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Our local bunch of guys who run the Rubicon, are going this summer, June 22-25. There will be 12-jeeps.
Guys, I still have my Rubicon Challenge jeep that I would take in for 16-summers. It is a cj-7 with 304 amc V-8 & T-18 trans.
I built-up a ;46 cj2a just for the Rubicon challenge in '84, and drove it two summers, sold it and kept the cj-7, which was more capable that the '46 with the 4-cyl flathead engine and 3-spd trans.
Above photo: notice the two Dog Tether's at the front of the box.
Well, one day, the big Mutt, decided he had to show-off to anther dog, and got too aggressive, falling over the box just behind the driver's side. I saw him go over in the rear-view mirror, and stopped. He was hanging by his collar, so didn't get run-over by the rear tire, thank heavens. Dumb Mutt. _ _ _ LoL
Above photos - this pickup sleeps indoors and out of the sun and elements since completed in 1998. _ that's a few years back.
Jump to year 2024, and yes general service maintenance, being mostly FUEL SYSTEM, and rubber components affected by California's ethanol fuels. _ _ makes me disgruntled with California's governorship, but I'm not moving out of state. _ _ yet.
Ok, out of desperation, I tuned the 300 mini-Cummins-Gasser using my vacuum gauge.
I read constantly on forums where guys are always concerned of Timing Marks. I don't use a timing light, so no real timing marks necessary once I have TDC on number 1 cylinder marked somehow.
Anyways, I was encountering quite the STUMBLE & COUGH on accel from a stop light.
To make matters worse, I had a Fuel Delivery issue (split in fuel hose), and Holley float needle / seats LEAKING fuel past them, being just enough to over fuel at IDLE.
As I advanced the ignition timing, I was able to close the butterflies allowing the IDLE and TRANSFER circuits to work like they should.
If I purchase new door weatherstrips, which Product would you fella's recommend ?
While sharing photos today - below is the underside of my '78 Ford E250 greaser-built 4x4 Trekker-Van, built 1993.
Beginning in August of 2020, I started at the rear underside of the Van and worked my way forward giving it a 20-yr service.
Photo above please note the rear tank painted and clean with blue straps.
First thing I did for giving the underside a Do-Over beginning, Aug. 2020, was to Drop the two fuel tanks.
For those who do not know, these tanks are GALVANIZED. Therefore, super clean on the inside.
Yes, I meticulously media-blasted the outside of the tanks (they do get surface rust), and then painted both.
Above undercarriage photos - showcasing the clean-up and drivetrain service of years 2020 thru 2024.
The Trekker Van is powered by a balanced and built 385 seried 429. was a 1993-year Greaser-conversion. (the second Van conversion). I haven't done any 4x4 conversions since building up my fleet, last year was the CrewCab pickup 1998.
Enjoy ! _ _ _ next project build, if I ever get to it, is a '57 ****** utility wagon, waiting for the Olds 455 marine engine & th400.
Manny's Crew build is basically a Big-Boys can-am Maverik on STEROIDS.
Dbeer's Crew is just so frigging nice and clean with a definite dedication of many hours of LOVE. _ _ knuckle-bump
My 300-mini cummins Gasser is running the best it has in years since fine tuning with the Vacuum Gauge. Yippie.
Yes, the other day while driving my CrewCab, I felt like a 16-year old with a New Girlfriend.
Ok, tomorrow, instead of watching the Super-Bowl, I'm taking my grand daughter up to the Skipark for shushing down the hill.
Ok guys, attached below is a few more photos of Greaser's 300 gasser.
Above photo - showing my Clifford Equipped Ford 300 inline Six Gasser. I built this engine in 1997.
It is a mix of pieces and parts from different engine donors. I had the block bored to .040, with Hyper flat tops, and Comp cam valve train. I originally installed the Comp cams 262 / 272 mid-range cam. Oh yeah, steel timing gear sets that whines. LoL
Note, I've never had a problem with the Clifford intake and header set leaking. I think I used a Mr.Gasket manifold gasket.
Oh, yeah, one other item to for long-gevity, it the rotating assembly has been professionally balanced by Auto-Associates.
Little things we carry over from our Dirt Biking days. hahaha Tickle this and Tickle that.
Above photos Note: Back in the 1996 thru June of 1998, I had to retain some 'ORIGINALITY", just because.
So, the paint on the Firewall is ORIGINAL. The paint above the cowl was painted with the cab PPG single stage Acrylic. Nice.
The pickup was painted Bed-Off, so front of box and back of cab got painted,
Prior to this Crew Cab build up, I had always sprayed Dupont single stage. Everything got three coats with the topcoat receiving more clear hardner for gloss. In the 27-years since paint and the 'build-up', It has never been buffed.
Ok, the Steering Wheels on these pickups had SKINNY-GRIP's and were slender like the passenger cars of the day.
Ford E-Series Vans came out with a FAT-GRIP steering wheel around mid '80's, (you'd have to have a book).
So, I put one on my '78 E250 Trekker Van years ago, and kept telling myself to Grab-One while at Pick-n-Pull some day.
Anyways, one day while in the local yard, I peeped into a '85 Econoline, and it had a FAT-GRIPPER Steering Wheel.
_ _ _ SCORE. _ _ Hey, I was actually excited to finally be installing one on my pickup. Yeeeaaay.
Eh ? _ _ _ Alright, I'm happy as a Clam with the new Fat Gripper wheel which I call a FAT-BOB wheel. hahaha
Now then, my pickup has OEM Ford Tilt by the way guys. snicker. I jst had to have tilt, you know, for Cruising lacksidaisickly.
The Tilt Column was sourced from a Full Sized Bronco with auto trans, so the column cowling got modified.
At the time, which was Hmm, July 2024 ?, I also had to replace the Turn Signal Cancellation Switch. yeppers.
_ _ _ _ you know, _ _ _ if it just weren't for PROJECT-CREEP, general service would go smoother, right ?
Here is another "Greaser" weird thing. Again, it was the Saving something of ORIGINALITY.
I have never painted the Dash. _ _ _ the original paint on my pickup was to my liking, and i wanted to retain the Character.
It ain't fancy, and she ain't had any Lipstick on the hog, so it is just Hunky-Dory as is. _ _ the Things we did when looking back.
Ok, you Sierra 4-wheeler guys:
I took my Dad thru the Dusy Ershim OHV jeepway back around 1987,
Everyone today says "It's harder" than it used to be. Yes, my red Renegade cj-7 took us thru and with the hardtop on.
I had to be very careful and slow weaving thru the Lodge-Pole Pine forest and over the root-*****, so the top wouldn't tag a tree.
We had a blast running leap-frog for three trail-days with a group of jeeps and a group of tohota landcruisers.
Today, I am tempted to try my '07 Wrangler JK Rubicon with 33-inch Toyo mudders worn thin for the win. LoL
Hey, if the trail is as bad-*** as guys tell me, No-Problemo. Warn is always out front for assist !
That Warn winch isn't out there to Look-Pretty, and I am not afraid to be seen using it. hahaha
The red cj-7 is a faithful old rig with that 304 that has never yet left me stranded, and I am one to run solo.
For many summers on the Rubicon, I would have guys tell me that the Dusy Ershim is a good equal to the Rubicon. OK
Where the heck is the Dusy Ershim ? Take a look on "onxmaps.com" and it shows up east of Fresno, Calif., up in the Sticks.
The Dusy begins at Courtwright Reservoir above Shaver Lake.
If you want to know the truth, I personally think the Rubicon is more consistently challenging than the Dusy.
Now, ONLY IF you run the Rubicon from Loon Lake, down into the Rubicon Springs, then turn around 180, and climb back up the Big Sluice Box, and continue back towards Loon, and then omit the sidehill slabs leading up to the Little Sluice Box, and climb up the BIG OLD SLUICE BOX, then take the upper trail on over the the Little Sluice Box.
I think climbing back up out of the Rubicon Springs is the best Challenge of the Rubicon.
I told my Dad, that the Challenge with the Dusy was negotiating all of the Lodge-Pole Pines without tagging a tree and fracturing the composite Hardtop on the cj-7.
No, I would not even attempt the Rubicon in my Crew Cab pickup.
Nice weather this weekend. Got her out and cleaned up. Going take her for exhaust hopefully by next week and waiting for an opening at the tuner. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ready to cruise her this summer.
@Mtdentside
Keep looking and snooping, a good solid Crew is just a kick in the pants to drive.
I've had guys offer me to trade for late model Ram / Cummins just pumping fuel at the gas pumps. Even the young bucks like em.
I assembled my little Ford 300 "mini-cummins-gasser" in 1997. Sot it is Greaser-built. _ _ no raw power but 100% NOSTALGIA.
Looking at the inline 300, it reminds me of an engine out of a Ford gasser tractor. hahaha _ _ and Simple-Simon.
I've a questi@dbeers02
Please explain your fancy rear hood stabilizer-bracket and receiver on the firewall. _ _ I don't think that is OEM.
and one other question - is your headliner a one-piece affair ? _ _ I like it.
I've been trying to figure out what trim piece to use for my original headliner joint / seam.
I found a nice looking alum rv trim strip that accepts a vinyl insert to cover the fasteners.
I hope to carefully drill and tap the existing steel rail that the OEM plastic strip snapped over. _ _ _ a 6-inch end is missing on mine.
In the past, I have drilled and installed a few screws to hold the plastic trim up in place. _ _ I can't see it driving, so no fuss. _ haha
I used my '78 Ford E250 Chateau 4x4 wagon thru the summer, and for wood gathering.
OK, for fun, I had better include a shot of my Crew Cab:
Above photo - the Holley 600 universal 4-bbl carb on the Clifford intake.
The Clifford headers have given me ZERO problems in 28-years of faithful service.
Best recollection is that the manifold gasket was a Mr. Gasket. _ _ the rotating assembly has been profesionally balanced.
The mid-range Comp Cam I installed had a lobe go flat in about 4-years or so, which got replaced with a Clevite Cam and lifters.
Note: The Holley runs best if tuned with a vacuum gauge to get the idle set rich enough.
I had a problem for years with a lean mix leaving a stoplight and punching it, resulting in the cough and hesitation.
Using the vacuum gauge, I disovered I was way too lean on the idle mix, and throttle plate closure for good idle transfer circuit function.
Now, since the vacuum gauge tune, it is like driving a new-breed engine.
The 300 is an amazing workhorse engine. No big horsepower, but BIG on endurance and stamina.
When trailer towing, on a long uphill grade, those 4-barrels are kicked-in big time with the little 300 revving happily.
Happy Holidays you Crew-Frieks ! _ _ hahaha and a HO HO HO
Last edited by Greaser007; Dec 9, 2025 at 10:45 PM.
Today, Sunday, April 12, 2026, I mucked the trash off of the roof of my '77 Crew. There was a deluge of wind and rain, and that wind will blow water and tree trash up under the metal roof capping at the ridge, and it drops down onto my Crew roof. I keep after it so the paint doesn't get stained from leaves drying. Just like maintaining an animal. _ endless.
I've been working around my Crew while building a Shearwall Bracing Panel that is midway and perpendicular to the 60-foot long Northerly wall running east-west.
When I had the floor of the barn prepped for a concrete slab floor, I had the contractor dig footing in two locations and install the SST hold-down anchor bolts.
The barn that I now call a shop, was built wood-framed like a pole barn, setting on a continuous concrete stem wall.
Once we get a 70* day, I will pull the Crew outside, and paint the plywood sheet for the shearwall prior to hanging it.
I might even drive the Crew into town to add some fresh fuel to the tanks too.
