[xjandyj]

just wondering if it would be possible to use a yj main hoop with spreader bars to the windshield frame like yj's,,,no rollbar with glass roof would worry me

[BigTDog]

Subscribed for sure! I wait to see this done.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by xjandyj

just wondering if it would be possible to use a yj main hoop with spreader bars to the windshield frame like yj's,,,no rollbar with glass roof would worry me

Yes, I plan to modify the main hoop to fit inside the top. Normally it angles back too far to fit in the top so I'll change the angle to be more vertical. I'll also tie it into the tub at near the door strikers to give the tub more rigidity when the doors are slammed, and that tiw-in will also give the roll bar more front/back rigidity. I haven't decided yet if I'll add the spreader bars.

[CjinPA]

Any pics of what you have fabricated so far?




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[jscherb]

Originally Posted by CjinPA

Any pics of what you have fabricated so far?
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Photos coming soon, very soon....

[Rollbar]

Austrailian military.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by Rollbar

Austrailian military.

The CJ-10 pickup you pictured has a 119-inch wheelbase, a 7-foot pickup box, and a one-ton capacity. It was built on a FSJ frame, so you could argue an FSJ, not a CJ, even though it has a CJ-style tub. It's a much larger vehicle than the Scrambler-sized Gaucho I'm building.

[BriansCJ]

Originally Posted by jscherb

The CJ-10 pickup you pictured has a 119-inch wheelbase, a 7-foot pickup box, and a one-ton capacity. It was built on a FSJ frame, so you could argue an FSJ, not a CJ, even though it has a CJ-style tub. It's a much larger vehicle than the Scrambler-sized Gaucho I'm building.

It could be classified as anything really. Like you said a FSJ or a CJ b/c it uses a cj doors and windshield. Or the YJ people might want to claim it for its square headlights. I cant wait for your build.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by JoonHoss

yeah, I'm goin' to hafta pull up a virtual stool for this one, no doubt about it!

in your OP- did you mean they built them on a scrambler frame, or CJ6 (as posted)?

and California stepsides- very familiar with them... they also provided beds/fenders for a lot of Chevy Luv pickups. My buddy in high school had a '78 with one of their stepsides, and we searched forever trying to find a replacement fender after he wrecked it.

Hoss

The original Gaucho was built on a CJ-6 frame. There was an article in the May 1999 issue of JP magazine that said it was a 104 WB CJ-6 frame, but two articles published in the 70's (July 77 Four Wheeler and January 77 Off-Road) claim it was a 101-inch frame. The JP article was a re-edit of an April 77 article in Pickup, Van & 4WD (same author, same photos), and that original article doesn't mention the WB, so I suspect a JP editor in the 90's added the 104-inch WB comment.

I believe the original Gaucho used the 101-inch frames, because the cab is so short. I'm easily going to be able to fit a 3-inch longer cab on mine. I can't say for 100% sure they used the 101, though, because the longer sheet metal of the CJ-7 nose does seem to line up properly with the front axle, which it probably wouldn't do it the stock body mounts on the 101 frame were used. Maybe they moved the body mounts on the 101.

So the original Gaucho(s) WB and frame is a slight mystery, but I tend to believe they were older 101-inch frames as stated in two 70's articles.

Oh and why did I spell Gaucho with the "(s)" on the end? While the JP article says "records are no longer available" about how many were made, kind of hinting there was more than one, but every photo in every article I've ever seen is of the same Gaucho, so I can't find any evidence that more than one was made. Does anyone have proof there was more than one made?

BTW, the original 70's articles quote prices of $1800-$2000 to convert your CJ-7 to a Gaucho.

And as for California Stepside, I haven't been able to find much information about them. I know they made beds/fenders for lots of small pickups - Luv's, Toyotas, Datsuns (I think they were still called Datsuns then), and I guess they went out of business some time ago. Parts are non-existent unless you can find a used one somewhere.

I've got a really good solution for real steel custom Gaucho fenders, you'll be reading about it and seeing them here soon.

[certifiablejeep]

I know that this sounds a bit weird, but that bed looks like an old military trailer with late 70's Chevy step side fenders bolted on to it... My buddy had a K10 Stepside (I think it was a K10) and I swear those fenders are identical... maybe picking up a set of those would save you a ton of time fabbing some.

cb

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by certifiablejeep

I know that this sounds a bit weird, but that bed looks like an old military trailer with late 70's Chevy step side fenders bolted on to it... My buddy had a K10 Stepside (I think it was a K10) and I swear those fenders are identical... maybe picking up a set of those would save you a ton of time fabbing some.

cb

That's a very good idea, except that the Chevy fenders are huge. They're 60" long, 25" high and 15" deep, with a 36" wheel opening. The Gaucho bed is only 64" long and about 23" high on the outside.

To be the right size for the much-smaller Gaucho, the fenders need to be about 46" long, 20" high and 11" deep.

But you're on the right track... stay tuned...

[xjandyj]

i love your work,,,,but stop teasing,,,,pics!!

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by xjandyj

i love your work,,,,but stop teasing,,,,pics!!

Ok, here's some pictures.

After I did the design drawings, I wanted to really see what the Gaucho would look like in 3D before I committed to doing the build. It's much cheaper to make decisions and mistakes in plastic than it is in full scale metal. So I built a Gaucho in 1/25 scale. These models are not completed yet, lots of details and features missing; in fact they're held together with tape, so they don't look perfect, but they do give a good idea of what the finished project will look like in three dimensions.

The model without the jerry can is 111" wheelbase, and the model with the jerry can is 103.5" wheelbase, same as the Scrambler.

The bottom photo shows the Gaucho in comparison to the Retro Wrangler and a 40's pickup.

Don't worry, pictures of actual full scale fabrication coming very soon. Design and planning plays a really big part in my projects, so rather than just jump into the fab, I want to share some of the design stuff with you so you know what I'll be building

As always, comments and suggestions welcome...

Jeff

[CJhollic]

is the cab enclosure on the red one water and air tight? did you make it yourself or buy it. I would like to get mine water tight.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by CJhollic

is the cab enclosure on the red one water and air tight? did you make it yourself or buy it. I would like to get mine water tight.

You're asking about the hardtop on the Retro Wrangler? Yes, it is completely air and water tight. I made it myself.

I started with some Jeep factory sheet metal and highly modified the parts - the rear/side walls/rear window came from a CJ-10a Flightline Tug, I lengthened the side walls about 6" to fit my longer cab. I also raised the height of the walls about 1/2", and I changed the profile of the lower part of the door jambs so they would seal properly with TJ doors. The top panel was modified from a CJ-7 export World Cab (like an Alaskan Postal, only shorter to fit a CJ-7, I'm pretty sure mine was the only one in the U.S.); anyway, I shortened the CJ-7 World Cab roof panel and added some additional sheet metal bits and pieces to complete the roof and mate it to the CJ-10 walls and to the TJ windshield. I also made door jamb corner fillers because the World Cabs are made for doors with square upper corners. Here's a photo of the top when it was almost complete and a few photos of it just after it was painted and waiting for final assembly. Full disclosure: I did all the fab and body work except the paint, I don't do paint. (yet).