Me & my CJ2A w/M38 Tub, Summer 2003
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Jan 15, 2005
Began on the monumental task before me of restoring this Jeep. I don't plan to restore this one to the degree I am with the CJ2A with Dad . . . that one is a frame-off restoration, due to the extensive work to get that Jeep in shape again. This Jeep is in running condition, & will not require a full restoration to make the return to the look of an Army Jeep. Considering this Jeep is made of several, I figure I have a blank template to work from. My thoughts range from making it a medic's jeep or even possibly one used by the military clergy, but I have to take into account that most of what I've seen on the M38A1's history, they all look very similar, as there seem to be a limited selection in markings. That said, I have plenty of time to research it before I have to make any decisions, as it will be a while before I reach that point. For the moment, I have plenty of work just reconditioning the jeep.
Rather than sandblasting, I plan to sand everything smooth (basically to remove the existing blue Krylon paint job), down to the original OD paint & repaint with the correct OD for whatever version I settle on. I think I'll keep most of the minor dents & dings, for character (as well as keeping costs down). I'm not particularly interested in this jeep looking like it just rolled off the production line.
Today's work: removed the hood & sanded smooth, removing all the remaining blue, & sanding the rusted spots to clean metal & painted with rust-inhibiting primer. Also buffed the hinges, hood latches, hood tie-down footman's loop & the hood latch ring, priming all. I've left the underside of the hood original, as it has retained it's original OD paint (was not repainted) as well as the correct stencilings. I'll post a pic when I get the time in the coming week.
Next: Probably will begin sanding either the passenger side fender or the cowling & work my way backward on the body. Dad has another grill in better shape than the current one, & I will need to replace the driver's side fender, so no work to do on those other than remove them at the appropriate time. We're expecting a cold front in the coming days, so I may not get to it for a couple of weeks, as the garage gets rather cold!
Rather than sandblasting, I plan to sand everything smooth (basically to remove the existing blue Krylon paint job), down to the original OD paint & repaint with the correct OD for whatever version I settle on. I think I'll keep most of the minor dents & dings, for character (as well as keeping costs down). I'm not particularly interested in this jeep looking like it just rolled off the production line.
Today's work: removed the hood & sanded smooth, removing all the remaining blue, & sanding the rusted spots to clean metal & painted with rust-inhibiting primer. Also buffed the hinges, hood latches, hood tie-down footman's loop & the hood latch ring, priming all. I've left the underside of the hood original, as it has retained it's original OD paint (was not repainted) as well as the correct stencilings. I'll post a pic when I get the time in the coming week.
Next: Probably will begin sanding either the passenger side fender or the cowling & work my way backward on the body. Dad has another grill in better shape than the current one, & I will need to replace the driver's side fender, so no work to do on those other than remove them at the appropriate time. We're expecting a cold front in the coming days, so I may not get to it for a couple of weeks, as the garage gets rather cold!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
First Steps
November, 2004
With the help of Eric Patton & Ed White, I removed the hard top. Jeep immediately looked better, no longer resembling an old Postal Jeep, as my lovely bride loves to point out.
With the help of Eric Patton & Ed White, I removed the hard top. Jeep immediately looked better, no longer resembling an old Postal Jeep, as my lovely bride loves to point out.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Beginnings
This Blog is my chronicle of restoring an early 1950's Korean Era M38A1 Army Jeep.
This particular M38A1 was originally revived in the early 1970's in Marshall, AR by my father, Rick Horton, for his uncle, Audrey Horton. He took 3 Jeeps & assorted parts and built 2 good Jeeps. The other was an M38/CJ2A combination for Dad's other uncle, A.D. Horton.
Basic Information on the Jeep:
Years later, after Audrey's passing, his son & daughter, Stephen & Stephana, took the Jeep to Stephana's father-in-law's place at Greer's Ferry Lake, doing time as a Lake Jeep. In 2002, I played in a golf tournament with Tim Loyd (Stephana's husband), & learned they still had the Jeep. I impressed upon Tim they were to call me first if they ever decided to sell it. Tim's dad, John, called me in July of 2004 & offered me the Jeep for what he had in it for parts, a sum total of $400.00. The Jeep was still running well, & I recruited Dad & Uncle A.D. to go pick it up. We took delivery of the Jeep on August 21, 2004.
Dad did some initial work in the fall on the jeep, re-plumbing the oil lines & replacing the electric fuel pump with an original mechanical fuel pump (civilian), as the motor tries to die when you give it that initial increase in fuel. Apparently someone had tried their hand at rebuilding the carb at some point, as Dad said the motor ran much smoother when Audrey had it. He brought the Jeep to me in November from his place in Marshall, AR (to my place in Lakeland, TN). Now begins the work!
This particular M38A1 was originally revived in the early 1970's in Marshall, AR by my father, Rick Horton, for his uncle, Audrey Horton. He took 3 Jeeps & assorted parts and built 2 good Jeeps. The other was an M38/CJ2A combination for Dad's other uncle, A.D. Horton.
Basic Information on the Jeep:
- M38A1 Frame, tub, transmission/transfer & front end
- M38 Rear end
- Front fenders, grill & hood from another M38A1
- Crated motor that Audrey acquired - brand new or rebuilt motor
- Ford Falcon Carberateur
Years later, after Audrey's passing, his son & daughter, Stephen & Stephana, took the Jeep to Stephana's father-in-law's place at Greer's Ferry Lake, doing time as a Lake Jeep. In 2002, I played in a golf tournament with Tim Loyd (Stephana's husband), & learned they still had the Jeep. I impressed upon Tim they were to call me first if they ever decided to sell it. Tim's dad, John, called me in July of 2004 & offered me the Jeep for what he had in it for parts, a sum total of $400.00. The Jeep was still running well, & I recruited Dad & Uncle A.D. to go pick it up. We took delivery of the Jeep on August 21, 2004.
Dad did some initial work in the fall on the jeep, re-plumbing the oil lines & replacing the electric fuel pump with an original mechanical fuel pump (civilian), as the motor tries to die when you give it that initial increase in fuel. Apparently someone had tried their hand at rebuilding the carb at some point, as Dad said the motor ran much smoother when Audrey had it. He brought the Jeep to me in November from his place in Marshall, AR (to my place in Lakeland, TN). Now begins the work!
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