Found Items
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- G-Second Lieutenant
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- Location: USA - East Tennessee
Found Items
While reading another thread suggesting cleaning under the fuel tank periodically I got to thinking about various things I have found under the tanks, and in the glove and tool boxes of old Jeeps over the years, mostly just garbage, but a few interesting things too. Thought it might be a fun topic.
I'll start with one interesting find. About 30 years ago I was restoring a M38, and was wandering around in a Jeep junkyard to get a few parts.
There were a lot of Jeeps in this junkyard from WW2 up through the 60s.
I always nosed around in the more interesting junkers, and in one Jeep I found a "Constabulary Troopers Road Map of the US Zone of Germany" in the glove box, wasn't in bad shape either. I didn't know enough about Army Jeeps then to know whether the Jeep I found it in was a GPW or a Willys MB, but it had to be one or the other. It caught my attention because I always liked the Army vehicles, and it looked nearly intact. It even still had military markings.
This map would have been what was issued to units during the post WW2 occupation of Germany.
My uncle Tubby was a part of that occupation (6th Cavalry), so I carried the map along with the parts I wanted back to the counter. The old guy let me have the map for free.
I told my father about it and he wanted it, maybe because it made him think of Tubby, so of course I gave it to him.
We have been cleaning out my parents house over the last few months, and I found that old map for the 2nd time stashed away in a cabinet.
I'll start with one interesting find. About 30 years ago I was restoring a M38, and was wandering around in a Jeep junkyard to get a few parts.
There were a lot of Jeeps in this junkyard from WW2 up through the 60s.
I always nosed around in the more interesting junkers, and in one Jeep I found a "Constabulary Troopers Road Map of the US Zone of Germany" in the glove box, wasn't in bad shape either. I didn't know enough about Army Jeeps then to know whether the Jeep I found it in was a GPW or a Willys MB, but it had to be one or the other. It caught my attention because I always liked the Army vehicles, and it looked nearly intact. It even still had military markings.
This map would have been what was issued to units during the post WW2 occupation of Germany.
My uncle Tubby was a part of that occupation (6th Cavalry), so I carried the map along with the parts I wanted back to the counter. The old guy let me have the map for free.
I told my father about it and he wanted it, maybe because it made him think of Tubby, so of course I gave it to him.
We have been cleaning out my parents house over the last few months, and I found that old map for the 2nd time stashed away in a cabinet.
A.C.Fults
East Tennessee
Shade Tree Mechanic more than 50 years.
None of us are as smart as we pretend to be.
East Tennessee
Shade Tree Mechanic more than 50 years.
None of us are as smart as we pretend to be.
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- G-Brigadier General
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Re: Found Items
Great story, i love hearing about stuff like this.
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- G-Second Lieutenant
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 4:22 pm
- Location: USA - East Tennessee
Re: Found Items
I am in the process of building a Willys MB Clone right now with a 48 CJ2A as the donor for frame and drive train. I found 13 22 Long rifle cartridges, 5 30-06 cartridges, various spent pistol cases, two rusty pocket knives, one fork, two fuel tank caps, bunch of beer bottle caps, various garbage, dirt, leaves, and gravel under the gas tank when I started disassembly. Nothing worth keeping.
I sure wish that Junkyard was still there. The old guy who ran it is still alive, so I called him, and he said he retired years ago and sold most of the good stuff, but I could come look at what was left. There wasn't much left. It sure was a cool place to dig around in back when he was in the business, rows and rows of old Jeeps, and trucks.
I sure wish that Junkyard was still there. The old guy who ran it is still alive, so I called him, and he said he retired years ago and sold most of the good stuff, but I could come look at what was left. There wasn't much left. It sure was a cool place to dig around in back when he was in the business, rows and rows of old Jeeps, and trucks.
A.C.Fults
East Tennessee
Shade Tree Mechanic more than 50 years.
None of us are as smart as we pretend to be.
East Tennessee
Shade Tree Mechanic more than 50 years.
None of us are as smart as we pretend to be.
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- G-First Lieutenant
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- Location: Lexington Park, MD (Southern MD)
Re: Found Items
My Dad purchased our March 45 MB back in 2003. It had been bought surplus by a Fire Department in Maine. The Jeep had mods done but overall very original. To the point that we still have the factory installed brake drums. One of the mods was a water tank in the back of the Jeep. It cover the tool boxes since it had been installed in 46 or 47 I believe.
When we removed the tank we found a hub wrench, lug wrench, and jack all trapped in there. All never used. Additionally we found the crank handle still attached to the rear panel. It had been trapped between the tank and rear panel the whole time. You can see them here viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285944
When we removed the tank we found a hub wrench, lug wrench, and jack all trapped in there. All never used. Additionally we found the crank handle still attached to the rear panel. It had been trapped between the tank and rear panel the whole time. You can see them here viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285944
TJ Zackman
1945 Willys MB, 430923, 3/28/45
Scored 98.375% at 2019 MVPA Convention York, PA
1953 M38A1, 69248, 12/53, 20999713
MVPA# 37298
1945 Willys MB, 430923, 3/28/45
Scored 98.375% at 2019 MVPA Convention York, PA
1953 M38A1, 69248, 12/53, 20999713
MVPA# 37298
- Jeeps4Brains
- G-Lieutenant Colonel
- Posts: 1082
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:56 am
- Location: Upstate SC
Re: Found Items
Helping a friend rebuild his M37 we found what was left of a C ration accessory package in the corner of the cab behind the seat. With another friend taking apart his half track we found a live 50 cal round under a panel.
45' MB, ??' MBT, 47' CJ2A, 48' CJ2A,
51' M38 #1, 51' M38 #2, 51' M100,
52' M37, ??' M101A1 (1st Gulf War Vet),
53' M38A1, 53' M211, 65' M151A1, 67' M416,
MVPA #31724
51' M38 #1, 51' M38 #2, 51' M100,
52' M37, ??' M101A1 (1st Gulf War Vet),
53' M38A1, 53' M211, 65' M151A1, 67' M416,
MVPA #31724
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- G-Major
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Re: Found Items
I also have found some "treasures" in some of the vehicles I have restored in the past.
A 1960s movie ticket, 308 casing and a 1972 penny from under the tank of at 67 MUTT
Several 30-06 casings, .22 casings and a beer pull tab from under the tank on a 43MB
A church key can opener and a metal key ring inside the glovebox, wedged between in the the floor and the firewall in my 45GPW.
Brett
A 1960s movie ticket, 308 casing and a 1972 penny from under the tank of at 67 MUTT
Several 30-06 casings, .22 casings and a beer pull tab from under the tank on a 43MB
A church key can opener and a metal key ring inside the glovebox, wedged between in the the floor and the firewall in my 45GPW.
Brett
1942 VEP GPW, J-2 winch, BC-659, 1919a4
1945 GPW, 1943 MBT
Sold - 1967 M151a1, 1943 MB, M416
www.ToThePointPolygraph.com
1945 GPW, 1943 MBT
Sold - 1967 M151a1, 1943 MB, M416
www.ToThePointPolygraph.com
- wreckless
- Gee Addict
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- Location: SW Florida & SNJ
Re: Found Items
Back when Motor Gun Carriages could be imported from Bosnia we had a friend bring back a Russian diesel powered M36 Jackson TD. It had old repaired mine and RPG damage. While stripping her down for restoration a mummified human finger was found inside the crew compartment. That was definitely the weirdest.
Rob
Jersey Wrecking Crew
1943 Ford GPW G503
“In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.“ John Adams
Jersey Wrecking Crew
1943 Ford GPW G503
“In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.“ John Adams
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- G-Colonel
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Re: Found Items
Yowza!wreckless wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:42 pmBack when Motor Gun Carriages could be imported from Bosnia we had a friend bring back a Russian diesel powered M36 Jackson TD. It had old repaired mine and RPG damage. While stripping her down for restoration a mummified human finger was found inside the crew compartment. That was definitely the weirdest.
1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43
- twinflyer17
- G-Colonel
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Re: Found Items
Did he keep it?!
- wreckless
- Gee Addict
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Re: Found Items
No...
Rob
Jersey Wrecking Crew
1943 Ford GPW G503
“In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.“ John Adams
Jersey Wrecking Crew
1943 Ford GPW G503
“In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.“ John Adams
- twinflyer17
- G-Colonel
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