OT: Retro Wrangler/Willys Pickup (long)
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
AWESOME! Congratulations!
Thank you! I couldn't be more pleased with how the Retro has worked out long term. Couldn't have done better if it had come from the factory as a pickup
.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
The other day someone made me aware that many of the photos are now missing from this thread. Apparently the reason has something to do with changes in this site's software over the years, so other than going through each post one at a time and re-uploading all the photos, there's nothing I can do to fix it (and I don't have time to edit all the posts, sorry).
I do have all the photos, so if someone is building a pickup and needs to see some detail just contact me and ask for what you'd like to see and I can probably make photos available.
The truck is still going strong, this photo was taken this afternoon. It's now got just under 111,000 miles on it and is still a daily driver.
BTW I'm working on a new project that I might install on this truck, a CJ/JL-style grille for the TJ. Here's a concept image, the factory grille is on the left and the design of the grille I'm working on is on the right...
I do have all the photos, so if someone is building a pickup and needs to see some detail just contact me and ask for what you'd like to see and I can probably make photos available.
The truck is still going strong, this photo was taken this afternoon. It's now got just under 111,000 miles on it and is still a daily driver.
BTW I'm working on a new project that I might install on this truck, a CJ/JL-style grille for the TJ. Here's a concept image, the factory grille is on the left and the design of the grille I'm working on is on the right...
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Mostly I did. I did the modifications to the stock LJ soft top frame and marked up the fabric for cutting and resewing. I had the actual sewing done by a local hot rod upholstery shop, but if I were to do it again I would do the sewing myself. Back then I hadn't yet learned to sew and but since then I've sewn multiple soft top components including the roll-up soft sides for my LJ Safari Cab hardtop, as well as doing some mods to a factory JKU soft top.
Confession: I only used that soft top for a few months while I was working on the half cab hardtop. Once the hardtop was done I swapped it for the soft top and the soft top hasn't been used since probably 2009.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
I haven't kept this thread up to date on this project I posted about a while back. I finished the mold and made a first grille in the mold but haven't decided it I want it on this truck or not. A few photos...The other day someone made me aware that many of the photos are now missing from this thread. Apparently the reason has something to do with changes in this site's software over the years, so other than going through each post one at a time and re-uploading all the photos, there's nothing I can do to fix it (and I don't have time to edit all the posts, sorry).
I do have all the photos, so if someone is building a pickup and needs to see some detail just contact me and ask for what you'd like to see and I can probably make photos available.
The truck is still going strong, this photo was taken this afternoon. It's now got just under 111,000 miles on it and is still a daily driver.
BTW I'm working on a new project that I might install on this truck, a CJ/JL-style grille for the TJ. Here's a concept image, the factory grille is on the left and the design of the grille I'm working on is on the right...
I've also been working on a Willy MB-style grille for the TJ...
The photos of the MB-style grille are of the work-in-progress mold master, I haven't made the mold for that one yet. Also the front clip mockup shows MB-style flat fenders, those are prototypes/mold masters and I haven't made the molds for those yet either.
I built a Jeep truck with the same size cab as the Brute, using a dinoot fiberglass panel for the rear cab. I’m looking to have a soft top made. I have a shop near me that’s willing to take on the task. Any pointers? Are you interested in selling your soft top?
Attachments
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Nice looking truck! Glad you were able to use a Dinoot panel... when I designed the trailer kit that became the DInoot, part of my original design concept was that the solid end panel could be used to build a pickup cab. Perhaps you've seen the prototype/proof-of-concept tub I did with one of the first end panels out of the mold, after I documented that conversion quite a few trucks have been made using those panels...
I think I have some drawings and notes I made when I was converting the LJ soft top to a half cab, I don't think I ever posted them in this thread and if you send me your email address I'll send them to you.
Yep, I’ve been following your builds for years. That’s where I got the idea of using the dinoot panel.
My email is jwbrute@yahoo.com
My email is jwbrute@yahoo.com
Attachments
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
Thank you
- City
- God's Country
- State
- AR
No kidding. Both of those grills look awesome, especially the Willys style.
If only Jscherb had a store where us less handy guys could buy all the neat stuff he makes...….
but then it wouldn't be so unique, so it wouldn't be so cool.
But Jeff, thanks for sharing your stuff with us. You have some amazing ideas that you put together into real items
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
I make all of these things in molds and I don't get rid of the molds after I make the first one or two examples, so more could be made if there was demand. Problem is, I have no interest in being in business or selling anything, so if there were to be a store, it wouldn't be me doing it. I'm always happy to explore the idea of turning over the molds to someone who wants to manufacture and market anything I make in fiberglass.
jscherb
CJ-8 Member
- City
- Elmira
- State
- NY
It's been about 7 1/2 years since I finished that project; the CJ front clip and the LJ are still going strong. The LJ now has 200,000 miles on it and still doing cross-country trips to trails out west every year. This photo was taken near the summit of Rollins Pass in Colorado in August. We made it to the Needles Eye tunnel from the east and rain started so we began a quick descent.
The molds for all the CJ Grille Kit parts are still gathering dust in my basement in case there's ever a reason to use them again.