GPW Help (UPDATE!!)

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
Arnold43GPW
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GPW Help (UPDATE!!)

Post by Arnold43GPW » Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:55 pm

Hello guys/gals,

I just purchased a 1943 Jeep GPW (I think). It has matching numbers on the body and frame, but the engine has been replaced. The seller told me it has an F head engine, t90 transmission, and D18 Transfer Case.. is this common? What year Jeep is this out of? The seller owned it for 53 years, and it has not been driven in many years. I purchased it from Templeton, California (by the Central Coast). As an American History major, I would love to learn the History behind it. I am a member of Calguns.net, and those guys sent me this way, I'd appreciate any help.. Thanks again. I will upload more pictures later.

- Arnold
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1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep


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va302stang
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Re: GPW Help

Post by va302stang » Thu Aug 11, 2016 5:52 pm

I'm sure others will jump in with more info but you appear to have a WWII Jeep (official designation G503). The F Head and T-90 are both post war units. T-90s came right after the war, put in CJs and M38s, but never put into G503s by the military. F Heads came a few years later, CJ3B, CJ5, M38A1, but also not installed in G503s by the military. That being said, lots of things can happen to a Jeep in civilian hands and while well intentioned, they often have to be undone to put the vehicle back to original specs. The hole in your hood is to accomodate the taller F Head. Often the floor board over top the transmission is modified to accomodate the taller T-90 but it looks like that was not done in your case. It appears they just left the cover off. I think your Jeep has a lot of potential, but it does look like a good candidate for a total, frame off restoration. Good luck. There is a ton of information here and elsewhere on the internet. Oh, order the "All American Wonder" book series too.

-Matt
GPW 122616
9 JUN 1943

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Re: GPW Help

Post by Arnold43GPW » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:26 pm

Thank you! Here are more pictures of it. The serial number looks like "10442" on the frame, but on the dash it looks like 10442"1?"..
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1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

Arnold43GPW
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Re: GPW Help

Post by Arnold43GPW » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:28 pm

Here is are a few more
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1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

Arnold43GPW
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Re: GPW Help

Post by Arnold43GPW » Fri Aug 12, 2016 6:46 am

Anyone?
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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Re: GPW Help

Post by jkillelea » Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:44 am

Hi.
Congratulations on a great find. It looks like the date of delivery is April something of 43 maybe, so I would check the serial numbers here on G503. I think the last digit is a "1" as you thought.
There is a lot of help here on G 503 in restoring these wonderful vehicles. It just takes time and patience. And a bit of money.
My suggestion, as I'm sure a lot of other restorers would say, is to take pictures of EVERYTHING before disassembly. Buy or have handy, small plastic containers for parts as you disassemble anything. I re-use the plastic tubs that I get from the supermarket that contain sandwich meat. They're clear plastic and hold bolts and small items.
And most important, label those parts. I seem to always come away with a tub or two with nuts, bolts and screws that I can't remember where they came from.
My first restoration was strictly cosmetic. I wanted to drive the thing! After that, I went deeper into the restoration (during winters) taking apart the drive train, etc.
Good luck. Whenever you have ANY problem, post it here. Someone will help. There may even be people near you that can stop by to turn a wrench.

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Re: GPW Help

Post by dpcd67 » Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:47 am

Nice but a shame they put the F head and T90 in it; They had to make mods to it to get the T90 in. So, what you need to do is rip it all apart and start over. Using an L head, and a T84, whilst doing the restoration in the process. It is easy, just takes time and $.
Need to get all then books you can find, and all the TMs. Study them every day (I do) and then ask questions.
This early GPW should be correctly restored.
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GPW Help

Post by grnhornetcustoms » Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:53 am

I have a 42 GPW body number and data plate 12750 with a date of delivery 4-2-42. The first contract with Ford was for 15,000 in 1942. I would guess by April 43 the "1" at the end is the last number.


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Arnold43GPW
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Re: GPW Help

Post by Arnold43GPW » Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:13 pm

How hard is it to find the correct drivetrain for it?
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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va302stang
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Re: GPW Help

Post by va302stang » Fri Aug 12, 2016 5:57 pm

The sponsor of this board, the businessman that makes this all possible sells most everything you need.

https://www.vintagejeeps.com accessible off of the homepage on the left side.

This link takes you to a complete engine of the correct type:

https://www.vintagejeeps.com/p-1755-l13 ... a6793.aspx

Correct transmission cases are being reproduced and Brent Mullins down in Texas has new old stock Willys of France cases available. The parts to fill them seem to be more availalbe now than they were ten years ago when I undertook the task of overhauling my transmission and transfer case.

You can also troll e-bay and craigslist if you want to find an engine or transmission like new or to overhaul on your own. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Willys-For ... Hl&vxp=mtr

The components are out there if you hunt them.

-Matt
GPW 122616
9 JUN 1943

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jeepfinger
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Re: GPW Help

Post by jeepfinger » Sat Aug 13, 2016 2:46 am

Hi Arnold,
Welcome to the 'Gee' :)
Arnold43GPW wrote:It has matching numbers on the body and frame,
What makes you think this? I couldn't see the inside of the rear of your tub. If it is what is called a pure Ford Tub, it should have a square recess where the push buttons are for the locker box lids.
http://jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw/GPW ... ribs01.jpg
Pure Ford tubs, do not have a body number stamped on the toeboard gusset, Willys do and so do the composite bodies. I would not use the Data plate as the body number, the Data plates do look nice and original :)

I could see what looks like the correct long needled speedo, and maybe fuel, oil and maybe temp gauge. The air filter could be correct, if it only has 2 louvers on the back. Looks like a good GPW to start on. It will be a long journey, but worth it.

Arnold, Take a look on Jeepdraw, there is a lot of information on there. Jon does a great job :) You can download TM's for free, if you already haven't got them. http://jeepdraw.com/

Regards, Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114

Arnold43GPW
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Re: GPW Help

Post by Arnold43GPW » Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:36 am

The matching numbers I see are on the data plate, and when I open the hood, on the driver side of the frame (looking straight down over the driver side fender into the engine bay, top of the frame).
1943 Ford GPW #104421 “ The Spirit of 43’ “ My PTO Jeep

1945 Ford GPW #266293 “ Smitty “ My ETO Jeep

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jeepfinger
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Re: GPW Help

Post by jeepfinger » Sun Aug 14, 2016 9:49 am

Hi Arnold,

Please don't take it the wrong way, when I said don't use the Data Plate for the Body number. I would have loved a nice original data plate for my GPW, but sadly not.

Please don't get mistaking the Body tub number and the Serial number as the same thing. At the Ford factory 3 matching numbers where stamped, but i'm not too sure in which order :roll: Frame, Engine then Data plate, as far as I know, the data plate was last and was stamped when the glove box door had been installed. I could be wrong and if so stand corrected.

Like I said before pure Ford tubs don't have a body number. Willys had them from the start, when the Composite bodies came in late 1943 both had body numbers. These numbers can be found on the toeboard gusset in the engine bay. This number does not relate to the serial number of the jeep.

Sorry, if I wasn't too clear before. Hope this helps?

Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: GPW Help

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Aug 14, 2016 11:07 am

"In the Beginning, Ford made a motor. The Ford motor shop stamped a number on it after assembly. It was then sent to one of the Ford factories to be put into a jeep. On the assembly line, the motor number was stamped on the frame it was going into. Later, the motor number was stamped on the data plate."

I THINK I can see a rectangular indent where the push-button lock is for the tool box lid shown in your photo. The lid is a Ford-style stamping also. The tub has the strengthening rib behind the tool box lid as a 4/43 GPW should have and it has the gusset plate for strengthening the rear panel in the same photo. It has a nice, neat hole on the rear panel above the left taillight & reflector where the trailer plug goes whicn should be there on a 4/43 Ford tub.

So far, so good....but as noted, Ford did not stamp a tub number on their tubs...ACM did that. A 4/43 GPW would have had a Ford tub, not an ACM.

Welcome aboard....do not start tearning it apart just yet....take about 500 photos of EVERY thing and every hole in it for reference later on.
Ask questions, but if you choose a topic like "LIGHTS" or "TRANSMISSION" and use the g503 search engine you can grab a beer or three, take a lot of notes and maybe save some photos of things to help you down the line in the resto.

PS....if all you find on the DOD line on the data plate is "4" over to the left and "43" over to the right, and no DAY, then odds are it is a Richmond, CA factory jeep. Post a pic of the FRAME NUMBER and when Tom gets home after the MVPA convention he can confirm that for you.
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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jeepfinger
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Re: GPW Help

Post by jeepfinger » Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:18 pm

Chuck,

Thanks for describing the process clearer than I did.

Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114


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