Today Ike was taken out to the street to meet my new tool: a 1600 PSI power washer. After using a very strong de-greaser and letting it sit for a few minutes, the high-power jet went to work. Chunks of grease, dirt, and who knows what came off the block and the forward axle and running gear. Some of the chunks were surprising in size, about an inch thick and 4-5 inches square.

Once this first wash (there will be many more) was completed, I was able to see more block markings, new bolts that I never saw before, and grease joints that were hidden under years of muck. After all that was done, I still wasn’t able to identify the last oil leak, but I’m sure as I get more of the block cleaned I’ll be able to find it. You can’t tell much from the picture, but the amount of crap that came off was simply stunning. Sometimes I forget that this vehicle is 60 years old.

While Ike’s future is to be completely rebuilt to the point where it is basically a new (and sheltered) Jeep, it did get a chance to do a little of what it was intended to do: work. For my wife’s birthday I am putting in a garden bed for veggies and herbs. After tearing out the old sprinkler system in the back yard and laying a new set, we needed to run to the home improvement store to get some more plumbing parts. Due to my dirty attire, we took the Jeep, which was a good idea since I was able to pick up 30 cubit feet of potting soil for the first garden bed.

The 15 bags were stacked high in the bed, with the back seat removed, and we tied it down with a little tie down twine. As you can see in the picture, 15 bags was quite a bit, and about as much as I was willing to put in the back with aged leaf springs and suspension. The nearly flat leafs made for an interesting ride home as well.

I’m also starting to think about my tear down. It’s got to happen at some point, and the sooner it starts, the sooner it can get done and I can start the rebuild. I was originally shooting for early December, but I may end up waiting until it gets closer to its re-registration in March and registering it non-op while I do my rebuild. That should also give me another season of driving next spring before it goes into parts piles awaiting rebuild.

Even though I haven’t decided on a tear-down start date, I have already decided on some of the changes I will make during the rebuild. I’ve already decided on colors, Normandy Blue for the body with black accents on the accessories like the side-view mirror, gas tank and seat frames, wheels, and eventually the upholstery (though it was recently re-done very nicely in tan, so that may come well after the rebuild). With the exception of the olive-colored canvas top, it will look largely like this 1950 CJ-3A named Eugine to the right. Eugine’s former owner did a very nice job detailing his rebuild and returned the Jeep to nearly exact original specifications. Needless to say, I’m using his build as a nice reminder of what my end goal is.