I really, really need to get off Facebook Marketplace. Buying cars is an addiction that, on Thursday, struck again in the form of a 1954 Willys CJ-3B — arguably the first “ugly Jeep” — that I simply could not resist even though I have way too many projects as-is. Here’s a look at my new flatfender Jeep, along with what it was like towing the thing in a 112 horsepower truck with a four-speed manual and insanely tall 2.73 gears.
OK, OK, so I didn’t really need the Willys I spotted whilst browsing Facebook Marketplace, but in my defense, I’ve wanted to own a CJ-3B for many years. It’s the first Jeep that the world pretty much unanimously decided was “ugly” (but charmingly so), with its hilariously tall grille meant to fill the space between the frame and the new-for-1953 high-hood needed to clear the new “F-Head” engine.
Honestly, the CJ-3B is a bit of an odd duck. We all are pretty familiar with the World War II Jeep; it and its CJ-2A and CJ-3A (all three shown below) successors have a lower hood than my 1954 CJ-3B because under their hoods were “L-Head” engines known famously as “Go-Devils.” The Go-Devil motor made only 60 horsepower, but thanks to a long stroke, it cranked out 105 lb-ft of torque.
Around 1950, the Go-Devil engine’s chief architect, Delmar “Barney” Roos, brought a new, more powerful motor into this world. Called the “Hurricane” or “F-Head,” the engine featured intake valves in the cylinder head, and exhaust valves in the engine block. The old Go-Devil had both sets of valves in the block. Here’s the L-head from the WW2 Jeep, as well as the CJ-2A and CJ-3A:
You can see that the cylinder head is really just a lid for the cylinders, as well as a place to thread in spark plugs:
And here you can see that the new Hurricane “F-Head” engine has only the exhaust valve in the block:
The intake valves (and still the spark plug holes) are in the head:
This basically allows air to enter and then exit the cylinders in a less tortuous path, meaning the engine “breathes” a bit better. I like to use the analogy of a syringe (but without a needle in it). If you pull the plunger back normally, the plunger (or piston) moves freely. But if you cover the nose of that syringe even part of the way, pulling that piston becomes difficult. Think of the new F-head as a less obstructed syringe-nose; it allows the piston to move with less obstruction, and the result is more power. 25 percent more, to be precise.
The actual figure only jumped from 60 to 75, but percentage-wise, that’s fantastic. If your V6 Toyota Camry were to get a 25 percent increase in power, the added horsepower would actually eclipse the total horsepower that the Willys F-head makes! (In other words, you’d gain more than 75 ponies). Torque also jumped from 105 to 114 lb-ft.
The new and revolutionary motor didn’t actually begin life in a civilian CJ; its first application in a convertible Jeep was in the new-for-1952 Willys M38A1, the very first “high-hood” “Universal Jeep”:
Some Jeep historian is going to have to explain this to me, because I don’t understand what happened next. Willys develops a brand new, more powerful engine and, to fit it, they design a beautiful vehicle with rounded fenders, a cool bulge in the center of the hood, and a less slab-sided profile. But instead of making this vehicle available to the public, they give the sexy Jeep to the military, and what do they build for civilians who want the new Hurricane motor? They take their CJ-3A and slap a tall hood on it, adapt a grille that reaches higher, raise the windshield, and make a few other adaptations that ultimately yield what many considered the ugliest Jeep of all time at that point:
I, actually, have always loved the wacky, lovable look of the The Last Flatfender, and I also love the vehicle’s historical significance. No, it wasn’t much of a wartime instrument like the World War II Jeep or even the M38A1 (the military version of the CJ-3B was the M606, but it wasn’t hugely popular), but in some ways the ‘3B brought Jeeps to more countries around the world than any Jeep up to that point. Obviously, the World War II Jeep created the brand and made its way all around the globe, but the CJ-3B was a true globetrotter that brought huge volumes of 4x4s to every corner of this planet.
Look at old Mahindras or Mitsubishi Jeeps, and you’ll see that those vehicles were able to build their names thanks to license-built CJ-3Bs. Motor Trend discusses this in its article about the first “ugly-Jeep”:
Licensed CJ-3Bs were built by Mitsubishi of Japan until 1998, and Mahindra of India was still building them in the ’00s, making the CJ-3B style the longest-running Jeep model of all time. The CJ-3B was a popular export-market Jeep, and militarized versions were exported as the M-606. You may think it’s ugly as sin, but the CJ-3B was a pivotal part of Jeep history.
Anyway, this one here was for sale near Pasadena for $7,000. I managed to get the price down to $5,900. It doesn’t run, it’s missing a rear bench, and the body appears to be a bit of a bastard-child of other Jeeps (the spare, for example, should be mounted of the rear quarter panel; that tailgate is likely from an M38 Willys — also, I’m fairly sure that’s a nazi jerry can on the back). But otherwise, the Jeep is in amazing shape. The body is rock-solid, the front seats and shifter and steering wheel all looks nice, and a number of the underbody components appear to have been refreshed recently based on their new paint.
You may notice in the photos above that there are four shifters. One is for the T90 three-speed manual transmission, one is for 2wd/4wd, one is for low range/high range, and the rear one pointing straight up and down? That’s a PTO drive.
The PTO can be used to power a number of implements mounted to either the front or the rear, but in my case, it’s just used to power a Sears winch mounted between the front bumper and grille.
To pick up the Jeep, I had to use my Jeep J10, since I have no other vehicle with towing capability. I snagged a U-Haul trailer from Van Nuys, then drove about 25 miles east on the “134” highway (which is incidentally the displacement on the Willys’ “F-Head” motor in cubic inches) until I reached the Jeep. Loading the Willys was easy, since it’s the seller’s driveway was a bit elevated above the street, meaning all I had to do was park the trailer on the street and extend the ramps onto the driveway, and then the path onto the U-Haul was largely flat. A bit of a shove with the seller’s help, and the relatively lightweight Willys was perched on the trailer, ready to head back west.
The drive from Pasadena to Van Nuys involves some long, steep grades. They’re not Rocky Mountain-esque, but they’re significant, and that’s a problem because the Jeep J10 can barely propel itself down the road, much less itself plus a 2,200 pound trailer and a 2,300 pound Jeep. Add a 300 pound axle in the bed and probably 200 pounds full of tires, and my Jeep was having to move 4,200 pounds worth of its own weight plus 4,500 pounds worth of stuff.
To give you an idea of why this is a problem: My Jeep J10 makes 112 horsepower. Yes, it also makes 210 lb-ft of torque, but it’s horsepower that gets you up a grade (though low-end torque lets you do it at reasonable RPMs). 112 horsepower moving 8,700 pounds is absurd; a tiny Hyundai Accent has more horsepower than that!
To go up a certain grade with a certain trailer at a certain speed in certain conditions requires a certain amount of horsepower. That horsepower figure is calculated via a process known in the industry as “gradeability.” It basically takes into account the steepness of the grade, the weight of the vehicle and trailer, and any friction working against the power of the engine — friction like aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance.
The friction factors are represented by what are called “coast down coefficients” or “ABC coefficients,” and to establish them for an unladen vehicle, you just drive the vehicle at a certain speed, and then you put the car in neutral and watch the velocity versus time curve. This will give you a good idea of how much friction acts against the car.
Anyway, the exact nature of the grade, the ABC coefficients of both the vehicle and trailer, environmental conditions, and more all go into establishing how much horsepower is required to ascend a grade with a certain load at a certain speed, and I can tell you straight up: Going up those Pasadena grades in my J10 at 70 mph with 4,500 pounds worth of junk requires more than 112 horsepower.
I know this because, in fourth gear, the Jeep wouldn’t accelerate at all, and if I did get the machine to 70 mph in fourth on a downgrade, the vehicle would decelerate once I hit an up-grade. The insanely tall 2.73 gearing meant that the engine was spinning really slowly when the vehicle was driving quickly, and at those low RPMs, the machine just wasn’t making nearly enough power to get the vehicle up the grade.
Downshifting into third brought the vehicle closer to its 112 HP @3200 peak at 70 mph, but even then there was just no way to sustain 70 mph.
I had to climb the grades at about 40 mph in third gear (which has a 1.46:1 gear ratio vs fourth gear’s 1:1). This required less horsepower than climbing the hill at 70mph, and luckily it brought the engine RPM close enough to the power peak; I did have to downshift into second (2.29:1) a few times when speed dropped below 30, and that wasn’t great. That AMC inline-six under the hood does not like to rev, and when it does, it sounds like an animal is dying. It screams!
I am a man with a lot of mechanical sympathy, so to hear that motor cry out for dear life was tough, especially since I’m fairly sure doing so exposed some kind of engine or transmission mount problem. Under heavy load, the Jeep made a weird grinding sound, almost as if the engine’s fan was rubbing against the shroud or something.
I held that shifter with a sweaty palm, feeling the vibrations through it, listening to that grinding noise append a screaming motor, and watching California traffic blast past me on the left as I slowly ascended the grade. I watched my temperature gauge like a hawk, but it held steady. I’d replaced my entire cooling system myself back in 2020, and I’d rebuilt the transmission and filled it with good, heavy-duty fluid. The engine oil I had changed a year prior, but I’d only driven about 1,000 miles. I knew the Jeep could take the abuse, but my god was it slow and violent. In some ways, that was a good thing, because the brakes are terrible and could really use a rebuild.
If you could only keep six of these, which would you keep?
-1985 Jeep J10
-1966 Ford Mustang
-1954 Willys CJ-3B
-1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ
-1994 Jeep ZJ 5spd
-1958 Nash Metropolitan
-2011 Nissan Leaf
-1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor)
-2021 BMW i3S Galvanic Gold
-2014 BMW i3— David Tracy (@davidntracy) June 12, 2024
In the end, it was hot and stressful, but the ol’ machine dragged its grandpa from Pasadena to Van Nuys, where it now sits. Once I get it running, I’ll park it behind my BMW i3S in my Santa Monica garage. None of my other vehicles fit, so this CJ will give me a chance to have a fun weekend cruiser along with my excellent commuter.
I honestly thought this was a repost of a previous article. About 3 paragraphs in I realized this was in fact new, however I couldn’t really comprehending what I was reading. When I saw your list at the end is when it finally clicked. You bought a jeep that is different than this WWII Jeep. https://www.theautopian.com/how-i-bought-a-world-war-ii-jeep-for-only-85/
I wish you the best in all your endeavors with this one, and I’ll read everything written about it, but please find the time to wrench. Buying too many Boomer aged Jeeps with no motors and no follow up may not be the best direction to go.
All the way from Pasadena to Van Nuys, huh? You poor thing.
All the way from Pasadena to Van Nuys, huh? You poor thing.
I haven’t necessarily selected an exact six, instead opting to give my thoughts on each individual entry. As always my opinions are worth exactly what you paid for them…
-1985 Jeep J10
I’ve seen this beast in person. Keep it, it’s cool and worth working on.
-1966 Ford Mustang
We all know this isn’t on the chopping block under any circumstances and that you’re keeping it. So really, it’s list the other vehicles and decide which ones you keep.
-1954 Willys CJ-3B
It’s cool and all, but why did you buy this? I’m not sure what purpose it serves for you.
It won’t be your electric conversion since the motor is perfectly good.
-1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Keep it. It’s a fun and capable off-roader/convertible.
-1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 5spd
I had two ZJs and loved them both. But the simple question is, are you going to do the build and get some articles out of it or not? That determines whether you keep it.
-1958 Nash Metropolitan
It’s a super cool car but unless you’re going to do the electric conversion I thought you had found a worthy new home for it. I think you should find a good new owner to bless with this gem.
-2011 Nissan Leaf
Hopefully you got a business write-off with a funny article or two. At this point it’s worthless to you and should be sold immediately with prejudice.
-1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor)
Since it has a dead motor if you’re going to use this as the basis for your electric conversion project have at it. Otherwise sell it and give it another good home.
-2021 BMW i3S Galvanic Gold
The i3 seems to genuinely excite you, but you don’t need two i3s, and for a number of reasons this is probably the one to keep.
-2014 BMW i3
Nothing against this car, just that it’s redundant and at this point I think you can get as much or more than you paid for it with the brand new battery adding to the resale value. Take the money and put it towards other projects (or a very nice engagement ring – it seems like you have found “the one”)
Final tally by my reckoning is four definite keeps and then deciding which you are going to take on as projects.
I haven’t necessarily selected an exact six, instead opting to give my thoughts on each individual entry. As always my opinions are worth exactly what you paid for them…
-1985 Jeep J10
I’ve seen this beast in person. Keep it, it’s cool and worth working on.
-1966 Ford Mustang
We all know this isn’t on the chopping block under any circumstances and that you’re keeping it. So really, it’s list the other vehicles and decide which ones you keep.
-1954 Willys CJ-3B
It’s cool and all, but why did you buy this? I’m not sure what purpose it serves for you.
It won’t be your electric conversion since the motor is perfectly good.
-1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Keep it. It’s a fun and capable off-roader/convertible.
-1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 5spd
I had two ZJs and loved them both. But the simple question is, are you going to do the build and get some articles out of it or not? That determines whether you keep it.
-1958 Nash Metropolitan
It’s a super cool car but unless you’re going to do the electric conversion I thought you had found a worthy new home for it. I think you should find a good new owner to bless with this gem.
-2011 Nissan Leaf
Hopefully you got a business write-off with a funny article or two. At this point it’s worthless to you and should be sold immediately with prejudice.
-1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor)
Since it has a dead motor if you’re going to use this as the basis for your electric conversion project have at it. Otherwise sell it and give it another good home.
-2021 BMW i3S Galvanic Gold
The i3 seems to genuinely excite you, but you don’t need two i3s, and for a number of reasons this is probably the one to keep.
-2014 BMW i3
Nothing against this car, just that it’s redundant and at this point I think you can get as much or more than you paid for it with the brand new battery adding to the resale value. Take the money and put it towards other projects (or a very nice engagement ring – it seems like you have found “the one”)
Final tally by my reckoning is four definite keeps and then deciding which you are going to take on as projects.
Dude, why.
Car buyers affliction
Dude, why.
Car buyers affliction
Here’s my 10¢:
-1985 Jeep J10
Keep – this is your most reliable workhorse, and you’ll regret selling next time you need to deliver a Changli (which could be any day).
-1966 Ford Mustang
Sell it – you’ve been dragging it around for years, but apparently your brother has no plans to reclaim it so unless it’s a car you love yourself, let it go to someone who will actually drive it.
-1954 Willys CJ-3B
Even you admit this was an impulse buy. Too bad you probably can’t return it for a full refund.
-1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Keep – for playing in the woods/desert.
-1994 Jeep ZJ 5spd
This is the cat hotel, right? Either finish the build or give it to someone who will.
-1958 Nash Metropolitan
You got it for free, you lose nothing when you let it go. Maybe a collector will appreciate the extra parts.
-2011 Nissan Leaf
I actually think this would be a great candidate for a series of articles on whether worn-out EVs can be revived. Could you try to swap in a Tesla pack, or at least find a dirt-cheap replacement battery to see if you can get the range back into double figures? If not, can you upgrade the motor and get a sub-10 quarter-mile out of it (assuming the battery can hold enough charge to make it that far…)
-1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor)
Maybe this should be the EV restomod candidate?
-2021 BMW i3S Galvanic Gold
Daily. Stop babying it and just enjoy it.
-2014 BMW i3
Sell it to me so that I can daily it.
This is exactly how I would do things.
Here’s my 10¢:
-1985 Jeep J10
Keep – this is your most reliable workhorse, and you’ll regret selling next time you need to deliver a Changli (which could be any day).
-1966 Ford Mustang
Sell it – you’ve been dragging it around for years, but apparently your brother has no plans to reclaim it so unless it’s a car you love yourself, let it go to someone who will actually drive it.
-1954 Willys CJ-3B
Even you admit this was an impulse buy. Too bad you probably can’t return it for a full refund.
-1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Keep – for playing in the woods/desert.
-1994 Jeep ZJ 5spd
This is the cat hotel, right? Either finish the build or give it to someone who will.
-1958 Nash Metropolitan
You got it for free, you lose nothing when you let it go. Maybe a collector will appreciate the extra parts.
-2011 Nissan Leaf
I actually think this would be a great candidate for a series of articles on whether worn-out EVs can be revived. Could you try to swap in a Tesla pack, or at least find a dirt-cheap replacement battery to see if you can get the range back into double figures? If not, can you upgrade the motor and get a sub-10 quarter-mile out of it (assuming the battery can hold enough charge to make it that far…)
-1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor)
Maybe this should be the EV restomod candidate?
-2021 BMW i3S Galvanic Gold
Daily. Stop babying it and just enjoy it.
-2014 BMW i3
Sell it to me so that I can daily it.
This is exactly how I would do things.
Hey, how about focusing your use of FB marketplace on parts?
That Willis with a blown engine? Find another engine, then enjoy open top wheeling.
Whatever parts the ZJ needs? Buy ’em used, fit them and give us that holy grail!
You could even use FB to sell that useless Leaf or redundant i3 to pay for said parts!
It’s kinda dispiriting to see you waste time and resources on an ever growing list of project cars when none of the current ones are making any progress.
Seems like what we are seeing all over again is just what was happening in Michigan and I have to say it’s not particularly interesting.
Yeah. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Tracy project get finished unless it had a stupid arbitrary deadline (Moab, the friend’s wedding with the Mustang, Cactus …)
Seems like every other project gets an introduction (I’ve bought the cheapest whatever and it’s broken in many a way), a few wrenching sessions (off-road ZJ, electric FC…) and then end up in project car purgatory.
I understand that out David has more responsibilities and less time now, so crazy builds aren’t in the cards anymore. However, buying some cool RUNNING gear and getting some non-wrenching content out of it IS an option.
It’s not collecting if half you fleet is in disrepair, it’s hoarding. And that’s not a good look, especially after that Golden Eagle article.
It follows the ‘I’ve gotta buy a craptacular vehicle in order to write a story to make a buck’ model.
I never buy cars solely for content; I buy cars because I love them. I mean, nobody was asking for diesel Chrysler minivan content. Or manual ZJ content. Or CJ-3B content. But I love them, and I’m buyin’ ’em!
I have no idea why you’d even say that.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
I could go on and on and on. I set a goal, I create a schedule, and I get it done. Just because the car isn’t pretty when it’s done doesn’t mean the project isn’t complete.
The only projects I haven’t completed have been a result of, well, creating a big car website from scratch. I get the criticism, though; you see me mention a project, you want me to complete it like I have before! But times are changing, and I’ll just request a bit of patience as I figure out this new life.
All of those do count except the FC whose initial goal was to have it be EV converted I’d say. Most of them fit the description of “arbitrary deadline got it running” though, as I said. I didn’t mean to imply that a finished project has to be a prestine vehicle.
I get that you have a new life to figure out, I’m so grateful for this website and I can only imagine how demanding your new responsibilities must be. But while you’re figuring it out, why accumulate project cars? You know how time consuming and trench footy it can be. If you can’t make time for the ZJ, why could you for the ZJ and the CJ? (And the Nash, and the Willis…)
Sorry if I sounded harsh, it wasn’t my intention. I’m mostly pissed because it feels like just a few days ago you gave us a great piece about the Golden Eagle sale and how you’re maturing and getting in a serious relationship, just to buy another non runner moments later. It makes you sound like an addict who’s giving us the “I can stop whenever I want” speech for the tenth time before falling off the wagon yet again.
The FC project changed as a result of Jalopnik no longer sponsoring the EV build. But watch that incredible feat of wrenching, and you’ll agree: it counts. Along with the other eight. And the Chevy Tracker. And a bunch of other cars.
That’s ten awesome projects, thousands of hours spent wrenching and writing, tens of millions of pageviews.
And just because they had deadlines they’re someone less of projects? I don’t understand the logic. I was literally resurrecting scraps of rusty metal and road tripping them thousands of miles. I ain’t about to let someone try to erase those feats in the comments of my own website.
As for me collecting more cars. Sure, it’s an affliction! But there are lots of folks like me. You should see the auctions at Pebble Beach; scores of people with 10x as many cars, many non-functional. Trust me, it could be a lot worse! And worth noting: I don’t lose money on my cars when I sell them.
OK David, you’re not focusing on my main point. I’m not criticizing your skill, which I admire and started me on my own wrenching path. I’m not criticizing the end result, sorry about that FC comment, I wasn’t aware your funding got cut.
I remember reading about the Postal Jeep and being genuinely worried about your safety. I also commented on my admiration for you for pulling it off.
My main concern is the uncontrollable “car collecting” you touched on last. I don’t know if you call it an “affliction” for effect but it sure starts to look like it’s a litteral one. I’m not bitching about it as a reader, I’m bitching about it as a weird friend through the magic of internet para social relationships.
Fixing cars is awesome, collecting cars is awesome, but when you first talked about “culling the herd” a long time ago, still on the old site, a lot of us commenters, me included, cheered for you because it seemed like the wrenching was taking an actual toll on your social life and health. I’ve seen you sell cars, vowing to keep a reasonable number of cars to keep the Michigan city off your back only to start amassing projects again.
Then you were to move to LA, which was herd culling #2 and you fleet ballooned back up.
Then you sold the Golden Eagle saying it’s about getting time with your SO (which I’m genuinely stoked for you!), and getting more time for the business. And now you bought a new non runner.
I may have been a little abrasive, I apologize, I have a shit time at the moment myself, but it’s really coming from a place of love. Take a good freaking look at your car buying habit, be honest about your ability to control it and what it costs you (time with the lady, time for the business, time for the existing projects). I think you’ll see the same sentiment I’m expressing throughout the comments, and I think you should hear our call.
Get the car buying craze under control, reclaim time, space and get rid of a source of stress (I know some projects have really taken a toll on my sanity). It’s not about the clicks, it’s about you dude. I don’t want to see you become the guy with the field filled with abandoned cars that had to sell 15 a week because it was declared an illegal junkyard.
I’m cool with a bit of tough love (grew up in an army family). I just wasn’t a fan of trying to take away credit for all those projects I’ve done over the years.
No worries, and I appreciate the concern! You wouldn’t comment if you didn’t care, and I appreciate that <3.
Glad we ended up understanding each other! Sorry I didn’t convey my point clearly earlier.
Take care of yourself David, I really mean that.
Hey, how about focusing your use of FB marketplace on parts?
That Willis with a blown engine? Find another engine, then enjoy open top wheeling.
Whatever parts the ZJ needs? Buy ’em used, fit them and give us that holy grail!
You could even use FB to sell that useless Leaf or redundant i3 to pay for said parts!
It’s kinda dispiriting to see you waste time and resources on an ever growing list of project cars when none of the current ones are making any progress.
Seems like what we are seeing all over again is just what was happening in Michigan and I have to say it’s not particularly interesting.
Yeah. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Tracy project get finished unless it had a stupid arbitrary deadline (Moab, the friend’s wedding with the Mustang, Cactus …)
Seems like every other project gets an introduction (I’ve bought the cheapest whatever and it’s broken in many a way), a few wrenching sessions (off-road ZJ, electric FC…) and then end up in project car purgatory.
I understand that out David has more responsibilities and less time now, so crazy builds aren’t in the cards anymore. However, buying some cool RUNNING gear and getting some non-wrenching content out of it IS an option.
It’s not collecting if half you fleet is in disrepair, it’s hoarding. And that’s not a good look, especially after that Golden Eagle article.
It follows the ‘I’ve gotta buy a craptacular vehicle in order to write a story to make a buck’ model.
I never buy cars solely for content; I buy cars because I love them. I mean, nobody was asking for diesel Chrysler minivan content. Or manual ZJ content. Or CJ-3B content. But I love them, and I’m buyin’ ’em!
I have no idea why you’d even say that.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
Completed project.
I could go on and on and on. I set a goal, I create a schedule, and I get it done. Just because the car isn’t pretty when it’s done doesn’t mean the project isn’t complete.
The only projects I haven’t completed have been a result of, well, creating a big car website from scratch. I get the criticism, though; you see me mention a project, you want me to complete it like I have before! But times are changing, and I’ll just request a bit of patience as I figure out this new life.
All of those do count except the FC whose initial goal was to have it be EV converted I’d say. Most of them fit the description of “arbitrary deadline got it running” though, as I said. I didn’t mean to imply that a finished project has to be a prestine vehicle.
I get that you have a new life to figure out, I’m so grateful for this website and I can only imagine how demanding your new responsibilities must be. But while you’re figuring it out, why accumulate project cars? You know how time consuming and trench footy it can be. If you can’t make time for the ZJ, why could you for the ZJ and the CJ? (And the Nash, and the Willis…)
Sorry if I sounded harsh, it wasn’t my intention. I’m mostly pissed because it feels like just a few days ago you gave us a great piece about the Golden Eagle sale and how you’re maturing and getting in a serious relationship, just to buy another non runner moments later. It makes you sound like an addict who’s giving us the “I can stop whenever I want” speech for the tenth time before falling off the wagon yet again.
The FC project changed as a result of Jalopnik no longer sponsoring the EV build. But watch that incredible feat of wrenching, and you’ll agree: it counts. Along with the other eight. And the Chevy Tracker. And a bunch of other cars.
That’s ten awesome projects, thousands of hours spent wrenching and writing, tens of millions of pageviews.
And just because they had deadlines they’re someone less of projects? I don’t understand the logic. I was literally resurrecting scraps of rusty metal and road tripping them thousands of miles. I ain’t about to let someone try to erase those feats in the comments of my own website.
As for me collecting more cars. Sure, it’s an affliction! But there are lots of folks like me. You should see the auctions at Pebble Beach; scores of people with 10x as many cars, many non-functional. Trust me, it could be a lot worse! And worth noting: I don’t lose money on my cars when I sell them.
OK David, you’re not focusing on my main point. I’m not criticizing your skill, which I admire and started me on my own wrenching path. I’m not criticizing the end result, sorry about that FC comment, I wasn’t aware your funding got cut.
I remember reading about the Postal Jeep and being genuinely worried about your safety. I also commented on my admiration for you for pulling it off.
My main concern is the uncontrollable “car collecting” you touched on last. I don’t know if you call it an “affliction” for effect but it sure starts to look like it’s a litteral one. I’m not bitching about it as a reader, I’m bitching about it as a weird friend through the magic of internet para social relationships.
Fixing cars is awesome, collecting cars is awesome, but when you first talked about “culling the herd” a long time ago, still on the old site, a lot of us commenters, me included, cheered for you because it seemed like the wrenching was taking an actual toll on your social life and health. I’ve seen you sell cars, vowing to keep a reasonable number of cars to keep the Michigan city off your back only to start amassing projects again.
Then you were to move to LA, which was herd culling #2 and you fleet ballooned back up.
Then you sold the Golden Eagle saying it’s about getting time with your SO (which I’m genuinely stoked for you!), and getting more time for the business. And now you bought a new non runner.
I may have been a little abrasive, I apologize, I have a shit time at the moment myself, but it’s really coming from a place of love. Take a good freaking look at your car buying habit, be honest about your ability to control it and what it costs you (time with the lady, time for the business, time for the existing projects). I think you’ll see the same sentiment I’m expressing throughout the comments, and I think you should hear our call.
Get the car buying craze under control, reclaim time, space and get rid of a source of stress (I know some projects have really taken a toll on my sanity). It’s not about the clicks, it’s about you dude. I don’t want to see you become the guy with the field filled with abandoned cars that had to sell 15 a week because it was declared an illegal junkyard.
I’m cool with a bit of tough love (grew up in an army family). I just wasn’t a fan of trying to take away credit for all those projects I’ve done over the years.
No worries, and I appreciate the concern! You wouldn’t comment if you didn’t care, and I appreciate that <3.
Glad we ended up understanding each other! Sorry I didn’t convey my point clearly earlier.
Take care of yourself David, I really mean that.
DT: “help, I can’t fit both of my i3s in the garage – I have too many cars!”
Also DT: “I just bought another car, but it’s OK because it fits in the space that my second i3 wouldn’t fit!”
DT: “help, I can’t fit both of my i3s in the garage – I have too many cars!”
Also DT: “I just bought another car, but it’s OK because it fits in the space that my second i3 wouldn’t fit!”
I seem to recall doing shockingly well on the Detroit to LA fleet culling. I’m not expecting a repeat performance, but here goes anyway:
1985 Jeep J10: You actually use your truck for truck things like towing and parts hauling. Keep, but at least consider a more aggressive axle.
1954 Willys CJ-3B: You just bought it, so it’s clearly not going anywhere just yet.
1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ: Your one functioning off-roader at the moment, so that’s not leaving.
1994 Jeep ZJ 5spd: The holy grail cat shelter. The fact that you’ve (relatively recently) purchased the rare tire carrier and parts ZJ, yeah, this one isn’t going anywhere.
1958 Nash Metropolitan: Personally, would’ve loved to seen this project come together, but I suspect this one is the chopping block.
2011 Nissan Leaf: Barely adequate even for your needs. I guess the question is “Is the electrified WW2 Jeep project still a thing?” Then the Leaf still may still have some limited use. Otherwise, be done with it.
1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor): See above.
The two I3s: You’re definitely keeping one, that much is certain. Whether you keep both, honestly 50/50, could go either way.
And intentionally left for last, the 1966 Ford Mustang: Tricky. If I recall correctly, you bought this for one of your brothers– who lives on another continent. If that’s still the mindset; if the Mustang isn’t “yours”, then I guess hold onto it. On the other hand, I have to imagine decent first gen Mustangs aren’t hard to find in southern California. This one’s another coin flip.
I seem to recall doing shockingly well on the Detroit to LA fleet culling. I’m not expecting a repeat performance, but here goes anyway:
1985 Jeep J10: You actually use your truck for truck things like towing and parts hauling. Keep, but at least consider a more aggressive axle.
1954 Willys CJ-3B: You just bought it, so it’s clearly not going anywhere just yet.
1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ: Your one functioning off-roader at the moment, so that’s not leaving.
1994 Jeep ZJ 5spd: The holy grail cat shelter. The fact that you’ve (relatively recently) purchased the rare tire carrier and parts ZJ, yeah, this one isn’t going anywhere.
1958 Nash Metropolitan: Personally, would’ve loved to seen this project come together, but I suspect this one is the chopping block.
2011 Nissan Leaf: Barely adequate even for your needs. I guess the question is “Is the electrified WW2 Jeep project still a thing?” Then the Leaf still may still have some limited use. Otherwise, be done with it.
1942 WW2 Jeep (w/dead motor): See above.
The two I3s: You’re definitely keeping one, that much is certain. Whether you keep both, honestly 50/50, could go either way.
And intentionally left for last, the 1966 Ford Mustang: Tricky. If I recall correctly, you bought this for one of your brothers– who lives on another continent. If that’s still the mindset; if the Mustang isn’t “yours”, then I guess hold onto it. On the other hand, I have to imagine decent first gen Mustangs aren’t hard to find in southern California. This one’s another coin flip.
Cool story. Enjoyed it, but US-40 is the road in Colorado.
Huh. I had a couple of G1 Insights and had no problems with mountains. Drove my Citrus with a weak battery through the Appalachians and it sang up the grades in 3rd gear at interstate speeds even once the juice ran out. Sure, it was high in the revs but that little 3-cylinder VTEC was smooth and happy at speed.
It’s not “mountains” that are the problem, it’s elevation. Again, the pass I was on was over 11,300 of elevation. That meant my 60hp engine became a 40hp engine, idk what happened to torque but likely something similar.
The HIGHEST pass in all of the Appalachian mountains is less than half of that, at 5000′ or so.
Aahhh… good point about the elevation. Never got my Insights out to the Rockies.
It’s a different world lol. I don’t think I’d take my insight again.
Cool story. Enjoyed it, but US-40 is the road in Colorado.
Huh. I had a couple of G1 Insights and had no problems with mountains. Drove my Citrus with a weak battery through the Appalachians and it sang up the grades in 3rd gear at interstate speeds even once the juice ran out. Sure, it was high in the revs but that little 3-cylinder VTEC was smooth and happy at speed.
It’s not “mountains” that are the problem, it’s elevation. Again, the pass I was on was over 11,300 of elevation. That meant my 60hp engine became a 40hp engine, idk what happened to torque but likely something similar.
The HIGHEST pass in all of the Appalachian mountains is less than half of that, at 5000′ or so.
Aahhh… good point about the elevation. Never got my Insights out to the Rockies.
It’s a different world lol. I don’t think I’d take my insight again.
There are so many more uglier Jeeps than this, I’m flabbergasted that it’s labeled as such. It looks fantastic to me. For every person that says it’s ugly, 5 upper middle class mouth breathers buy a Grand Wagoneer with fake chrome trim that looks like it’s hot glued on
There are so many more uglier Jeeps than this, I’m flabbergasted that it’s labeled as such. It looks fantastic to me. For every person that says it’s ugly, 5 upper middle class mouth breathers buy a Grand Wagoneer with fake chrome trim that looks like it’s hot glued on
And I suspect that when you mentioned this to Elise (not her real name), she used a term similar to “F-Head,” but wasn’t describing your new Jeep’s engine.
And I suspect that when you mentioned this to Elise (not her real name), she used a term similar to “F-Head,” but wasn’t describing your new Jeep’s engine.
If it makes you feel any better, that Jeep looks like a showpiece compared to my new project BRAT.
If it makes you feel any better, that Jeep looks like a showpiece compared to my new project BRAT.
You need a base model used Taco for towing. 🙂
That makes no sense. The Toyota tax will make it the same price as a real truck that can actually tow.
You need a base model used Taco for towing. 🙂
That makes no sense. The Toyota tax will make it the same price as a real truck that can actually tow.