Vintage military vehicle meet - Camp Plymouth, Ca.

I had the opportunity to attend the Western vintage military meet at Camp Plymouth, California, at the Amador County Fairgrounds just yesterday, and found it to be very interesting. Doug O'Neil (Ndnile) had pm'd me asking if I were taking my GPW engines up to maybe sell to anyone looking to buy. If it were not for Doug's interest, I would never have attended. Below is the announcement of the swap meet and vehicle display. ( some very Cool vehicles and trucks ).

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=302490

Doug is a member of the "oldwillys.com" forum and the "g503.com" forums. I am also a member of the 'oldwillys' forums and there are several members from up around the northern California area from Stockton and north.

   I got a bunch of tire-kickers but no offers on my GPW engines, which I was asking $800 each for Block, Crankshaft and Cam. One has a suspected crack in the water jacket above the distributor about 4-inches in length.
   On my way to the meet, I stopped in to Jimmy Strauss Jeeps just south of Placerville, California.   
OMG !   I was in vintage jeep HEAVEN. Jimmy's head welder and block crack repairman, Norm, (age 91) was generous enough to look at my suspected crack to give me his professional opinion of what method he would use to repair it, Weld or Pin.   Norm said he would pin the crack because of not having a kiln or oven to properly preheat the casting prior to welding.
    I also told Norm of my T-18 to L134 bellhousing mock-up and my intent to weld cast transmission ears from a Ford bellhousing onto the L134 bellhousing.
My question for Norm was if I should weld with a bronze/nickle rod, or if I should consider bronze welding.   Norm said that again because of the difficulty in preheating and cooling, he would prefer bronze welding. We discussed the lay-back of the "v"-groove for purchase area of the bond. He said yes, lay-back the V-groove adequately for good purchase.
   ( I just love tech-talk with the old experts ) I was hoping to see him mentoring a young 30's-ish techie to pass along his knowledge.
Ha ! _ _ no young techie apprentice. Young guys are into IT, and it probably pays Better than jeep tech.
The other old expert mech is age 74 ! Go Figure ! these guys love jeeps !
    Anyway, I don't know if I should pass this along, but Norm told me he is the engine builder for some of the engines that Ron Fitzgerald sells. Norm showed me an engine he just finished, and I did not ask to take any photos of his piece of artwork either. Norm said he started the business in the current location and has since sold it to Jimmy. I missed meeting Jimmy.
( he was somewhere at the meet ).
Oh, by-the-way, upon asking Norm what the cost would be to have him pin the 4-inch long crack and he said $150.

https://www.jimmystraussjeeps.com/

   Stopping by Jim Strauss' shop was the highlight of my trek, to actually meet in person and have good tech discussion with 91-year old expert, Norm.
Us young-bucks seldom get the chance to interact in-person with them.

   Doug O'neil and his wife Lottee (from Denmark), very graciously took me under-wing and invited me into their camp, and trailer, for delightful conversation.

   I have never in my life attended one of these military vehicle meets, and it was most impressive seeing all of the interesting trucks, track vehicles and jeeps. There were many booths where the individuals had parts for sale, and I did notice there was "some" CJ2A stuff. ( I bought a gas tank, t-90 front bearing retainer and a set of L134 rods ). As I was driving home I was thinking that of the individuals looking at my two GPW engine blocks, I didn't ask them if they would be willing to pay more money to purchase a rebuilt engine assembly, which would drastically increase purchase $$$$ with the cost of machine work, engine kit and assembly.

   I drove home late evening sunburnt and dirty from all the dust of the attendee's driving around in their WWII jeeps with the little L134 engines buzzing away (fan noise mostly).   hahahaha

   I met bunches of interesting people and they were all very friendly. Get this ! _ _ _ early April 2018 I drove deep into the heart of the town of Paradise, California, which was burned-to-the-ground in the fall of 2018. I didn't buy the jeep I went in search of _ _ _ and should have. The guy was an Arcade-game buff and repairman.
So, I am sitting in the shade visiting with a guy in the adjacent booth, and he says "look at my Score" ! He was pointing to some sort of radio equipment. As our conversation continued, I asked him if there was a remote chance that he had a willys chassis for sale this time last year.   He said YES, and then he remembered me looking at his willys. I asked him if he was able to get out ahead of the fire, and he said yes, but the rental home he lived in was leveled, along with his military jeep and the neighborhood.   Small world.

   That's my wrap-up of a wonderful day of visitation and military vehicles.
The adjacent RV campground was Packed-full of camp trailers and military vehicles and proud, owners happy to visit and exchange stories. The famous Rubicon Jeep Trail is about 1-1/2 from Placerville. Old Gold jeep country.
   
   Len