Ernie Ongaro's slat

Nov. 18, 1941 - MB100001 thru Mar. 6, 1942 - MB125809 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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Michael O.
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by Michael O. » Sat Dec 16, 2017 1:31 pm

DavidA wrote:
Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:36 am
Uhhh...
Oh, the humanity!!!!!
Michael O’Connell

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sat Dec 16, 2017 2:57 pm

Don't fret too much Michael...we did "organ transplants" on as much stuff as possible so parts that could be used on other restorations in the future would be available for those not interested in repop.

At least we removed the parts....they will need some blast cabinet time and some paint, but they will live to restore other jeeps sometime down the line. We might have gotten even more, but the clean up crews gave a 48-hr notice and that pretty much ended up with what you saw....a pile 'o jeeps headed for the crusher.

Today was another day for working on Ernie's slat though....Dave will have pics, I'm sure....but rear floor and rear panel were removed as well as the never-ending grinding of welds that filled holes or torn metal or wallowed-out holes all over the place. Saving this one is a good example of where you can just buy a repop tub and get it going a lot faster....or, you can try to save as much of an ORIGINAL tub as possible and repair it.
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Dec 17, 2017 5:42 am

That is a very sad sight. :shock:

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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:03 am

That is very disheartening indeed. It makes me think of the shop that burned with the restored jeep inside that someone posted here a time back. Also makes me feel for the guys that lost jeeps in the resent fires out west. :cry:
"None of us are as smart as all of us"

1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by DavidA » Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:46 pm

Moving ahead...we think? Saturday we spent hours just removing the spot welds in the floor. Then we had to cut out the rear panel which was well locked in with multiple welds and the rear panel support brackets that everyone seemed to think were added later. Whoever and whenever they were added, they did a fine job as they looked as if they could have been there from the beginning. Mind you this is a 12/31 tub and since we don't have the date they started adding these supports readily available, who knows. :? They were definitely different than the kits (no bolt holes & slight shape difference) that were sent around and they were welded in place.

Also an interesting thing to be noted, the rear seat support brackets were different from one another. One was the early 3 piece and the other was a later 1 piece unit. Considering the DOD, was this a transition tub for these items ?
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:26 am

Have you seen the slat in the WW2 museum in NOLA?
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"None of us are as smart as all of us"

1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100

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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by jeepfinger » Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:30 am

1943Willysgpw wrote:
Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:26 am
Have you seen the slat in the WW2 museum in NOLA?
That's a Ford GP in the photos.
Dave Boocock
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:51 pm

Thanks. I knew that. I just had a brain dead moment. Wanted to share the pictures. :oops: :oops:
"None of us are as smart as all of us"

1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100

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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by jeepfinger » Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:15 pm

No Worries,
Nice to share the photos. It looks a nice one :D
Dave Boocock
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by DavidA » Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:20 pm

Have you seen the slat in the WW2 museum in NOLA?
Unfortunately, I had gone to the museum around 4 years ago and so the only Jeeps they had were on the main floor and were just a static display. I really like the look of that display in the photographs. It appears that the GP's are rolling off the assembly line somewhat like the actual period photos we have seen.

My next question would be, who supplied the GP's that are on display and are they GP's that are accounted for on the G503 list somewhere? If anyone can provide the serial numbers of those GP's, it would be greatly appreciated and I could update the list that I share on the "Gee."

They do look cool up there don't they? :D
David Aro - USN SEABEES '66-'70
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:16 pm

I do not know if this picture shows enough due to size limitations. But it looks like 8864 or 5864. Whoever stamped the plate put the date as 3-17-41 with the 3 backward.
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"None of us are as smart as all of us"

1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100

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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by DavidA » Thu Dec 21, 2017 5:04 pm

If it is 8864 (not 5564 ?), it was up for sale back in the mid 90's for $15k out of Minnesota. At least that is the info I had on that GP. That was one of the not verified listings I had from a pretty good source. :?
David Aro - USN SEABEES '66-'70
1941 WILLYS MB-104354
1942 WILLYS MB-131350

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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by DavidA » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:06 pm

Another Saturday gone by and we accomplished another task on the Slatgrill at Ernies.

We (Paul Fitzgerald, Chuck Lutz, Ernie, Doc Palmer, myself) got the floor in and the rear panel (by John Geesink) installed. More to do but we are moving along.

Moving at a pace where we will need to start on the frame soon. Still, we need to do the fenders,windshield and grill too. So a bit here and a bit there. It will get done.

It took me 3 years to do mine so lets see how long this one takes. It does seem to be moving along faster... :?
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David Aro - USN SEABEES '66-'70
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by Mark Tombleson » Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:22 am

What is the deal with the back corners, Dave?

I am sad I don't get to spend time with you guys.
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Re: Ernie Ongaro's slat

Post by DavidA » Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:59 am

Hey Markie: Petaluma is on the horizon, we got room in the big tent or they've got cabins. I think Major Mike has room in his bungalow. :lol:

As for the corners? They are missing..hahaha...I'll fab up some new ones or we'll cut 'em off another jeep somewhere. We are looking for someone to park their GPW where we can get at it with the sawzall. I keep looking around but there aren't any in plain view. I think the local owners all know we are looking to sacrifice a GPW to save a Willys! :P

Keep thinking about how much you miss us and you'll show up at Petaluma for sure. Besides you need to give that big dog of yours a run. Parking a diesel for that long isn't good for it. Get it on the road! :D
David Aro - USN SEABEES '66-'70
1941 WILLYS MB-104354
1942 WILLYS MB-131350


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