New to the Forum

[5JeepsAz]

Hi all, new here!

Jeep is a survivor 1964 Kaiser-Willys Jeep Gladiator 2 door 4X4 long bed pick up truck (SJ). It's very original. Plan is resto mod, as original as can be, but that has changed to as original as can be for a daily, since it needs to run and drive daily, meaning it needs to have more reliable parts than original, with parts being scarce.

So that's why I'm here, to get the best advice and ideas from Jeep people!

[bmorgil]

Welcome 5JeepsAz, I hope we can prove useful! Some great Willys Jeep projects going on here. We need pic's of your ride.

[scoutingranch]

Heck yes, pictures. If you mod it, try and not do something that isn't easily reversed back to original. I hate to see the Sawzall have its way with original vehicles. It's a thing with me. Gladiators are neat trucks. Don't throw out the original parts. They are worth more original.

[5JeepsAz]

Thank you! Agree. It will stay original if safe. It's a rare survivor. I feel that same responsibility as others to keep it like it was built. I am keeping the parts down to the screws when anything replaced. So far that includes a radiator and the generator. Here are some pics

[scoutingranch]

Looks like some California commercial plates. Always liked those trucks. That's my problem, I like too many.

[5JeepsAz]

I kept the CA plate on the front because it's a vintage CA plate! Found out today the dome light works and it's got a 4:27 rear end.

[LarrBeard]

4.27 is a good compromise on a differential ratio. The '48 has the 5.38 behind the F-134 engine and at the 2200 RPM happy place, it wants to run 42 MPH.

It will pull a train, just not very fast!

[5JeepsAz]

and I have no idea how to drive a truck like this.

It wants about 600-800 rpms to crawl. Obviously a guess but it growls at 1200. Not used to that much torque. It will idle up a wall if I learn how. Right now I'm condition to revv it and that's a bad habit.

It likes 55 mph at top end, does not like 60 but will do it.

Now I'm back to considering an overdrive to get 60ish easily. I've heard mixed opinions on the overdrive.

[scoutingranch]

and I have no idea how to drive a truck like this.

It wants about 600-800 rpms to crawl. Obviously a guess but it growls at 1200. Not used to that much torque. It will idle up a wall if I learn how. Right now I'm condition to revv it and that's a bad habit.

It likes 55 mph at top end, does not like 60 but will do it.

Now I'm back to considering an overdrive to get 60ish easily. I've heard mixed opinions on the overdrive.

It's a mindset. Know what speed the engine likes and don't abuse it. It's old. For decades I was doing old Broncos. The joke is with them?, unsafe at any speed. Sooo, 55 to 60 range was always my max. I don't drive my FJ40 faster than 55.
The fix to going faster is buying something fairly new and having fun with the old stuff on the weekends.
Just a thought.

[gmwillys]

An overdrive is a nice option, especially to reduce the amount of RPM the engine and trans are experiencing. The main issue with speed is that much like a boat owner, you typically want another foot. The increased speed can show issues you have yet to discover. Everything from wheel balance to drive line vibrations could start to show up, and eating into your budget.

[5JeepsAz]

Makes a lot of sense. I'm cool with 55 mph top end. Also good with keeping it like it was built, not too many mods. So, last night I edged onto the freeway for one exit. There is really no reason to be on there. This jeep likes a two lane.

[LarrBeard]

This jeep likes a two lane.

There is a lot to be said for a two lane road ...

https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?2196-Taking-a-Road-Trip-Just-Jeepin&p=8680#post8680

[bmorgil]

I edged onto the freeway for one exit. There is really no reason to be on there. This jeep likes a two lane.

Ha ha! Try that at 40 without doors!

[5JeepsAz]

Interesting that some folks resto muscle cars, some do Jeep's. Glad I'm in the Jeeping crowd

[bmorgil]

Az I hope Amy and Rachel can find your thread.

If anyone out there has a copy or a link or anything that gets you to 5JeepsAz Restoration thread Let us know! Somehow it has mysteriously disappeared. It was going well and then gone.

I have searched multiple ways and I cannot find it. I believe the title was Jeep Gladiator "Cindy". If anyone can get to it let us know.

https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?2232-1964-Kaiser-Willys-Jeep-Gladiator-Cindy/

[5JeepsAz]

...It's a mystery. Cindy herself was dialed in unbelievable today. Actually learning how to drive without the gas pedal. She just eases into motion! So my badass Kaiser Willy' Jeep pick em up truck is good. I am upright and ticking, so that's good. As for the thread, 65,000+ views, plenty of TOS violations I am sure, so it could be a goner, despite seeming popularity, cause riding the line is what I do and sometimes the shiny side ends up down, and the greasy side ends up, well, up. It's okay. However, and in the spirits of ancient aliens, let's do an investigate where all options lead to more mysteries. I can still login, so haven't been fully excommunicated. I haven't yet told anyone to kiss my ***. So the relationship is still salvageable. It would definitely suck to lose my posts and uploads over the couple years of the Cindy build which are only documented in the thread, but that's life. What happens next? Where does it go from here? Only the forums knows. And we trust the forum! More fun to come ... Stay tuned!!! (And if I'm a goner, just know that Cindy and I love you all, love this forum, and we'llll see youse in Toledo forthwith in a future year. My best, Ole Fivers

[gmwillys]

I don't recall any reason for you to ever have been censored, and hope your thread returns after its trip through the worm hole. We look forward to your insight and fence adventures. Keep the daily quips coming AZ.

[bmorgil]

Man it is a tragedy if we can't recover that thread. It is a mystery for sure. Amy is checking on it. Hopefully there was a backup? You are "clean" Az. Never an infraction. Never Banned. Never forgotten. Screwed by the bits and bytes machine however!

[bluesblooded]

Sure hope they have a recent backup.

[5JeepsAz]

I resent never having been "censored" nor "banned". What am I worth? Nothing? C'mon man. Deal me a blow!!! Hit me with your best shot!! Alright, so back on topic, something changed today. I've mentioned about driving that every once in awhile I get it right so we know the vehicle operates perfectly. Or can. Today, swear, that thing moved along perfectly. So the goal is to extend the quality drive time and minimize the fumagation clunk and vibrate time. It's the rube goldberg type solution. If one thing goes wrong, it starts to chug, over compensation, fumes, key sticks in the ignition, drop the stogie, radio plays bad music, jus not good overall. But if everything is going right, it sits in it's sweet spot and functions as a completed resto. I'm telling you - the heater even worked right. I was having a problem with the boom box bag sliding off the hump; the super grip handle rubbing the knob and so switching 'on' the AC compressor with the heater also 'on' causing the beast to blow hot then cold, but that's solved. Today I got a full version of Ramblin' Man the same time, the first time I really needed heat. It actually blew warm and steady enough to keep the cab hot with the window open, for the stogie solution to work. I do love them triangle windows! Good tunes, warmth, smooth ride, nice! So after a real nice drive, backed into the expando fence hole without gas pedal. Solved that by using my mid clutch foot, higher, see, to operate the clutch better. Anyway, different clutch application engaged it sooner and held it longer. I'm taught to depress it and get off it, using my front foot. This thing wants a long slow action, the time worn mid foot solution. Have to adjust that when four wheeling though. You use your whole foot on an incline in four low rarely, but you gotta use boot toes jouncing over ruts. Nothing worse than douche clutching yourself into a side hill hole. Remember, I've got only one steering arm since it's a column shift with a two foot throw, and no power steering! Anyway. Purred like a kitten into the big old gravel pit it now calls home. Alright, I admit it. I put a guide pole on the end of the fence about 5' up high. By that's only training wheels! Truck engine turned off without the normal gurgle of indigestion, dieseling. So overall a good day. Maybe I'll get "fully banned" tomorrow...

[bmorgil]

Az what happened to your Avatar? Man this is baffling. It looks like something is amiss on the web site. Amy is working on it. Though you are a "Bad Boy" we still want you in! Just kidding Az, you are an important part of this forum. We need to find out what its going on.

Now we have to document your newest mulit foot driving technique. We need a picture of Cindy in the "Gravel Pit".

[TJones]

Now we have to document your newest mulit foot driving technique. We need a picture of Cindy in the "Gravel Pit".


That would Truly be something to see as far as the driving technique goes, a "Gravel Pit" in Arizona would also be something to see :confused:;):rolleyes:

[LarrBeard]

"I resent never having been "censored" nor "banned". What am I worth? Nothing? "

"What am I, chopped liver?"

Naw, you're not close to being censored, edited or banned. You just got hit by some IT glitch.

[5JeepsAz]

All good fellas. Appreciate forum friends to enjoy the ride with, as usual. Bmrogil I removed my avatar, I'll put it back, just didn't want to have that gobbled up too. Put it this way, if the forum gobbler pukes back up the Cindy thread, all good. If it eats it, I have even more ammunition against, you guessed it, the hated evil villain AI & technologies in general.

[bluesblooded]

I still have the last page of the Cindy thread open in my browser. I do not want to close it, but before Windows decide to update and reboot I copied your last version of the "Guru Resto Rules". So here they are

Guru Resto Rules to Reckon by v.4....

1. We turn one bolt at a time.
2. We like ice cream, going for ice cream, taking people to ice cream. It's all about the sweet stuff - enjoy the ride!
3. Whatever Resto we do, it'll be what we aimed for, so it's ok to be surely satisfied.
4. Whomever we do it for, they never react like we expect, especially if it's yourself. Do it anyway.
5. Our Kaiser Willy's Jeep Restoration is way more important than money, less important than God & Country.
6. We take care of family first, as intended, and our Resto will take care of us. Amen!
7. We customize to our taste, regardless of what others tell you that you must do.
8. About midnight oil, we all burn as much as our Willy's Jeep burns. Keep on chugging.

[bmorgil]

bb can you get a screen shot? Too late?

This has happened before. Sometimes it could have been a mistake but usually it shows up as deleted and there is a way to UN-delete it. In this case I looked as deep as I could go and found nothing, not a trace, and Amy is still looking into it. It is Amy's Forum, if Miss Amy can't find it, it is completely gone. There is no indication it was deleted. It like it didn't happen!

Az, how close are you to Roswell NM ....... The truth is out there

[bluesblooded]

bb can you get a screen shot? Too late?

This has happened before. Sometimes it could have been a mistake but usually it shows up as deleted and there is a way to UN-delete it. In this case I looked as deep as I could go and found nothing, not a trace, and Amy is still looking into it. It is Amy's Forum, if Miss Amy can't find it, it is completely gone. There is no indication it was deleted. It like it didn't happen!

Az, how close are you to Roswell NM ....... The truth is out there

bmorgil, I sent you an email with a PDF of the last page. Hope it helps.

I was also wondering if Az's reluctance to put any electronic devices in Cindy brought some sort of payback from Skynet... but yeah Rosewell... might be that too!

[5JeepsAz]

Fellas, I warned you about tech! I blame that damned tach-o-meter. It's surely responsible for the hell of this! Now, as for fixing, the plan is to put down a new electro footprint of the build in a brand new Cindy thread. It'll be a treat to re post everything without all the nonsense in there about gadgetry, all the posts from gurus instructing this novice as to proper build precedures. For example, I can now retype in my own words, the who!e damn thing, as if I know something! Terrific! I'm gonna get to guru status one way or the otter. And I usually take the otter course!!!

[bmorgil]

You are a Goo Rue. Cindy is back, sort of! bb found you a present.

https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?2770-5JeepsAz-and-the-Jeep-Gladiator-Cindy

[gmwillys]

You already reached Goo-Rue status in my opinion. You have brought problems and solutions to items that we never had even thought about. A/C convertion for one was something that us topless riders never dreamed of. But now we have food for thought on the next build. You've crossed hurdles, and have some of the growing pains already figured out.

[5JeepsAz]

You all are appreciated. Thank you for the thoughtfulness. One more Mark Twain fer ya .. "the rumors of cindy's thread dying were exaggerated" she'll be back forthwith.


How about let's all of us get back to helping other mother's sons build them some Kaiser Willy's Jeeps!

(Thank you)