I heard about this place and its reputation. I know a few members from other forums and in person. I think I understand you don't want to hear about anything automotive unless it's older American iron, not sports cars, not 4-wheelers, VW's and definitively not Rolls Royce limos. Well, I'm fresh out of things that qualify, but I'd like to enjoy the forum. I wouldn't have joined, but I couldn't search and I still can't view the FAO's. Anyway, I'll try to hang back and look around. I'm Zeke on a lot of forums, but you guys have a Zeke here already. So call me Z=ke (however you say that).
Hi Zeke, You seem to know more about the forum than a lot of new guys - good for you. Enjoy your time here - it's a great place. Cheers.
OK, I'm getting familiar with the site. I found some of the info on the creed of vehicle that the JJ supports. I think I may be on the cusp here, so I might need a little advice. I have a '44 Ford GPW that most call these days a Jeep. Yes, it's a 4X4, but not to me. Here's the backstory: it was purchased in nearby Lakewood CA in 1960 by my FIL at the urging of his hot rodding son, my wife's eldest brother. Some of his friends had already put a 283 Corvette in it. Later on, the drive train had been replaced with Dana's from a CJ5 and it had a 350 ******. The rear axle was mounted aft of the center point on the leaf springs, the rear fenders cut out for big mudders and the carb stuck through the hood with a plastic scoop over it. IOW, it had been totally rednecked. I set out to just get it decent and ended up with the body off the frame. I bought a used Ford 3 speed and a Dana 90 transfer case along with a Kennedy bell housing. It 's got a Chevy flywheel with a Ford disc. I did a lot of fabrication and bought some kits to put 3 pedals back in it along with new steering from Flaming River. Found old Stewart Warner gauges and a few other items from WWII Jeep parts houses all over the country. It's got a small body HEI dizzy conversion and a Duntov 30/30 cam grind done by Clay Smith. Hugger headers and a Painless wiring harness rounds out the list AFA I can remember. And, of course, there was a ton of body work to do. I made some small panels to replace the ones cut out and some rusted ones here and there. I put it together in a way that my wife's dad would have. I had Circle Racing wheels welded with a custom offset to keep the Bridgestone M&S tires under the car. It has a "skinny" look to it. Lots of powder coating and very little chrome except for the stock front bumper. Not a billet piece to be found. It's painted Coke red. The whole process took a year of just about every weekend and some weeknights. It's basically a casual piece to take out on a Sunday now and then. It never sees dirt and is not an off road vehicle to me. It could just as well be a '41 Ford roadster with a SBC, but it's not. What do you think? IN with "traditional" or out on its nose?