My dad's Navy-surplused 1980 Jeep CJ-5

[@rodney1818]

That jeep needs to be in a museum just the way it sits

[@johndoe43]

My dad was merchant marine in ww2. Also passed about 3 yrs ago at 89 yrs. He wouldn't have said much on video either. That's a special Jeep. I've been a military and Jeep nut for 59 yrs and just when I think I know it all or seen it all there is something else. I have 6 civilian cj5s and truly love them. Can't have too many jeeps. Good video. Thank you and good luck

[@larryg.9187]

..... I'm with the commenters who are wishing you and your family well... Having lost both Mom and Dad, it's hard to even talk about them sometimes... But, this film with your Dad and you, just having a good day with his Jeep, is very nice to see... I'm sure you value the film and your time with him... Thanks for sharing ... Regards .....

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks. It’s one of the only videos of him that exists.

[@michaeladamo1188]

Man I’m sorry for your lost buddy! May he Rest In Peace

[@RADIOACTIVEMASCULINITY]

I love the special equipment sticker on the top

[@powellph]

That’s a cool Jeep… my son and I are in the process of restoring a 65 naval air station CJ5. Mine has a data plate on the dash that says “United States Department of the Navy.” Hang on to it, from what I have found there are not a lot of them around.

[@HoosierGarage]

And sorry for your loss John, I'm glad you got this video with your dad when you did.

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks, Hoosier. Me too.

[@M_Phipps0520]

Rare Jeep , so sorry for your loss of your Dad .

[@BigfootsnMopars]

Nothing ever prepares you for such a loss. God bless you and your Family John.

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

great little jeep man I really dig it man. I am sorry for your loss John

[@bigbear5510]

What really annoys me, is that there's probably somebody out there LS swapping a classic Jeep!

[@newcitycarpet3675]

John, I'm so sorry about your dad, please, I wish you and your entire family peace and support at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Gary

[@georgi.rushkov]

May he rest in peace! My sincere condolences.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

So sorry for you loss brother! You guys will be in our prayers... Awesome story on a piece of family history... Andy

[@gregmacdonald6773]

Good video and it makes for a great Tribute to your Dad.Condolences to you John and the rest of the family.

[@seanfagan6998]

Sorry for your loss john.

[@moparmission7093]

Neat Jeep John! sorry about the loss of your dad.

[@michaeladamo1188]

I love this jeep! You should clear coat it and preserve it as is

[@3DRCRACER]

I have not seen a CJ-5 for a long time

[@318willrun]

Nice story, thanks for sharing! Your Dad is cool !

[@gonzo5912]

sorry about your dad dude, I lost mine in 93, he was a great man, father husband and grandpaw.

[@musclecarmitch908]

That's a really unique Jeep, I've never seen a steel top like that before, Great video John, heartbreaking at the end to learn that you lost your father, I am truly sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing this video, I hope you can keep the jeep going in memory of him.

[@shanebutter7640]

Dang bro can't belive you posted this today had to be ruff. If you want any help restoring your dad's jeep so you can ride it around as long as he did ,I'll do what I can or figure out a way some how to make it to you to help do so. Would be an honor to him and you to keep his memories going with that awesome jeep. I don't want to have to go through that but it's bond to happen. Sorry for your loss hope your holding up as good as your able to man.

[@johnwilburn]

I had already made the video and just added the end screen before posting. That video is the by far the best part of today.

[@shanebutter7640]

@@johnwilburn oh ok I got you ,and yeah I can see that to being the best part of your day now that you say that. Hang in there you got plenty of people here for you man .

[@lcchappell2722]

John I absolutely love this, thanks so much for sharing! Your dad and that Jeep go together like peas and carrots. Love it! And how awesome to see all the unique details it has from that moment (year) in time. So special.

[@johnwilburn]

He died just days after this video was made. Glad we did this. I took this to a Jeep show last year. This was his daily.

[@lcchappell2722]

@@johnwilburn oh my gosh how beautiful you shared this day together and you have it to look back on.❤️Sorry your dad isn’t physically here with you but I’m pretty sure he’s floating alongside you in spirit everyday.

[@johnwilburn]

@@lcchappell2722He was not exactly fond of being on camera, but I’m glad we got this. We’ll have it forever. I had just done something similar with his brother: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3fEdJaCrL5mpqMsi=YKVJIHf0J0TWLOkU

[@lcchappell2722]

@@johnwilburn wish there was a heart button, I can totally feel the magic in that day you had with him!!

[@johnwilburn]

@@lcchappell2722Magic… good for general trickiness.

[@JustMoparJoe]

Awesome Jeep and Story behind it. They don't make Jeeps or Men like that anymore. Sorry for your loss, Brother. Prayers for you and the family. You've got my number if I can help in any way!

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks Joe. We’re now both in the club that no one wants to join. I’ll see you soon.

[@lindanelson8400]

Very nice Jeep. Reminded me of the 1949 CJ 2A Jeep I got from my great uncle. He had rebuilt the original 134 cubic inch flat head engine. It was bone stock, still in the 6 volt electrical system. He had added an aftermarket rag top. That was a fun little rig, and it would go literally anywhere. I wish I had kept it, but I sold it to the son of a lady I worked with around 1990. It wasn't long before he had destroyed the engine, and it sat in a field near the house. It gave me many years of fun and faithful service.

[@moparnut6286]

Very cool video John great little jeep.... When I watched this I had the captions on and when you and your dad were driving around at the end every time you could hear the engine the caption said music! Damn right music! God rest your dad's soul!

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks. I guess needing a muffler = music. 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’m just glad we got to make that video together just 17 days ago.

[@moparnut6286]

@@johnwilburn Awesome John!

[@HoosierGarage]

the stenciling is the exact same style and size as the burned-in-the-paint effect that was on my 72 Dodge.

[@johnwilburn]

Had he ever let me paint it for him, he wanted it to go back to its original battleship gray and recreate the decals, but the white really stuck and grew on us over the years, so it won’t change now.

[@sczuylevch13]

Sorry about your dad John! Its tough especially for someone who was as close to their father as you seemed! I still miss my dad every day!

[@johnwilburn]

He won’t be with us at Carlisle this year, but I hope to run into you again.

[@sczuylevch13]

@@johnwilburn I look forward to it!

[@ThaGlittersAintGold]

A great ride and a great man.

[@DanEBoyd]

Aw man, sorry to hear about your Dad!

[@aprules2]

Hey John I'm sorry to hear about your dad, and that is a really cool Jeep, and its cool you guys got to enjoy it together.

[@johnwilburn]

Funny you say that..... this video is as much as we did together with that Jeep. Other things, yes, but not the Jeep. He never knew that I’m the one who rebuilt the top end of the engine. Anyway, I’m so glad we got to make this video. Such a rarity and we can have this video forever.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Now the question has to be asked. How in the world would he not know that you rebuilt the top end of his Jeep?

[@johnwilburn]

@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport Long story, but I was never allowed to work on anything of his if at all possible. He was really freaked about blowing the engine. I offered to do it, but he wouldn’t hear of that. I asked where he was going to get it done and he didn’t know. I said, “so anybody but me?” He confirmed. So I recommended a shop a friend of mine owns. They knew the situation, picked it up, and dropped it off at another buddy’s race shop. That friend and I got it done first class and fixed a bunch of other stuff too, then I drove it to the other shop for him to pick up and told them what to “bill” him. I picked a cheap amount that didn’t even cover half the parts, but sounded believable to him. He was happy with the work and that’s all that matters.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

😂 You got one over on him💪🏼 Respect ✊ It’s never easy, and I have no words. Stay strong.

[@johnwilburn]

@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport Steering box, front end alignment, shifter housing, flat tire repair, thrown driveshaft twice, the left front wheel bearing, the right rear taillight..... the framerails..... the repair stories are endless and really only sound believable to those who remember them at the time. You couldn’t make them up.

[@MrJeep75]

Cool jeep

[@jeepsandfreedom5747]

That is really cool John. Sorry for your loss.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Weathers breaking, Dart Sport time!!

[@johnwilburn]

I have some good stuff coming up, including getting the Dart Sport front end back together. Stay tuned.....

[@jon-xq2lc]

Man what a nice Jeep, I would fix the rust and clear the patina look 👍

[@johnwilburn]

I always wish he’d have let me fix the rust. At one time, he wanted it back the battleship gray it was originally, but the white grew on us.

[@kurtzimmerman1637]

that looks a lot like the mail truck I bought in 1981 or so. mine was 2 wheel drive though. my condolences.

[@johnwilburn]

If he got a $1 every time someone mistook it for an AM General mail truck, it would have paid for the Jeep.

[@johnwilburn]

@@bigbear5510 They are completely different vehicles.

[@wallacebrown6366]

There is nothing more I can add that hasn’t already been said. God bless.

[@robertmurphy8290]

My condolences to you and your family.

[@thekikendallsautoandrandom1271]

And im sorry about the loss of your father.

[@haganbarnes]

Very neat, glad you had this experience. Sorry to hear this news about your dad - very hard I can imagine.

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks. He was one of a kind.

[@johnwilburn]

Thanks. He was one of a kind.

[@thekikendallsautoandrandom1271]

John, AMC (even on the XJ and MJ series, until 1993) used GM steering columns and wiring, GM master cylinders and brakes, and used alot of ford components as well. Made them exceptionally easy to work on and find parts, and dirt nuts reliable.

[@johnwilburn]

I’m thinking the steering box is GM, too. I know it’s a Saginaw because I bought it new old stock in Canada.

[@440phoenix]

Cool ride! I'd be awesome to see it restored to its original glory.

[@coperacingtrans]

cool

[@howardwilliams8993]

Sorry for your loss.

[@jimifed2798]

Very Sorry about your Dad , John.

[@jontrudell7529]

Awesome!!! Thanks WILBURN

[@Jupitermustangmike]

Aw john I'm so sorry about pops/ holy smokes I never expected that 😪♥️♥️♥️

[@fricknjeep]

hi there nice old jeep john

[@rodney1818]

You know I mentioned that all Motors Corporation t0 Scott's Speed Shop and he seem to get offended

[@johnwilburn]

🤷🏼‍♂️

[@rodney1818]

@@johnwilburn and all I said was the AMC Rambler bought the design schematics from the Big 3 and International I also said that the best car we had through the 80s was the 74 gremlin

[@ewconway]

Awesome Jeep! Especially since it was you’re Dads putt putt vehicle around town. John: I am sincerely sorry for the loss of you’re Dad. R.I.P...... Just a footnote, I recommend redacting the license plate in all you’re videos. Take care 😊

[@johnwilburn]

When wanting not to identify your car that looks like 1,000 others, yes, you might censor the license plates, but plates are public and with vehicles that are unmistakably unique, there no privacy difference to leave them in.

[@ewconway]

@@johnwilburn John, sounds good. Different States have different rules. In California, the plate information is not public unless a person applies to DMV and provide a valid reason why you need the plate information. Also, the requestors information is recorded.

[@johnwilburn]

@@ewconway For the purposes of video, all plates are public because we drive around in public displaying them. So, vehicles like this Jeep, my uncle’s Humvee, the UTG fleet, Andy Wood’s Casper, etc, etc, really don’t matter. Gray man-type vehicles, on the other hand, sure, it’s an extra layer of privacy. Also if there’s anything sketchy or dox-able about the tags. I’m always careful about those situations.

[@ewconway]

@@johnwilburn Sounds good 👌 BTW, when are you going to build another MOPAR transmission for Uncle Tony?

[@johnwilburn]

@@ewconway Whenever Uncle Tony asks me to. If ya’ll request it, maybe he will. Either way, I have more transmissions to build and so long as life goes as it should, I expect to share those builds here.

[@Ollywood00]

Love the CJ5

[@brucekultgen132]

Better than a Timex ! Sorry about your dad....

[@toddmccarter45]

Neat!

[@donbray9213]

Hi. Is the top removable?

[@johnwilburn]

It is. It's a factory steel hardtop.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Plan Z!!