M3 Half Track Questions

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:51 am

And more
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Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)


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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:52 am

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and yet more
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Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:53 am

and more again
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Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:53 am

and finally the last ones
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Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

70th Division
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 70th Division » Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:54 pm

Hello Oz,


That looks great !!!!! Pretty complete and likely will run again !!!
Even has the USA hood number stamped on it :D
The tracks look good as well.
Just needs a few pieces of vertical armor, the hard parts to find are there, like the rear floor assembly !!!
Go for it, get it home !!!

Did the Dodge WC-12 distributor bracket arrive yet ?

Keep us updated on its recovery !!

Best Regards,

Ray

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:27 pm

Looked good until I noticed it was missing at least 1 lug nut. Not only is this unsafe to operate it indicates poor upkeep! I would love to assist you in safely containing this hazard by removing it to a secure reclamation depot (my shop). :D LOL
Seriously looks good!
Can you clarify the Wylie Data Plate M3?071?????
Thanks
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:42 pm

70th Division wrote:
Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:54 pm
Hello Oz,


That looks great !!!!! Pretty complete and likely will run again !!!
Even has the USA hood number stamped on it :D
The tracks look good as well.
Just needs a few pieces of vertical armor, the hard parts to find are there, like the rear floor assembly !!!
Go for it, get it home !!!

Did the Dodge WC-12 distributor bracket arrive yet ?

Keep us updated on its recovery !!

Best Regards,

Ray
Hi Ray, Thanks for the comments. Will see what develops here, restore or sell! The dizzy plate should get here any day, then I'm one step closer on the WC12 engine start. Working fuel tank now. Will check with Gary on armor and track costs, but this looks a whole lot less than when i first figured. Might be a rewarding project.
Will be mid-March before its in my possession. Have to tread carefully with rancher. :?
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:43 pm

Kevin Lockwood wrote:
Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:27 pm
Looked good until I noticed it was missing at least 1 lug nut. Not only is this unsafe to operate it indicates poor upkeep! I would love to assist you in safely containing this hazard by removing it to a secure reclamation depot (my shop). :D LOL
Seriously looks good!
Can you clarify the Wylie Data Plate M3?071?????
Thanks
Kevin you are far too kind. :lol: Come on down to sunny Roswell and let's talk....

Here is the close up on the data tag. Looks like WM3 2971 and below it 6519

Can you expound? I'm a bit confused on SN vs the other number and can't reconcile the W4015956 number
data plate.jpg
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Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:20 pm

Need to look into my Wylie notes. I know most of their work was converting M3 s into M3A1 s. 1100 ish.
Do you have a frame number and does it have a dash between M3 and the last 4 digits?
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 3:54 pm

Kevin Lockwood wrote:
Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:20 pm
Need to look into my Wylie notes. I know most of their work was converting M3 s into M3A1 s. 1100 ish.
Do you have a frame number and does it have a dash between M3 and the last 4 digits?
I could not remember where to find the frame no when I got there. Will post that on next visit in a few weeks. I do not see a dash between the numbers, so you think a conversion to A1 later?
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:00 pm

Just spent the better part of an hour talking with a few MV friends about the half track project. I have too many irons in the fire to take this project on by myself. Its a long story that no one probably cares to hear. I will buy it, save it for someone else and as soon as I figure a price after negotiating with the rancher and hauling it to my house I will post it for sale. :( More to follow within the next 4-6 weeks.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

Joe DeMarco
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by Joe DeMarco » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:05 pm

Hi gents,

The dataplate should have something like "M3A1 was M3" & "Converted by E.W. Wylie" on there. And maybe a date?

E.W. Wylie did 764 M3 to M3A1 conversions in 1944 & 45.
(Officially, they were all M3s, but some appear to have been M2s.)

I have a partial list of them, but sorry to say SN 6519 isn't on it.

Here are a couple that fall right in between...

6488 4045925 M3 ATCV 12/44, Listed as converted to M3A1 by Wylie, 1944

6526 4045963 M3 ATCV 12/44, Listed as converted to M3A1 by Wylie, 1944

The thing is, from these & a dozen more examples, I'm almost positive that the key number for this Production Order from SNs 6472 thru 7071 is 4039437.

That would make SN 6519 USA 4045956.
However you have a photo of the stamping 4015956.
Where did you find that?
It's a nice curveball.
Oz, could you check to see what is stamped on the frame behind the wheel on the driver's side?

Joe

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:21 pm

Joe, that number is stamped above the passenger door on the cross bar. It took me a few weeks to arrange this visit, and not sure when he and I will speak again. I think on our next discussion I will make an offer and set a early/mid March date to haul it to my land. It will be several weeks before I can know anything else. I appreciate your comments. Not sure if there is a mod data tag somewhere else that i missed. That '1" could actually be a "4"
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

Kevin Lockwood
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by Kevin Lockwood » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:34 am

The image you posted I think does show it as a 4. After looking closely I see how it would appear as a 1 but is in my opinion a 4.
42 Ford GPW
42 Oshkosh AAF Snowblower
41 White M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M2A1 was M2 halftrack
42 Autocar M3-75 halftrack
42 White M4A1 was M4 halftrack
43 Diamond T M3A1 halftrack
43 White M16 was M13 halftrack
44 LVT-3 Landing Vehicle Tracked

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17thAirborne
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Re: M3 Half Track Questions

Post by 17thAirborne » Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:13 am

Kevin Lockwood wrote:
Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:34 am
The image you posted I think does show it as a 4. After looking closely I see how it would appear as a 1 but is in my opinion a 4.
That makes sense. We'll call it a "4"
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)


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