M3 progress

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robby101
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Re: M3 progress

Post by robby101 » Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:04 pm

awesome resto!


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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:15 pm

Decided it was time to get my rear brakes fixed. I was prepping the halftrack to pull the track. Kind of like my transmission, hour and half later the track and rear drum is off. Now if I could find the special place I put my wheel cylinders at. :( But I'm sure she wont go back together that fast :roll:

Don G.

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1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:38 pm

Don,
I found the special place! :mrgreen: They were on the nut and bolt cart on the bottom. I went over today and searched everywhere for them. Hurray!! I placed the box on the table as you enter the shop.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:42 pm

Figures, tore my shop apart looking for them! Well I have another set on the way!! Now I have extra :mrgreen: Thanks Steve always taking care of my light work for me :D I'll pic them up to night and at least get the drum back on. The rest of the stuff should be back from the sand blasters at the end of the week.

Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:34 am

Got the left side put back together yesterday. New sprocket, adjusted the turn buckle, new outside idler half. Thanks to Steve who came out and helped me put the track back on. Didn't go too bad. Took it out and ran it and it ran really smooth. :mrgreen:

So on to the right. Got it most of it torn down last night so hopefully it will be done by next week!

Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by Michael Keller » Tue Aug 26, 2014 1:28 pm

I see you have been at this restoration for 6 years or so. Ditto for me and my M15A1. Sometimes it seems like it will never end, but you are making good progress. Your HT is really looking good.
1943 M15A1 Autocar halftrack (restored)
1941 Chevy dump truck (restored and sold)
1978 M416A1 Quarter Ton Trailer (for sale)

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:35 am

Thanks Mike, sometimes seems like I'm going backwards but after we put the left side back with the new parts it really ran smooth so I guess it is progress! October 2009 she rolled off the trailer at the house. Did go down to DMV Monday and got my plate on the way and I'll be road legal!!

Love looking at the pictures of the M-15. Thanks for the work on the tracks!

Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by Michael Keller » Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:32 am

Two steps forward and one step back: I just spent days removing and reinstalling the top rails on the turret as well as the rear rails. Despite all of my research, I had installed the turret wall rails on the inside instead of the outside, and had the vertical rear rails about a foot too close together. Unbolt, weld over the holes, re-drill, and reinstall.

You know, it's attention to these details that is so important. It has to be accurate, or else we ought to find a new hobby. Two steps forward, one step back, but that's still going in the right direction.

I'm envious of your tags. I wish every state could distinguish the difference between a tracked vehicle and a rubber banded vehicle, although I have to admit that driving a 10 ton halftrack down a divided highway without rearview mirrors and conventional turn signals is a challenge worthy of MVA scrutiny.
1943 M15A1 Autocar halftrack (restored)
1941 Chevy dump truck (restored and sold)
1978 M416A1 Quarter Ton Trailer (for sale)

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:50 pm

Seems like once you have the title your golden :mrgreen:

Did get the right side pulled off and the new wheel cylinder in. Even got the Boss to come out and help me bleed the brakes! However I wasn't sure how to answer the question of the night:

Me: "Just get into the drivers seat and I'll have you pump the brakes." So she gets in.

Her: "How do you fit in here?"

Not quite sure how to take that ??? Discretion being the better part of valor:

Me: Very carefully

Don G
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:43 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol:
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M3 progress

Post by Michael Keller » Fri Aug 29, 2014 2:00 am

Speaking of size: I'm not a big guy. 5'10" and 165 lbs. I'm here to tell you that the M15 turret is a matchbox. I don't know how they fit 5 guys and sometimes 7 guyes in there. All I can figure is they didn't want to waste any steel on comfort or leg room during WW2.
1943 M15A1 Autocar halftrack (restored)
1941 Chevy dump truck (restored and sold)
1978 M416A1 Quarter Ton Trailer (for sale)

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:00 am

Well had a very interesting turn of events the last couple of days. Got the new wheel cylinders in. Steve helped me retrack the left side. Then pulled the right side, welded up the sprocket, new idler half and the because I just wanted to see if I could do it I retrack it my self :o Well me and my Ford 3000. Note to self: don't do that again :( Anyway she runs really good now right up to the point the brake pedal went to the floor :x

Okay now I'm pissed! Pretty much figured out that my hydrovac blew a seal. So I decided I would bypass the hydrovac and at least have manual brakes. So I stop at my local hose supplier to have them build me a jumper hose. The only brake hose they can make has a 1/8" I.D. The lines on the halftrack are 5/16" That's not going to work. So I'll build it out of steel. About halfway home it dawns on me, I had them make the jumper line from my steel line to the block on the rear diff :( Major restriction from the rear wheel cylinders, now I know why the rear wheel cylinders blew, too much back psi. Now as to weather or not that contributed to the hydraovac failing? Unknown! So I'm back to steel on everything.

Just something to keep in mind.

Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:02 pm

So Zelda's got a new doo! Painted her the weekend before last and spent most of last week putting on stars, hood and bumper numbers. The louver star was bear took me about an hour just to do the masking 8) Anyway got my plate in the mail last week too so soon as I get that mounted I'm ready for a drive!

Don G

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1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper

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Re: M3 progress

Post by steve1973 » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:20 pm

Track looks great Don!!

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Spec4Don
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Re: M3 progress

Post by Spec4Don » Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:14 pm

Took Zelda to the fuel depot the other day :mrgreen:

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Don G.
1942 M3 Halftrack Zelda MVPA # 31688
Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
Letorneau Model D-4 Airborne Scraper


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