Classics

The Ins and Outs of Replacing Willys Jeep Tires

When it comes time to buy new Willys Jeep tires there are a few pieces of advice to follow to ensure you get the best tires for the job while maintaining the look of your Jeep.

Should You Buy NDT Tires?

There is some debate about whether jeepers should stick with the classic military NDT Willys Jeep tires or opt for something more modern. To be accurate, the original Willys Jeeps did not use NDT tires. Although many jeepers believe they did, NDT didn’t come into common use until the 1950s. However everyone associates the look of those tires with Jeeps so most Willys owners want to use them.

The main drawback to NDT Willys Jeep tires is that they don’t handle as well as modern tires. Many Jeep owners find they perform poorly off road although others think they work just fine. A larger problem is that NDT tires can be downright dangerous on wet or icy pavement.

Your decision will be based on what you use your Jeep for. If your vehicle is more of a showpiece and doesn’t see a lot of rugged driving, then NDT tires are the way to go. If you drive off-road then you may have to try mounting NDTs and see how they perform.

If you are set on NDTs then you can get increased traction by taking them to a tire shop and having them siped. The shop will cut dozens of tiny cuts in the tread to give the tire more flexibility and surface area for gripping the road.

Correct Tire Inflation

Finding the proper inflation for your Willys Jeep tires is harder than you might think. Unfortunately a lot of drivers are riding around on tires with the wrong pressure and suffering uneven tire wear and poor traction.

The right pressure is probably not the pressure in your Jeep manual. That pressure is only right if you are running a completely stock vehicle on normal surface streets. Optimal pressure will change if you’ve customized your Jeep in ways such as adding heavy accessories like winches, or if you are using non-stock tires.

The best pressure for your tires is the pressure that has the edge of the tread and the center of the tread contacting the ground with equal force. To find the perfect inflation, squirt a chalk line refill onto the tread of your tires. You don’t have to do all four but should do one in the front and one in the back. Create a band a couple of inches across that covered the tread from edge to edge.

Drive slowly down the road for a while then get out and see where the chalk is wearing off the tire. If it’s wearing off the edge you are underinflated. Center wear means you are overinflated. Adjust the pressure and try again until you get even wear across the chalk band.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Willys
Jeep Tires, visit http://www.walcks4wd.com.

Peugeot Cars, Far Removed From Their Coffee Grinding Heritage

The Peugeot Company, started by the Peugeot family originally began its life as an ironmonger. Instead of cars the main items manufactured were coffee grinders and bicycles. It was not until 1876 that the company first started to make cars for the French public. The first cars were steam driven although in later years, with the help of Daimler; the internal combustion engine was adopted as the preferred means of propulsion.

In 1891 the first of these petrol driven cars was driven from Beaulieu-Valentigney to Paris and then onto Brest. The acclaim gained for this amazing feat cemented the car in the hearts of the French public and as a result the company sold three hundred cars in 1899, a marked improvement on the five sold in 1891. The range was further improved when the steering tiller was replaced with the wheel and electric ignition systems were added in 1902.

Development naturally continued in the 1910’s when Peugeot once again entered the world of motor sport. With the help of Ettore Bugatti the cars were further improved with stylistic design and an engine that produced an impressive ten horsepower. Examples of these models can still be seen today in the French National Automobile Museum located in the town of Mulhouse.

After the First World War Peugeot steamed ahead with production, producing their one hundred thousandth car in 1925, the cars of this era predominantly had three cylinder engines although at this time the company were experimenting with two stroke diesel models. Strangely in 1926 cars were produced for the first time with front brakes, previously cars had only had braking systems in the rear. During the late twenties Peugeot even released a sports car using a six cylinder Bugatti engine that had been supercharged.

The thirties saw Peugeot produce the first ever electrically retractable roof, a development that the company is still proud of. During the war the company also produced an electric car named the VLV Electrique. After the war the company was also one of the first to re-establish production lines selling almost fourteen thousand model 202’s in 1946. During the fifties Peugeot still managed to dominate the European markets. In 1955 the model 403 was the first car ever to break the one million units produced mark. Also during this decade the company entered the American car market.

The sixties and seventies were a seminal period for the company. The release of the Pininfarina designed 404 dawned a period of success all over the world in terms of sales as well as success in the Safari Rally. This period also saw Peugeot produce its five millionth car. The company managers also decided to expand in this period, taking over rival manufacturer Citroen in 1975 thanks to the financial assistance offered by the French government. The new company was labelled PSA although this was purely a parent company as both members of the group wanted to keep the identities of the two brands distinctly separate. The expansion however did not stop there; the company launched a successful bid to take over the European division of Chrysler in 1978.

This expansion meant that the company has overstretched itself and the early eighties were a time of financial uncertainty for PSA. Thankfully, the release of the immensely popular 205 in 1983 meant that the company was able to revive its fortunes and carry on producing distinctly French cars. Today, despite having to close the Coventry factory the company is still striving to produce cars that have a French nature and are popular with drivers of all ages. The motoring giant may be far removed from its humble coffee grinding heritage, but the traditions of this family company have not been forgotten.

Motoring expert Thomas Pretty looks into the history of Peugeot cars from the turn of the century to the modern day.

Approaching Your Classic Car Restoration Project

When you first begin the process of restoring an old antique classic car, there are a lot of different decisions that a person has to make before and during the entire process. Depending on the type of approach you decide to take, you can do all the work yourself or hire a mechanic and body shop to do all the work for you. The main thing to remember though, when choosing the garage to do the work for you is to make sure you do all your homework on the people that you are hiring to make sure that you choose someone reliable and knowledgeable in what they are doing.

One of the first things that you should ask of the shop that you are thinking of using is references. Ask them for names of some of their previous customers that you could then go to and ask questions. You will also want to verify how much their hourly rate is and get estimates on how long the job will take and what the costs of any parts that they supply are going to cost. The main thing to remember is that there are always a few black sheep garages out there that can take advantage of people that have not done their homework ahead of time. As long as you make sure that you go to a reliable shop, you should be good to go.

Another good way to find some good shops that can work on your classic car restoration is to attend some of the classic cars shows that come to your area and ask the car owners there who they use for doing their work. During this time, you may even find a car owner that does his own work that you might be able to hire to do yours as well.

It is easy to remember that the main thing to do when you are searching out a shop to help you in your new classic car restoration project is to do your research and make sure you know what you are getting into before you start your project. Knowing everything ahead of time definitely helps prevent some of the headaches down the road and makes you enjoy your classic car that much more. Once all the work is over and finished, you will enjoying driving your new creation around the town without having all the potential nightmares haunting you.

Corey Palmer is a car collector and restorer who enjoys going to car shows and showing off his own cars. There are many classic cars for sale out there but the best place to find antique cars for sale or just plain old cars for sale there are some good places online as well.

The Willys Jeep: American Classic and Reliable Off-Roader

A good off-road vehicle doesn’t have to cost you more than your house. Many four wheelers like older models like the Willys Jeep. Parts for these classics are still easy to find so it’s easy to keep them running.

What’s a Willys?

Although Willys is a name that brings a blank look to most people’s faces, it’s one of the most recognizable vehicles out there: the World War II Army jeep. These sturdy and reliable performers remained one of the most popular Army vehicles for decades, serving not only Americans in Korea and Viet Nam but armies of other nations even to this day.

The original MB model was named a critical tool of World War II by General Eisenhower and an International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

The late 1970s saw a change in the US military’s policy toward personnel and cargo transport. They decided to go with larger and more advanced vehicles, so the venerable jeeps and trucks were replaced with the Humvee.

Although no longer used by the American military, there is still a strong community of enthusiasts that keeps their Willys fighting fit. Even 30 years after retirement, there is no lack of Willys Jeep parts and supplies.

Cheap, Tough, and Versatile

With World War II looming on the horizon, the US Army had basically three specifications for its new personnel vehicle. It had to be tough enough to survive combat use. It had to be able to drive anywhere from deserts to swamps. And it had to be cheap enough to supply an army.

The very characteristics that made the Jeep such a successful army vehicle are what make it so beloved today. It’s not fancy. It’s not pretty except to another jeeper. But it’s rugged and never gives up.

Willys Jeeps were built in the days when all you needed to fix your car was a screwdriver. When you need to replace Willys Jeep parts, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do it. You don’t need expensive tools and computerized analysis. Invest a little sweat and elbow grease and your Jeep is ready to roll again.

The Off-Road Vehicle Built for Off-Roading

Most four-wheel vehicles built today are designed to look pretty sitting in your driveway. They are status symbols rather than rugged vehicles, no matter what the slick television ads say.

Willys Jeeps are all about function over form. These are not glorified minivans. These are vehicles for people who want to come home covered in dust and mud. They are about adventure and exploration and genuine off-road experiences.

Since they aren’t manufactured anymore, it can be hard to find one – and even harder to find one that’s not obscenely overpriced. Patience will pay off, particularly if you are willing to buy a junker and replace a few of the Willys Jeep parts yourself.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Willys
Jeep Parts, visit http://www.walcks4wd.com.

A Brief History of the Hot Rod

California is considered to be the birthplace of hot rods. People were looking for cars to race across the salt flats, and many amateur mechanics looked to create streamlined vehicles for racing. They used whatever parts they could find in local junkyards. The idea was that they could build a better racer than their more affluent neighbors with sheer ingenuity.

It was important that the cars could be used both for racing and everyday driving, since very few people had more than one car. Early hot rods were created from Ford Model T and Model A roadsters. Actually, the term “hot rod” is believed to be derived from the phrase “hot roadster.” Model Ts and As were plentiful, cheap and easy to modify for racing. The absence of a top made these cars lighter than most, though sedans and coupes were soon used for racing. These would often be prepared for racing by removing the tops and giving the windshield a backwards slope to make them lighter and more aerodynamic.

The tires were usually replaced, with very large rear tires to raise the gear ratio. Small front tires were used in combination with the large rear tires in order to “rake,” or slope, the car forward. This further decreased wind resistance. Slots were cut into the body of the car to help keep the engine cool. These backyard enthusiasts made every effort to create the fastest car in the region.

After WWII, the American public became enthralled with hot rods. Many early enthusiasts came back from military service with mechanical and metalworking skills, and they were ready to put those skills into their cars. They gathered once again in southern California’s dry region and continued customizing cars and racing.

As street racing rose in popularity, so did the dangers associated with it. All across the country, kids were racing their hot rods, sometimes with fatal consequences. From cruising the streets at night to gathering at local hot spots, the youth of America became obsessed with street racing. Eventually, the American public at large looked upon hot rodding as a dangerous and delinquent pastime which, along with rock and roll, was rotting the youth of the country.

To offset this perception, the first Hot Rod Exhibition was held in Los Angeles in 1948. The exhibition emphasized the positive aspects of hot rods, such as craftsmanship and ingenuity. Hot rod associations were formed in order to develop cooperation between enthusiasts and the police, giving the entire subculture a better image in the public eye.

Many people shifted the focus from creating a racing car to creating a unique and beautiful vehicle. Custom paint jobs became all the rage, while the slope of the car changed. While early builders leaned the car forward, people started to slope the cars toward the rear. The cars were built for looks rather than racing, though their engines and performance were still held in high regard.

Hot rods are still highly popular vehicles, among both younger and older generations. Their size, appearance and performance appeal to many. Amateur mechanics still park them in their garage to tear them apart, soup them up and take them to the streets. Just like in the old days, it’s about creating a better car with a little money and a lot of determination.

Glen Francis has a passion for cars especially those high performance and small production, but Hot Rods and Custom cars are his niche.
Find out about the origins of Hot Rods and how to create these timeless machines at http://www.fixinghotrods.com