M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by fotot8ker » Sat Feb 25, 2012 2:08 pm

kw573 wrote:Bryan,
According to W&Ts, about 85% of the M1A1 trucks built were WLF, the remainder being Kenworth. I gather that there is hardly ever a Kenworth M1A1 seen in Europe, although most of the very few down-under seem, on first inspection, to be Kenworth.

The first indicator, although cosmetic and unreliable, is the shape of the top of the brush guard. Kenworth guards are almost flat, while WLF have a slight peak in the middle. It seems that this was a lot more pronounced in the earlier series than this standardized model (KW573?) Also, it seems that the wrecker bed ('tray') tool boxes vary between the models and makes. And other stuff.

Eventually I found the chassis number of my paddock truck which confirmed my long suspicion that it was a KW.

PM sent.
Sam.
Sam,

That's some interesting statistics about the M1A1! I read something about this on olive-drab.com From one of the photos of the front of the truck, the top of the brush guard does look alomst flat. I can imagine that the tool boxes vary between models and makes along with other things attached. Glad to hear you found your chassis number of your truck, which was a KW! I know it would be quite exciting to find it! Again, I'll keep you updated on what I find!
Respectfully,
Bryan I.
Coupeville, WA

GPW 103743 4/1/43 -Dallas, TX., USA 20365988 S
MB-T 22938 -Feb./Mar. 43', USA 0223127


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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by fotot8ker » Sat Feb 25, 2012 2:14 pm

I'm trying to finish restoring an Ward Lafrance ( in france :mrgreen: )
I work on it almost 4 years now .
I completely disassembled, sandblasted and then checked and repaired everything that needed to be.
I think today better know this special truck
i have lot of pictures .
Supertrack

Supertrack,

Man, that is a great find over there in France! Thank you for posting the photos of your restoration process! I saved them to my laptop for future use! I see that you certainly had to use a forklift to raise out the bed and tow arm stand. I can understand you have to have alot of photos in remembering how to put back everything onto the chassis! Good Luck and post a link of the rest of your photos if you can! Thanks Supertrack!
Respectfully,
Bryan I.
Coupeville, WA

GPW 103743 4/1/43 -Dallas, TX., USA 20365988 S
MB-T 22938 -Feb./Mar. 43', USA 0223127

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by Jeff Jensen » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:58 am

Hi Bryan
The 2010 MVPA directory lists 12 total, 11 are M1A1's and 1 M1 all under Ward-Lafrance.
I know of 5 M1A1's ( mine, Captain Crank, Dr. Bob, Sam, This one you found) and 1 M1 (Leo,s) not in the directory.
Supertrack maybe you know of some on your side of the pond.
Jeff

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by fotot8ker » Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:13 pm

Jeff Jensen wrote:Hi Bryan
The 2010 MVPA directory lists 12 total, 11 are M1A1's and 1 M1 all under Ward-Lafrance.
I know of 5 M1A1's ( mine, Captain Crank, Dr. Bob, Sam, This one you found) and 1 M1 (Leo,s) not in the directory.
Supertrack maybe you know of some on your side of the pond.
Jeff
Jeff,

Wow, I never knew that's how many are in the US registered with the MVPA! That's a pretty low number! Maybe Supertrack does know of some over here on the west coast. Well, I'm glad I have you and others to help me out if I get the truck! Thanks for letting me know!
Respectfully,
Bryan I.
Coupeville, WA

GPW 103743 4/1/43 -Dallas, TX., USA 20365988 S
MB-T 22938 -Feb./Mar. 43', USA 0223127

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by supertrack » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:02 pm

In France , i think there are stay a lot of ward lafrance , lot of M1A1 but no Kenworth .
Where i live , there two ward lrafance . I see a lot on web site and magazine .
I think there are more than 30 in France in collection and other in scrap yard .

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by Mark Tombleson » Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:40 pm

fotot8ker wrote: The M1A1 I found is pretty mostly all there, but I don't know if it is a Ward LaFrance or Kenworth. I just happened to see this M1A1 about a year ago with my Dad and he didn't know what it was, but in returning two weeks ago during my Navy Reserve drill weekend, I took my camera and photographed it. It looks like its been sitting there for 15+ years or more and was used on NAS Whidey Island during WWII and after until being sold to that company which sticker is on the hood. On the dash there is a small "government property" tag which has six numbers.
I sure would like to see a better photo of that property tag... It sure looks Navy to me but it is hard to tell.
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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by fotot8ker » Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:07 pm

Mark Tombleson wrote:
fotot8ker wrote: The M1A1 I found is pretty mostly all there, but I don't know if it is a Ward LaFrance or Kenworth. I just happened to see this M1A1 about a year ago with my Dad and he didn't know what it was, but in returning two weeks ago during my Navy Reserve drill weekend, I took my camera and photographed it. It looks like its been sitting there for 15+ years or more and was used on NAS Whidey Island during WWII and after until being sold to that company which sticker is on the hood. On the dash there is a small "government property" tag which has six numbers.
I sure would like to see a better photo of that property tag... It sure looks Navy to me but it is hard to tell.
Mark,

When I go back to look at the truck and take more photos, I'll clean up the tag and take a better photo of it! It looked Navy to me also, but again its so deteriorated. We'll see what it says!
Respectfully,
Bryan I.
Coupeville, WA

GPW 103743 4/1/43 -Dallas, TX., USA 20365988 S
MB-T 22938 -Feb./Mar. 43', USA 0223127

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by tootallmike » Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:00 am

Hi guys,

I know of approx 30 M1 & M1A1 in the UK. From the contacts I have made, photos seen etc. I would estimate there are approx 100 in Europe of all type and series.

Please don't be put off that all the restorations you see are outside the US. The principles and processes are exactly the same as you will go through with your truck.

They are a superb machine and when you have finished it you'll be able to use it to collect the next one :D

Image

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by fotot8ker » Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:03 pm

tootallmike wrote:Hi guys,

I know of approx 30 M1 & M1A1 in the UK. From the contacts I have made, photos seen etc. I would estimate there are approx 100 in Europe of all type and series.

Please don't be put off that all the restorations you see are outside the US. The principles and processes are exactly the same as you will go through with your truck.

They are a superb machine and when you have finished it you'll be able to use it to collect the next one :D



Regards - MG
Tootallmike,

I will certainly not put off all the restorations I see outside the US! I never knew you guys had that many and more over there than here in the US! Way cool! Glad to know the processes are exactly the same as taking apart and putting back together a truck. They sure do seem like they are a great machine! Thanks for posting the photo of the ones you have! Nice!
Respectfully,
Bryan I.
Coupeville, WA

GPW 103743 4/1/43 -Dallas, TX., USA 20365988 S
MB-T 22938 -Feb./Mar. 43', USA 0223127

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by kw573 » Fri Apr 29, 2016 3:14 pm

How is the M1A1 going?

Was it for sale?
Did you get it in the end?

Sam.
1942 Script GPW (Daily driver).
MB-T trailer.
Diamond T 969. ('The Glorifier')
Diamond T 969, rusty, complete, for sale.
Kenworth M1A1 Heavy Wrecker x 2.
M2A1 white HT. ('Clarrie')
Light Recovery Trailer (Ford?).
3ton GS (Blitz) Trailer.
150gal water tanker trailer.
Air compressor trailer, 100c.f.m.

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by waayfast » Sun May 01, 2016 1:49 pm

I too have been wondering about the status of this truck. Need some parts for my Ward and this one is just close enough to be tempting!

Makes my head hurt just thinking about the ferry fee for a lowboy transport truck hauling this thing to the mainland, let alone cost to ship the rest of the 400+ miles home :shock:!

I also like the photo posted by "tootallmike", the truck on the left looks to have air tanks mounted under the bed on the left side. I very well may do the same. The tanks on these are buried up under everything. Can't get to them to work on and one of mine has a hole worn thru it by one of the chains rubbing on it!

Jim

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by Federal606E » Thu May 05, 2016 1:25 pm

If you are looking for parts for Ward LaFrance contact Jacob Rietveld. He bought the majority of parts from Armycars last spring. Bought some parts from him last month. Think there are some other places in France. Think the other place I knew in Paris closed down. Used to fly to Orly and they were only about 5km from the airport.

Jack

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by Fabrizio » Thu May 05, 2016 1:44 pm

Hi Jack,
You're talking about Jeep Village, they're still open !
I live 10mn from there and go parts-hunting whenever I can!
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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by waayfast » Thu May 05, 2016 7:15 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the parts. Was trying for something closer so the shipping wouldn't be so high, but if it comes to that at least the option is there.
Jim

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Re: M1A1 Ward LaFrance Restoration Guide/ process?

Post by tootallmike » Fri Aug 19, 2016 11:55 am

Fabrizio,

I think he was probably thinking of Ets. Beke, whose yard closed down a couple of years ago. They are still dealing but from various friends' yards around France.
During their closing-down period we made several trips over with our truck buying NOS WLF and Diamond T parts as well as a Dodge WC.

Regarding parts suppliers in Europe, I had been led to believe Wildenberg had bought the majority of parts from the Army Car auction rather than Rietveld?

- MG
Green Barn Services
Preservation, restoration, maintenance, repair & upgrade
Engine conversion specialists
WLF parts fs


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