New Large Scale Ford GPW Jeep Project

[Ecam]

Great project. You mentioned the Spit went to a new home but I see one in the background...

[ColemanCollector]

It is great to see more of your BIG project, Mike! How fine that it runs so well. I know your son values authenticity, but I wonder if an electronic ignition could be hidden in the distributor cap. I am told that on old cars, the proper electronic ignition can make a tremendous difference in smooth running and can be completely hidden. I have known that some restored pre-war and post-war farm tractors have been upgraded this way without its being noticeable at all.
It's good to see Hazel the Safety Dog, too. I'm a sucker for dogs and cats.

The Pertronix ignition conversions are excellent, and yes, they hide away under the stock dizzy cap to keep things looking authentic. I used one on my Spitfire's tired old distributor and it worked wonders. I kept it on there even after I rebuilt the engine including the distributor bushes since it was a bit wobbly.

The GPW's distributor is a new rebuild so we'll see how it does. Otherwise, Pertronix is hte way to go. Gotta let my son file and gap the points a few times so he can become part of the Brotherhood!

Mike.

[ColemanCollector]

Great project. You mentioned the Spit went to a new home but I see one in the background...

Good eyes! The Spitfire is gone, but the GT6 MKIII remains! Basically a Spitfire with a fastback body, weirdo but effective rear suspension, and a straight six. Drives very differently to the Spitfire. I'll have had it for 20 years this March.

Mike.

[Ecam]

GT6 MKIII remains! Basically a Spitfire with a fastback body, and a straight six.
Mike.

I remember those, but didn't realize they were so unique or six powered for that matter. I had a MG Midget for a short while with ambitions of stuffing a V8 in it. As I recall it had a 1.5L engine and I think the Spit did too. Drove both and found the Spitfire had much more power and had more room and was a blast to drive.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Gotta let my son file and gap the points a few times so he can become part of the Brotherhood!" Ah, those were the days... tuning up the 4-banger in the parking lot of a cheap apartment building...oh, do I ever NOT miss those days.

Some fun: in 1979 I was teaching at a fine liberal arts college in North Carolina. On a hot, muggy day I was underneath the little car (how did I fit?), changing out the muffler. Peering out around the rear tire, I saw wingtip shoes and a three-piece suit. In the King's English, "Excuse me, sir. How might I find someone from the English Department?" I just reached out a dirty arm and pointed in the direction of my office.

[tankme]

I just saw a jeep like this for sale in the Austin area that had a V8 installed in it back in the '70s.

[ColemanCollector]

Eric--a Midget with a V8 would be a shoehorn project to the nth degree, even with a small 8 like the Buick/Rover 3.5L. There's still time to do it! And correct, the last bunch of years of Midget production saw it fitted with the Triumph 1.5L from the Spitfire. MG fans were not amused.

HDP--the English profs I knew drove either funky cars like Opel GTs or Volvo P1800's, or the opposite end of the spectrum like Plymouth Volare's or Ford Fairlanes. C'mon, fess up! What was the 4 banger with the rusted out exhaust hangers?

Mike.

[Ecam]

Eric--a Midget with a V8 would be a shoehorn project to the nth degree, even with a small 8 like the Buick/Rover 3.5L. There's still time to do it! And correct, the last bunch of years of Midget production saw it fitted with the Triumph 1.5L from the Spitfire. MG fans were not amused.

I may have been from Triumph but it was not the same engine, Cam, carb, compression or whatever MG did it was a dog compared to the stock Spitfire I drove. I even did headers and twin side draft Webbers but it never came around. I had trouble reaching my hand in the engine bay to get to loose starter bolts, it would have been a tough swap for any V8. My kid brother got T boned by a neighbor kid (no injuries) and the car was totaled by the insurance co. Later he picked up a Lotus Cortina Mk1 with a 289 already swapped in. Gave us both the little Brit car with an American V8. We later pulled the 289 and top loader for another project and I sold the Cortina to a fellow in Florida who intended to restore it to original.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

1974 Toyota Corolla: rusted out front quarter panels by summer of '76; rusted out trunk floor by '78. I tore out the rusted gas pedal in summer '79, but the lever and roller hanging down were still workable. I kept the engine tuned and changed oil every 3,000 miles, so at 100,000 miles I sold it for 20% of what I paid for it in the first place. Then I moved to Los Angeles where I rode the bus for two to three hours (depending on traffic jams) daily.

[Ad Lav]

Great progress!