need advice, Jeepster for a traditional style driver ?

I bought a 48 Jeepster a while back with thoughts of building a daily driver .







So far we have got it running and put a set of wide whites and Desoto hub caps on it. I would like to keep the 4 banger and overdrive transmission in it. Has anyone driven one of these with the flathead 4 ? Just wondering if it has enough power to be driven and used at today's speeds on the highway or do I need to start looking for speed equipment for the engine.





Any ideals on how to lower the front a few inches ? It has a independent front suspension with a transverse leaf spring.



Really want to keep it traditional so I don't want to put a mustang 2 or Jag under it. I would rather go with a beam axle if nothing else.

 

That's a cool Jeep, but I'd keep it that way. Put some nice mud/street tires on it and restore the suspenision. I think trying to make it a hot rod, wouldn't come off so well. If it was mine, I'd restore it and drive the snot out of it. Off and on road.

Some cars can never really be a hot rod. This is one of those cars.

 

Well they had enough power to be driven daily when they were new. A lot of them got converted to SBC when the SBC became available. The most popular swap into an old jeep all the way up into the '70s was the SBC.

But I would just drive it around and see if the banger had enough grunt to suite me. If it is any indication my '61 pickup has a 283 with an old craiger adapter. I wouldn't have to drive one very far to know it needed more grunt.

Been awhile since I crawled under an old Jeep with a cross leaf and king pin but I think that you can lengthen the shakle if I am not mistaken.

 

I agree Jeepsters ain't hot rods, not trying to make it in to one. All we want to do is spiff it up a little. It's a 2 wheel drive so off road wouldn't last very long. A little tad lower and faster so we won't get ran over on the highway is what were looking for.

 

I don't know about messing with that crazy front suspension.

The leaf acts as the lower control arm, any lowering will throw everything off.

Neat car though!

Rich

 

The more I look at it, the more it reminds me of the VW "Thing". I'm not affraid to admit it, I actually liked those.

 

The thing, called a caribe in Latin America, was actually a modern rendition of a WWII peoples wagon.

I have always thought that jeepsters were cool. While not popular HAMB fodder they are probably more than acceptable to most as an interesting enough car to drive around in.

 

Please leave it fairly stock, there are so few of those around any more. The ones I see at shows that have been modified just miss the mark somehow.

My second car in my life was a blue 1950 Jeepster. My first was a 32 5 window coupe. I was 11 and my Dad bought me the 32 for $ 25 in October of 1956. But on Christmas morning he gave me the Jeepster that he paid $ 200 for. The bad part was, he thought he was doing me a favor and he sold the Deuce ! He was pissed at me for being upset because he felt he bought me a nicer car, he just didn't get hot rods.

But he died the next March, and my Mother sold the Jeepster so I wouldn't kill myself driving it around the farm. I have always wanted one since but couldn't find one at the right price in the right condition.

The one you have is nice and a few upgrades will make it a cool car that you don't ever see driving around. I envy you.

Don

 

My cousin had a pink one back in about 62. I have a 52 Willys wagon with a 305-700R for a daily. Not a hot rod, just a neat old car that brings a smile to everyone's face that sees it. Pat

 

I vote for keeping it on the stock side. You might be able to reverse the eyes on the front spring and get it a couple of inches lower without causing any issues with the suspension.

I've always liked those and had a standing offer out on one for years until I lost track of it and the couple who owned it.

 

I built on for a customer a while back. Mustang II front end and a GM V6 - was a nice little Beach Buggy.

 

Come on Don - This is a Hot Rodding Forum, we don't leave anything stock - Hell you could make that same argument for '32 Fords!!!

 

This one is sweet.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...221105687041&lgeo=1&viewitem=&vectorid=229466

Rich

 

Looks like you may be right on reversing the eyes on the spring. If I do that and move the upper A-frame mount the same amount it would keep it all where it needs to be and lower it about 2 inches which is what we're after.


Hotroddon, the one that you did looks nice. most of the ones I've seen modified look odd but you nailed it.

 

One keeps popping up on Craigs list in the bay area (SF), seems reasonable priced. Keep an eye out. I always wanted to put the eng/trans from a Chevy HHR in one of these. 2.2 Ecotec motor with plenty of power and 34mpg!

 

I have always thought those early Jeepsters were cool as hell. I like em stock but I also think you could make a very cool little rod out of one.

 

You might be right.......I may be a closet restorer !!

Don

 

Dam if that aint funny /\ /\ /\

 

As a person who is building a '52 Willys Wagon, research shows me that these cars really test a person's mettle around styling. LESS IS MORE; mods-wise. As the voices have said, you can't make these into rods but well-executed builds would be welcome at a place where rods are shown.

For mine, I picked an early Hemi and root beer-colored paint, 50-spoke wires and thin whites. Build is in process, but she's almost ready for paint.

You have with your car something that many builds would not have - CLASS. You can tastefully update the car without destroying its original lines or inherent style. Your choice of wheels and tires seems to indicate you have the right amount of restraint.

Don't forget to have lots of fun. See you on the road...

 

I was afraid of that, we can do a HAMB Intervention if necessary

 

You can take a jeep and make a cool hotrod out of it... You can install gallons of horse power; put in a strong rearend; drop the front; kick ass on the freeway; and use it for a beach buggy too! The choice is yours
Mine is a '47 and spent all of its 65 years as a 2 wheel drive

 

Well hell I got a hunnert year old house and was wondering what to do with the closets.

The differences between your wagon and a Jeepster is definately a two jump chasm.

 

I'd love to do the same thing to a Jeepster too! Now that would be crazy cool fun!

 

I've always liked them and thought I'd like to have one. I'm also very fond of the Jeep pickups and station wagons of the late '40s and '50s.

 

One used to show up at El Mirage. Cruising around, not racing. Lowered over what I think was a later frame. IFS showing. Fenderless. Sounded like a SBC in it. I thought it looked like a Hot Rod to me. I liked it.

 

That was the Kubelwagen PnBner
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Do it! Keep the lowering moderate up front. Some bigs and littles to compliment the lowering. Spend your effort on the front suspension, get the caster and camber dialed in. Could be a downright cool little car.

The one that HOTRODDON did is a prime example! I think you could PROBABLY get away with using the stock front end.

 

i liked this one!

 

I'm brand new here guys, I just bought a 1949 jeepster that had been in a barn since 1980, it already had a jeep 225 V6 installed, I want to build this into a safe, reliable, and fun rig, we are going to do the mustang2 probably from street rod engineering in Arizona , I was hoping to find out if it needed power steering or not, any help would be greatly appreciated

 

You need to do an Intro, as the Rules require, before the Forum Police get ya! I'd probably wait till it's running & give it a try & see if you need it.

 

Check out www.ewillys.com and search "jeepster". Give you some thoughts on what could be done.