Heading to Michigan UP

[masscj2a]

Toby, that sounds like a plan, but not sure I can keep from going up sooner. You know, kid in a candy store thing. So I know this M170 might not look like much to some of you, but for the New England resident, this thing is a dirty Diamond, not a Diamond in the ruff. It just needs a good cleaning, some de-greasing and a fresh set of clothes and she is ready to go. So I spent the day driving this around in the pasture and making sure it didn't have any surprises for me. Got to say, It runs great, not oil buring or funky smells, clutch seems good, tranny and transfer case shift smooth. Only things I found were the oil filter is dripping onto the alternator and the glass fuel bowl is leaking, Oh and there is no master cylinder, but the parking brake is excellent. Which for these old M170's that usually missing, but the hand brake is complete and functioning nicely. Gvae a few joy rides and then into the barn. Hope to have it disassembled prior to my surgery on the 21st.

And yes, I have to do something about the truck seat and this seat prior to any distant driving.

 

[jammer1]

That's a beautiful jeep. This might poke a hornets nest here but I always likes the looks of a cj6 over a cj8. Add the extra character of a M170 and you can't beat it. Never could find a cj6 in decent condition, much less get a tub or windshield frame. Nice find.

 

[bigwalton]

I just assumed you’d come across Canada straight into the UP, not around the lakes down this way. Damn, you were within an hour of me. That’s the LONG way around for sure.

Lots af awesome stuff in Detroit, just don’t see any of it from I-75.

If you want to explore the UP and get to the dunes, you’ll need a good bit more than a week!

Let’s plan it out.

 

[designerRob]

Love the Jeep and the patina. Ironic to come to MI for a rust free 50+ year old Jeep!

 

[masscj2a]

I just assumed you’d come across Canada straight into the UP, not around the lakes down this way. Damn, you were within an hour of me. That’s the LONG way around for sure.

Lots af awesome stuff in Detroit, just don’t see any of it from I-75.

If you want to explore the UP and get to the dunes, you’ll need a good bit more than a week!

Let’s plan it out.

Eric, when I was planning the trip, I wanted to come through Canada, but went to the safe and found my passport expired in April. That would have saved a bunch of time, even if I DID THE SPEED limit. We should plan something for the return trip next year. Would like to meet more Jeep peeps.

 

[masscj2a]

Love the Jeep and the patina. Ironic to come to MI for a rust free 50+ year old Jeep!

Actually it funny indeed and that old iron is actually 64 years old, 4 years more than I.

 

[masscj2a]

More pictures of the trip. These are the ones I could not get off the phone earlier, but the on the way up and back pictures.

Approaching the Big Mac. Day 1

Loaded up in Pelkie. 2230 hours. Day 1

Great sunrise on Rte 2 heading towards the bridge. This was after I stopped at the Christmas Casino for a 3 hours napperooo.

My travel partners. They don't talk much, but are great company. There were others in the trash bag already by then. This was at a fuel stop where what do you think I see, just before I cross back over the Mac ????? You'll see.

Yeh, that's right, a freaking helicopter, on a trailer no less. So by now, I was starting to think I had to many energy drinks. Nope, I punched myself in the face and it was still a helicopter on a trailer. But I thought I saw jalapeno on a stick in the pilots seat.

More fuel and more Monster Ultra Sunrise. Good stuff. That's it, its all I can get off my cell for now, but I think you have had enough. Oh, One more. The accident on 480, near Ohio I think. this is the one that held me up for a few minutes..........................

 

[jammer1]

The 480 pic is 10 minutes from where I live. You could have done a detour and left the M170. I would have taken good care of it.

 

[masscj2a]

Heck, if I had known hat, I would have left the M170 with you and gone back for the half cab M38a1 and brought that home. Your house is probably 7 hours closer to my house than Pelkie is.

 

[jammer1]

That would have worked. You would have missed the M170. You need to keep accumulating toys. Guy with most toys wins.

 

[masscj2a]

Jammer, I have been selling a few off. 4 this year so far. I have two 71 Commando's for sale right now. Just running out of room to keep them indoors. And I also am to the point where I want to just drive a few, instead of constantly wrenching them all the time. This one is a prime example of that. No sheet metal work , good mechanicals, and with a little work here and there, a running, drivable early Jeep. But if I had known where you were and you had the room, I would have definitely dropped off one to go back and pick up another one. The problem with the seller, was they were leaving for the season and not coming back till June. So even if I could have moved one, I could have come back to your house anytime after that, to pick it up. That is if you would let it go at that point.

 

[bigwalton]

Yeah man, you definitely should have posted your route. We easily could have worked something out to stash the M170 and let you get the other one.

You can see all kinds of crazy junk in the UP, it's like the wild west and Rt 2 is a beautiful drive.

I'm partial to the Monster Zero Calorie drinks, they're my go-to roadtrip beverage now. The black cherry one is awesome.

 

[masscj2a]

Yeh Eric, my kid is also a cop and he likes the zero sugar ones. We live on those at times. But I can't get over how good the ultra sunrise is, the java once in a while. Rte 2 was a great ride, but I didn't see as many deer as I thought I would and I have all the heavy deer movement hours covered. Next time I plan on a longer trip with more stops and then maybe we can do something or plan a meet and greet.

 

[jammer1]

On I90 in cleveland my shop I rent is a 4,000 ft steel barn building. I would have found a spot to hold her. If it come's up again, give a call. No problem.

 

[masscj2a]

Next trip will be better planned. If I had known I had so many friends along the route, I would have done it differently. But my generation is one that did not like to ask for help and most times, its not even in our mind set. But it would have been great to see peoples faces and connect them to the names here. We will do it better next time. Besides, I will probably have the girl along with me and her bladder is the size of a thimble . So that means stops every 1/2 hour. Or I slip her a sleeping pill and wake her up when I get there

 

[hdttm]

That looks like an awesome trip and a great find!

Let me know if you are down in this area sometime at the Lakehouse, or I could head up the road a bit and see it in person

 

[masscj2a]

Come on over. It's a cool Jeep.

 

[masscj2a]

Not going to register it this year.