M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

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artillerydan
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M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by artillerydan » Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:49 pm

Well now that I have finally started on the rebuild after 7 years of buying parts. I thought I would share the "weekly" progress. I know I always love to read these threads, so here it goes. I will start out with original pictures and bring the thread up to current condition over the next few weeks.
Mine was 1 of 3 brought back from Norway quite a few years back, the other two were restored by Brent Mullins and are in fully restored beautiful condition.

With this current addiction, I started the M24 Chaffee Web site. http://www.m24chaffee.com , and as usual I have been doing tons of research of the M24 and have compiled 100s and 100s, of pictures of restored and original pictures. So here goes.

The vehicle was inspected and purchased during the 2007 convention in little rock AR (vehicle was stored at Brent Mullins). Saddly mine was the parts vehicle for the other two when they were being restored. Mine was also in the worst shape of the 3. Good news was, I purchased it before the armor price spike so I paid a reasonable amount for an M24 in that condition. As they all say, restoring an tank is a money pit and of course this is no exception.

SUMMER 2007

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43 WLA Harley
43 MB
43 M20 Armored Car
44 M24 Chaffee
44 M19 40mm
62 M114 ARV
75 MC4000 Forklift
96 CUCV II Tahoe
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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by steve1973 » Sat Oct 25, 2014 4:33 am

Can't wait to see this come back to life! Keep the photos coming!

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by jdmcm » Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:26 am

Oh nice teaser! first I have to wait a year for Fury now I am going to be glued to my seat to see this project! MORE MORE MORE!!!!!
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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by artillerydan » Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:03 pm

There was dirt and rocks all over in the hull. I found rocks half the size of your fist inside. So I can just imagine the life this had when Norway was done with it.... As you can see almost all the external appendages are bent. Its like they played kick the can with the tank in a gravel pit. I still have a rock stuck up in the ventilator cast housing I need to get out or break or???

Neat things are this is a November 44 production so It would have made it for 1945 combat. It has 3 or 4 bullet splash marks on the turret just above the co driver position.

This one is also in the first batch of Massey Harris produced M24s.

Since purchased I have basically bought every M24 G200 part (Even M19 GMC & M37 HMC part) I found no mater what it was. So like with everything in this hobby I have lots of some things and none of others. Since the M24 was used by many European countries up till the 80s parts mostly reside overseas. The Uruguayan military just this year are retiring their M24s.... for M41s :) I would also gather many of the last M24s made may never have been issued to US forces as in the early 50s the US was eagerly moving on to the M41 as the M24 was outgunned by most anything. Finding an M24 that was only owned by the US is rare. Many of the M24s on US bases (as displays) were returns from Turkey or other such nations.
Last edited by artillerydan on Sat Oct 25, 2014 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
43 WLA Harley
43 MB
43 M20 Armored Car
44 M24 Chaffee
44 M19 40mm
62 M114 ARV
75 MC4000 Forklift
96 CUCV II Tahoe
2017 MRZR
M1030, B1, M1 - Motorcycles
M817, M818, M819 - 5 Tons
30-M151s Every variation available
MVPA 7411

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by jdmcm » Sat Oct 25, 2014 3:47 pm

Awesome thread Dan, can't wait to follow more....what are the biggest things on your need list so people can keep their eyes open?
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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by artillerydan » Sat Oct 25, 2014 7:03 pm

As a side note I should have your Stuart Transferunit in a month or so.

Big things would be the following;
Commanders cupola
Suspension arms and related
Engine Deck plates
Cross drive / Transfer unit
Cross drive / Transfer unit cover
Mantlet

But honestly I will buy most anything M24 if priced right
43 WLA Harley
43 MB
43 M20 Armored Car
44 M24 Chaffee
44 M19 40mm
62 M114 ARV
75 MC4000 Forklift
96 CUCV II Tahoe
2017 MRZR
M1030, B1, M1 - Motorcycles
M817, M818, M819 - 5 Tons
30-M151s Every variation available
MVPA 7411

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by Marty, SoCal » Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:38 am

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by hummermark » Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:56 am

Good engine changing pictures would make a nice poster in the workshop.thanks for posting.
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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by jdmcm » Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:50 am

Sounds great Dan thanks! Now what cross drive does the M24 use? Is it the same as the Hellcat?
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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by artillerydan » Sun Oct 26, 2014 7:52 pm

No its M24 series specific.
Here are some not so good pictures of the "crossdive / Transferunit. This is a range tank in France


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Finally get the M24 to Arizona 2011 (but just to storage at Rod Shavers)
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Cleaning it out slowly
Last edited by artillerydan on Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
43 WLA Harley
43 MB
43 M20 Armored Car
44 M24 Chaffee
44 M19 40mm
62 M114 ARV
75 MC4000 Forklift
96 CUCV II Tahoe
2017 MRZR
M1030, B1, M1 - Motorcycles
M817, M818, M819 - 5 Tons
30-M151s Every variation available
MVPA 7411

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by Dave M38A1 » Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:38 am

Man,
What history. Looking forward to watching this rebuild.


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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by Frank Nick » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:55 am

Looking forward to seeing this come to life. What a project! My father drove an M24 for the 8th Armored Div. during WWII. They entered combat during the last few weeks of the "Battle of the Buldge". My wife promised to pay for a gift of a ride in an M24 or any WWII tank if I could find someone near Philadelphia who would be able to offer one. Best wishes for this adventure!


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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by airborne-53 » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:41 am

hello
great project !!!!
for mantle check with jeepest , l saw one
http://www.jeepest.com/

olivier

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by artillerydan » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:40 pm

Frank,

Hello... I assume you have seen the 8th armored Web site, as it is FULL of M24 pictures. I also have some 8th armored pictures on my site that are not on the 8th site. I have done lots of research on the 8th armored M24 since they seem to have received the first large batch of M24s. Do you have any info you can share about your father? Was he in D company or one of the other companies? I like doing research so give me some info. Do you have any pictures of him and his M24?
43 WLA Harley
43 MB
43 M20 Armored Car
44 M24 Chaffee
44 M19 40mm
62 M114 ARV
75 MC4000 Forklift
96 CUCV II Tahoe
2017 MRZR
M1030, B1, M1 - Motorcycles
M817, M818, M819 - 5 Tons
30-M151s Every variation available
MVPA 7411

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Re: M24 Chaffee Ground up Restoration

Post by Frank Nick » Fri Oct 31, 2014 8:26 am

artillerydan wrote:Frank,

Hello... I assume you have seen the 8th armored Web site, as it is FULL of M24 pictures. I also have some 8th armored pictures on my site that are not on the 8th site. I have done lots of research on the 8th armored M24 since they seem to have received the first large batch of M24s. Do you have any info you can share about your father? Was he in D company or one of the other companies? I like doing research so give me some info. Do you have any pictures of him and his M24?

PM sent.

Frank


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