4x4 Action Group

So...

As many will know, I have had a penchant for a power wagon for ages.

A previous attempt at a restoration went horribly wrong and I was very grumpy.

Anyway, as Clive's one is there, the itch had to be scratched.

So Richard was selling his 1965 Wagoneer which is his everyday drive....

It's mostly original except the motor, springs and wheels, but I happen to have 2 motors, stock springs and wheels just laying about...

I'll drive it a bit as it is - but seeing Clive's one in the workshop makes me think I really want to tidy it up soon! I'm thinking tangerine...

Looks like a fun project, awesome buy!

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Congrats Alex !!!! Just don't send it to the same panel beater that had to do the green one for you!!!

Alex didn’t you sell this one previously to Richard?

XJ Junkie wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:03 pm

Alex didn’t you sell this one previously to Richard?

no that was the green one - thats standing outside the workshop too, being spares for both (mine and Clive's)

Ah ok. Fantastic thing though

Mad Manny wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:45 pm

Nice! Good luck with all your restorations...

My Waggie will run as it is for a while.

In fact, I'd intended to run it like that for a long long time,

but that other one is looking so sexy....

Congrats on the acquisition! Mickey Harris has a ton of NOS stuff for Gladdies of this era if you need anything.

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Congrats, the wagon looks in good nick.

Please do keep us updated.

If I may, what about candy red...

Apoc there are no Airbags, in case of an accident that steering rod is going trough your chest. Bloody unsafe old school Jeep.
I am willing to rescue you from doom. Call a price and I will come collect. [emoji38] [emoji38]

Looking good [emoji38]

grips wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:21 pm

Apoc there are no Airbags, in case of an accident that steering rod is going trough your chest. Bloody unsafe old school Jeep.
I am willing to rescue you from doom. Call a price and I will come collect. [emoji38] [emoji38]

Looking good [emoji38]

No airbags. We die like real men.

So I took it for a spin today!

It's amazing how one takes little things like brakes for granted.....

The Power wagon is really good for a nearly 70 year old truck. All the joints are good and tight, not too much lash in the transmission, Shackles are all tight , brakes are properly sorted, pulls cleanly - that kind of thing. It reminds you of why modern cars are so good to drive, it's good to get a feeling of what an everyday vehicle was like in the good old days. Tracks true, steers where you point it, that kind of thing.

It's an experience, but it doesn't want to actually kill you.

Now bear in mind the Wagoneer was Richards daily drive until recently

and I'm used to a Wrangler , not a luxobarge by todays standards.

it has a few Major terrifying habits:

The worst one is the steering. more of a rudder really - one that broke off on a ship in a mighty storm. there is half a turn lash in it and it wanders left or right depending on which way the shackles settle over the previous bump. Also, the left wheel and the right wheel do not appear to co-operate at all, they are like 2 Jack Russels running through a new and exciting field with lots of rabbits to chase.

then there are the brakes. They are misleading in that the pedal feels good, minimal travel, no dropping to the floor or anything.

A quick experimental stab of the pedal before setting off lulled me into a false sense of security.

So I navigated up to some speed - I'm not sure what, I think the speedo is as nautical as the steering , it seems to read in knots. it's either that or it's so terrifying above 40 on the clock that it feels like you are participating in some perilous victorian adventure.

So, you hit the brakes, the pedal nice and firm and it dives off to a random side of the road. A few corners later I worked out that it seems that it dives to the side opposite to the way you last turned. mostly anyway. but it dives like a soccer player every time you come close to the brakes.

also, I forgot that Richard did mention that the windscreen wipers don't work, and it started pissing down.

there are a few other minor glitches too, like the leaking exhaust which fills the cab with fumes. luckily the windows work and the back window is in a state of permanently down so there is sufficient sub zero wind going through the cab to prevent drowsiness. hypothermia can be a good thing.

Anyway, I got it back to the workshop without dying.

I think we are going to need to do a few little jobs on it!

Sounds awesome!

Here’s a beauty that Icon built which is rather special

https://youtu.be/xte_nUD_8fI