Dodge WC-24/WC-7 Command car -project

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BATMOBILE1
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Location: Hereford,U.K.

Dodge WC-24/WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 8:09 am

Well I've finally got my Dodge WC-24 over from Robert Stopka in Florida ,so the restoration can start.

Started to strip down the front end ready for a donor truck with the correct engine to come over from California,that was a great Ebay find,so what the WC-24 is missing should be with the other truck,apart from seat frames etc as the back was cut off..
Attachments
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IMG_2514.JPG (182.93 KiB) Viewed 20863 times
IMG_2459 copy.jpg
IMG_2459 copy.jpg (142.96 KiB) Viewed 20863 times
Last edited by BATMOBILE1 on Wed Jul 05, 2017 11:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD


BATMOBILE1
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Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 8:13 am

Heres the front brake strip down,was actually quite easy,but messy,as the inner wheel seal had leaked ,and when i drained what was left of the oil in the axle not much came out,i don't think it had been topped up in years..
Attachments
IMG_2511.JPG
IMG_2511.JPG (163.9 KiB) Viewed 20861 times
IMG_2507.JPG
IMG_2507.JPG (174.35 KiB) Viewed 20861 times
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 8:21 am

And heres a picture of the donor truck coming over from California .

And should have the correct T207 engine.original carb ,horn,gauges etc.
Attachments
Dodge california6.jpg
Dodge california6.jpg (146.14 KiB) Viewed 20860 times
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

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zepher11
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Re: Dodge WC-7 Command car -project

Post by zepher11 » Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:09 am

Looks like you have a good basis for a great WC7 project. I recall that California rig for sale not too long ago. Here's a link to the Dodge WC Command Car Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/137923113343548/

There are a lot of members there that have some good restoration knowledge along with those here. In any event, keep posting restoration documentation photos as I know I appreciate them as I think most do as well.

Good luck!
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

BATMOBILE1
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Re: Dodge WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:12 pm

Cheers Zeph,
I will keep updating the progress as I go,I've just secured an MU winch so going from the front back it's looking good.
I'm away on holiday at the moment so I won't be posting anything for a week or so.
Yes I will check out the Command car web page as well,always good to have more info .im looking for pictures of any early 1/2 ton Command cars in Europe I did find a picture of one bieng used on a USAFE Base here in the U.K. But I haven't been able to find it again..
I think most of the 1/2 tons stayed in the U.S.
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:18 pm

Hi Zeph ,
I meant to say,I was watching your restoration and has been insperational ,you did some superb work there and it looks fantastic ,if mine comes out anything like yours I will be happy,looks like you have vertically finished it now just the radios to go in.
Paul
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

Piotr
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Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by Piotr » Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:26 pm

Hi Paul,
An interesting project. Half tons are pretty rare here in Europe.
Do you know where can we (YES - I also got the same model WC7 ;) can got a spare parts ? I still need some.

Talking about WW2 Half tons two years ago I made a deep research about their military "career".
Results - half ton Dogdes in military service during the war - you can find in my article in MILITARIA monthly magazine.
I also got several original pictures from that era. Most of them are made during exercises around the USA till 1942 but there are also from other places. Pearl Harbor, Operation Torch, Sicily, Italy and Far East. Also pre-D-day England and Iceland.

Here is the link to archive of the half tons in Polish Army 1942-1945 military service.
http://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/Ch ... sharmy.htm

Good luck with your project

Piotr :D
1942 Excelsior Welbike
1944 Cushman 53 Airborne
1964 FN AS24
1941 WC7
1941 WC15

BATMOBILE1
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Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:51 am

Hi Piotr,
Thank you,should be a nice project,doing things when i can as i work away a lot.

What parts are you looking for,i may have a few spares,i also have my parts truck coming over soon..

Im interested to see any 1/2 tons in use in europe...

Cheers.

Paul.
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:01 pm

IMG_2555.JPG
IMG_2555.JPG (152.66 KiB) Viewed 20650 times
Just to keep people up to date with what I've been doing lately,i started working on the front right axle to get to the inner oil seal,as i thought it was dented at the top of the seal,so oil was getting through and into the bearings,i got very little oil from the front or rear axles..i will be taking the axle covers off soon to see what the damage is..
Ive also taken the locks out of my old tail gate ,wasn't too easy lots of heat and sweat and i got them out,they will need a lot of de rusting to get them working again,and then i can respray them and put them in my new tail gate from MWM.
Attachments
IMG_2557.JPG
IMG_2557.JPG (154.63 KiB) Viewed 20650 times
IMG_2556.JPG
IMG_2556.JPG (178.66 KiB) Viewed 20650 times
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:06 am

Busy day yesterday had a go at the other Axle on the drivers side,full of axle oil same as the other.
IMG_2559.JPG
Drivers side Axle
IMG_2559.JPG (206.3 KiB) Viewed 20625 times
Then started to work on the brake cylinders,having to add some heat to them to get them to move,resulted in melting the rubber cups inside and started to ooze out..messy,finally got them both apart using a hammer and the blunt end of a chisel ,then once the started to move i put some compressed air on the inlet hole,resulting in loosing one cup end in the garage somewhere,it went off like a fire cracker,the next one i was more careful with and came out not so fast,luckily Bob sent some spare parts along with the truck so i still have a complete brake cylinder.
IMG_2561.JPG
meting cylinder cup.
IMG_2561.JPG (204.26 KiB) Viewed 20625 times
Will be taking the drivers side axle part today,as well as hoping to take some parts down to the sandblasters..

All good fun..
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

timsresort
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Posts: 386
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Location: South Lake Tahoe CA

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by timsresort » Wed Jul 05, 2017 5:36 pm

This is great, now that Zeph's done, us 1/2 ton guys have nothing to watch. Keep up the good work, I look forward to following. BTW, did you also get doors from Bob?
41 WC-16
41 Lavine Gear !-ton trailer
51 M37
53 CJ3B
65 CJ5A
(2) 67 CJ5
46 Bantam T3-C #2376
67 M416
68 M274A5
MVPA #20343

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Wed Jul 05, 2017 11:39 pm

Cheers Timsresort,

Yes Zeph did a great job on his WC-16 something to aspire to.

No i didn't get any doors from Bob,i did but a set of doors from a guy in France before i had bought the CC but i think there must be a difference between the 1/2 ton and the 3/4 ton doors,as these don't fit...! So a bit of a waste of money on my side..

Took a lot of parts to the sandblasters yesterday as well,so should get them back in a few days,new tyres being delivered tomorrow as well,so i will be able to put new tyres on freshly painted rims..

Rebuilt kits being delivered today for the front brake pistons,the old shoes i will clean up and put back on as they look ok.

Just about to order the bearings for the steering knuckles,so that will be my next big thing.

I took the covers off the axles last thing yesterday ,the front looks ok,apart from the thick gunk that was in there,but the rear had bits of teeth in the bottom of the case,so i shall have to pull it out and have a closer look at it,lets hope my spares truck has a good back axle.!

I should get my engine hoist tomorrow so i can get the engine out then i can rub down and primer the front end.Then i can think about putting new brake lines on the front end,am i going too fast..

Front springs need new bushes,and probably need to come of and have a good clean,should i paint them ? i was always told not when i was in the Army.?

Lake Tahoe Lovely place,went there Ski-ing a few years back,i love ski-ing in the States trouble is its too expensive to go now.So Europe it is.

So back to work..
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24/WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:47 am

Took the back axle out late yesterday ,i now need to take it apart,I'm now thinking i should have done this when it was still in the axle ...attached is a picture of the bits i got out..
IMG_2564.JPG
Back axle crap..and teeth parts..
IMG_2564.JPG (161.51 KiB) Viewed 20541 times
The engine hoist arrived yesterday as well and I've now taken the old engine out ,this now allows me to prep the front end..the MU winch should be coming over from the States in a month or so so it would e nice to able to put in place when it arrives.
IMG_2568.JPG
Engine ready to be lifted
IMG_2568.JPG (214.24 KiB) Viewed 20542 times
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IMG_2569.JPG (216.2 KiB) Viewed 20542 times
IMG_2571.JPG
IMG_2571.JPG (203.47 KiB) Viewed 20542 times
Found that the front mounting point for the grill and radiator needs welding.
IMG_2572.JPG
IMG_2572.JPG (127.45 KiB) Viewed 20542 times
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD

timsresort
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 386
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:05 am
Location: South Lake Tahoe CA

Re: Dodge WC-24 Command car -project

Post by timsresort » Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:46 am

BATMOBILE1 wrote:Cheers Timsresort,

Yes Zeph did a great job on his WC-16 something to aspire to.

No i didn't get any doors from Bob,i did but a set of doors from a guy in France before i had bought the CC but i think there must be a difference between the 1/2 ton and the 3/4 ton doors,as these don't fit...! So a bit of a waste of money on my side..

Took a lot of parts to the sandblasters yesterday as well,so should get them back in a few days,new tyres being delivered tomorrow as well,so i will be able to put new tyres on freshly painted rims..

Rebuilt kits being delivered today for the front brake pistons,the old shoes i will clean up and put back on as they look ok.

Just about to order the bearings for the steering knuckles,so that will be my next big thing.

I took the covers off the axles last thing yesterday ,the front looks ok,apart from the thick gunk that was in there,but the rear had bits of teeth in the bottom of the case,so i shall have to pull it out and have a closer look at it,lets hope my spares truck has a good back axle.!

I should get my engine hoist tomorrow so i can get the engine out then i can rub down and primer the front end.Then i can think about putting new brake lines on the front end,am i going too fast..

Front springs need new bushes,and probably need to come of and have a good clean,should i paint them ? i was always told not when i was in the Army.?

Lake Tahoe Lovely place,went there Ski-ing a few years back,i love ski-ing in the States trouble is its too expensive to go now.So Europe it is.

So back to work..
I was curious about the doors because pretty sure I sold him a set when I was producing them, maybe he has another truck they're destined for. Too bad about the rear diff., hopefully all it needs is a ring and pinion, which at the least it would be nice to know it's new once you're done. I would paint the leaves, but it's hard to do a good job without complete disassembly because they will leak rust and crud forever out the sides if you don't.
Tim
41 WC-16
41 Lavine Gear !-ton trailer
51 M37
53 CJ3B
65 CJ5A
(2) 67 CJ5
46 Bantam T3-C #2376
67 M416
68 M274A5
MVPA #20343

BATMOBILE1
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Hereford,U.K.

Re: Dodge WC-24/WC-7 Command car -project

Post by BATMOBILE1 » Sun Jul 09, 2017 10:55 am

Hi Tim,

Yes Bobs got a command car himself he's restoring,there's a canvas company in the U.K. that produces then so i shall sell the ones i bought and buy a new set,at least it will match the canvas top when i get it.
I think i will send the diff off to be rebuilt i had quite a bit of bits come out along with a few chipped of teeth,and what looks like a brass shim ?
I have my spares truck coming over next week so i will check the diff on that one as well,but it may be better to have one rebuilt though,at least it will a known good diff..
Yes i will have a go at taking the springs off and repainting them along with replacing the bushes.Thank you for your advice.

Cheers.

Paul.
94 locating Regt RA,57 Bty B troop 1982-1985.
32 Heavy Regt RA,57 Bty D droop 1985-1990.
M38 1952 ,restoration project
Dodge 1/2 ton WC-24 Chassis WC-6 body..combo.
Dodge 1951 M43 ,SOLD
Harley Davidson WLA.type IV. SOLD


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