Free, Gratis, ComplimentaryJeep Historical Display Opens at Walter P. Chrysler MuseumDear 4-Wheel & Off-Road Reader,We at Jeep extend an offer to all 4x4 club members for free entrance to the Jeep Historical exhibit at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum on any Saturday or Sunday in February 2002. Those who visit the exhibit will have their name entered in a raffle for prizes, including free entrance to a 2002 Camp Jeep event, a Comanche Classic Jeep bike, a Jeep TV/flashlight/radio/ lantern, Jeep sunglasses, or a Jeep Commando 16 Mountain Board.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum and "The Mighty Jeep: A Legend Turns 60" exhibit in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. If you're not a member of a 4x4 club you are still welcome to set your sights on the wonders of the 4x4 world for a general admission price of $6. The exhibit runs until the end of February. For detailed insights on the exhibit please visit www.chryslerheritage.com or call 888/456-1924 for more information.
Jeep FYI: The exhibit comprises 26 historical Jeep vehicles starting with the Willys MA, MB, and the CJ2A. Other Jeep novelties include Jeep toys and display boards with Jeep advertisements, cartoons, and famous Jeep owners. The toys and novelties have origins from around the world, with a stainless steel cigarette box and lighter in the shape of a Jeep vehicle from Germany and a Dinky die-cast toy Commando Jeep from England. Such books as the 1944 children's story The Little Jeep by Peggy Griffin Ayers and Jerry the Jeep by Edith Thacher Hurd are also on display. The progression of Jeep slogans from the '40s "The Sun Never Sets on the Mighty Jeep" to the current "Jeep. There's Only One" will hang from the ceiling.
Campfire TalkThe Ascender, American Isuzu's newest SUV, will go on sale this fall, replacing the Trooper. The new Isuzu flagship will share a platform with the Chevy Trailblazer and GMC Envoy.
Ford plans an extensive restyling and engineering for the '03 Expedition and new sheetmetal for the '03 F-150.
Delphi Automotive Systems is the maker of the four-wheel steering system Quadrasteer that automakers such as General Motors will use on pickups and SUVs like the '02 Sierra Denali pickup.
Rah! Rah! Rah! The Duramax diesel cheerleaders at GM hope to gain at least 25 percent of the diesel truck market with the turbocharged V-8, which it developed with Isuzu. The big three diesel competitors are the GM/Isuzu Duramax at 300 hp, the Ford/Navistar Power Stroke with 250 hp (auto) and 275 hp (six-speed), and the Dodge/Cummins inline-six with 245 hp with the six-speed.
Sources say that parts sharing is what it's all about for DC and Mercedes. Models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee may be outfitted with the Mercedes vehicle stability control system.
Dodge Heavy-Duty AxlesWe can keep a secret as good as the next guy, but we just have to share this tidbit. Now that the new Dodge Ram 1500 11/42-ton 4x4 is coming out with IFS and the Dana lost the axle contract with Dodge for the truck line, we were afraid that the 31/44- and 1-ton Rams would be similarly afflicted. After the news that American Axle Manufacturing (which makes most of the GM axles) snagged the contract for the new Rams, we weren't sure what was up. The good news is that a '03 Ram 1-ton was spotted wearing massive AAM live axles front and rear, similar in size and design to the Dana 60 front and 70 rear. While these are all-new designs, the reputation of AAM and the size of these axles instill confidence that the Dodge Ram big boys won't be strutting the sissy IFS stuff under the chassis as the 1500 does. Thank goodness for real trucks and solid front axles!