With great excitement I took my first faltering drive in the Jeep on Friday. I spent the day up at Matt’s place near Matlock - mainly getting in the way, but I did manage to sort out the hand brake and rear lights, then made a battery securing clamp. That done we connected a few wires together and hit the starter button. Matt had already driven the Jeep last week, so we knew it was okay, but for me it was a very nervous first drive. The throttle pedal was a bit jerky, but I think we can adjust that a bit. The four tyres John Carroll has lent me feel a tad too big at 235-16. I think 215-16 would be plenty big enough. Maybe even 205-16. They do seem to raise the gearing too much. Anyway it was a great way to end the day and next time there will be less bare wires and tools lying about and I am sure I shall feel more relaxed.
12 comments:
This is deeply impressive, well done to you both. And I'm so glad to have the honour to be first up to congratulate you, everybody else appearing to be either asleep, at that sport thing in Peking or upsetting our Soviet friends in South Ossetia.
Looking really good! Having spent some of the (wet) weekend watching 'Patton', I am now an expert on Jeeps. I agree about the tyres, but suggest you also need a bull terrier and a pair of ivory-handled Colt revolvers.....
Well done! I have followed some of the rebuild exploits and admire people who when presented with a box of bits have the ability to render them back into something that actually works. Is the Jeep intended to be restored to WW2 trim or will it be a fun machine with which to trounce Landies in the mud pits? Is it indeed a Hotchkiss? I should be less lazy and look back over the archive. But congratulations anyway. Fancy a Volvo Suga now as a next project?
Thanks for your comments Jon. It has been a busy year for my son, Matt. Running his business and piecing together the Jeep. It is pretty much all genuine 1943, but the engine is Hotchkiss, and new! Fo rthe final livery and future plans you willhave to remain patient. Sorry! The Suga's a funny looking thing. Forties saloon car on steroids. Does the Vincent ever see tarmac?
Great stuff; really, really good. Glad to see one of Matt's team of experts in the passenger seat, giving pace notes I imagine.
Looking forward to seeing it 'in the meckle'.
A good company Hotchkiss.
We're not going down the Jeepster route are we?
I only mentioned Sugas because I happen to know where there are two. Bodywork is apparently prewar Volvo taxi...wonderfully eccentric and with a 427 cu in Chevy installed, a size 13 carbon footprint. An ability to tow up to a dozen skiers, carry half a dozen bicycles and with a heating system like a sauna.
The Vincent does indeed see much tarmac, so much so that I have clearly abused its gearbox (see comments passim), but whilst someone with far greater mechanical skills than myself repairs it I have just MOT'd my oversized Comet. This has a remarkable facility for snapping ankles so I'm a bit of a wuss when kicking it over.
those BFG mud terrain 235 s - are they 235/85 16s ? I need some for my L200.
Glad you said that about the Comet, Jon. It makes me feel better about the day I performed a forward roll with tuck, half twist and fullpike Jaeger-Tkatchev when trying to kick-start my uncle's....
Just found this and I must say, what a cracking rebuild! Those Yankie Johnnies certainly knew how to build a good motor to whizz around in. Easy to work on in the field of battle, cheap and easy to make and so quite dispensible if Fritz popped off the old Ofenrohr at you, in which case, also pretty easy to jump out of! I know the Obergruppenführer officer class sat up a bit straighter in the Kubelwagen, but Bradley and his fellow brass hats always looked more approachable in a Willys! Damn good show old chap - are you in the Clash of Steel group?
The single cylinder motorcycle is a cruel mistress but a seductive one. Likewise the single cylinder tractor; tales of dislocated shoulders whilst cranking Field Marshalls are not uncommon I believe.
Where is Toby Savage?
Meeting my Parents. I'm an old-fashioned kind of girl.
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