Sixty-seven pattern Jeep progress log

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Just for the Halibut, I've decided to keep a running log of the return of M38A1 CDN 3, former Canadian Forces Registration 70-08876 to the streets. The goal has never been to make the jeep a showpiece, but a roadworthy small 4x4 with an attention getting paint job.

A hundred and fifty years ago in the reserves, my unit The Sherbrooke Hussars had a number of as we called them, '67 Pattern Jeeps'. No one used the M series number. We also had two '74 Pattern Jeeps', which were M151 series.

The unit's history has been a sequence of mounts and dismounts. It was locally raised cavalry and infantry for WWI, machine guns in the Depression, then into tanks early in WWII, landing on D-Day afternoon, fighting through to VE Day, repatriating Tank Bomb to the Parade Grounds Park, then demobilization. The Postwar period saw M4 Shermans back again, but 76.2mm postwar models. The tanks were turned into stores in the mid-60's. As a very impressionable boy, I rode in one with my father. The unit reroled for light armoured reconnaissance (which meant Jeeps and 3/4 tons). Just as I was releasing they converted to Cougars, but never had more than a handful either on hand at the armoury or in a pool in Valcartier. Their other vehicles were Iltis'. I'm not sure how to define the role of The Sherbrooke Hussars these days, other than to provide a manpower reserve for overseas deployments.

I learned to drive at age 16 in them, and made many fond memories onboard '67 Pattern Jeeps. Since becoming a father, I have one of those irrational mental images of me and my son riding, smiling, and getting windburnt as we build some rugged outdoorsy experiences together.

Enter the Internet. On a Wednesday in Oct 07 I saw a posting by a fellow who needed to sell his '67 Pattern Jeep fast. She who makes the rules had spoken to him. So after a quick exchange of messages and phone calls, the deal was closed. He was losing money, and I had to drive 6hrs to go get it. Fair enough. By Saturday night I had Jeep in my driveway. Young man was already excited about, 'Dad's Jeep'.

I inhaled slowly through the nose and set 9 or 10 steps to be done in sequence. The desired result is a safe vehicle on the road in serviceable, recce squadron condition. Getting the paperwork and registration was the first step. Making the Jeep look good was the last one. The budget is to spend the purchase price again in parts and services. If something bad appears, that amount will be reevaluated.

Step zero was to contact the local Rusted Old Truckers (aka the Rotters) in Ottawa. The Internet makes this part so easy. Bob works in the same department as my wife, so it is a small world. Alex sold me more manuals than I wanted, but which have answered many questions. The OMVA chapter conveniently had a small sale where I spent all my pocket money and missed out on a few things. The internet of course is a great place to explore and find suppliers. Over the winter a coworker/boss passed me copies of JPMagazine, which puts some of the work ahead into perspective. And, on a free classified listings I found a local fellow parting out a '67 Pattern Jeep. He seems to have some of what I need.

For less than $100, I found a vehicle appraiser (Rupert Phelan in Ottawa) to put a $$ value on the vehicle so the province could get their fair share on the ownership transfer. I bought the used vehicle package from the Ministry of Transport that listed previous owners and liens. After a false start on misinformation, I spent $190 to change the name on the registration and register the Jeep as unfit, meaning it could not be driven. The alternative was to wait until the work was complete and safetied before registering. I didn't want to have the vehicle in the old owner's name and me doing all that work. Step 1 - check.

Step 2 was to get the lights working. The previous owner had installed a mixed pair of commercial 12v batteries. One turned out to be dead, the other serviceable. I stripped the battery compartment, removed and wirebrushed the trays, and repainted them Rustoleum flat black. I bent some 5/16 threaded rod and green garden hose (free salvage, non conductive and flexible) for battery holddowns. In the books, there is a proper holddown frame for the issue batteries. With the electricals working one day the time will come to install a pair of batteries, I'd like to have found a pair of holddown frames by then. Tonight the boy tooted the horn on Dad's Jeep a ceremonial first toot. The lights work all around, except for a missing blackout marker/tail light. Must keep looking.

Step 3 is to get the engine running. That means reading and following the previous owner's fuel lines and connections. More to follow.