Rango.....1942 Willys MB

[Metcalf]

New toy.....

I was tired of guessing about the tuning of my carb. So, now no more guessing!

I love my autometer gauges, but decided that for now I would pull my voltmeter and install the new wideband gauge. This unit only requires a switched power and a ground to operate, all the other wires are optional, you can output to a computer, data log, etc with other features.

This should make it REALLY easy to tune the carb for different elevations, temperatures, etc....

My baseline tuning on the carb from past tinkering wasn't really that bad. I was really really happy about that!

-Idle mixture. The mixture was about 13-13.5 per my original tuning. I leaned out the idle mixture a bit. It didn't take more than 1/4 turn on the mixture screws to get the idle in the 14.5 range. I admit, I left it just a TOUCH rich. It takes a LONG time for the idle mixture to stabilize....something on the order of 30 seconds until the mixture would stabilize. I still see about a .2-.3 variation in the idle mixture. Perhaps the fuel bowl is cycling up and down?

-Cruise mixture. It looks pretty good with the #45 jets in my application. I am at roughly 7400ft. Cruise mixture is in the 14.0-14.5 range at high vacuum cruise.

-Transition. Fast transition is rich. Probably in the 12.5-13.0 range. Slow transition to the power valve is lean. I can see 16:1 just before the power valve starts to open. I think my current power valve is a 6.5" version. I need to look back in my notes. I am thinking that I need to change out the power valve for a unit that opens at a slightly higher vacuum. This should fix my lean, flat feeling part throttle transition.

-Full throttle. Once the power valve opens the mixture goes back in the 11.0-13.0 range. At WOT the mixture is in the 11.0-12.0 range. It is safe and rich for now!

I think I need to change the power valve out for one that opens a little sooner. My WOT mixture needs to be adjusted with a reduction in the power valve passage size ( basically the orifice that is regulating the fuel from the power valve to the main circuit.

These gauges can be had for $160 delivered now. I am a convert for sure. I am glad that I was close with via my plug tuning but is is REALLY nice to just know....

 

[Metcalf]

Nice trick swapping the headlight brackets. What is the distance between the water pump pulley bolts and the back face of the radiator? Did you move the radiator forward or the motor back when you stretched the frame?

Currently there is approx 5" between the radiator and water pump front face.

Pretty much everything has been moved around on this thing. I have the motor mounted pretty far forward and high in the chassis. The radiator is pretty much in a somewhat 'stock' location, but it isn't the stock radiator anymore

The grill was pushed forward 1.38" when the fenders where raised, but other than that the body is stock length. The frame is longer in the front because of the winch, longer front springs, and the small change in grill location. Really, the frame is basically a mirror front to back, that is why the frame ended up the length it ended up being.

 

[Metcalf]

Running a normal 1310 style yoke on the rear of a D18.

Running a normal U-bolt style yoke on the rear output of a D18 is possible. It gains about 1" of rear driveline length over the stock flange style yoke. This requires the elimination of the factory e-brake assembly.

It does NOT just bolt on and work however. I had thrown one on my D18 in haste during my recent buildup but was able to dig into it further this weekend finally.

Notes....

-The dust shield has to be removed. It will bottom out on the rear output housing.

-The normal 1310 u-bolt yoke cannot be fully torqued up in the stock configuration. You need to add approx a .150 shim between the speedo gear and the yoke. If you bottom out the yoke completely the end of the shaft does not have a 'deep' enough threaded portion. Basically the nut will bottom out on the shaft shoulder before the yoke is tight on the shoulder of the splines or against the speedo gear.

-Watch the seal position. It needs to be pushed to the back of the bore in the output housing to avoid trying to ride on the yoke too far forward where the dust shield usually goes. If your using a used yoke there will be a little rust between the dust cover and yoke that will not provide a good sealing surface.

I will be transferring this tech into my new D18 also. In that application I will be removing the speedo gear and building a custom length spacer. I am pretty sure you HAVE to have something for the yoke to torque against other than the step in the splines on the output shaft.

 

[Metcalf]

My Moab fall 2012 trip report.....

Day one. Thursday afternoon.

Everyone made it down to Moab safe, sound, and early. We where ready
to get on the trail about 2-3pm or so. We decided to do the 1st half
of Fins and Things. Overall one of my favorite little testing grounds.
Its short, kinda close to town, not very long, and has lots of fun
stuff to play on. All in all everything went well.

I found out my nice big tire gauge had given up the ghost....bummer. I
aired down to 4psi and kept it there the entire trip. 4psi seemed to
work REALLY well for the Willys. It sure made it ride great! Not too
low though causing a big loss in ground clearance.

I was able to get up the steep little play climb on Fins and Things here....

Green TJ made it and played with his front suckdown, lockers, and
ultra-low gearing to get a feel for things. Silver TJ made it and played
with the suckdown. I made it to my surprise. The climb is steep enough
that is usually causes at least some issues. It just popped right up
in 1st low with maybe just one tire squeak. The sami had some issues
on it. We ended up dropping the tire pressure down into the 3psi range
I think. He basically needed a gear between 1st and 2nd low. The
little engine had a hard time pulling the entire climb. This climb got
him use to moab a bit.....and we tried to get him use to being able to
push in the clutch and roll off stuff when you get hopping.

This was another fun climb on the stairsteps you go down on Fins and Things....

I think Green TJ and I where the only ones to try it. No real problems but
it was fun!

Day two. Friday.

Steelbender, Backwards.

Overall the only real hard part on this trail was 'The Wall'. Most
people run this trail the other way and drop off it....we ran it the
other way and had to go up. You can't really drive right up the wall,
or at least none of us could! We ended up using a fun line off to the
left. This is a decently technical climb in two parts and your kinda
exposed on the 1st part with a drop off to your left. The 2nd climb is
pretty decent too requiring the right line and a tight turn at the
top....

Everyone made it. The sami had some slight issues getting the right
line on the top half.

All in all this trail really isn't THAT fun. It has a LOT of really
bumpy sections that are boring. If I where to do it again I would cut
off the extra loop. Overall not high on my priority list again....

There was a Jeep Jamboree run going on the same day. I'm glad we made
it up The Wall before we met them around lunch time. Then a pair of
ATVs showed up and almost tried killing themselves. Green TJ and I got
them around and down the difficult section and sent them on there way
for better or worse. It was kinda crazy overall, but a good karma boost.

Day Three. Saturday.

Pritchett Canyon.

The most extreme trail we tried. The short version. We winched a lot!

It was just the Willys and the Jeeps on this one. Sami driver rode along with
me. I really liked this trail but it was WAY above what out vehicles
where capable of in my opinion. The major obstacles are Chewy hill,
Rocker Knocker, Axle hill, Rock Pile, and Yellow hill.

Everyone in the group had to winch Chewy hill. It is way bigger and
harder than it looks in the pictures. The 1st half is a funky little
climb with multiple kicker ledges. then you have to make an turn and
get lined up for the 2nd part. The 2nd part is a sharp 2-3 ledge climb
where you are pretty exposed over the 1st part of the climb. I was
able to pull off a pretty sweet rear dig in 2wd hi to get lined up on
the ledge better. Everyone made it up safe with a winch.

Me playing around on Chewie....

That is about as far as I made it.....

Next was Rocker Knocker after a few little play things.

Rocker Knocker was covered in about an inch of sand. Doug and I both
worked it pretty hard. I must have tried about 5 different lines. I
just couldn't get my front end to grab the top most part and pop over
to the left and into the pocket. Oh well, it was fun anyways. Green TJ
pretty much had the same problems I did so another 9" of wheelbase
didn't make THAT much of a difference. Everyone took the bypass, even
it was hard!

Rocker Knocker bypass. Made it with Silver TJ's excellent spotting and Green TJ working to find the line before me while I was playing on Rocker
Knocker

 

[Metcalf]

Axle hill.

Everyone winched up. This thing is kinda stupid big!

Similar to chewy hill but steeper and tighter. A step climb to start
with a turn and more ledges at the top.

Rock Pile.

There is a super big climb that nobody in our group tried. We where
trying to stay ahead of another group at this point and waiting for a
group of side by sides coming down. Green TJ almost made the 'bypass' but
ended up needing a little bit of winch help. I ALMOST was able to get
up with my narrow track width but needed some strap help. Silver TJ ended
up taking the strap too. Then we stopped for lunch and waited for the
side by sides to go past.

Yellow hill.

This one was kinda interesting. There is a multi-part climb to the
right that Green TJ tried but we go the feeling that line wasn't going to
work. There is a LONG climb on the left side. Green TJ was first and drove
it. It is a weird climb that requires a little bump at the bottom and
then followed by a pretty dang long climb that isn't quite as steep as
the bottom but with some little shelves at the end. It gets your blood
pumping. Green TJ made it in 2nd low. I used 2nd low also. You bump the
bottom part and then roll through the rest of the climb. It felt GOOD
to make the last obstacle on Pritchett! Silver TJ did it also. His
automatic did a little bit of a 1-2 shift bump thing but he made it no
problem.

The Willys on the bottom getting set up....

Willys at the top.....

There was a little redneckery that was following us up the trail. We
tried to help and stay clear at the same time...

After a long drive back to the highway we got to play in some small
dunes a little bit. I don't think anyone got any pictures, we where
all having too much fun!

Day Four.

2nd half of Fins and Things.
Hells Revenge.

We got a pretty decent start in the morning. It was our last day so we
decided to run something fairly familiar. The 2nd half of Fins and
Things is a fun trail. In the Future we will take the 1st turnoff and
cut off the little loop on the north end of the trail. It is just
bumpy stuff with nothing hard. The last part of the trail is pretty
fun with some decent climbs. Everyone did great. I think everyone made
everything also.

Green TJ had a hill he wanted to get back on near the end of the trail
that gave him issues last year. He went right up it....so did I...so
did the Sami....so did Silver TJ. Weird.

Green TJ hill.....

Then it was off to Hells Revenge....

Just a fun trail in general.

Green TJ and Silver TJ both did Hells Gate. I passed. I watched both of them do it....did some math on wheelbase difference and passed for now. I did
take the 1st leg down into the bottom and back out again, that was
fun.

The big fun of Hells revenge was Escalator. We all got out and looked
at it for about 20 minutes. I did a lot of mental math and decided to
try it 1st. The Willys was basically a perfect fit. It basically
walked the entire thing. I had one stumble at the top where I felt
like I was going to get punched in the face by the rock wall. I stuck
my hand outside of the cage without thinking to brace myself.....dumb
I know! The Willys stalled at that point but I was able to starter
start it in 1st low. It restarted and continued the rest of the climb.

Right about where I had my face wall hand incident...

Green TJ made it next. He had some flare to wall issues but nothing THAT
major. He ended up using his crawler box after readjusting his line
slightly. His rear flare took a pretty hard scrape.

Silver was next. He had a few small issues on the lower part. His line
was just off for the 2nd climb out of the little water hole. His rear
end was just to far left. He tried a few times with and without the
suckdown winch....tried walking the tire off the wall, etc. In the end
he took the winch line from Green TJ

The last fun thing on the trail is Tip over Challenge.

Everyone made it. I had a weird line and slipped the front end
slightly. I was able to drive out of it with a quick spot from Doug.

Me on the tipover challenge....

Then the long bumpy ride out the end of Hells Revenge that we all
where loathing at that point.....

Had a great dinner that night around the campfire, packed up, and
headed home the next morning....

 

[rube bonet]

Good looking flatty, I love it. I missed going to Moab at all this year, first time since 98 These pics made me instantly jealous...


.

 

[Metcalf]

Thanks! I'm lucky enough to be pretty close to Moab. I'll be there for EJS next year for sure!

 

[Metcalf]

Please keep your arms in the ride at all times....


This is the Escalator obstacle on the Hells Revenge trail, Moab, Utah.

Overall the vehicle seems to be working just great, especially for only having an 85" wheelbase. Overall weight is sub 3000lbs with about a 300lb front bias. Overall width is only approx 72" even with the big clown tires. Even at 4psi in the 35x13.5x15 BFG Krawlers the chassis still has 16" of belly clearance. Gearing during this climb was a 75:1 crawl ratio with my carbureted Buick 225 providing the go. Spartan Autolocker in the front D30, Powr-Lok in the rear D44.

 

[Sean VHA #60013]

That is a very exciting video for a very inspirational build! To think that most of what you accomplished was with parts you had around your place makes this all the more amazing - Excellent work!

BTW, I was in suspense when you stalled out near the top - were you even a little worried about being able to re-start at such an incline?

:coffeedrink:

 

[Metcalf]

That is a very exciting video for a very inspirational build! To think that most of what you accomplished was with parts you had around your place makes this all the more amazing - Excellent work!

BTW, I was in suspense when you stalled out near the top - were you even a little worried about being able to re-start at such an incline?

:coffeedrink:

My heart rate was up. It stalled in gear so no real worries about going anywhere. With the 75:1 low range gearing it will usually restart in gear (or starter start) while in gear like that. I basically stalled it half on purpose when the front tire started lifting. I wasn't sure if it was going to keep going or go down. Stalling the engine gave me a little time to get better instructions from the spotter.

All in all a pretty exciting obstacle in an 85" wheelbase!

 

[Metcalf]

More pics.....

The top of Tipover Challenge, Hells Revenge

The middle of Tipover Challenge, Hells Revenge

Axle hill, Pritchett Canyon. Just imagine the winch line isn't there.

Rocker Knocker, Pritchett Canyon. I swear it was the sand!

Random climb on Fins and Things.

In camp.....funny looking little thing.

Escalator, Hells Revenge. That is a big hole for a little Willys

Fun climb on the end of the 2nd half of Fins and Things.

Fun group of rigs, great group of friends...

 

[jersey96_xj]

Looks awesome! I want one of those Willys really bad.

 

[Metcalf]

Looks awesome! I want one of those Willys really bad.

Build one. With my frame design you can have a 'new' Willys easy enough. All you need is a few parts and some time.....

 

[jersey96_xj]

Build one. With my frame design you can have a 'new' Willys easy enough. All you need is a few parts and some time.....

I would love to when I have a place to keep it and build it.

 

[MrBeast]

I just watched the escalator video that thing sounds so cool.