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OT: Retro Wrangler/Willys Pickup (long)

Great looking Jeff!!!

Congrats on the completion of phase 1....:bow:
 
Hey Eric,

You were right, the Sunrider is really cool. :cool: I had never used it when the Jeep was an Unlimited but today I tried it on the pickup and I like it a lot.

Also finished up a tiny bed detail this morning - put the polished plugs in the ends of the bed roll.

jeff

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YOU GOTT'A BE KIDD'n

:eek:
jscherb said:
Now I can think about what to do with all the photos, drawings and other content I've developed in the course of the project. Too bad jRations went away, if they were still around I would do a multi-part build article series for them and I'm sure they would publish it.

I could try to write something for JP, but they only seem to be interested in off-road content, big lifts, big tires, etc, so probably they wouldn't publish it.

Maybe an article or series for some other magazine, I wonder who might be interested. The truck doesn't really fit in any category - the various 4WD magazines are mostly off-road oriented; the "street truck" magazines seem mostly interested in big diesels or low riders; the Classic Truck types would find this too new... not sure this is in a category that would fit in any of the magazines. Any ideas?

Maybe I could get a publisher interested in a Build Book with tons of how to on design and fab. Make it a little more general than just the Retro Wrangler, cover all the sheet metal and other fab and build stuff I've learned along the way. I wonder if I could find a publisher for that idea?

Or maybe just forget it.
Click to expand...

I'm, think'n ALL the above (except forgeting it) would be interested in it. That's one of things that makes this build so incredible. It's a perfect blend of new, old, hot-rod, Friday night "cruiser" & daily driver. What else could anyone ask for?

Once again, thanks for the insperation. Fantastic job.!:bow: :bow:
 
Kudo's to Jeff for a job well done and an outstanding ride! This should be in a magazine, anyone have any contacts?
 
jallan said:
Kudo's to Jeff for a job well done and an outstanding ride! This should be in a magazine, anyone have any contacts?
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Having written 11 articles for jRations, I had all the contacts I needed there until they decided to stop publishing :(

I haven't written for any other Jeep or 4WD type magazines as of yet.
 
jallan said:
Kudo's to Jeff for a job well done and an outstanding ride! This should be in a magazine, anyone have any contacts?
Click to expand...

Yes ;)
 
jscherb said:
Having written 11 articles for jRations, I had all the contacts I needed there until they decided to stop publishing :(

I haven't written for any other Jeep or 4WD type magazines as of yet.
Click to expand...

Well, there went that idea. I was finally committed to ending my subscription to JP and getting one for JRations (my subscription ended in December). Looked like an incredible publication...
 
Here's one more frame detail I did last week and just finished painting this morning... I thought I should post a picture for "full disclosure" reasons in case anyone else ever decides to build one of these trucks.

While waiting for the upholstery shop and the body shop, I drove the truck for two weeks, and I decided that the frame had a bit more flex than I liked. If this was planned to be an off-road truck, the flex was probably perfect, but for daily driver highway bump and pothole abuse, I wanted the frame to be a little stiffer. The lengthened frame plus the lack of the rigid tub running the lenght of the frame just added more flex than I liked.

So I added these stiffeners on the bottom of the frame rail, from just behind the transmission skid plate back to to rear trailing arm bracket (about 39"). They are made from 2 1/2" square, 1/4" wall tubing and welded the the frame rail and to the trailing arm bracket.

Now the frame is just as stiff as it was before I lengthened it and it feels perfect. On to the phase 2 hardtop project next, nothing left to do on phase 1.

Jeff


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DMV Story...

Today I went to the DMV to get all the paperwork sorted out. It took all of 10 minutes, including the five minutes I waited for the two people in line ahead of me.

Here's all I had to do:

- On the way to the DMV, I stopped at the local scrap dealer (because they have a scale) to get a Certified Weight Slip showing the truck's current weight. In case you're interested, the Unlimited was 3579 pounds, and the pickup weighed in at 4140 pounds with a full tank of gas. Subtracting for the gas, I figure the conversion added about 440 pounds to the vehicle weight.

- At the DMV, all I had to do was fill out the form to amend the title to show the new body style (pickup instead of suburban) and the new weight. They charged me $4.50 for the change and printed a new registration with the new info for me. They'll send me the updated title in the mail.

Done.

The change didn't even invalidate the current inspection sticker. I'm due for that in November, but inspection will also be a 10 minute process where I live - they plug the truck into the inspection computer via the OBDII port, and they do a quick visual check the on lights and a few other emissions things, that's all.

Couldn't have been more painless, I guess that's a benefit from my high NY taxes :rolleyes: . It's official, according to NY State the Retro Wrangler is now a pickup. :)

Jeff
 
jscherb said:
What's Jeep Safari? It would be fun to show it off a litte :-)

Jeff
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Jeff,
I was thinking of Jeep Safari in Moab each year, usually several thousand people there and they have two days worth of vendor's show and manufacturers have displays most of the week. Jeep usually has a big display in the middle of town. Of course lots of swag and some pretty good deals on parts from various vendors. Always the week leading up to Easter.

If you do want to try it some time Please let me know, I go every year to see friends from around the country but generally stay off the safari trails and out of the crowds except for a day at the vendor's show.
 
trust said:
Jeff,
I was thinking of Jeep Safari in Moab each year, usually several thousand people there and they have two days worth of vendor's show and manufacturers have displays most of the week. Jeep usually has a big display in the middle of town. Of course lots of swag and some pretty good deals on parts from various vendors. Always the week leading up to Easter.

If you do want to try it some time Please let me know, I go every year to see friends from around the country but generally stay off the safari trails and out of the crowds except for a day at the vendor's show.
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Wow, that's far away from here :) But would be a really cool road trip. I'll definitely give it some serious thought.
Thanks
 
jallan said:
Kudo's to Jeff for a job well done and an outstanding ride! This should be in a magazine, anyone have any contacts?
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Today I was contacted by a magazine interested in doing a feature story on the truck. Can't say any more just yet.
Jeff
 
Now that phase 1 is done, I'm finalizing the design and construction details of the hardtop.

Here's a simulation in Paint Shop Pro... the rear profile of the cab roof isn't quite right in this simulation to try to overlook that. But here's why I posted this photo:

OPINIONS WANTED: Clearance/marker lights on the cab roof: yes or no? I'm leaning toward "yes" but would like to get your input.

These aren't the exact lights I'd use, I've found some LED lights that are slightly smaller than these.

The other images I've posted before but I'm including them again here for reference.

Thanks,
Jeff

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Roof - line

I see what U mean, roof line needs a little something???

But what? Without looking wrong.

Here's a convertible Jeepster with Unity hand remote spotlight (cop-light)

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/RedScrambler/DSC00513.jpg

Here's my Gladiator with two spotlights. I'm thinking of removing them because of the alien look that it gives. They are functional and great for "spotlight on deer" or just moving about in dark.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/RedScrambler/DSC00442.jpg

I think these cop lights would be too much, but wanted to show U some pictures.

U got a tough decison to make.
 
red mistress said:
I see what U mean, roof line needs a little something???

But what? Without looking wrong.

Here's a convertible Jeepster with Unity hand remote spotlight (cop-light)
Click to expand...

The actual roof line is just fine, it's the limits of my ability with Paint Shop Pro that's the problem. The roof line will look like exactly the black Overlander in the background because it is the same sheet metal. (No, I'm not taking the top off the Overlander to use it on the pickup, I have a second World Cab to cut up for this).

Thanks for the photos but I am definitely not doing spotlights :).

I'm just looking for opinions on the clearance/marker lights on the roof.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
jscherb said:
I'm just looking for opinions on the clearance/marker lights on the roof.

Thanks,
Jeff
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My take, I'd pass on the marker lights. They'd be pretty easy to add latter, if you want, but a lot of little holes and paint to fix, if you didn't like them after adding them.
 
Cab Roof Lights

Here's a photo of the 2nd Scrambler I picked up last year. It has clearance lights on the half cab. (photo taken at prev owners place)

http://www3.telus.net/coppercohiba/sooke scrambler.jpg

2 major differences between mine & yours:
- mine isnt half the truck yours is (:bow: )
- the placement of the lights on the roof on mine suck, compared to the placement of yours - as in your photo.

I would prefer NOT to have the cab roof lights on mine. [Stuck with them for now, but....]
Reasons:
- Mine never runs after dark. Kinda silly to have them if this is the case.
- placement of my cab lights, IMHO, is too far back from the leading edge, and the size of these old lights looks pretty 'gumby' (as in pokey - hokey)

Guess what I'm saying is, one question to ask yourself is how much night (or evening) display time do you plan to give this (when the top is on)?
[Don't get me wrong - I, and everyone else here I think, hopes that you will be showing this off LOTS!]

And, while my lights don't leak, it still bothers me thinking that one day they might.

My .02.

Copper
 
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