Mud Pie
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I have been around Jeeps as long as I can remember. In the late 60's early 70's, my Dad would always drag home a Jeep, one that "was a deal" that he planned on fixing up. Mostly early CJ-5's. Some barely ran, some never ran. None were road worthy. They became pivotal fixtures with me and my friends when we played Army in the back yard. We were the Rat Patrol, protecting our section of Long Island....
When I was 14, (1975, yeah, I'm old) he brought home a 1954 Willys M38A1, still in full U.S. Army setup; semi-gloss OD green, stars, registrations numbers on the hood, etc. The registration numbers and U.S. Army were hastily rattle-canned over with black paint. I painstakingly removed that black paint to reveal the original numbers. Under the windshield glass, some G.I. painted Mud Pie.
I was super excited. My Dad brought home a REAL ARMY JEEP !!! As I sat in the drivers seat shaking the steering wheel back and forth, my Dad in the passenger seat, I asked, "Um.....does it run ?". My Dad let's out a snort then says, "Yeah, this one does. But it needs work before it can be driven on the road." "Cool !!" I respond. After a few minutes, he goes, "Tell you what. If you can get this running right AND it passes inspection before you get your learners permit. it's yours." Excited, I screamed, "For real ?!?!" "Yep. BUT, if you don't, any money you spent on it stays and the Willys is mine again." "OK !!" "Let's shake on it like real men.". We shook hands. "Oh," he added, "you pay for everything, don't come to me looking for handouts." "No problem !!"
I had an off-the-books job with a landscaping company, mowing lawns after school, weekends and all summer long. Very common back then. In the winter, I roamed the streets shoveling driveways. I spent every dime and every waking moment working on that Willys.
When I first popped the hood, the engine looked like none I have ever seen. Waterproof 24 volt engine. Snorkel kit. I had no repair manual. My Dad helped me, he sourced a brand new 24 volt military battery instead of putting two 12 volts in, the Willys could take either. I found the waterproof spark plugs, at a whopping 2 bucks a plug, VERY expensive for plugs at the time, but it was in upstate NY. We took a trip, my Dad wanted to see what else they had. My Dad threw a new shifter boot, transfer case boot and military canvas doors and side curtains on the counter. He helped me throughout, even though he said he wouldn't. He was a great Dad.
I got it running. He couldn't do the traditional "handing of the keys" because military vehicles don't have keys. Flip lever on the dash, starter button on the floorboard. I wasn't old enough to drive yet, so my Dad drove us to the beach down the street. He taught me how to shift, how to use the 2 lever transfer case. I practiced driving at home circling the house. I wore a literal ring around the house, my Dad didn't care.
On my 16th birthday, I didn't want presents, I didn't want cake. I wanted a ride to the DMV. My school offered Driver's Ed, my Dad said HE would teach me to drive. He was strict. One of the things I had to master was shifting without using the clutch, "if you listen to the engine, you can shift it without grinding gears. Know your engine.". Took a while, but I mastered it. I was ready for my Jr. License. I don't know if they still issue those, but after you pass your written and road test, a Jr. License allows you drive without a licensed driver until 9 pm until you turn 18.
The driving instructor oogles the Willys. Does a safety check. "Step on the brakes." I do. Nothing happens. I go, "Oh wait..." and I turn on the brake lights, I was nervous and forgot. He goes, "What'd you do ?" "I forgot to turn them on." "Do what ?" and he walks up to me. I show him the multi-function levers on the light assembly. "This unlocks it, this one you turn to Brakes, or Tail and Brakes, this is for headlights, this is for blackout lights.". He goes, "WHAT ?? Is that legal ?" I said, "This is a real Army Jeep.". He shakes his head and gets in. Looks for seat belts. I say, "1954. Seat belts weren't issued until 1968.". Again, head shake. "Let's go. Go to the corner and make a right turn." I stop at the stop sign and extend my left arm, held out at 90 degrees. "Where's your turn signal ?" he asks. I nervously say, "Army Jeeps don't have turn signals, hand signals only. It's legal.". He harrumphs then says, "Go.". I go. Before the next turn, it begins to drizzle. No top on. I can hear the rain splattering on his clip board. I know I failed.
We get back to the starting point, my Dad is there smiling, total disregard for the rain. "How'd you do ?" he asks. I shrug my shoulders and look at the instructor. He goes, "He passed." I do a little happy dance, my Dad shakes my hand. The instructor said, "The test is over. Now, tell me all about this Jeep. It's awesome !!". My Dad is bragging on me, pointing out everything I did. I just wanted to DRIVE, dammit, stop talking !!
We go back to the house, he climbs out and says, "Be careful. Have fun. You're not going to waste time to put the top on, are you ?". I smile and shake my head. "I'm already wet." He waves me off. I rode around the neighborhood for hours, picked up all my friends.
Been addicted to Jeeping ever since.
Rant over....
When I was 14, (1975, yeah, I'm old) he brought home a 1954 Willys M38A1, still in full U.S. Army setup; semi-gloss OD green, stars, registrations numbers on the hood, etc. The registration numbers and U.S. Army were hastily rattle-canned over with black paint. I painstakingly removed that black paint to reveal the original numbers. Under the windshield glass, some G.I. painted Mud Pie.
I was super excited. My Dad brought home a REAL ARMY JEEP !!! As I sat in the drivers seat shaking the steering wheel back and forth, my Dad in the passenger seat, I asked, "Um.....does it run ?". My Dad let's out a snort then says, "Yeah, this one does. But it needs work before it can be driven on the road." "Cool !!" I respond. After a few minutes, he goes, "Tell you what. If you can get this running right AND it passes inspection before you get your learners permit. it's yours." Excited, I screamed, "For real ?!?!" "Yep. BUT, if you don't, any money you spent on it stays and the Willys is mine again." "OK !!" "Let's shake on it like real men.". We shook hands. "Oh," he added, "you pay for everything, don't come to me looking for handouts." "No problem !!"
I had an off-the-books job with a landscaping company, mowing lawns after school, weekends and all summer long. Very common back then. In the winter, I roamed the streets shoveling driveways. I spent every dime and every waking moment working on that Willys.
When I first popped the hood, the engine looked like none I have ever seen. Waterproof 24 volt engine. Snorkel kit. I had no repair manual. My Dad helped me, he sourced a brand new 24 volt military battery instead of putting two 12 volts in, the Willys could take either. I found the waterproof spark plugs, at a whopping 2 bucks a plug, VERY expensive for plugs at the time, but it was in upstate NY. We took a trip, my Dad wanted to see what else they had. My Dad threw a new shifter boot, transfer case boot and military canvas doors and side curtains on the counter. He helped me throughout, even though he said he wouldn't. He was a great Dad.
I got it running. He couldn't do the traditional "handing of the keys" because military vehicles don't have keys. Flip lever on the dash, starter button on the floorboard. I wasn't old enough to drive yet, so my Dad drove us to the beach down the street. He taught me how to shift, how to use the 2 lever transfer case. I practiced driving at home circling the house. I wore a literal ring around the house, my Dad didn't care.
On my 16th birthday, I didn't want presents, I didn't want cake. I wanted a ride to the DMV. My school offered Driver's Ed, my Dad said HE would teach me to drive. He was strict. One of the things I had to master was shifting without using the clutch, "if you listen to the engine, you can shift it without grinding gears. Know your engine.". Took a while, but I mastered it. I was ready for my Jr. License. I don't know if they still issue those, but after you pass your written and road test, a Jr. License allows you drive without a licensed driver until 9 pm until you turn 18.
The driving instructor oogles the Willys. Does a safety check. "Step on the brakes." I do. Nothing happens. I go, "Oh wait..." and I turn on the brake lights, I was nervous and forgot. He goes, "What'd you do ?" "I forgot to turn them on." "Do what ?" and he walks up to me. I show him the multi-function levers on the light assembly. "This unlocks it, this one you turn to Brakes, or Tail and Brakes, this is for headlights, this is for blackout lights.". He goes, "WHAT ?? Is that legal ?" I said, "This is a real Army Jeep.". He shakes his head and gets in. Looks for seat belts. I say, "1954. Seat belts weren't issued until 1968.". Again, head shake. "Let's go. Go to the corner and make a right turn." I stop at the stop sign and extend my left arm, held out at 90 degrees. "Where's your turn signal ?" he asks. I nervously say, "Army Jeeps don't have turn signals, hand signals only. It's legal.". He harrumphs then says, "Go.". I go. Before the next turn, it begins to drizzle. No top on. I can hear the rain splattering on his clip board. I know I failed.
We get back to the starting point, my Dad is there smiling, total disregard for the rain. "How'd you do ?" he asks. I shrug my shoulders and look at the instructor. He goes, "He passed." I do a little happy dance, my Dad shakes my hand. The instructor said, "The test is over. Now, tell me all about this Jeep. It's awesome !!". My Dad is bragging on me, pointing out everything I did. I just wanted to DRIVE, dammit, stop talking !!
We go back to the house, he climbs out and says, "Be careful. Have fun. You're not going to waste time to put the top on, are you ?". I smile and shake my head. "I'm already wet." He waves me off. I rode around the neighborhood for hours, picked up all my friends.
Been addicted to Jeeping ever since.
Rant over....
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) the bed started to eat out at some point and Dad just parked it in the field . I was just under driving age and my Grandfather was always a Jeep man and had a willys and a real army Jeep with hardtop and all . He would call me up and we would take his hunting dogs and put them in the back and I would sit on a pillow on the the passenger seat and we would go night hunting . I was always amazed at how well that Jeep would climb we went up old rusted out muddy Gas well right of way roads . It would bend and twist and break and grunt and just keep on crawling. I always thought it was cool it had a hydraulic driveshaft pto on the back of it . 
