What did you do WITH your Gladiator today?

[ShadowsPapa]

Drove it through some good snow to buy some Willys fenders in Colorado Springs. Messy day.

i truly have Willys envy now. I rarely think "gee, wish that car/truck was mine" but this is an exception.
I'm afraid if I was closer, I'd be violating my after surgery restrictions, damn.

Luckily, my JT sat - didn't use is as a hearse or ambulance today! Yeah!

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[WILDHOBO]

i truly have Willys envy now. I rarely think "gee, wish that car/truck was mine" but this is an exception.
I'm afraid if I was closer, I'd be violating my after surgery restrictions, damn.

Luckily, my JT sat - didn't use is as a hearse or ambulance today! Yeah!

I’m very excited about the project. It’s pretty overwhelming thus far. But I need to keep telling myself that there’s no deadline. To take my time. But I couldn’t pass up the fenders. Great condition and my driver side fender is ROUGH. So this solves that big problem. Got them from a guy with a 55 wagon. The fenders came with his when he bought it, and were extras. They didn’t match his patina build. So I got lucky.

 

[Blade1668]

People used to do that a lot with the vacuum operated system. The hoses either rotted or cracked and suddenly, no axle lock.
It's a simple thing - sleeve that locks the halves together and the motor just slides a fork over to operate that sleeve.

Or install a bolt and nut in the actuator.
FYI I can see / feel the pain on medical transport JT. (you early post) Got back from driving to friends for turkey day / weekend, checking on cats and their food.... WTF where did the extra 5 come from. That explains why or how they eat about 25 lbs of food in 4-5 days. I'm guessing they decided to have a get together too. Two days later extra cat's gone. This morning someone decided to run one over, it was one that was friendly and liked to be petted.
Otherwise doing with Gladiator:
Still need to respool winch line after having to winch out FedEx truck that got stuck in my driveway before Thanksgiving. Didn't feel like doing it in the rain Monday or Tuesday. Otherwise doing with Gladiator unlocked doors put 2 more snatch rings in soft shackles inside, re-locked doors. Several phone calls later to late to do anything.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I’m very excited about the project. It’s pretty overwhelming thus far. But I need to keep telling myself that there’s no deadline. To take my time. But I couldn’t pass up the fenders. Great condition and my driver side fender is ROUGH. So this solves that big problem. Got them from a guy with a 55 wagon. The fenders came with his when he bought it, and were extras. They didn’t match his patina build. So I got lucky.

I seen a Willys build where the guy sectioned 2 fenders together to make them wider in the front. The back ones, he widened and lengthened. All to fit bigger tires without having to lift it too much.
Looked factory, unless it was parked close to another one, or if you really know your Willys pickups.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I seen a Willys build where the guy sectioned 2 fenders together to make them wider in the front. The back ones, he widened and lengthened. All to fit bigger tires without having to lift it too much.
Looked factory, unless it was parked close to another one, or if you really know your Willys pickups.

Me, if it was mine (it is not) I'd leave body stock and mod the drivetrain but keep the stock look. My SX4 has a 4.0 but is otherwise stock. I'd update brakes for sure. I'd buy a radio from Retro for it to give it BT and phone music abilities but keep a stock dash look.
Damn, we're so far apart, that sucks.
I may ask my wife if she wants a road trip next spring.
What am I saying, I can't even move the sunrider and stuff in my garage to get the lawn tractor parked inside or work on my wife's jeep for trade prep.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I seen a Willys build where the guy sectioned 2 fenders together to make them wider in the front. The back ones, he widened and lengthened. All to fit bigger tires without having to lift it too much.
Looked factory, unless it was parked close to another one, or if you really know your Willys pickups.

Super cool. I’m not that talented. So finding good parts is going to be my friend. Nothing set in stone, but I’m thinking of using 35” pizza cutters and retro wheels. I’m avoiding big poke on this one if I can.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Me, if it was mine (it is not) I'd leave body stock and mod the drivetrain but keep the stock look. My SX4 has a 4.0 but is otherwise stock. I'd update brakes for sure. I'd buy a radio from Retro for it to give it BT and phone music abilities but keep a stock dash look.
Damn, we're so far apart, that sucks.
I may ask my wife if she wants a road trip next spring.
What am I saying, I can't even move the sunrider and stuff in my garage to get the lawn tractor parked inside or work on my wife's jeep for trade prep.

I’d love that. And still happy to come help if you change your mind.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’d love that. And still happy to come help if you change your mind.

That's a lot of money to spend to come and then work!

 

[RudeJeepin]

Me, if it was mine (it is not) I'd leave body stock and mod the drivetrain but keep the stock look. My SX4 has a 4.0 but is otherwise stock. I'd update brakes for sure. I'd buy a radio from Retro for it to give it BT and phone music abilities but keep a stock dash look.
Damn, we're so far apart, that sucks.
I may ask my wife if she wants a road trip next spring.
What am I saying, I can't even move the sunrider and stuff in my garage to get the lawn tractor parked inside or work on my wife's jeep for trade prep.

I'd have to give it a hard look over. If it was in decent shape, then ya, I'd keep i as original as possible. Just o mostly hidden improvements, along with the safety stuff Ike you said.
Now, if it were too bad, then I might get a little more carried away.
Right now I don't really have the place for a major project. Not too mention with 3 grandkids, olderest is a out to turn 3, I don't have much free time. Plus we have another on the way late Jan or so.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Super cool. I’m not that talented. So finding good parts is going to be my friend. Nothing set in stone, but I’m thinking of using 35” pizza cutters and retro wheels. I’m avoiding big poke on this one if I can.

The front wheel wells are decent size already, other than poke maybe. But if your gonna do narrow tires then it would be fine.
The rears on the other hand could easily be longer. Plus it would be an excuse to get a wire feed welder.
Haha, there I go spending OPM!!!


A nice tasteful retro mod will look cool.

 

[RudeJeepin]

That's a lot of money to spend to come and then work!

But is it really work if you're having fun? Plus, the potential to maybe learn something new.

 

[WILDHOBO]

That's a lot of money to spend to come and then work!

Wrenching is fun.

 

[WILDHOBO]

But is it really work if you're having fun? Plus, the potential to maybe learn something new.

 

[WILDHOBO]

The front wheel wells are decent size already, other than poke maybe. But if your gonna do narrow tires then it would be fine.
The rears on the other hand could easily be longer. Plus it would be an excuse to get a wire feed welder.
Haha, there I go spending OPM!!!


A nice tasteful retro mod will look cool.

When I get to body stuff, which will be a while, a multi function welder will be required I think. I can do certain things with my arc welder, but not body work. I’ll need to learn how to do it before jacking up the project as well. Some junkyard body panels to practice on might be a good idea.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

But is it really work if you're having fun? Plus, the potential to maybe learn something new.

Wrenching is fun.

Building my Datsun when I had it was fun. Building my engine for my Infiniti was fun. Building my race bike was fun. Routine maintenance on daily drivers? Not fun, especially when it turns into day 3 of what should have taken 3 hours and you're back and forth to the parts store.

Everyone always asks me why I never worked as an auto mechanic, or why I didn't go the mechanic route in the military. Because I don't enjoy that type of wrenching, and doing that every day would ruin the rest of it.

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