[chiefcarp]

Just brough a 1973 commando (my first commando) home last week, don't know if thats a good thing or a bad thing yet. I've been reading this form for about a month and it's because of all the info. and comments on this board that convinced me to dive into this project.
Besides I like the way they look and wheel bullnose or not.
It's in pretty good shape, everythings there and works, no body damage, some rust mostly in the top and tail gate, I don't want a show peace just a nice driver.
I'll start with a couple of questions:
1. I need a new hard top, if I understand right Jeepsters and commando's are all the same? What about the seals for the top? From using the search the name Jeepsterman (in New Jersey I belive) comes up in a lot of comments for rubber parts is there anyone else and how do I get ahold of him?
2. I need to lift it, not much, just an inch or so, or at least back to stock (I got a saggy a$$). From what I've read here springs are the cheep and easy way. Can anyone tell me what the spring arch would be or better yet the stock distance form the ground to say the bumper so I can tell where I'm at.
I hope everyone will bear with me I think I have more to learn about using this board then Commandos.

 

[Guest]

Welcome to the board. It is so nice to have another bullnose on the west coast. Not those silly jeepster things...

Check the classifieds, there was a hardtop for sale a couple of days ago. As for lift springs, Alcan does a great job, but they are expensive. I have a set on the front of mine and love them. Hope to see you at next years NW Commando raid.

 

[Randyzzz]

Welcome aboard! Where on the Oregon coast are you?

 

[gimoni]

Tim,
Check out the Classifieds for the hardtop I have for sale. I can deliver it up there for a few bucks for gas if you're interested. I can e-mail oics if you want.

 

[1082]

I have a suggestion on the springs. Jim Serr gets complete credit for the idea, and I hope he doesn't mind me sharing. I got the rear pack off of a Wagoneer. You want the one WITH the short helper spring on the bottom. You won't use it, but the packs that came with these are softer than the ones without it. Toss it, but keep the rest. You take your main leaf from your Jeepster into a spring shop. Follow Richs' advice and make sure they actually USE their furnace, not just have one. You have them cut the eyelets off the Wagoneer main to match the length of the Jeepster one but make a NEW main on top of that with eyelets that are more common sizes to make it easy to get the bushings you need. Mine are soft and flex like crazy. Since I had new axles made I went SOA at the same time and got great lift without a major arch in the springs.

You can just weld new spring mount on the top of the axle for near-to-nothing and some new shock mounts and you have 4" of lift.
Michael

 

[2147]

Good to have you on board. Especially another bullnose. What part of the coast are you at? Like John says hope to see you at the raid if not before, if you are needing parts check with Ryan The jeep guy up here in Portland he has helped me out alot. If you get up to Portland look me up I'm only a couple miles off Hwy. 26.
Here is a shot of mine, post some pics when you can.

 

[chiefcarp]

I don’t have the capability to post pictures yet, but I live in Netarts (6 miles west of Tillamook). When and where is the NW Commando raid?
It looks like there are some tops out there but what about the seals? I don’t want to use caulking because I do want to be able to pull the top if I want to, we do have a couple months of summer out here.
Terry the lift on yours is about what I’m looking for maybe some time I could stop by and talk with you and ck it out, I go back and forth to Portland quite a bit.

 

[Randyzzz]

Cool! My wife and I get out to the coast several weekends a year...would be great to have a summer costal get-together. (I know I could get my wife out for that!) I have a hardtop, I am trying to decide if I wouldn't rather go with a softtop, I'll let you know-

 

[2147]

Sure; anytime send me an E-mail and I'll get you my address and phone number. The Raid takes place up in Washington, last year it was at Evans ORV area with mount Ranier as a backdrop. Last year was my first year going to the NW chapter Raid, and Iv'e got to tell you they were a great bunch, they made me and my wife feel right at home. Very helpful group, and it gave me a chance to see some very practical ideas and learn alot about keeping these beasts alive.

The NW Chapter of the AJC are based mostly in Washington, but we have had some discussions about an Oregon chapter, or at least hosting some events down this way but nothing has been done to this point because it seems we are all so busy trying to get our rigs together. Hopefully some time in the near future I can get some of the Oregon guys together to put something together, YA hear that Ryan and Tim