The Commodore's Jeepster

When you’re the Commodore and you can buy any new car you want, what do you choose?  It’s a weighty decision.  After all, as Commodore, you set the standard.  That means you can’t just buy a mass-produced idea of style and form.  You must create your own; an expression of automotive craftsmanship fine enough to park beside the finest hand built yachts. You commission a motorcar as others commission a new kitchen.

It’s a hard choice, but someone has to make it.  American or foreign?  You’ve got both, and for this car, it’s going to be American.  They build some beautiful yachts in Europe but our native craftsmen are very fine too.

Sedan or utility?  That’s an easy question.  This vehicle’s job is to travel to the waterfront, and there may be a need to carry rigging, guests, live bait or giant fish.  An open utility is the only answer.

Open car or closed?  It’s summer on the oceanfront, folks! The only way to ride is under and open top.  How else will you move the fishing poles, and how will parade guests stand and wave? Open tourer it is.

Now we’re getting down to it.  Who makes such a vehicle?  Not Cadillac.  Not Lincoln. Not Chrysler. International Scout?  Too boxy.  One of the best loved open top sport utilities in the postwar period is the Willys Jeepster.  That, folks, is the Commodore’s Choice.  Isn’t this a magnificent example?

The common Jeepster had an economy level of finish, with inexpensive vinyl seats and basic, simple trim.  But even simple can be interpreted with beauty.  Basic lacquer can be replaced with the finest Glausurit urethane finishes.  Basic vinyl seating can be replaced with the finest leathers.  Wilton wool can pad the floor better than tar paper.

It didn't start out that way.  This is what we began with. And it was described as "restored!"

What did we do instead? Try powder coated seat frames, new marine plywood bases and cushions, Connolly leather upholstery and top-grade Wilton carpet. Which seats would you prefer?

Some people would change the engine for a new hot-rodded piece of iron.  But why? This engine was good enough to take American solders to victory all around the world.  Surely a rebuilt version can take a few modern day connoisseurs to the club and back!

This is the famous Go-Devil motor, the engine that earned a reputation as “the motor that won World War II” in the original Jeep.

Here's how it began . . .

And he she is today . . .

1948 Jeepster engine bay with Go Devil engine

You won’t win any drag races in this old Jeepster, and you won’t be running the fast lane on the Interstate, but in a car like this you will have something truly unique.  Like a fine wooden boat, this is a car to treasure for a lifetime.

There’s restoration, and then there’s Restoration.

We started with what was optimistically called "a well restored example."

In the image above expert body man Al Keinath looks at what we're facing.  Three different shades of burgundy on the nose alone. A full quarter-inch of plastic filler in some spots. Rust holes covered in household caulk. A cardboard firewall that's painted car color to hide the crumbling. Chips, bangs, and nothing fits. It takes two hands to shut the door, and a good kick to get it open.  The bottom of the hood has a layer of black goo to hide the imperfections.  And the condition of the undercarriage . . .

But we will make it new again! Better than new, in fact. We'll be finishing this with the level of  craftsmanship you find in a fine wood boat. No corners cut in this job . . 

Reshaping the rear contours

The body work is done on a stand

A thousand little parts to refinish or rebuild

Almost ready for paint

Lots of metal work

The burgundy paint is on!

Painting the gloss black two-tone

Some final welding on the body

The convertible top attachments are handmade wood

Inner panels get painted first, in Glausurit

Fitting the frame for the convertible top

Fitting up the interior

The finished body

Rebuilt engine and transmission ready to install.

The Go-Devil engine goes back in place

Installing new vintage wiring

Summer has arrived, and this 1948 Jeepster is once again . . King of the road . . .

At Robison Service, we started out restoring European classics, many years ago. We were lucky to find patrons who appreciated our work and commissioned more and more. As we grew, people asked for higher and higher standards of workmanship.  I wasn't surprised - after all, we worked on some of the finest cars in the world.  Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, and Rolls Royce. Then people said, "Can you do that level of work on my father's old Willys?" And of course we can.  And we did.  These are the cars America grew up with and loved, interpreted in a whole new way.  You may have seen Jeepsters, but I guarantee you've never seen one like this!

The greatest thing about these projects is that each one is totally unique. I'm proud to call them expressions of the auto restorer's art; translating our client's visions into drivable pieces of sculpture..

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles.  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665

Labor Day 2014

 

We will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2014 

to spend Labor Day with our family.

 

Check out the 7 best things to do in Denver this Labor Day weekend
August 29-September 1, 2014 from 7News

 We look forward to hearing about your weekend!

See you on Tuesday, September 2nd! 

Honest-1 Auto Care in the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot

Honest-1 Auto Care in the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured in a brief entitled “New Auto Repair Business” in The Daily Pilot on August, 22, 2014. The brief was written by Daily Pilot business reporter Brad Zint about Honest-1 opening in Costa Mesa. 

You can view the full brief here. 

Honest-1 Auto Care featured in 1851project.com

Honest-1 Auto Care featured in 1851project.com

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured in 1851project.com. The article features A.J. Velazquez, Honest-1 Regional Developer from South Florida. The article goes in depth about Velazquez's life and his travels through his life including his time serving for the Air Force.

You can view the full article here. 

Brake Specials & Coupons Denver

Save money with brake service coupons
and specials in Denver at

 

Mastermind Enterprises Auto Care always gives you auto service and auto repair coupons on our website for your convenience. Get great quality at a great price on your brake services and repairs at

Mastermind Enterprises Auto Care in Denver.

Get great deals on oil changes, brake services, factory maintenance,  suspension, ball joints, shocks, struts, fluid flushes, vehicle inspections, air conditioning services, timing belt and timing chain replacement, water pumps, alternator and battery replacement, and more
at Mastermind Enterprises Auto Care in Denver!

 

Get more great auto repair coupons and brake service specials, 

check out our Shop Specials.

Call Us Today

303-297-2886 

 

Connect with us! 

   

Honest-1 Auto Care in Directbuywarranty.com

Honest-1 Auto Care in Directbuywarranty.com

Honest-1 Auto Care Franchisee, Dennis Eidson, is quoted in the article talking about how important it is to keep a car clean and warns that a car full of junk can be dangerous. “Numerous stacking of things along the dashboard or on seats can cause blind spots and accidents during quick braking,” he says. 

Click here to view the full article. 

Brakes! More than Brake Pad Replacement

Many times a vehicle that has not seen regular maintenance inspections will suddenly have strange noises coming from the wheels when you step on the brakes, or at times just coasting down the road. Notice I said “maintenance inspections” not just “maintenance”. Maintenance inspections do not happen when a “Quick lube” service is used which can be at the dealership or an oil change franchise. It’s the regular maintenance inspections that will keep the surprise noises from happening unexpectedly, because you know the condition of your vehicle.

When the noise starts, many drivers make the assumption, and they may be right, that the car needs brake pads. The owner then calls us up and asks “how much for brake pads?” Our response to the question is “how do you know you need brake pads”? We aren’t trying to be difficult by asking questions; our goal is to make a repair that will address the concern instead of a quick fix, which gets rid of the symptom, but doesn’t completely address what is needed for a proper repair. Failure to perform an inspection before a repair usually leads to a partial fix, getting rid of the symptom but not the cause, which increases stress and frustration levels for all concerned. Often times the brake pads are worn abnormally due to other components not functioning as intended. If we just replaced the brake pads, the new pads would wear out very quickly, increasing your expenses beyond what they should have been.

Each year vehicle quality has improved with cars and trucks lasting much longer. The time between service intervals has doubled and tripled on many vehicles.  Although brake systems on cars and trucks have improved and correspondingly last longer, the basic system is essentially the same as it was 30 years ago. We have a hydraulic system to activate the brake system and at each wheel are friction surfaces that rub against each other to stop the vehicle when pressure is applied. It is these surfaces that wear out over time, but the components that apply the pressure are also under a lot of heat and stress each time we step on the brake pedal. The heat created takes a toll on all of the friction and hydraulic components; through the inspection process it is determined whether the brake linings, calipers, wheel cylinders, hydraulic hoses and master cylinder, hydraulic fluid and more are performing properly. Those components that are underperforming or worn need to be serviced to get the expected life out of the new brake pads.  At a minimum, with any brake repair, the moving parts such as calipers, mounts and backing plates need to be cleaned and lubricated and the drums or rotors need to have a clean-machined surface to operate effectively. 

Brake systems are sealed so the hydraulic fluid won’t be contaminated from moisture and particles in the air but over time this can still happen. Also each time we step on and release the brake pedal the fluid moves back and forth, which over time will contaminate the system with material from inside the hydraulic components and lines. These contaminants, which are abrasive, build up enough to cause increased wear and can lead to much bigger repair bills if neglected. For this reason flushing the system is recommended based on time and mileage intervals.

By design and for safety reasons, brakes need to function at full capacity until they are at the minimum wear specification. This is before they are completely worn away. As the linings get thinner they will overheat causing the brakes to be much less effective; you would notice this more during a fast stop as you try to avoid hitting something. When the brakes overheat your stopping distance is longer even though you need it shorter. 

Not all brake lining materials are created equal; rather the life of an entry-level lining may be half the life of a premium lining. Also brakes can make some noise and still be “ok”, but we have found that when entry level or medium grade brake linings are used, the life expectancy and “squeaky brake” syndrome are more prevalent. Premium brake linings are well worth the additional up front costs due to the extended life and quieter operation.

The introduction of Anti-Lock brakes has been the biggest change over the years. This is an add-on to the basic system, which effectively uses a powerful computer system to pulsate the brakes for the driver when the tires start to skid. This limits the skidding and allows the driver the control to steer around objects instead of hitting them. 

#Brakes #Inspection #BrakePads #Calipers #Fluids #TrustedSaskatoon

www.crestviewautoservice.ca - "We'll Keep Your Car Young A Long Time" 

Brake Safety

Do you have questions about brakes and how they work? August is Brake Safety Awareness Month! Send us a message and we will try to answer as many questions as possible in our upcoming posts. 

Stay tuned for more information from the Crestview team, a proud partner of trustedsaskatoon.com and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

#Brakes #Safety #Tips #Maintenance #Inspections #Trusted

www.crestviewautoservice.ca

Long Life Spark Plugs don't always last forever

Not too long ago spark plugs were replaced every 30,000 miles.  Then 60k became standard and now it's 100k.  30 years ago spark plugs fouled from deposition.  New engines run cleaner, which means wear has become the limiting factor.

The spark plug manufacturers went to exotic metals to reduce wear, and for the most part those materials work.  However, wear of the carbon steel electrodes is still an issue, and a tired engine can actually foul the exotic metal spark plugs more easily than before, because the exotic metal contact area is smaller.

These images clearly illustrate wear in a modern high performance spark plug, from a car that just arrived for service.  The top photo shows how the electrode wore at an angle, and the top-on view of the plug shows how the deposition pattern (left side only) reflects this pattern.

As the plug wears in a sloped pattern the flame front becomes more and more one-sided which leads to knock and misfires.  The worse it gets the more this particular cylinder's timing will be backed off to compensate, with lower efficiency, more heating, and less power as a result. Uneven plug fouling will raise the necessary firing voltage, which will over stress coil packs.

This particular plug came from a 2009 Range Rover with 80,000 miles.  It's clearly due for replacement even with 20% life remaining by the schedule.  The moral of this story - manufacturer service schedules are a guide, not an absolute.  Some cars will benefit from earlier plug changes.

Remember - as a carmaker their goal is to sell new cars, and part of that plan rides on wearing out the old car while another part rests on low advertised cost of ownership (defer it all till the last possible moment!)

As an owner, your goals may be rather different, especially if you plan to keep your car a long time or pass it on to a friend or family member.

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles.  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665

Convenient Appointments

DID YOU KNOW?

Crestview Auto Service provides the convenient option to BOOK an appointment ONLINE! Go to the website at http://www.crestviewautoservice.ca/ - click on "appointments book on-line" and fill out the short form... It's that easy!

We are a proud Trusted Saskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #BookOnline #Appointments #AutoRepair #Maintenance

Female-owned Honest-1 Auto Care to enter Illinois market

Female-owned Honest-1 Auto Care to enter Illinois market

Honest-1 Franchisee Karen Conway was recently featured on 1851 Magazine. The article talks about Karen's plans to enter the Illinois market, and doing so she will be the first to enter into the state. The article also briefly goes over her history with Honest-1 and her future plans with the brand.

You can read the full article here.

Buying a Used Rolls Royce or Bentley on a Budget - Champagne Value for Beer Prices

You’ve looked at Rolls Royce cars for years, and often dreamed of buying one of your own.  Now the time has come.  You’ve decided to do it.  What should you buy?  This article focuses on sedans that can be had for under $20,000 and convertibles that can be bought under $50,000.  If your budget is bigger, your range of choice is somewhat broader.  

Sedans are more practical, and cost less to buy.   There are many more sedans in existence, so it may be easier to find one in good shape for a good price.  If you are a social person, it’s much easier to take another couple in a sedan.  If you have kids, three of them will fit in the back seat of a sedan, with no need to use the trunk.  If you do use the trunk, it’s carpeted, warm, and inviting.  Most people buy sedans as their entry car into this market.

This Silver Spur was a winner at Newport

Convertibles are always the stars of the collector car world, followed by limited production coupes.  Convertibles of the 1970-1990 era often cost two or three times as much as comparable sedans.  They are much more dear to buy, but have correspondingly greater potential for appreciation.  With a higher value, it’s easier to justify major investments if and when they are needed.  With their shorter wheelbases the coupes and convertibles may be a sportier drive, but the offset is a noticeably harsher ride.

A very clean original 1983 Corniche

How to decide?  If you are looking for a car to match a memory, your mind already contains the answer.  Perhaps it’s a blue sedan like your uncle Bob drove.  Or maybe it’s a red convertible like you saw in a movie.  If you are looking for practicality and utility – to the extent any Rolls Royce can be said to possess those attributes – a sedan is your best bet.  If you have lots of money and want the best chance of a good return a convertible is likely your best option.  If you don’t want to be in the sun, and still want a shot at better appreciation, check out the coupes.

Whatever you decide, the condition of the specific car is of paramount importance.  These cars are often sold with thousands of dollars in deferred maintenance waiting to trap the unwary.  Cosmetically run down cars will cost thousands more to bring back.  A car that needs both is probably a vehicle to be avoided.  Even a good car is going to need some work.  I always tell people to plan for $5,000 in needed work, and maybe $10,000 even if the car checked out good.  There are always unseen issues.  

Before buying any Rolls Royce or Bentley I suggest you have it checked out by a qualified expert.  These cars are very different from your rank and file motorcars, and you need specialized skills to check them out  The best way to find an inspector is to ask other Rolls Royce drivers. If you don’t know any drivers, join the club – www.rroc.org- and check out their list of technical experts.  Also check out the advice on the forums. Long time club member Gerry Acquiliano is an expert on these cars, as are Richard Vaughn and others.  There are many members with much to offer on the club forums.

What year car should you buy?  With some cars, the answer is simple – buy the newest one you can afford.  The newer the car, the higher the price.  In the Rolls Royce world things do not work that way.  Good examples of pre-1965 Rolls Royce are markedly more expensive than cars of the 70s and 80s.  Why is that, you ask? Older cars have aged to the point where the good examples are almost all restored, and restoration of these cars is costly.  The price of good examples reflects that substantial additional investment.  It’s still possible to buy mostly original cars from the 80s and 90s, which makes these cars much more affordable.

A 20,000 Series Silver Spur

In my opinion, there are two modern Rolls Royce cars with good investment potential.  The pre-1974 Shadow cars are desirable because of their clean and pretty lines, and their timeless style.  The 74-80 Shadows are a close second.  Unfortunately, time has not been kind to most of these vehicles.  They are often run down beyond practical repair, and it’s very hard to find well-kept examples. 

1980 Silver Shadow

The Silver Spur replaced the Silver Shadow in 1981.  The first few years of this new car were problematic, but the issues were mostly sorted out by the first face lifting of these cars, for the 1988 model year.  These newer vehicles – distinguished by series numbers in the range of 20,000 to 28,000 – were among the most trouble free Rolls Royce cars ever.  They have the benefit of affordability too, with good examples selling under $20,000 as of this writing.   

With a production life from 1981 to 1999, the Spur is the car that comes to mind when most 30-40 year olds think of a Rolls Royce.  It's the model they grew up with, whereas my generation grew up with the Shadows.  You'd think newer is better with Spurs, but that's not necessarily the case. Newer cars were burdened with more and more electronics which was great when new, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to support as the vehicles age and parts become unavailable or costly.

Should you buy a Rolls Royce or a Bentley?  That is an individual decision; in the year range we are discussing the cars are equal in terms of quality and appointment.  The Bentley cars tend to be more sporting, and the Turbo cars are markedly more powerful.  The Rolls Royce cars are more stately and luxurious.  The two brands were very similar in the Shadow era but developed distinct identities in the 1980s.

What about the sub-models and limited editions?  There’s not enough space to describe them all here.  I suggest the Rolls Royce Club websites, both the American and the Australian, and the www.rrab.com online guidebook as references.

In closing, what would be the ideal starter Rolls Royce or Bentley for someone with a $20k budget?  If it were me, I’d put the money into a 1988 Bentley Eight, or a 1989 Silver Spur.  If I had twice that money, I’d buy a nice mid to late 1980s Corniche.  But my #1 criteria in choosing a Rolls on a budget would be condition.

Those are my choices, at least on paper.  What are yours?  That remains to be seen . . .

If you liked this story, please leave a comment.  And if you want more . . . here are some of my other RR/B essays


Thoughts on buying a used Rolls Royce or Bentley - applies to Silver Cloud and newer series cars

More thoughts on Spur - Spirit - Turbo era car buying

Thoughts on restoration - applies to all cars

Evolution of the RR/B models - Silver Shadow through Arnage/Seraph - original article from the Robison Service website

Inspecting a Rolls Royce or Bentley - Applies to Corniche, Continental, Azure, Turbo R, Mulsanne, Eight, Turbo R, Silver Spur, Silver Dawn, Silver Spirit

More Things to Look For in a 1981-2000 Rolls Royce or Bentley - this is the original article from the Robison Service website

The last Crewe built Rolls Royce convertibles - applies to 2000-2002 final Series Corniche

Repairing convertible top hydraulics - Applies to 1996-2004 Rolls Royce and Bentley Corniche and Azure cars

Head gasket failures in Bentley Turbo cars - applies to Turbo R, Continental R and T, Azure, Arnage

Checking engines after head gasket failure - Applies to all cars

Checking and inspecting Rolls Royce hydraulic systems - all cars after Silver Cloud and print to Silver Seraph. Applies to all Shadow/Spur era vehicles

Case Study - brake failure in a Shadow - Silver Shadow era cars with RR363

Rear suspension gas springs - Applies to all 1981 - 1999 cars prior to Silver Seraph

Changing batteries in seat and ECUs, Applies to 1980s-1990s Silver Spirit / Silver Spur / Mulsanne /Eight / Turbo R

Changing alarm ECU batteries,  Applies to 1980s-1990s Silver Spirit / Silver Spur / Mulsanne /Eight / Turbo R

Servicing Shadow and Spur series brakes - applies to 1966 - 1999 cars after Silver Cloud and prior to Silver Seraph

Alcon racing brakes for Continental and Azure - Applies to all 1990s cars but most particularly to the final series Azure, which had these brakes fitted at the factory - a unique variant

Fixing Power Steering Leaks - applies to 90s cars with the reservoir above the alternator

Questions and answers on collector car storage - Applies to all cars

Evaluating paint - Applies to all cars

John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts.  John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles.  Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665