Another from downunder GPW143639

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
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Ran504
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Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:38 am

G'day All I purchased this GPW last June from a bloke in Portland NSW.
Front veiw.JPG
Front veiw.JPG (160.82 KiB) Viewed 2644 times
He had brought it a few years earlier to restore from a farmer in Wattle Flat but had since found another in better condition so had parked this one along side his shed and used it for spares.
Here's a couple more photo's.
Sidr veiw.JPG
Sidr veiw.JPG (146.38 KiB) Viewed 2644 times
Engine bay.JPG
Engine bay.JPG (180.47 KiB) Viewed 2644 times
Regards Randall

The DOD is a guess from the bit of research I have done maybe others may have a better idea than me ?
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.


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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:47 am

Hello Randall,

A photo of the complete frame serial number stamping may be a help in getting a closer DoD. Might the body number be 184406 rather than 84406 ? Is this number on the side of the body gusset or on the front face ?

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:59 am

G'day Tom here's a photo of the chassis rail stamping.
Chassis143639.JPG
Chassis143639.JPG (136.23 KiB) Viewed 2637 times
Thanks for any info you can provide, The body as best I can make out is off a Sept, Nov Willys MB, here's a photo of the gusset.
Body84406.JPG
Body84406.JPG (40.17 KiB) Viewed 2637 times
I think this GPW went through a rebuild of some sort, the chassis is a Ford GPW, the body is off a 1942 MB and the engine is out of a early CJ.
Regards Randall
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Mon Oct 05, 2015 2:54 am

Hi Randall,

Thanks for the photos ! From my GPW studies and databases, your GPW 143639 should have come from the Louisville, Ky. assembly plant. The DoD was most likely about 7 to 10 days before your 9 - 16 - 43 estimate and it would have originally had a Ford made GPW body from the factory. Louisville GPWs are a little rare in Australia and may have been in some of the rebuilt batches received in the later part of the war. Ian Fawbert may have it in his copy of the AWM vehicle records.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:27 am

Thank you Tom for the information, that is good to know. I have a set of data plates that were given to me with the jeep but they do not match either the body or the chassis.
Regards Randall
Dataplate.JPG
Dataplate.JPG (119.25 KiB) Viewed 2612 times
gloveboxlid.JPG
gloveboxlid.JPG (150.93 KiB) Viewed 2612 times
Gloveboxback.JPG
Gloveboxback.JPG (128.37 KiB) Viewed 2612 times
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ian Fawbert » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:38 am

Hi Randall,

Good to see your GPW!

I think we may have passed like ships in the night at the recent estate sale in bathurst with the jeeps! Sorry I missed you!

I haven't forgotten about your GPW either. I did look but didn't see it in the database at the time however, have done some work and added more recently. I'll go back and recheck!

Out of interest and it's possibly (but hopefully not) shadows playing tricks, in your second photo, on the bonnet/hood it appears to be some scratches/numbers? about 5 inches forward from the 2 holes at the back of the hood (added for a relocated bonnet catch to stop the rattling/hinge cracking), about 1 inch from the base of the hood and about 2-3 inches high, I think I can see the numbers 121. Is this right, or just my eyes?

Anyway, great to see your jeep. Have you made any progress on her?

Cheers,
Ian.
Australian Jeep Investigator
MB: 131175
GPW: 11730.
GPW: 225290.
Aust trailer: GMH 3- #211
http://www.vintageengines.net

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ian Fawbert » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:38 pm

Hi Randall,

I managed to check my part of the database and did not find your GPW yet. That doesnt mean it isnt there, it just means its not entered in my section- perhaps Jeff has it in his (or he hasnt entered it yet either).

Anyway, i added it to my list of 'keep checking as enter more' and when i transcribe some more, i will check again.

In the mean time, if you could confirm if my eyes were right with the 121, that would make it alot easier to find!

Cheers,
Ian.
Australian Jeep Investigator
MB: 131175
GPW: 11730.
GPW: 225290.
Aust trailer: GMH 3- #211
http://www.vintageengines.net

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:13 am

G'day Ian thanks for checking, I will pull the bonnet out of storage and check it again.
The jeep has come a long way since those first photo's, since everyone likes a picture here's a few more early ones.
Rear veiw.JPG
Rear veiw.JPG (142.92 KiB) Viewed 2565 times
The rear is pretty beat up, the rear panel, corners and bumper/cross member will require complete or part replacement and the bumperettes will need some work.
Body floor frt.JPG
Body floor frt.JPG (151.07 KiB) Viewed 2565 times
The floor will have to be completly replaced as will parts of the wheel wells, I hope to do most of the fabrication myself.
Chassis diffs Engine trans rear veiw.JPG
Chassis diffs Engine trans rear veiw.JPG (136.93 KiB) Viewed 2565 times
As with a lot of these jeeps they were really flogged about and used as a padock bashers so the chassis has plenty of damage and a few cracks, one major crack behind the drivers side rear of the front spring hanger.
Regards Randall
Last edited by Ran504 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:28 am

Here's a couple more of the engine bay.
Engine firewall.JPG
Engine firewall.JPG (126.21 KiB) Viewed 2545 times
The engine bay is missing a few parts, air cleaner assy, crossover tube, Oil can bracket, Horn, Generator, Starter motor, Voltage regulator is in a bad way, the cover and water pump are missing and the radiator has been holed in a couple of places.
Engine in Chassis.JPG
Engine in Chassis.JPG (153.24 KiB) Viewed 2545 times
The engine is a gear drive and not the earlier chain drive.
Regards Randall
Last edited by Ran504 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:33 am

Here you go Ian here's another photo of the bonnet, it does look like 121xxx.
IMG_0858.JPG
IMG_0858.JPG (144.31 KiB) Viewed 2522 times
Regards Randall
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:54 am

Hi Randall,

Might even be 6127 or 8127.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ian Fawbert » Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:36 am

Hi Randall,

Glad i wasnt seeing things! After seeing it, I agree with tom that there is definitely a 127 in there. I checked all the entries which start with 127XXX, but no ford GPW's- lots of MB's (and blank spaces, dodge 3 ton trucks and other random things!). When you feel game, please check the bonnet again and let me know. With an ARN (Army Rego Number), it is a very quick process to find the jeep! Even a very very lightly oiled rag, very lightly wiped over the area may reveal something- the oil sticks to the high area. Alternatively, very slowly sanding with extremely fine wet sand paper slowly might work too.

I was interested in the rear panel photo- can you please check and let us know what appears to be painted in my highlighted circles?
Image
Often the ARN was painted below the gerry can holder, which may be the remnants of what can be seen in the bottom circle on my edited photo below. I`m not sure what is in the top photo.

When you feel game, please check the bonnet again and let me know. With an ARN (Army Rego Number), it is a very quick process to find the jeep! Even a very very lightly oiled rag, very lightly wiped over the area may reveal something- the oil sticks to the high area.

It may be my eyes again, but it appears there might be something on the passenger side bumperette too- markings of some sort?.... or its just scratches in the pain and rust!

Cheers,
Ian.
Australian Jeep Investigator
MB: 131175
GPW: 11730.
GPW: 225290.
Aust trailer: GMH 3- #211
http://www.vintageengines.net

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:47 am

G'day Ian the areas you have circled on the tub's rear panel is a "caution left hand drive" which suggests that this jeep was registered at some point.
As for the 127xxx ARN being a Willy's MB number that maybe correct as this body is a mid 1942 MB body and not the original GPW body, though there are no rebuild tags I have found evidence of the tags.
This jeep is a real bitsa it has a GPW chassis (9/43), a MB tub body (mid to late 42), one diff is from a MB, the gear box is GPW but the top is MB, transfer case is GPW and the engine is a early CJ from the early 50's but is .060 oversize so has been rebuild short motor as the head is a period MB and the engine auxiliary components are GPW.
Regards Randall
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.

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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ian Fawbert » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:35 am

HI mate,

Thanks for getting back to me on that. Aah, now the MB info does make more sense now! I will go back and have a closer look at the 127XXX range and look in the chassis column to see if GPW 143639 was used to replace a chassis.

Cheers,
Ian.
Australian Jeep Investigator
MB: 131175
GPW: 11730.
GPW: 225290.
Aust trailer: GMH 3- #211
http://www.vintageengines.net

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Ran504
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Re: Another from downunder GPW143639

Post by Ran504 » Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:40 am

I think it's about time for some before and after photo's, this jeep is still being restored.
So here's some pictures of the chassis.
Regards Randall
Chassis damage rear axle bump.JPG
Chassis damage rear axle bump.JPG (109.4 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
The axle bump stop mount will require some fab work with heavy rust damaged areas being replaced.
Chassis Body mount RHS mid.JPG
Chassis Body mount RHS mid.JPG (120.03 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
A bit of welding will fix this up no worries.
Chassis rail damage RHS rear bottom.JPG
Chassis rail damage RHS rear bottom.JPG (115.16 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
I will fab some new chassis sections and replace some of this.
Chassis rail damage RHS rear spring mount.JPG
Chassis rail damage RHS rear spring mount.JPG (91.89 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
Same here, some where i seen a army fix for this type of damage will have to check this out and see if it is a worth while mod.
Chassis rail inner RHS mid.JPG
Chassis rail inner RHS mid.JPG (105.31 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
Some more cracks that will require welding mos of this can be done without removing the inner chassis section.
Steering box mount.JPG
Steering box mount.JPG (117.45 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
Heres where the damage is of a more serious nature, this area will need to be complete dismantled and repaired.
LHS rear of front spring hanger.JPG
LHS rear of front spring hanger.JPG (125.57 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
Same here I may need to fit a fish plate here to safely fix this crack.
Regards Randall
Last edited by Ran504 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GPW143639, DOD 9/6/43, Willys MB Body ACME1 84406, Engine # N531423P.


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