It's also great when your sitting at a hill and some young guy (am I old enough to say that yet?) pulls right up on your tailgate with no regard for what might happen if I mis-time my clutch and gas maneuver to pull away from a stop sign. Luckily I've never had a problem making it happen, but looking at their face through the rear view always makes me laugh, looks a little like  

I have actually turned down relatively "easy" off-roading adventures with friends because the only route to the location required highway-type traffic where a 50 MPH speed limit means you're standing still. I could only imagine what would a 60 year old Jeep going 40 MPH through that area would do to people

[Carls_jeep]

mrman, you need to practice using the emergency brake when taking off on a hill. Find a moderate hill with no traffic and stop on it. Pull the brake on, ease out the clutch until you hear and feel the engine load down and then ease the brake off as you fully engage the clutch. After you have had a lot of practice you should have no trouble in traffic. It even works on a down grade and it's even better in 4 whl dr in the woods because all four wheels are stopped by the hand brake then. I have used it to back up a hill when I decided I didn't want to go any farther down the hill.

Keep practicing on steeper hills until you master the clutch/brake trick, it's not hard to do. I have used it on the street and off road under many tricky conditions. The nice thing about it is you have your feet using the clutch and throttle in the normal way with one hand controlling the hand brake.

Practice, practice, practice.