[maple_leaf_eh]

Hard to believe I started this journal eleven years ago. The vehicle was taken off the road just before the shutdowns, and entrusted to a truck fabricator friend. He is a member of a closeknit crew of volunteer drivers and demonstrators for a vehicle collection in Ottawa. My smartest two decisions on this project were, a) realizing I didn't have the skills or set up to do the Jeep justice, and b) trusting a kindred spirit to do the job properly. And yes, I am paying the man for his time and talents. The back half of the M151A2 had a serious attack of the tin termite compared to the front half. But the loud knock was the decision point.

In no particular order the following repairs and replacements have been completed:

-furnace filter grill guard per CFTO
-replacement hood - dented
-replacement grill - holed in many places from a previous owner's bumper mounted winch
-plug welded dozens of holes on all four fender lips from a previous owner's rubber mud guards
-replacement motor - the installed one ate a few piston rings; the supposed spare was worse
-most of the working parts of the old engine swapped over because we know they all worked
-repaired the radiator after I broke off the overflow tube
-replaced the freeze plugs with Amazon's finest
-wired the slave cable plug
-cleaned all the paint off the windshield rubber
-filled several specious holes in the dash
-repaired the battery box floor
-new build battery hold down - significantly safer and smarter than 2 bungee cords and some J-hooks
-sealed the gas tank and banged the flange flat-ish
-replaced several parts of both front floors
-replaced left and right body sides - poorly rewelded when reassembled
-replaced left and right rear wheel well tops and the 45-deg brace
-replaced all cross members and hidden supports across the back wall
AND
-installed NOS underbody reinforcement hat channel kit

-the engine starts and runs with fuel out of the tank.
-pressure is 31 - 32 PSI at idle.
-voltmeter is charging and shows in the green.
-the roll cage is sitting in the right place, just needs the application of some English to sink into the six sockets. Exterior bolt holes line up.
-probably 18 or 20 spray cans of Krylon camouflage olive green so far - word to the wise. US and Canadian Krylon formulations are not a match. The primer is a high specification two-part paint/surface sealer that came (legally) out of the fabrication shop's paint locker. Leftover from a client's contract and not ordered destroyed.
-rubberized undercoating on underside.

The reassembly continues, and yes I am anxious to drive!