MB 217454

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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woody96639
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Re: MB 217454

Post by woody96639 » Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:54 am

Great thread!!! Thank you for posting all the detailed pics!
1944 MB 345965


Ralph
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sat Sep 24, 2016 12:32 pm

Thanks Woody, John,Paul for the comments,
After the DS rear quarter panel was spot/ mig welded into place and the step/pillars were finished,the rear floor and floor riser were addressed.BTW,we had new repro pillars,which were actually pretty good-but Todd grafted from them only the bottom couple of inches needed to the originals' good metal.We had new repro steps too,which were not so great and by repairing the originals we were able to keep the factory fold-out in a much better way.
Removing the old rear floor required drilling out more spot rivets-a lot more...we rough-cut the floor in order to get at them better.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:04 pm

Along with installing the new rear floor,we had to replace or repair the floor riser which was rotted gone at the area rear of the sump.We had a new repro riser but it was a poor fit at the MG plate arc overlap of both the original and repro floors.So-just that section,about a third-of the repro riser was welded to the original.The riser is about mid-point of the tub and is like a bearing unit.
BTW,new rear floor naturally installs from topside-opposite for the front floor,
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Spot-welding the new floor to wheelhouse side.
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New section of riser is welded to the original just to the left of that 22
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Finished rear floor
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Last edited by Ralph on Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:51 pm

More pics... Finish of riser to new rear floor before old front floor is removed from riser...to keep square as we proceed
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Spot welds floor to wheelhouse
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Finished rear floor and repaired riser.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by hell-fire » Mon Sep 26, 2016 1:18 am

Looking really good Ralph keep up the good work and keep the photos coming.
John
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1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Mon Sep 26, 2016 2:24 am

Thanks John.Your thread serves as a fine reference piece.Very helpful for any stage of the MB sheet metal work.Keep thinking of you putting that tub on the frame by yourself...well done.I am also now about 97% done,,,catching up thread-wise.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Tue Sep 27, 2016 6:36 am

New repro floor fitting to trans hump & toe board remains...we clamped it in place to draw lines and further trim the original bad metal.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Fri Sep 30, 2016 6:42 pm

Fitting,checking dimensions top & bottom...
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The welding begins
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Last edited by Ralph on Sat Oct 01, 2016 3:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Beers » Fri Sep 30, 2016 8:32 pm

Ralph, are these the type of clamps you're using on that floor fabrication? I have set I got from Eastwood, found them very useful.
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1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43

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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sun Oct 02, 2016 6:54 am

Yes,a couple packs of those from HF made those long welds more certain.Not sure what happened to my photo quality,it has degraded somewhat...
Paul,btw-I was looking at your thread-about those rear corners relative to the rear panel.I can't think of how else you could have done it,short of finding a donor rear panel.At least your corners/toolbox parts are original.By the time your fuel can setup (I'm assuming here) and spare tire is mounted,that rear panel is much less noticed.Just a thought...
hey,saw on an early pic of yours that a rear seat pivot tube retainer was still there. :D
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:07 am

Here is a shot showing a handful of these clamps and one of their purposes,for those who have not been around sheet metal work.This pic was about next anyway...
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:51 am

Getting there...

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Re: MB 217454

Post by Beers » Sun Oct 02, 2016 8:20 pm

Ralph wrote:Yes,a couple packs of those from HF made those long welds more certain.Not sure what happened to my photo quality,it has degraded somewhat...
Paul,btw-I was looking at your thread-about those rear corners relative to the rear panel.I can't think of how else you could have done it,short of finding a donor rear panel.At least your corners/toolbox parts are original.By the time your fuel can setup (I'm assuming here) and spare tire is mounted,that rear panel is much less noticed.Just a thought...
hey,saw on an early pic of yours that a rear seat pivot tube retainer was still there. :D
Ralph, as you know finding an original rear panel in decent shape is like finding hen's teeth! Even the rear tub piece that I got the corners off of from Jay (chasendeer on the Gee) had plain sheet metal welded in to replace the rear panel that was likely cut for a tail gate. I'm trying to balance the originality with my fair at best metal skills, hoping to get the corners and side panels in decent shape and just use a minimal amount of patch panels. May not be so lucky, we'll see what secrets the sandblasting will reveal :mrgreen:

I did put the tub on a rotisserie recently, and updated my resto thread.

Looking forward to your next update, some great metal resto going on here -

Paul

edit: I did have one of the pivot tube retainers still in place, I guess one was lost along the way! An easy pick up from Ron...
1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43

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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ralph » Wed Oct 05, 2016 6:29 am

Front floor replacement/repair continuing...new front & rear floors,original (well,two-thirds) riser
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Fuel tank sump spotted/welded...
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Re: MB 217454

Post by Ian Fawbert » Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:43 pm

Very nice work you are both dong there Ralph. It will be a fitting body in quality to the rest of the vehicle!

The photo which shows the spot welder, is that a 2 piece thing instead of the big semi chainsaw looking thing with fixed arms which limit its ability to reach trick and deep areas?

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I`ve never seen one like this, but am very intrigued and can see it as a wonderful way to get to the tricky to reach spots. Can you please elaborate on it- something special and pricey, something easy and common, something modified?

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