Episode 416 – CB Giveaway and LEGO 4.0L
This Week In Jeep:
Jeep, Peugeot, …and Trump?
You’ve heard me talk about it over the last year or so. First it was just a rumor right on the heels of FCA’s former CEO Sergio Marchionne’s death, that FCA would be looking to merge with another automaker. The how’s and why’s were relatively uncertain at the time because it WAS mostly rumor. And AT the time, Volkswagen was the only other name getting thrown around, and mostly people didn’t see that as being serious venture. But then we heard there were actual talks, and VW more or less bowed out before things got serious, or so we were told. There are still conflicting reports about this, so who knows. Fast forward to the last few months, when we got confirmation that a merger was actually moving forward, one we hadn’t heard nary a whisper about.
The news broke a month or two ago, that FCA was going to merge with The PSA Group, a French multinational automaker manufacturing the Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall brands. The ink was barely dry on the deal that was signed as we recorded the show last week, and the official announcement was made Friday that FCA and PSA will become one. Why Jeeps parent brand always makes these moves while we record the show, I think, is to make sure we don’t interfere, but I’m probably giving the show more credit than its due. (GEE YA THINK?!?) From a business standpoint, this is a relatively smart move for FCA. Other than the Fiat and Chrysler brands, FCA doesn’t really have a huge passenger car lineup to offer. Chrysler and Dodge both ceased the production of its passenger cars the 200 and Dart respectively, the only two cars FCA made in the U.S. with the goal of focusing on pickups and SUVs for its Ram and Jeep brands. This strategy has paid off, as both Ram and Jeep brands have seen record sales numbers off and on ever since. With this merger, FCA is also going to get a huge amount of electrification R&D and way more manufacturing capabilities in that arena as well. On the surface this looks to be a very solid business deal that will benefit both automakers and their shareholders. However, mere moments after the announcement last Friday, The White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in a press release that (QUOTE)) “The administration will look very, very closely at the planned merger between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA”
This may be because now that the deal is official (which has been structured as a genuine 50-50 merger,) would create the fourth-largest automaker in the world, with annual sales of nearly 9 million vehicles. Teams at both companies are working to finalize discussions and reach a Memorandum of Understanding in the coming weeks.
FCA and a big French automaker just joined forces, what does this mean for Jeep? And just when you thought it was safe to go back to the toy store, we have something that will have your inner kid screaming to play.
4.0L LEGO Inline Six
You’ve likely seen the youtube videos of people making little model or scaled versions of motors using everything from pop cans to plexi-glass. Some peoples concepts have even included actual running motors that would fit in the palm of your hand.
I’m a full on gear head, and yes, as a kid I played with LEGOS A LOT. I had what I still consider to be one of the largest collections of nothing but space legos that I’ve ever seen still to this day. (and no i’m not talking about those cheesy star wars legos.)
So it should come as no surprise that I am going to get fully behind this person’s proposal to create a large, highly detailed LEGO model of the 4.0-liter inline-six.
Arguably one of the greatest engines ever made, and I am going to do everything I can to help make this a reality, including begging you to get behind this effort too.
The Lego version of this famous engine includes a functioning drive chain for operating the camshaft, pushrods, and valve rockers. The crankshaft actually works the movable pistons. There’s also a two-barrel carburetor and mock-up of a distributor ignition system. When complete, the LEGO powerplant measures 17 inches long, 15 inches tall, and 11 inches wide and would be comprised of around 3,000 individual LEGO pieces.
The builder notes that these are all existing Lego pieces, except for the rubber hoses that connect to the distributor, and the timing chain at the front. In the rendering we’ll have on the website as well as what you’ll see when you go to the LEGO support page is that some of the colors aren’t stock, and the shades come from the Lego rendering program Studio, the program that creates these renderings. For this model even to get consideration from Lego for production, a proposal needs to garner 10,000 supporters.
Unfortunately as of December 19th 2019, the inline-six Lego Project only has 158 people behind it. Even after having enough backers, there’s still no guarantee that LEGO will actually put a kit into production. The set is currently looking for support through the Lego Ideas program website (ideas.lego.com) and I want you to check it out and offer whatever support you can, even if it’s just a vote for this to get put into production. Share the link, tell your friends, and post about this on your own social media pages. We’ll of course have the direct link you’ll need to do that on our website in the show notes for this episode, as well as a pic or two for inspiration.
Please let’s make this happen in 2020.
LEGO IDEAS SUPPORT PAGE FOR THE 4.0L i-6: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/1706241e-71ce-4a80-8467-f856d9753468/comments_tab#content_nav_tabs
Wrangler Talk:
That Red Crusty Stuff!!!
Hello JTS listener and I got a real treat for you on this Wrangler Talk, we are going to talk about rust, and no I am not talking about the stuff you pick out of your belly button every morning. I am talking about that frame eating orangey reddish colored stuff you see at least somewhere on your wrangler. Well on this talk I am going to cover some of the ways to treat and eliminate rust spots on your wrangler. So, first rust is the process of metal oxidizing and breaking down when bare metal is exposed to the elements, and the key term there is breaking down, and losing its strength over time. So, it is best to catch rust spots when they are considered surface rust meaning the rust has not penetrated too deep into the metal. SO for this talk I am specifically going to be talking about rust on your frame because let’s be honest that is where rust can be the most detrimental. So I have heard a lot of different rust treatment out on the market and some of them work better than others, but there is a proper way to take care of rust and that is to own a Prius. Oh wait that came out wrong. Well we all own jeeps and we know that when we offroad we are most likely going to get some type of scratch or scrape on the underside of our jeep and this scratch is where the dreaded rust spot will begin. Ok so no we have some surface rust on the frame or underside of our jeep. Perfect, well we are not going to need so go buy a new skid plate or jeep frame for some surface rust. The best course of actions is to first go to the store and pick up some supplies. We are going to need some wire wheels for a power drill, and a power drill if you do not have one, maybe a breather mask, some safety glasses, cause safety first, masking tape and some paint. Although when I am talking about paint I am talking about some really specific stuff. A couple years ago some companies came out with a special paint called rust converter or rust encapsulator. Now rust converter is a solution of chemicals that actually reacts with the rust causing a chemical change in the substance to create a black inert substance that can be painted over. So depending on how much rust you have on your jeep will determine how much rust converter you will need and yeah I have wheeled with some guys that could use a 55 gallon drum of this stuff and it still wouldn’t help their jeep. But that is beside the point, so how do we use this fancy rust converter. Well it is pretty simple first you are going to want to prepare the surface you are going to be using the rust converter on. So get out some soap and water and first clean the area you are going to be converting and if you are going to do your whole underside make sure you clean your underside. This will remove all dirt and hopefully most of the larger rust particles. Next break those wire wheels and drill and go to town. You are going to want to remove all the stubborn dirt and rust particles. Although we are not looking to remove all the rust that is kind of the point of the rust converter, the rust converter will bond to the rust and convert it to a paintable surface. Just like how we bond to our beers after a long-broken wheeling trip. After we are done wire wheeling our underside, the best practice is to us an oil and grease remover to ensure that there is no oil or grease and ensure proper adhesion of the rust converter to all the rust on the metal you are trying to convert. Then tape off all the areas on the underside of your jeep that you don’t want to paint or anywhere there will be a possibility for over spray and then start spraying or rolling on the rust converter and please read the instructions on the can so you know how much to apply to the metal surface. After you converted all the rust back to the inert paintable material now it prepped to be painted with any paint color of your choosing. So it pretty easy to eliminate the rust on your under side although you are asking what if my rust spot turned into a hole well then that is going to require some more work. When dealing with holes in your frame or anywhere on the body of your jeep it is best to remove the affected areas by cutting out the rust spot and welding in new metal plates to strengthen your frame or body. So as I said catching rust spot early and treating them early is key. There are some rust repair kits out on the market that actually pieces of bent metal that will allow you to remove the rust spots on your frame and weld in new pieces of the frame eliminating the rust hole and getting you back up and running. And if there are multiple holes in your frame I do kind of recommend just spending the cash and replacing your frame your jeep will thank you in the long run I promise you that. So what did we learn. Stay on top your rust spots so you are not the guy out on the trail with a broken frame and two halves of a jeep. Thank you for listening to this week wrangler talk and remember if you have any question or comments please head over to our website at jeeptalkshow.com/contact and shoot us an email or leave us a voice message and talk to you next week on the wrangler talk with Bill.
Top 5 Mods for the New Jeep Owner
First Time Jeep Owner Eager to Mod
Tow points front and rear. Modern day Wrangler should already have this, but if it doesn’t or it’s missing get it and install it yourself Rock sliders! Your Wrangler may have come with something that looks like sliders, that stuff that hangs down under the doors, but make sure they are ROCK sliders and not some cheap thin metal, or plastic. Oh and never get sliders with steps. The point of sliders is to help you slide over rocks! Side steps will just make it harder. LED spare tire brake light! This ring of LEDs mounts behind your spare tire and connects easily to your third brake light. You’re not likely to take much damage when that Prius rear ends you, so the additional brake lighting might help save the person behind you astronomical repair costs! Headlights! Jeep has improved how bright their headlights are but you can always improve it right? Release your inner Tim the Tool Man and add more power, ahhh light. LED lights will be brighter, and require less power. Fitted floor mats. Quadratec, Rugged Ridge, both sell a great set of thick fitted floor mats for your Jeep. They have deep treads like mud tires and high sides that fit perfectly where your feet go. These are a great addition to a Jeep to give it a rugged look and keep your carpet free of mud and water!
Jeep Life:
Overland Apps
Spending a month on the road traversing the US taught me so much. From Realizing the first mod I should of made was moving my rear license plate to the spare tire to what apps are helpful on the road. I wanted to share two of those apps with you. I-overlander and GaiaGPS iOverlander is a nonprofit project. Mostly volunteer run. iOverlander is a database of places for overlanders and travelers. It includes camping, hotels, restaurants, mechanics, water, propane filling and may other categories. Details are listed for each place, including amenities, photos, date last visited and GPS coordinates. Search our listings or browse on a map! In addition to finding places, you can add new places, record your trip, and share places with friends or other travelers. All of these features will work offline, except you will not be able to view the map. iOverlander is an app built for Overlanders, by Overlanders. It has been tested in dozens of countries and across tens of thousands of miles. Gaia GPS has so much more than I was able to explore while I was on the road. I am looking forward to using it more. But the one time it really helped was when we were on Mojave Road. Some parts of Mojave road are sandy washouts and the tracks go in so many directions. Following along on Gaia we were able to follow the right track.
Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:
Surviving Harsh Winters
I don’t know about you, but I like the cold. Our Jeeps, not as much. Old man winter comes around each and every year and drains our batteries, shrinks our seals, and freezes out locks, not to mention makes our commute or drive to the parts store a lot harder than it needs to be. Although there’s not a lot we can do about those non Jeep owners on the road, we can make owning a Jeep in the dead of winter a little easier with a couple easy tricks. In episode 414, Tony gave us the top 5 tips for keeping your windshield from icing up. We’ll add one more to that list courtesy of listener Louis Wong, who suggests keeping a spray bottle of 80% or better Isopropyl Alcohol handy, as a few spritz of that will have the windshield ice free in no time. Even if you Jeep is parked right out in the driveway, getting from the front door to your Jeep in the middle of a harsh winter can be pretty miserable. It’s worse if you get there only to find the door locks are frozen shut. Hand sanitizer is going to be your key to getting inside. The alcohol works in the same way it does on the windshield to thaw the ice, so you can hop in and get the heater turned on high. Ever have the doors freeze shut on your Jeep before? It sucks!, and the only way in, is to chip away enough ice around the edges to force your way inside. Actually, you can prevent this from happening all together by spraying the door edges with cooking spray. Just be sure to wipe off the excess. Are your tires a little too worn to be facing that sudden slippery snowfall? Lower your tires’ pressure a bit a good 10 pounds should do it, and you’ll get better traction. If you have a deep winter survival tip for owning a Jeep, give us a call or write us a message like Louis did, and share your idea.
Interview with:
Wendy Stevens – Avid Jeeper and Spotter at the Big Bear Nexen Tire Event.
Must Have Stuff for your Jeep:
Hi-Lift Jack Lift Mate (Model #: LM-100) – $34.00
Many trucks and SUV’s have larger tires and/or lift kits that require extensive lifting height ability from the bumper jack. The Lift-Mate is designed to operate in a manner that allows the vehicle to be lifted directly from the wheel, greatly reducing the amount of travel up the jack bar needed to lift the wheel in an adequate and safe height. Lift-Mate Features & Specifications: Lift Capacity: 5000 lbs. (2273 kg) Rubber-Coated hooks to protect the wheel Rubber pad for protecting the tire and wheel A Must Have if you off road
Camp Fireside Chat:
LED light strip.
Jeep Weather:
Hey Jeeper, Mitch here, today is the twentieth of December 2019, and it’s time for your weekend Going Topless-Jeep Weather Report. So, to make Josh’s wish of seeing pictures of Jeepers Topless while with their family cruising Christmas Lights, this segment is dedicated to all those locations in North America known for their epic Christmas light displays. Use #JeepTalkShow in your pictures on social media so that we can see them too. First let’s start in a submission from Instagram: Fresno, California is Christmas Tree Lane. Here a whole neighborhood, a 2-mile stretch of road, for 97 years, decorating everything in lights. There you can cruise on most nights down the road to look at all the lights. Cruise Topless with the family and hot chocolates. Friday will be 63, Saturday 65 and cloudy, and Sunday 59 with a chance of rain. Next lets cruise to Glendale, Arizona and Glendale Glitters. Food, live performances, and plenty of Christmas lights to look at. Here it will be 67 Friday, and cloudy Saturday and Sunday at 71 and 70. Alright, this last location should be a no brainer. Santa Claus, Indiana has Santa Claus Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground. This is a 1.2 miles of Christmas lights for you and your family to cruise topless through. SC, Indiana will be partly cloudy: Friday 48, and Saturday and Sunday 52. Don’t forget to use the #JeepTalkShow on social media for us to see those pictures. From all of us at the Jeep Talk Show, Merry Christmas! If you have any suggestions or want to know YOUR local weather in an upcoming episode. Go to JeepTalkShow.com slash contact in order to find all the ways to get a message to me.
I’m Mitch and its always great weekend to Go Topless if you’re brave enough! Just Go Topless responsibly.
Wheeling Where:
San Diego 4 Wheelers – 22nd Annual Superstition Mountain Run
January 17th – 19th
El Centro, California
More Info: https://sd4wheel.com/
Southwest Off-Road Adventures – Sonoita Off-Road Trails & Wine Tour
January 17th – 19th
Sonoita, Arizona
More Info: http://southwestoffroadadventures.com/
Links Mentioned in Episode 416:
Colby Valve & Hi-Lift mate Video – Tammy pops her bead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxHU4alqnQA&t=110s
Hi-Lift Safety Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlxX_PeRgaA