Project "Bam Bam"

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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jpet
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Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:13 pm

Hi All,

I've been a Gee member for a little while now but I've not been the most active member. I know some of you from over on thecj2apage.com. My name is Jeff. I have a '46 CJ2A named "Gen'l Willys, a Spen trailer named "Shadow", and this is my '45 MB named "Bam Bam":

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I have started a restoration and I have a build thread over on the 2A page but I thought I would do a parallel build thread here for anyone who is interested and so that I can learn from all y'all and perhaps make some more jeep friends.

Here are a few before pics:

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Bam Bam is #434418:

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This is the only tag on him.

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Tear down:

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General Willys oversees the project:

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Bam Bam seems to have the original drive train except for the engine which is an M38 rebuild. I can't remember the stamp number off hand. I'll look at it when I get home but it started with "RMC". The engine also has this rebuilder tag:

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I have some questions.

1. Does anyone know anything about this tag?
2. Is it possible that this motor was put in while Bam Bam was on active duty?
3. How long were MBs used by the US military?

I have another '42 MB motor that I will probably use. I also have another MB motor #576XXX that needs a rebuild but would be pretty close to the correct time frame. Still thinking on that one.

The tub appears original ......

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...... but it will need some work .....

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Thanks for reading. I'll post on my frame restoration progress in a bit.
MB 434418
MB 295645


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jpet
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:52 pm

Frame restoration:

Bam Bam's frame horns are not too good .....

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I would like to save as much original metal as possible but what is left of the frame horns is very thin. I measured most of the frame material at 12 gauge:

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Here are some dimensions that I have for the front frame horn:

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This die is crude but seems to be effective.

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I should have made a longer fixture. It turns out that I had to go farther back to get decent metal :oops: ....

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..... so I used my fixture to make another short piece .....

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These are made from 12 gauge but I the box channel is 14 gauge.

Here are some dimensions that I get for the frame horn gussets (1 as shown, 1 opposite hand):

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.... and the top ones.....

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Now I don't claim that any of these drawings are "correct", I only claim that this is how I measured them mostly by taking straight on photos, importing them into CAD, scale, measure, draw, print out full size copy on paper and compare the paper template to the original part.

Thanks for reading. More to come.
MB 434418
MB 295645

1943gpw wc53
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by 1943gpw wc53 » Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:49 pm

You do AMAZING work Jeff!! I cant wait to see bam bam this Fall!!

Joshua

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by S McIlwaine » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:03 am

Nice work!!! I suspect you might get a lot of requests for front horns after viewing this. Like to see real engineering being applied more rewarding than a off the shelf repro part . Keep the pictures coming as you progress you make it look easy mind you not many of us have a 100 000 tonne press at our disposal!!
Just another UK jeep lover

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:21 am

Thanks for the kind words everybody.
S McIlwaine wrote:..... mind you not many of us have a 100 000 tonne press at our disposal!!
Actually the gauge on the press never got over 15 ton. The shorter curved piece that I made, I did at home on a 10 ton bottle jack press.
MB 434418
MB 295645

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:53 am

Rear cross member:

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I really want to save as much original metal that makes sense so I straightened out what I could using a vise and press .......

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.... and then welded it back together.

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It's not perfect but I did not want it to be perfect.

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Here are the dimensions that I get:

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And this is what I get for the gussets and whatchcalit plates:

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MB 434418
MB 295645

1943gpw wc53
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by 1943gpw wc53 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:25 am

you want to bring your stuff out to CO to the Fall tour and fix a couple of my frames :lol: Man that is some nice work!!

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:23 pm

1943gpw wc53 wrote:you want to bring your stuff out to CO to the Fall tour and fix a couple of my frames :lol: Man that is some nice work!!
..... ummm.... If I recall correctly, last time I was in CO,you had to help me fix MY frame :oops:

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MB 434418
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:01 am

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MB 434418
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jpet
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:06 am

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I think that about catches me up to where I am at today. Next I am going to make some front gussets and figure out how I'm going to rivet the frame. For that I plan to make a devise similar to what Viking27 did using a port power but mine will have to be more complicated than that since the MB frame is boxed in on the front and rear horns. Thanks for reading. :)
MB 434418
MB 295645

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:06 pm

Front gussets:

First I made some blanks out of 12 gauge. I just traced the print and I left about 1/4" on two sides to form the flanges. just saw and sanded the edges ......

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...... Then I made a couple fixtures:

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I took a piece of 3/4" thick steel (probably could be thinner), then I cut out the shape with a band saw. You can see where I cut from the edge and then welded the opening shut after I was finished. After sawing, I milled all the straight edges, and then sanded the curved edges till it matched the profile of my drawing. The inner die piece is 1/2" thick and it matches the profile as well other than being .100 smaller than the opening in the outer die.

..... okay, time to press them out ....

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The metal did stretch a lot, looks like I won't need to leave so much extra on the edges next time....

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... No biggie. Better too much than too little right?

okay, here is the finished part after cutting down the flanges to 1/4" tall:

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not too bad I guess. I've seen worse.

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...... but I ran out of time. I'll have to finish the other three later but at least I can feel like I got something done this week.

Thanks for reading :)
MB 434418
MB 295645

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by thidisbogus » Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:23 pm

Jeff,

Fantastic work!

Two things:
1) What do you do for a living (must be some sort of CAD design or metallurgic work)?
2) Can you get us the link to your other WIllys thread?

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by jpet » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:59 am

Hi Rodney,

I work for a design and manufacturing company that makes magazine binding equipment. My job mainly is PLC/servo programming, but I do a lot of field service work there so I have to do a little bit of everything. When I'm not on the road for the company, I do some mechanical design work, but we don't do any sheet metal work.

Here is a link to my thread on the 2A page:
http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/proje ... tml#212830
It is basically the same info as this thread but with different replies of course.
MB 434418
MB 295645

1943gpw wc53
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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by 1943gpw wc53 » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:27 am

Jeff, you do such amazing work!! I need you to make me some frame parts for Easy and Lt little :lol: Hey did you ever make some top bows or will you do those later?

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Re: Project "Bam Bam"

Post by F Bill » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:56 am

You need to modify that first picture in the thread and remove that ax murderer guy standing to your right.. He is just plain scary looking! Notice how Jeff only has a T Shirt on in sub freezing weather... he moves so fast he has no need for insulation..

I see Ron has the Gussets on sale for $15 apiece.. He is probably selling them all off before jpet corners the market on frame repair parts... :lol: :lol: :lol:
F Bill-no longer chasing oversize loads out west, I'm in NY now.
Certified jeep Addict in recovery


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