Hooniverse Weekend Edition: “The Charles Barrett Special” Commando Edition
Purchasing a new vehicle is often an extremely stress filled experience. Overpowering sales people, the usual “gotta talk to my manager” BS, questioning whether this is the correct vehicle for your needs, warranty and service issues, just plain old new car stress. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.
As this olelongrooffan has previously related, I purchased “The Charles Barrett Special”, a 1973 Jeepster Commando at a local junkyard a couple months ago. I got my nephew, the Kid to help me retrieve it this past week. He is 19, in college down in MickeyMouseLand and bored with hanging around mom’s house this holiday season so he was game for the trip. Surprisingly, thejeepjunkie decided to let the Kid and this olelongrooffan handle this transaction without him. As such, I gave the Kid the seven Benjamins required for this multi tiered transaction to take place and let him do the deal. Gotta start sometime.
So, while we were waiting around for that big assed forklift to show up, I gathered an image or two of “The Charles Barrett Special” Commando, noting the “SOLD” marking just in front of the driver’s door. Yes!
John Deere finally showed up and that driver knew his stuff.
Now, this junkyard is adjacent to US 1 just north of the Birthplace of Speed and there is not a whole lot of room to manuver around between the fence out front and the southbound lanes of the highway.
As my new ride was being loaded, some idiot pulled up and stopped right in the way of that big assed forklift. I don’t know about you but if I wasn’t a Hoon and I saw a big assed forklift with a car on its forks, I would most likely stay the hell away.
As we had stupidly left the ramps back at thejeepjunkie’s shop, it took some work for that driver to load up my Commando
and all the while, cars were pulling up and parking in the way.
Finally, the frustrated forklift driver told us to head down US 1 to the side entrance of this old junkyard and pull into that big open area outside the dismantling shed. And we did. After we got my new ride loaded and secured, the Kid and this olelongrooffan headed out to see what could be seen in John’s Famous Used Auto Parts old car section.
Once the Kid and I got on the road, we heard an unusual noise emanating from the underside of his cool black pickemuptruck. We pulled over to the side of US 1, evaluated the situation and realized that because of the stance of his truck with “The Charles Barrett Special” Commando loaded on the trailer behind it, the muffler was rubbing on the driveshaft. Luckily, this olelongrooffan had an empty diet coke can and the Kid had a bungee cord and our LeMons-ish repairs were good enough to get us home without another sound. The first roadside modifications the Kid had experienced. I couldn’t begin to count the ones this olelongrooffan has had.
So, we got my Commando back to thejeepjunkie’s new shop and it rested there, unmolested, for the remainder of the week.
Well, that is not entirely true. thejeepjunkie got that mobile pressure washer and cleaned almost all of the junkyard identification numbers off it while
this olelongrooffan perused the original owner’s manual I found in the glove box.
Early on Saturday morning, I got a call from thejeepjunkie asking me what I was doing? Heading to pick up some construction materials for me and Manuel Labor for Monday, what are you doing?
Waiting for your sorry ass to bring me some gas to get your Commando running. Well, I can tell you my fellow Hoons, Manuel just has to wait, a Jeep got in the way.
While thejeepjunkie was tinkering around under the hood, I checked out the interior of my new ride and retrieved a lawn blower to do a little winter cleaning.
And those rare, full size, stock wheel covers fit those highly undesirable wagon wheels with out a problem.
The determination was made that the fuel pump was bad in this old beauty and NAPA was dispatched to bring us a new one. I heard thejeepjunkie’s end of the conversation. “No 73 Commando listed? Well just pick any CJ 5 with a 258 and bring us the fuel pump for that one.
And just to go in a full manufacturing circle, this Toledo, Ohio built Jeepster originally possessed a fuel pump manufactured in Canada but now possesses one manufactured in Mexico.
While we were waiting for that pump to show up, we tried to straighten the tie rod but to no avail. Upon removal, its straightening by Daytona Driveline will be required for it as well as the front drive shaft.
thejeepjunkie got the new fuel pump installed, we double checked all the bodily fluids in it and turned the motor over. Hoons, IT STARTED RIGHT UP! Yes, this last licensed in 2007 Jeepster Commando was able to
back off that elcheapo flatbed trailer under its own power.
thejeepjunkie took it for a short spin around the yard with a grin from ear to ear.
And he gathered up this image of me standing beside my new Jeepster Commando, “The Charles Barrett Special”.
While we have a lot of work to do on this baby, the fact that is runs and drives within the first hour of working on it really lets me and thejeepjunkie
Celebrate Life!
No related posts.
Awesome! I went and drove my new craziness this weekend. Once I figure out how to get a picture online, I'll post up a hint…
Here we go:
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/IMG-20120108-00267.jpg" width=500>
Helpful hints on crashing:
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/IMG-20120108-00269.jpg" width=500>
and child safety tips too:
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/IMG-20120108-00268.jpg" width=500>
Just need to work on my Japanese. And by "work on" I mean "learn from scratch".
Japanese from scratch? How hard could it be?
What! No babies out the sunroof? Ha!
Pics of the van? That looks really cool.
No of course not, do not flush children down the storm drains, it will harm the crabs in the sea. Congrats FII, LRF. JJ, and TK!
I was so excited driving it this weekend that I didn't take any pics. However, my importer sent me these when it landed in London (which subsequently received 40 cm of snow:
Outside. for scale reference, it's about as long as a current Sienna. The tires are right about 29".
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/Outside.jpg" width=500>
HVAC is via a 1996 vintage touchscreen, complete with Japanese characters on the buttons. I had planned to rip this out, but after playing with it, I think I am going to keep it.
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/HVAC.jpg" width=500>
One of the main party pieces is the "Crystal Light Roof". Aside from the regular sunroof over the driver, the rear has 4 glass panels with individually controlled power sunshades. Also, the light in the middle is a fluorescent tube, and for no reason at all has both white and red bulbs:
<img src="http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr161/DrKool/Delica/inside.jpg" width=500>
Wow. Dang. I love it. That's the sort of thing that would bring real car nuts out of the woodwork every time it stopped. How long until it's free to roam?
/wonders how hard it would be to get one into California
Roofy, you are doing God's work right there. Keep it up! And I hope you'll keep us posted on your further Commando adventures and accomplishments. And thank you Charles for being an inspiration to us all.
I love your posts and more importantly your desire to keep these old cars on the road. New vehicles are great, reliable, and basicallt idiot proof. However, there is no feeling like spending a relatively few dollars and your own sweat to put an old classic on the road.
basically-sp
Completely random thought: I'm surprised to see a late-model wheel loader, worth $150k-ish that doesn't have an enclosed air-conditioned cab, especially in Florida. Though I suppose if they aren't running it much (i.e. just hop in, move a car, park the loader again) the A/C wouldn't have a chance to do anything in that heat & humidity.
Those hubcaps are perfect! What are your plans for it? Drive it as is? Quickie paint job? Find a top?
It doesn't need a top. It needs waterproof upholstery.
That actually might work pretty well in Florida. Years ago I used to visit grandparents there during the summer. The rain was so predictable you could set your watch by it. You might get wet, but you couldn't say you were surprised.
I cheered when it fired up. AMC Inline-6s are awesome. Just thinking about firing that 258 up is making me grin.
Just make sure that you never pull an 0331 head casting out of a junkyard for one. They're boat anchors, at some point, they'll do this:
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/8OLVo.jpg" />
(That's my head, and the valves you are looking at are cylinders 3 and 4, the front is off to the right. They have a nasty habit of cracking right where you see dried coolant welling at the base of the #4 exhaust valve. Fortunately, there are plenty of perfectly burly replacements available. I've got a Clearwater Cylinder Head replacement sitting in my living room right now.)
It's really hard to beat an I-6 out of a jeep.
You see that giant crack in my head? The only reason I knew it was there was because I sent my oil to Blackstone Labs to get it spectrographed. They told me I had a little coolant in the oil. The engine otherwise runs great. Plenty of power, sounds good, nice and smooth, no smoke out the back (it passed smog with that in the head!) and it's got nearly 150k on the clock.
So, yeah, you can say that again.
a crack in the head is like a scar on your cheek, adds character and chicks dig it.
If you get really lucky, it adds a smokescreen feature to your automobile.
I fractured my skull back in '86 but it's never had this effect.
#doingitwrong
but you are still going strong
#doingitjeepstyle
something like that
#losingsideofbattlebetween80ToyotaTercelvs70somethingGMChalfton
You just need to hit it harder.
Topless and Commando.
Yup, that's Charles alright.
You had me at Charles.
For those of you wondering why this noble steel steed got named in MY honor, I had merely observed to LongRoofian that:
" …in the warm Florida climate, you can comfortably 'go commando' when driving your Commando…!"
(in my usual oh-so-tasteful manner…)
I bet it would all be even better in a utilikilt. Extra ventilation to keep everything well cooled.
Man, nothing is better in a utilikilt. Just go with some baggy, ripped up cargo shorts.
Thanks for being your usual good sport about it, Chuck!
Indeed, I was wondering how you came to be honored this way.
Kinda tame, for you. My guesses ran to the much more blue side of things.
Yeah, my pun was truly minor in light of all the vehicular NC-17 infractions that I have accrued over the years…
you mean you weren't actually blamed?
Nope. And Jonny L. didn't even come close to ruining it. Knuckles, however, may want to ride in it once LongRoofian gets it on the road again.
Ah, that explains it. I was wondering how you were associated with a junkyard Jeep with a built in composter.
And your fame continues to spread…
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/9IBeF.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />
Time to run her up through the gears and thank the Gods Florida has no vehicle inspection taxation scheme.
The stock wheel covers are very cool – but I LOVE white wagon wheels on almost any Jeep! Undesirable? Pffft… They're like slot mags – they work on a ton of rigs, some that you wouldn't imagine!
back when I had a jeep I bought the black wagon wheels, the absolute cheapest new wheels on the market and they looked better than 90% of the wheels out there. My absolute favorite truck wheel is the Outlaw II but they cost quite a bit more.
I had an '86 Subaru wagon with their version of wagon wheels in white… rattlecan black made them MUCH more badass. Or at least as you can get in a bone-stock, beater '86 Subaru.
I'd love a set of wagon wheels for my PCH YJ instead of the TJ wheels it's got now, but I really should focus on getting it functional first.
Likewise, I'm always on the lookout for some Virgos for my n/a Volvo 240, but there are 4 functional stock steelies on it currently, and semi-employment's a bitch.
I'm settling into the Draco Compromise, I fear.
That's a bummer, IMO. There's something off about the proportions of those, to my eye (I don't like Galaxies or Hydras, either). I'd rather keep the stockers, or run some Multi-Xs or Coronas (even if they're a pain to keep clean).
Or hell, wagon wheels or slot mags!
Well, the 745 came with scuffed-up Siriuseseses… Sirii?… and I plan to clean those up and refinish 'em in white; they're what's really ending up on the 244, once I get tires on.
Better check the valves, the original CB had some issues with it.
Excellent point. One doesn't know how many Technical Service Bulletins may be outstanding…
Charles….thank you for your inspiration….'topless and commando' in Florida is the only way to own a jeep….it's NOT a convertible….it's 'topless'……longrooffan has paid his respects to you many times over the past few days….as for the old reliable 258…Jeff you are so right….fixed my first cj's oil leak with jbweld…lasted for the entire 5 years I abused it and to my knowledge, is still fixed…..sure was fun to watch the longrooffan's face when I told him to hit the key and see what happens….old reliable fired right up….it was all I could do to keep him from driving it to the track for the roar before the 24……but it is still a couple of weekends away from earning a valid state sanction to transverse the highways of the sunshine statae…
pretty sure you can apply a lot of lessons learnt by Charles to every aspect of life… Well, at least I have. Every day is anti pants day and gin is a fantastic thing to drink first thing in the morning.
Three things:
1–That's an awesome purchase. In addition to the mammoth Chryslers my dad always bought for my mom, I also grew up inside a long string of Jeep Wagoneers and pickups that he drove himself. He never had one of these, but he fixed everyone else's so I saw a lot of them and have always loved them.
2–That's one helluva hitch receiver.
3–I'm having trouble, LongRoof, with your literary voice now that I've seen you wearing shoes with tassels.
3. and he only owns one pair of socks…..
jeepjunkie, its time for you to get a proper intensedebate profile so you can accumulate points that don't matter
yeah, can we cash these points in someplace, for something useless/awesome? Maybe trade 'em in for H&S Greenstamps?
I checked the IntenseDebate documentation. 125 points is good for a Bronze Star. 10 Bronze Stars get you a Silver Star, 5 Silver Stars can be traded for a Gold Star and 5 Gold Stars can be redeemed for a point.
<img src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles2/175476/projects/893073/9bbb5e607c6597729323930e0b9e52d9.gif">
The points are a lie!
jeepyjayhawk, jeepjeff and jeepjunkie… this must be some sort of conspiracy!
/changes name to jeepjason….
The conspiracy's charter forbids us from confirming or denying the existence of the conspiracy. Sorry.
Right, no comment. Which is still a comment. Damnit, I'm doing it wrong aren't I?
Says the dude about to break one hundred.
THUMB HIM DOWN I SAY!!!
I've been at 99 since 1853.
Ooooh! And there's 100!
/claps
I feel like I should make a speech or something. Eh, this will work. <img src=http://www.math.kent.edu/~mtackett/graphics/dance.gif>
Perfect! I don't think anyone on earth can so accurately describe the boy inside every man as Bill Watterson.
Ooh, ooh, I've been at 99 for a few weeks at least…
Totally OT: I've never been a fan of Ford Rangers, but that black Ranger looks sharp!
I always wanted an older base model Ranger. I'd add a Dana 40 up front and 5.0 and call it good.
yea well, that black Ranger started as a 1954 M38A1 Air Force communications jeep….then transformed into a 1967 CJ5 civilian jeep …before it transformed into the kid's current mode of transportation….only because I won't let him abuse/drive my 46' 2A…..his little sister gets the next one….and I don't care what her Mom says…..yet….
hey jeepjunkie…you left out a whole damn bunch of other CJ's brother…..
yea right…I forgot about the 6 other 2A's and the CJ7 that we did the tub swap on in the garage while the sungoddess was vacationing…..the 5 that was originally for the kid but had WAY too much power for a new driver….seems I'm forgetting a couple other ones, but I am sure you have photo evidence someplace and will remind me later…
Do you call it the Charles Barrett Special because you'll inevitably need someone to blame?
<img src="http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1966-Jeepster-04.jpg" width=500>
Mon Dieu. It's like an Alfred Hitchcock film, remade by the Cohen brothers.
<img src="http://www.americanjeepsterclub.org/history/broch23.jpg" width="500">
That Commando looks lots of fun, congratulations on getting her home and getting her running! I am sure you'll be blasting down to the beach in no time.
or head to the Turkey Run….
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6669727257_ccd640b6d2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2 046">