Iowa Willys MB Project

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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MadCoLars
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Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by MadCoLars » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:49 am

Just inherited this Jeep and beginning to do research on the history and gathering a parts list to get it running. Last titled in 1983. Been sitting on the farm since then with one attempt 20ish years ago to get it fired up and driving. Did fire up and took a short drive, but the carb is bad and the brakes non-functioning. Would like help confirming model year and DOD.

No data plates on the dash, nor are there holes where they would have been mounted. Some faint stencil marks on the glovebox that looks like the shifter pattern nameplate. Frame nameplate is gone, appears to have been removed during a frame repair.

Iowa title lists it as a 1945, but I think it is a 1944 model. Serial number on the title is 297619.
Engine number is MB-343840.
Body tub number is 193312.
Could not read the hood numbers, been sanded down at some point.

Rebuild tag on the dash from 23 Heavy Wksp Coy R.E.M.E. with a date of 16-6-53 and a number of 64YH60. Based on some internet searching it looks like this workshop was in Wetter, Germany.

Fairly complete Jeep. Some of the missing parts are in boxes. Floor braces are rusted out and need replaced. Some rust in the tub where panels come together or things are bolted to the tub. Engine is free, had it turning when we winched it on the trailer.

Looked for dates on the axles, but could not decipher a year. Rear axle is a model 23 with some letters and numbers stenciled on the axle tube. Both front and rear axles have some kind stamp on them, possibly from the rebuild?

Looking for any information on the model year, DOD, etc. Goal is to get the fuel and brake systems upgraded/replaced and make it a driver. Where it goes from there is TBD.
Attachments
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Decades of sitting on the farm
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Rebuild tag
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Rear axle
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Glove box door
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Engine number
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Body tub number
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Custom top with modified original windshield
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Some original, some modifications on front of Jeep
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IMG_7271.JPG
Passenger's frame horn needs work
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IMG_7272.JPG
Driver's frame horn needs work
IMG_7272.JPG (108.13 KiB) Viewed 9293 times


MadCoLars
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by MadCoLars » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:55 am

A few more photos of the MB
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Back of body tub
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Dash, low miles!
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sjalbert
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by sjalbert » Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:34 am

Welcome to the "G"
MadCoLars wrote:
Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:49 am
Iowa title lists it as a 1945, but I think it is a 1944 model. Serial number on the title is 297619.
Engine number is MB-343840.
Body tub number is 193312.
Could not read the hood numbers, been sanded down at some point.

Rebuild tag on the dash from 23 Heavy Wksp Coy R.E.M.E. with a date of 16-6-53 and a number of 64YH60. Based on some internet searching it looks like this workshop was in Wetter, Germany.
Serial number makes the frame mid January 1944. Engine could be original. Look for a casting date below the starter. I expect that you'll find 12 - XX or possibly 1 - X I have the following in my database:

S/N 297761, DOD 1/16/1944
S/N 299024, DOD 1/21/1944, Engine # 344191

Your jeep is right at the change over from the Type 1 body tub to the Type 2 body tub I can't tell from your photo if you have an ACM Type 1 or Type 2 body. I need a side view. A Type 1 with that body number would be from Dec 1943, so probably a little early for frame. A Type 2 with that body number would be from January 1945 (and could explain the title date). We know that it went through a rebuild in 1953 so 1945 is not the year of first civilian registration (a common source of title dates). If you've got a Type 2 (which I think you do) the date from that Jeep probably ended up on the paperwork.
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB

Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known

CharlieGPW
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by CharlieGPW » Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:37 pm

Hi There,

Welcome...interesting jeep as it's a British rebuild from 53 which explains the Reme tag and why there are no other plates, it will basically be a mix of parts! Has typical British mods like the extra lights on the fenders, the light next to the pintle hook and the rotary switch on the dash. Lovely to see the original stencil on the axel as well.

Where abouts is the Reme tags located, is it on the dash? Are there other plates?
I think you can just abut make out where there gear shifts were stencilled on the glove box door.

The YH number is its registration given to it post WW2 by the British Army.

We have a group on facebook which has a huge amount of information on these Jeeps. I wonder how it ended up in Iowa!

Kind regards
Charlie
Last edited by CharlieGPW on Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

70th Division
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:18 pm

Hello,

That is a nice British Jeep, yet another one discovered in the USA !!
I have one here in Florida, that I just found a British rebuilt engine that likely came from it, and they are together again !
Spray some WD-40 on the paint, and rub it down, and you may find the unit number it served with. Especially on the windshield.

Also look at any data plates, as they may also have some unit history stamped on them !

You can get a little info on your jeep from the British Archives :

They DO have a info card for your jeep. Likely they will list its WW2 British hood number as well.

Here is a link, it costs 35 pounds, and they will email a scan it to you. They take Visa !

http://www.rlcarchive.org/VehicleSrch

best Wishes,

Ray

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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:30 pm

Hello,

Also look along the driver's side front frame rail behind the tire, to the right a little.
There should be a big brass British rebuild palte attached there that will list the original Willys serial number,
the YH number, and the workshop that the jeep was rebuilt at, as the engine may have been rebuilt at a different workshop.

If that plate is there or isn't, the original Willys MB serial number should be on the archives info card.
They kept great records !!!
If the jeep was rebuilt in Germany, the jeep served with the BAOR, The British Army of the Rhine.


Good Luck,

Ray
USA

MadCoLars
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by MadCoLars » Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:11 pm

Guys, thanks for the feedback. I'm very impressed at the amount of information this site and the members have to offer. I will look for more data plates on the Jeep this week. Here are some side views of the body as well as the rebuild plate location on the dash.

I will check out the Facebook page for more information on these Jeeps.

Thanks everyone!
Attachments
IMG_7235.JPG
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IMG_7241.JPG
REME rebuild plate visible on the dash
IMG_7241.JPG (240.5 KiB) Viewed 9213 times

MadCoLars
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by MadCoLars » Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:17 pm

Here is the stamp on the axles. Possibly from the rebuild?
Attachments
IMG_7219.JPG
Front axle
IMG_7219.JPG (188.08 KiB) Viewed 9212 times
IMG_7217.JPG
Rear axle
IMG_7217.JPG (249.39 KiB) Viewed 9212 times

MadCoLars
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by MadCoLars » Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:41 pm

Got the key card from the RLC archive. Need to do some more research on what some of this means. Does indicate it was with BAOR.

Cool stuff!
Attachments
kcYH397.jpg
kcYH397.jpg (195.09 KiB) Viewed 9201 times

Fortyeight2A
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by Fortyeight2A » Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:10 pm

FWIW, AAW II, page 185 shows:

serial #..........296219.......DOD.....Jan 10, 1944
serial #..........298506.......DOD.....Jan 18, 1944
Is it true real Jeeps have flat fenders?
Alone cannot you it resist!

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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:12 pm

Hello,

Yes that is great !!!

It served with the British Army of the Rhine !
Sold surplus on August 31, 1961, BAOR .... that was in Germany.

The WW2 M number for the hood is M5826627
The jeep bought by Britain under the wartime contract SM 2275

The Willys factory serial number was N/A when card was filled out, but likely is on a frame rebuild tag on drivers side.

Now you can look at WW2 British jeep pictures to see if you can spot that hood number.

Then you can look at BOAR postwar pics to see if the 64YH60 jeep hood numbers can be seen.


Best Wishes,

Ray
USA

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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:31 pm

Hello,

The British put a little hatch cover over the gas tank cap,
as can be seen in your picture.
Your grill has the "delete" plate put over the original holes for the cats eyes,
and the British Butler lights put up on top of the fenders.
The hard cab is likely British as well.

The radio filter box under dash appears to be Ford marked.
Look for F script bolts on the body hardware as you might have a GPW body.

My British Willys jeep, 91YH98, has a GPW frame, and a 1942 Willys body.
The engine I just found has a 1947 British REME Workshop 21A rebuild tag on it, and is a GPW engine.
The jeep was rebuilt at 22 Heavy Workshop, that was in Germany at the time.
It was sold in 1957 and was a BOAR jeep as well.
It had a hard cab on it as well, but was taken off by the seller.

Ray
USA

Captain John
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by Captain John » Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:43 pm

REME means Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers part of the British Army . My father was in the REME during WW2 .Your jeep would have had ETO history ,further research might reveal its wartime role ,which unit etc etc . I wonder how it got to USA if only it could talk !!!

Captain John in sunny Suffolk County England

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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by artificer » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:32 am

FI:
REME was formed in October 1942.
AEME [Australian] was raised in December 1942.
Became RAEME November 1948
RCEME [Canadian] was raised in Feb 1944.
John GIBBINS Member Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers [Ret], ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck & Auto Technician USA -2002 Licensed Motor Mech NSW MVIC 49593 Current 2015
TO DIAGNOSE, TROUBLESHOOT OR FAULT FIND ANY AUTO SYSTEM....
Understand how system parts interact with one another. GOOD parts can then be established & the NOT GOOD problem/s part/s isolated for repair or replacement.

Jim M
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Re: Iowa Willys MB Project

Post by Jim M » Tue Jul 18, 2017 2:00 pm

The dashboard tag is likely the one missing from Charlie's fine 81-YH-05. The axle marking looks familiar too! I bet this is the same from the same batch of surplus British JEEPS that included 81-YH-05. Good stuff!
Jim Mulligan


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