Jeep News & Rumors
•There's an idea floating around to turn the vacated 70-acre location of the former Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant on Jeep Parkway in West Toledo into a "playground," according to the Toledo Blade. It would be created to mark the 70th anniversary of the Wrangler, if it happened. Mud bogs, obstacles, and port-a-potties are among the thoughts on the table. Might it be called, oh, we don't know, Camp Jeep?
•Will the '11 Grand Cherokee start at $31,000-and-change and top off around $45,000-plus?
•Consumer Reports has put out a list of the best and worst '10 models when it comes to fuel economy. The Commander made the list! Whoo hoo! Scratch that: It was the 5.7L Limited, and was among the worst.
•Looking for Jeep-wear? Jeep has a line of military-inspired T-shirts that you can get at jeep.com/gear.
Industry News
•Did someone say "prototype trail master long-arm suspension system"? Someone did. It was Performance Automotive Group talking about its project JK and that coming-one-day-kit was among the upgrades on the Jeep.
•Edelbrock is giving away a free air cleaner through its Big Carb Deal promotion. Buy a new Edelbrock carb-check bigcarbdeal.com for details on what's eligible-send in the proof of purchase, and get the air cleaner of your choice. It's on through April 30.
A new TM long-arm kit is currently...
A new TM long-arm kit is currently undergoing early testing.
•And yet another promo for you to take advantage of: Rancho is offering the Extreme Deal program, awarding Visa prepaid debit cards of up to $500 when purchasing a qualifying Rancho suspension, and four RS9000XL shocks. Other cards/products are also available that can earn you a Visa card for $400, $100, or $50. This will last until August 31, so head to gorancho.com for more info and the restrictions.
•Always wanted to take a welding class? Lincoln Electric's Motorsports Welding School course is made up of five-day classes held at Lincoln's corporate HQ in Cleveland. You'll learn TIG and MIG welding, how to use gas lens torches, picking filler metal/base metal, how to back purge titanium, inconel, and stainless, and more. There's info at lincolnelectric.com or call 216/383-2259.
•New crate engine from Ford Racing: X302. The 306ci mill makes 340 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and features a 9.0:1 compression ratio, 4.030-inch bore x 3.00-inch stroke, Ford Racing aluminum cylinder heads, among the specs/components. The MSRP is $3,495.
•JEGS is turning 50 this year and you can score a free '10 Chevy Camaro in return. The sweepstakes lasts until July 4, and you can get the scoop at jegs.com. Don't want a musclecar? Enter anyway; you can take $20,000 in cash instead.
•Dig Mickey Thompson products? Dig the man: A new exhibit called "Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 mph" is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California, and is being sponsored by Gale Banks Engineering. It includes cars built and driven by Mickey, and runs through early October.
•At King of the Hammers, the first 11 teams sported BFGoodrich tires.
•Free ringtones: Royal Purple is giving you a choice of 25 ringtones, including a Corvette and Ferrari. Go to royalpurple.mobi/ringtones.
•4 Wheel Parts of El Paso and El Paso Boy Scouts pooled their resources and held a combo trail ride and food drive in February and donated more than 1,000 pounds of food to local food banks.
Auto Graphs
•The redesigned '11 Chevy and GMC heavy-duty pickups with the new 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel will be B20-capable. You know, biodiesel.
•The Chevy Suburban turns 75 this year. It's like it's our grandpa.
•According to CBS13, a dude in Roseville, California, was startled by his hands-free cell device going off as he was driving and reacted by accidentally veering his vehicle into a creek, then found himself trapped and had to use his handgun to shoot out a window in order to escape. Jp staffers often shoot out the windows to exit and enter. Pricey habit, but less so when we're carpooling in someone else's ride.