Arizona Kaiser Jeep Junk Yard - Kaiser Geyser Part 2

A busted windshield, buckled roof and hasty coat of primer aren't enough to make this rugged Willys 1-ton 4X4 look like it belongs in the junkyard. Serial number information contained in Jim Allen's Jeep history book (available from motorbooks.com) tells us that the beginning and ending range for 1954 4X4 pickup trucks with six-cylinder engines was 10001 to 14927. So the 11233 stamped on this truck's cowl plate confirms it's a '54. The enlarged rear glass seen here was first debuted that year. Also new for 1954 was the three-bar grille versus the five-bar design used in 1953.

Aftermarket gauges adorn the otherwise unmolested interior. Compare the second-design instrument cluster here (mid-1950 through 1956) with those shown in the other Willys trucks and Station Wagons. The dual rectangular gauges and circular speedometer - with a dashboard stamping to match - are covered by an attractive chrome bezel. Willys/Kaiser didn't offer an automatic transmission in 4X4 trucks until the arrival of the J-series in 1963. Buyers of these flatfender trucks could choose between a three- or four-speed manual gearbox.

Though the 75 horsepower 134-inch F-head four-banger was standard equipment, 1954 was the debut year for the optional Super Hurricane six-cylinder engine seen here. Packing 226-cubes and 115 horsepower, the same basic mill was also used in Kaiser passenger cars. Some might call this the first of many instances of Jeep using outsourced engines. But since Kaiser bought out Willys-Overland in 1954 (to become Kaiser-Willys), it was actually an in-house deal - if you ignore the fact that Kaiser got the engines from Continental Motors.

Making its debut in November of 1962 as a 1963 model, the Jeep J-series Gladiator pickup brought Jeep into the "modern" age even though its antiquated predecessor - the flatfender Willys pickup - remained simultaneously available through 1965. Thankfully, Jeep adopted a better serial number system for the J-series and Wagoneer that makes model and feature identification easier. This one reads 3406C11737. Let's translate: 34 = 4WD J300 truck, 06 = chassis cab, C = 7,600 GVW, 11737 = sequential serial number.

The Gladiator was the first 4WD Jeep pickup with an optional automatic transmission but this one has the standard column-shifted three-speed manual transmission. The interior - and exterior - paint on this one are factory original. Drink in the patina.

Kaiser-Jeep spent almost five years developing the Gladiator. Part of the program was this modern OHC Tornado six to take over for the ancient Super Hurricane flathead six and F-head four. Displacing 230-cubes, the new mill made 140hp - 25 more than the old six. While some flatfender pickup trucks were built with the OHC Tornado mill, the flathead six was never available in the Gladiator or Wagoneer.

The olive drab paint on this stripped tub hints it might be a rare WWII vintage Willys MB until you spot the tailgate opening. Real MB's (and Ford-built GPW's) do not have tailgates. Then again, the Spicer model 23-2 full-floating rear axle - with its signature six-bolt flanged hubs - is specific to military Jeeps. All but the earliest CJ-2A's used Spicer model 41 or 44 rear axles with semi-floating axle shafts.

Inside above the glove box is this metal vehicle dimension tag. Oddly it's devoid of government markings typically found on U.S. military vehicles. Speaking of the glove box, every WWII MB has one but they were eliminated on post-war CJ models, making this desert relic all the more intriguing.

The metal tag spot welded to the case of the Spicer model 25 front axle states it was rebuilt by the "ordnance base depot shop" on 3-11-54. Like the rest of this mysterious Jeep, everything is coated in olive drab paint. Can any readers shed more light on what we have here?

A close look at the firewall of this 1957 Station Wagon reveals a red Chevy bowtie sticker, mute testimony to previous heart transplant surgery. The home-brewed shackle mounts, add-on hydraulic steering damper and 13-leaf front spring packs join the list of modifications intended to improve this Jeep's already excellent off-road capability.

The modifications continue out back where a beefy Ford 9-inch replaces the stock Spicer model 41 rear axle. With it's splined hubs and two-piece axle shafts, the Spicer can be frustrating to work on, plus its strength is marginal behind any V-8 swap. Everybody knows shocks work best when mounted near the outboard ends of the axle. Who knows what the guys were thinking when they whipped up this funky installation. Also, 1957 marked the adoption of 12-volt electrical systems in all Jeep vehicles though 6-volt systems were still available for technophobes.