My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

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Viking27
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:01 pm

Thanks for the tip, I will leave the seals out. The old timer I spoke to back here was worried that oil might get into
the combustion chamber.

Any one have any information on the red paint? Is it possible that the black and white early photos from the White factory are
actually red and not OD colored engines?
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by iron bender » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:22 pm

Mine is engine gray in color, and though it has been repainted, it appears that was the original color too. But, mine was rebuilt in '51. So that shouldn't help at all. :D
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by artificer » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:07 pm

The engines were grey from memory a little lighter colour than Ford's in the Whites I worked on in the 60's some had less than 3,000 original miles on the clock.
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.

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:42 pm

Well...looking at the following White wartime factory photos, one might conclude this:

Engine = OD (Red?)
Oil filler cap = Black on one photo, Red or OD on another.
Carb elbow = Black
Air filter = Black
Cooling fan = Black
Oil filter housing = OD (RED?)
Transfercase = Light gray
Gearbox = Light gray

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Thu May 05, 2011 5:55 pm

Funny thing with the quality of safety wiring of the studs / nuts on the crankshaft. It can clearly be
seen in the original manual how poorly this was done in the factory and as I could see when taking
my engine apart:

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Being an aircraft mechanic, going to school in USA, I remember the instructor going over the wiring I made with a
measuring tape, to check how many turns per inch. So I did this as per my schooling:

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Last edited by Viking27 on Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by G102 » Fri May 06, 2011 6:34 am

Hi Hinrik,
FANTASTIC JOB !!!
Gary

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:36 pm

Hello guys and merry christmas :)

Been a while since I updated my post, so here are a lot of new photos. Nothing more fun then to be home for holidays and
browsing through some Halftrack restoration project photos :)

I painted the engine OD, as that seams to me to be the right color on factory photos.

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:40 pm

NOS clutch from Gary H. made by Diamond, fitted:

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:46 pm

We used a forklift to mount the engine. Its on my big list of things to do, to build a large A frame or to mount a electric
winch on a rail in the ceiling for this work in future.

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Pistons fitted:

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:47 pm

More engine work:

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:55 pm

NOS oil pump fitted, matched to dizzy shaft and safety wired:

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I used a NOS French gasget kit:

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:04 pm

I was originally going to make my own wire harness, but figured in the end that the time spent on making one would just be too long,
and would be faster just to buy a custom one from Joe Hall Vintage wiring of Main. The quality of his harness is excellent:

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Head fitted, started to install the wires. Just waiting for the rubber grommet kit to continue:

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It seam to me on one old factory photo that the "White" logo on engine was painted white, so I tried that, and it looks great:

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I just fitted the starter to be able to fit the NOS battery cable. Will need to overhaul and paint the starter later.
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:07 pm

NOS battery cable:

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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:10 pm

Wheels sorted out. Sandblasted, epoxy primer applied and several OD coats. I had a local gunsmith hot blue the bolts. Looks
pretty good that way and should provide some rust resistance, but I might have to paint this later.

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Hinrik Steinsson
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Re: My M2A1 "Die Hard" Halftrack

Post by Viking27 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:17 pm

"Rusty" the halftrack I bought from Ryan G. actually yelded more parts then I thought it could. Die Hard is early HT which had the booster brake
system, not Hydrovac. Gary H. recommended I upgrade, so I tried to use the hydrovac from Rusty, but I was doubtful if I could use it as you
can see in this photo:

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But, I was lucky, it was not rusted on the inside:

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Hinrik Steinsson
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