Mods commonly done by your country during WW2

[Alasdair Brass]

Hi everyone,
As a result of Mark's pic of a slot being cut in the front fuel pump capscrew, here is an opportunity to list period mods commonly done by your country during the war to jeeps. Let me start with some commonly done by New Zealanders to our jeeps.

Slotted front fuel pump screw

RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) drilled into each side panel above rear wheel.

Black underseal applied inside fenders and under body tub.

Safety strap eye bolt fitted to dash to lock gearlever in reverse.

Mudflaps, front and rear (Europe)

Non jeep ignition locks, doing away with the H700 key or toggle switch.

Black painted chassis frames and under body (US Army jeeps refurbished by FoMoCo NZ)

That is a few to start with, other NZ'er feel welcome to add to mine.

Best regards
Al

[ElwoodJayBlues]

Hmmmm

For my country would be:

Painting a real HUGE hooked cross on the hood!


I know, that isn´t funny.... shame on me....

[Alasdair Brass]

Hi Elwood,
I have heard jeeps were treasured by Germans during the war, very undertsandable too I might say, but does evidence exist of them being used with German markings as you suggest?

Al

[simon king]

Hi Elwood,
I have heard jeeps were treasured by Germans during the war, very undertsandable too I might say, but does evidence exist of them being used with German markings as you suggest?

Al

Page 14 Panzer Colours 2

Jeep captured in Tunisia with crudely painted white swastika in front of rear wheel arch

We Brits did lots of things to our Jeeps

(Read the Groucho Publishing book for all the specific Airborne mods)

Other mods included
- fitting sockets to four corners inside body of many Jeeps to take tubular framework for stretchers (not just RAMC jeeps either but so that any jeep could be used in extremis)
-Moving sidelights on to front wings to meet GB vehicle lighting regulations
-Fitting differential floodlight (and associated rotary switch on rear) shining down onto white painted rear diff cover

All the engines were eventually painted the standard eau-de-nil colour as well



etc etc

sk

[ElwoodJayBlues]

Hi Elwood,
I have heard jeeps were treasured by Germans during the war, very undertsandable too I might say, but does evidence exist of them being used with German markings as you suggest?

Al

I don´t know for sure....

But these "signs" are not allowed here anymore....

[Jon]

Al, as you're probably aware, Aussies did a few.... welded a web across the bell crank to strengthen it, put clips inside the tub for the side curtains, welded webs across the rear frame where it joins the rear cross member, made up straps to hold up the prop shafts in the event of the universal joints breaking. There were a few others I can't recall at the moment.

S

[Alasdair Brass]

Hi Jon,
I have a couple I can add to Australian jeep moda list.

Hood clips fitted to the rear corners of the hood to help the hinge anbd stop rattling.

Pinion oil seal shields to help protect the seals from dirt and grass

Side curtain clips inside the tub and the stop/right hand turn "hand" mounted to the inside of the windscreen frame. Both these are probably post war.

Al

[Jon]

Hey Al.. remember at Tamworth. when we spotted them, and Kerin got us in deep do-do when that bloke argued that the "Side curtain clips inside the tub were all original....I had my skates on that day....couldn't get away quick enough.....had a good laugh later ....
I think Steve Malikoff had a comprehensive list of the Mods on his old site.... it's been down so long now I can't get it to come up in a Google "cache" even...

S

[Bob N]

Jon, would it be in the "way back machine"? I forget where the website is for that.

[lengrep]

I've got the web welded into my bellcrank! Thought I was alone...

[Jeff H]

I think this is the page Jon mentioned
http://web.archive.org/web/200003030546 ... tjeep.html


The wayback machine is here
http://www.archive.org/web/web.php

then add Steve's old web address into the wayback machine
http://phaedra.apana.org.au/ww2jeep.html

Check out the old G503 while on your time trip!

[David Webb]

Alasdair,
Can you help with details of how the right turn hand was fitted? I have one, but don't know how it fits.
Thanks
David

[vyk]

My jeep - ex British Army - has two holes in the footwell corresponding to the two tricky bolts at the top of the bell housing. An ex-Norwegian Army jeep I worked on had a very well-made access plate over the hooked handbrake bolt. If you wanted to change handbrake bands the bolt was drawn up through the floor, so you didn't have to lower the transmission, which was otherwise necessary. I thoroughly recommend Gavin Birch's book, "The Wartime Jeep in British Service" which is packed with photos and descriptions of what the Brits REALLY did to their jeeps. Personally I find this aspect of jeepery the most interesting.

[jimmy]

i have a ex- austrian army jeep,it has an extra fitting for the mirror on drivers side wing which is apparently so you can have rear vision when sidescreen/doors are on.also the hood bow holders have been loosened and moved round, someone with whom i spoke who also had an austrian army jeep said that this had been done to his,and this is so i didnt mark the windows on the doors.

[Alasdair Brass]

Alasdair,
Can you help with details of how the right turn hand was fitted? I have one, but don't know how it fits.
Thanks
David

Hi David,
This mod was not commonly done here but was almost standard with the Australian Army. I have no doubt someone in Australia can help. Jon ??

Regards
Al