The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
RossPatterson
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 1:59 pm
Location:

The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by RossPatterson » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:19 pm

Hello all! I’ve been meaning to start this thread for a while, and have finally found the time to do so. Over the years, my family has amassed several unrestored WWII vehicles, of which the one closest to my heart is my 1942 GPW. GPW 77059 was built in Louisville, Kentucky, and delivered to the military on November 2nd, 1942. At some time, a metal cab was attached (removed by my uncle) and she was painted red for use as a post war fire vehicle in South West Missouri. My great-grandfather acquired the jeep after the war, and it has remained in my family ever since. Unfortunately, it suffered damages over its lifetime. My great uncle sought to ‘modernize’ it in the 1960’s, cutting a hole in the side to install an M38 gas tank and throwing out the rear seat. The glove box floor was cut out at one point, and a heater installed. The original front bumper and gussets were replaced by welded angle iron, and the bumperettes were taken off at some point when she was used to pull stumps out on the farm (an act that bowed the rear cross member some). The final pain was when one of my uncles noticed that the spare tire was a combat rim, and proceeded to cut the tire off it in an attempt to take the rim apart… without noticing that the tire was the original factory issued Ford marked directional tread. I have the cut beads and the shell, so it may one day be reassembled for display.

On its good points, the GPW has matching frame, engine, and data plate serial numbers. The data plate is pitted pretty heavily, but the stamped information is legible. Also of interest is the data plates are in the uncommon ‘brass – steel – brass’ arrangement. Three of the five original combat rims are still present along with one of the original bead locks (I have already acquired two more original combat rims and two more bead locks). All gauges are present, and underneath road tar and layers of paint, the metal is solid. Much of the original frame paint survived to a degree, along with its original factory primer – black (a facet that confused my father and intrigued me).

In 2007, my uncle (who at the time was owner of the GPW) began to move to sell the jeep. By a chance conversation over the phone, my father and I learned of this instance, and several panicked (for me) days later, my father and I had purchased the jeep. It made its way here to Virginia in the summer of 2007, and was largely disassembled by 2008. But alas, fate throws a wrench into so many plans, and a series of family events, tragedies among friends, and my attending college slowed progress to a crawl. Since my graduation, however, I have returned to GPW 77059 in full force, making every effort to bring her pack to her former glory in my off time from work and Graduate School. Since her original unit identity was lost with her bumper and bumperettes, I have chosen to mark the jeep as the First Vehicle of Easy Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division (Mid 1943-Early 1944). I have always held a great love for the 45th Division, and feel it would be a fitting choice to have a GPW of their unit so close to the Hampton Port of Embarkation that saw them off to war in 1943.

As of this moment, GPW 77059 stands (or rather, sits on pallets) fully disassembled. Work is underway to straighten the damage to the rear cross member, and the new bumper gussets will be attached once this is complete. I hope to have her in ‘rolling frame’ condition before summer is out, and will try and upload photographs and progress reports as I am able.
Ford GPW 77059, D.o.D. November 2, 1942 [Undergoing restoration]
Ford G8T 1 1/2 Ton Truck, 1942 [Unrestored, original markings for 8th Service Command]
MK III MOD I Navy Bomb Trailer [Unrestored]
Willys 357953 USMC Radio Jeep (?), 1944 [Unrestored]
1955? M38A1 Project [Unrestored but Running]


User avatar
hell-fire
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 3443
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:06 am
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by hell-fire » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:46 am

Sounds a good project, Photos Please.
John
Australia
Member VMVC #192
1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
Image

RossPatterson
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 1:59 pm
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by RossPatterson » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:50 am

Here goes my attempt at uploading photos....
GPW 77059 in Missouri, 2007.JPG
GPW 77059 in Missouri, 2007
GPW 77059 in Missouri, 2007.JPG (237.46 KiB) Viewed 20177 times
GPW 77059 - Tub off, April 18th, 2008.JPG
GPW 77059 - Tub off, April 18th, 2008
GPW 77059 - Tub off, April 18th, 2008.JPG (208.98 KiB) Viewed 20177 times
GPW 77059 as of May 19th, 2013 (Front).jpg
GPW 77059 in the 'work shed,' May 19, 2013
GPW 77059 as of May 19th, 2013 (Front).jpg (162.65 KiB) Viewed 20177 times
Most of my current photos have not been saved to my computer yet, so I will try to upload some of them later.
Ford GPW 77059, D.o.D. November 2, 1942 [Undergoing restoration]
Ford G8T 1 1/2 Ton Truck, 1942 [Unrestored, original markings for 8th Service Command]
MK III MOD I Navy Bomb Trailer [Unrestored]
Willys 357953 USMC Radio Jeep (?), 1944 [Unrestored]
1955? M38A1 Project [Unrestored but Running]

User avatar
hell-fire
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 3443
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:06 am
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by hell-fire » Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:54 am

Ross,

The body on the Jeep looks good & easily repairable, you should be able to get the missing parts for the body you need (like the glove box floor) with a simple wanted add on the G.

Great stuff you were able to save the family Jeep.
John
Australia
Member VMVC #192
1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
Image

RossPatterson
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 1:59 pm
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by RossPatterson » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:24 am

Thanks for the suggestion Hell-fire!

I've actually already had a forum member offer me a glove box floor from a tub that he's disassembling, so I'm quite the happy camper right now!

Also, I was able to photograph the data plate, frame, and engine serial numbers. Sorry for the difficult visibility on the frame number, I still need to clean that up more (once the rear cross member is finished).
GPW 77059 Serial Numbers.jpg
GPW 77059 Serial Numbers - Data Plate, Frame, Engine
GPW 77059 Serial Numbers.jpg (189.38 KiB) Viewed 19992 times
Ford GPW 77059, D.o.D. November 2, 1942 [Undergoing restoration]
Ford G8T 1 1/2 Ton Truck, 1942 [Unrestored, original markings for 8th Service Command]
MK III MOD I Navy Bomb Trailer [Unrestored]
Willys 357953 USMC Radio Jeep (?), 1944 [Unrestored]
1955? M38A1 Project [Unrestored but Running]

User avatar
Belac
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:06 am
Location: Pullman WA

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by Belac » Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:40 pm

Hey! Same day of delivery as my jeep! (Also Louisville I believe) Cool! I'm looking forward to more pics!
Image
1942 GPW
Serial# 76498
D.O.D.11-2-42
Hood# 20160378

Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=201910
Jeep profile: http://g503.com/serial-numbers/view.php?record_id=4707

thidisbogus
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 3180
Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:49 pm
Location: Magnolia, Texas
Contact:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by thidisbogus » Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:31 pm

Hi Ross,

Congratulations on being able to finally get the time to work on your family jeep. Looking forward to more pictures.

Interesting what they did to the fender blackout light....

User avatar
Tony W
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1138
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:56 pm
Location: Perth. Western Australia

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by Tony W » Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:38 am

Hi Ross
It will be great to watch the progress.

The body looks pretty good, it will be interesting to see it after sandblasting.
I,l keep my fingers crossed for you

Tony
GPW Feb, 45,
chassis 259112
body 214625
engine MB131277 Overstamped XXX4B1945
ARN 153851

David McElreath
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 64
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:14 am
Location: Oxford, Mississippi

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by David McElreath » Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:07 am

It sure looks great!!!!

RossPatterson
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 1:59 pm
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by RossPatterson » Sat Jul 13, 2013 6:12 am

I know I've been silent for... wow, a full month... but unforeseen circumstances, along with an out-of-state wedding for a cousin have slowed me down. But, now that my family's lawn mower has a new engine to replace the one that threw a rod, I am starting to progress again! I acquired primer for the frame of the same shade of black that was originally applied in the factory (KBS RustSeal, good stuff), and managed to get the repair weld on the cross member ground down almost flush. This weekend or next weekend, depending on mother nature, I should be able to fix the cross member and attach the bumper gussets, making her ready for sandblasting. I also got a hold of an original Water Pump for the engine, and a WWII Jerry Can holder with its original strap. I am told that I do not need to buy any more Jerry Cans for my little unrestored motor poll, but I believe you can never have too many. Hence the 1941 US, 1942 US, 1943 British, 1945 US, and assorted post-war models. Always good to have spare fuel!

I am indebted to you all for the know-how posted on the forums, and the generosity of members. Currently another member of the 'G' is going to save an original glove box floor and several other components for me from an otherwise damaged GPW tub, so the historical integrity of the tub will be much higher than I previously hoped. I've already started amassing quite a lot of manuals and Italian Theater ephemera to help put that soon-to-be-restored glove box to good use!

Hope to be back again soon with a bigger update and progress pictures!
Ford GPW 77059, D.o.D. November 2, 1942 [Undergoing restoration]
Ford G8T 1 1/2 Ton Truck, 1942 [Unrestored, original markings for 8th Service Command]
MK III MOD I Navy Bomb Trailer [Unrestored]
Willys 357953 USMC Radio Jeep (?), 1944 [Unrestored]
1955? M38A1 Project [Unrestored but Running]

User avatar
Navarre
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1387
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:54 am
Location: Canary Islands, Spain

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by Navarre » Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 am

Beautiful and interesting matching numbers project!

Keep us updated, please.

Regards
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition"
Ford GPW 86534 DoD 12-11-42...in progress!
Resto thread: viewtopic.php?f=144&t=198728

walapu
G-First Sergeant
G-First Sergeant
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:28 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by walapu » Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:58 pm

Looks great! Looking forward to seeing this come along.

andys
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 75
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:24 pm
Location:

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by andys » Fri May 02, 2014 6:15 pm

Hey, I have gpw-73243, also from Louisville! Born on 10-15-42.

I just had Robert from data plates for you in the Netherlands make me a fresh set of brass-steel-brass data plates. They are awesome.

Good luck on your restoration! If you have any questions I would love to help.

Regards, Andy

User avatar
Liam9653
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:07 am
Location: Sydney

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by Liam9653 » Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:15 pm

The cabin really looks promising, you will succeed. It will be a great car, I believe in you!

Mark Jesic
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2473
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: The Long Road Back - Restoring GPW 77059

Post by Mark Jesic » Thu Apr 04, 2019 12:41 am

Looks a nice project Ross, good luck with it, and keep us updated. :D


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Restoration Projects”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests