Dodge WC-55/52 Project

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Ghostrider5211
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Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:18 am

Hello forum, my dad and I picked up a very nice Dodge as our next project. Our jeep was lonely and needed a friend...

This truck was part of an estate absolute auction down in Mount Vernon, Ohio a week ago. We won the truck at $4,500. The engine is a replacement Plymouth, but there are several original components that have survived in there. Can't wait to get into it once the jeep transmission is repaired.

Going to be doing some minor paint stripping to see if I can uncover any hood numbers or any other stencils... I'm very excited as this will be the first time I will have been able to do this. I will try to post pictures as I go.

We have been soaking the main dataplate in vinegar, and have recovered some numbers. It appears that this plate is not for the original vehicle type, but rather a plate for when it was recommissioned as a WC-52 in 1943 or so (has anyone ever heard of this happening?). I'll post pictures when I get my good camera up there. I will also do a pencil rubbing to try and determine if any thing else survived underneath the rust layer.

We are debating restoring it to a WC-55 or simply leaving it as a WC-52. I suppose it's a matter of money. The bed was swapped out on this one but my research indicates that the swapped bed looks the same as the one on the original vehicle, so we may be able to convert it back... I'm not sure what our decision will be and it's too far down the road anyway to really matter at this point. Our short term goal is to have this thing completely torn down by Christmas.

Glad to be part of the Dodge club!!!

PS - Every time I try to post a picture it says the file is too large??? How do I fix that?
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16


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zepher11
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by zepher11 » Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:40 pm

Hello, welcome to the DC. On the photos, if you have snipping tool on your computer, just use that. I take my photos, and they are about 2MB, but using the snipping tool I make the same photo at about 95kb. Snipping tool is a windows product.

I found this little youtube video on snipping tool as it explains it better than I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcFOoNR9vI
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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17thAirborne
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by 17thAirborne » Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:19 pm

Welcome. I look forward to your posts and progress.
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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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by johnseidts » Fri Oct 20, 2017 11:03 am

Hi,
We spoke at the auction. I still think you got a really fine restoration candidate. I would restore it as a WC-52 although the M-6 Gun Motor Carriage is pretty awesome looking. The incredible thing about this truck is that other than the replacement engine, this truck is un-molested. Everything on it is original to wartime service and appears original to that time. It still has the symmetrical light guards, and the correct fender with no blackout headlight mount. This truck sold last year at the Jeff Chester auction. I was really impressed with it then, and I am very glad it seems to have found a good home. I have remains of a 1942 WC-55 on hand with its original engine. The engine is destined for my 1942 WC-54, but if you need any little bits off the truck, ask away and I'll see what I can come up with.
John K. Seidts RN:
Wanted to Buy any aircraft parts or aviation items
Wanted- WWII US Medical and Engineer Items

Frank USMC
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Frank USMC » Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:24 am

one fast note for you on the history of the WC55s. When the army found out that they were worthless, and not cut out for combat (with the WC53 carry all), they gave several to the Marines. When you restore this one one you can keep it WWII by painting in in Army or Marine colors. I have photos here and parts to the Marine Corps for the WC55.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET
PS, the Marines also removed the gun

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by ng19delta » Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:36 am

Frank USMC wrote:
Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:24 am
one fast note for you on the history of the WC55s. When the army found out that they were worthless, and not cut out for combat (with the WC53 carry all), they gave several to the Marines. When you restore this one one you can keep it WWII by painting in in Army or Marine colors. I have photos here and parts to the Marine Corps for the WC55.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET
PS, the Marines also removed the gun
Actually, I understand a number of them made it to North Africa for the desert campaign! My understanding was they were created for training, not combat, but that some units shipped over and took them with them- not sure if "accidentally" or not...(And I do know, that in the world of "micro armor", I once badly embarrassed a friend by using a few in a scenario, and, with one lucky shot and roll of the dice, my WC-55 took out his Tiger tank... I still remember the location- "Upper glacis plate", and it was about the ONLY area 37mm would have penetrated... From then on, when ever we would run a game of "micro armor", I was always sure to have a few... And he always mounted a rear guard against them! Not that it means a darn thing here, but fun to relate, none the less...)

Scott

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Frank USMC » Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:50 am

You are correct, in North Africa is where the Army found out the WC55 and WC53 were not cut out for combat.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by svaasand » Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:41 am

The tank destroyer concept was created in the early days of WWII, with the idea of having light manouverable vehicles with capable guns. The TD command had the guns, but did not yet have the desired chassis. The temporary solution was to mount 37mm on WC55 chassis (as M6 GMC), and 75mm on the halftrack (as M3 GMC). Although temporary, they were standardized and intended for combat. Both vehicles were deployed to North Africa.

The "final" version of the 37mm self propelled tank destroyer was meant to be the M8 Greyhound. However, before this vehicle was standardized and entered production, it was realized that the 37mm was basically useless as an antitank gun. The M8 was then classified as "light armored car", and issued to cavalry instead. The M10, and then the M18 replaced the halftrack.

The M6 was declared "limited standard" in september 1943. In 1945 it was "obsolete", but by then all were probaly already converted to WC52s.
-Lars Svaasand

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by thunder37 » Fri Oct 27, 2017 4:21 pm

Let me know if you need the 37mm M6 replica to sit on the back of your WC55!

We build them and I am making one now for my WC51/WC52/WC55 conglomerate.

Thanks!

Brent

Mac Systems Replicas

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Tue Oct 31, 2017 9:24 am

thunder37 wrote:
Fri Oct 27, 2017 4:21 pm
Let me know if you need the 37mm M6 replica to sit on the back of your WC55!

We build them and I am making one now for my WC51/WC52/WC55 conglomerate.

Thanks!

Brent

Mac Systems Replicas
Hi Brent!

We will definitely need the M6 replica and the mount. I would love to chat with you about it!
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by thunder37 » Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:19 pm

Feel free to give me a call at 931-252-1602

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Feb 17, 2019 3:50 am

Well, as I've been scooting through the threads, scouring for data and information, I came across this old thread that I started that I SHOULD have kept up on, but failed. I'd like to change that, if nobody minds...

My dad and I have not stopped working on the truck since the thread died - far from it. I'm not sure how I'm going to update over a year's worth of work into such a short span, so I will be kind of spamming up the photos that have the most meaning... like milestones. Buckle up, we're throttling up to LUDICROUS SPEED.

As an overview, the truck was build in May/June of 1942. It was reissued for US Army use in June, 1943 according to the dataplate. We are restoring the truck as it sits... no 37 mm in the bed.

RECOVERY - OCTOBER 2017. All photos in this post were taken the day we recovered the truck.
Attachments
DSCN3150 (Small).JPG
DSCN3150 (Small).JPG (164.87 KiB) Viewed 1925 times
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DSCN3170 (Small).JPG (81.31 KiB) Viewed 1925 times
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Feb 17, 2019 4:01 am

November 2017 - January 2018: DISASSEMBLY AND DISCOVERY

By far one of the most exciting things we found on this project was lifting the cab off and finding a 1938 Mercury dime nestled in the frame rail, driver's side.
Attachments
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DSCN3384 (Small).JPG (94.52 KiB) Viewed 1925 times
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DSCN3465 (Small).JPG (114.4 KiB) Viewed 1925 times
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Feb 17, 2019 4:19 am

2018 - DISASSEMBLY, PARTS CLEANING. Summer of 2018 REBUILD UNDERWAY.
Attachments
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DSCN4169 (Small).JPG (138.33 KiB) Viewed 1922 times
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DSCN4172 (Small).JPG (169.37 KiB) Viewed 1922 times
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16

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Re: Dodge WC-55/52 Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Feb 17, 2019 4:21 am

MORE CLEANING & REASSEMBLY

Sorry these are pretty out of order...
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DSCN4752 (Small).JPG
DSCN4752 (Small).JPG (113.72 KiB) Viewed 1921 times
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DSCN3755 (Small).JPG (108.09 KiB) Viewed 1921 times
DSCN3752 (Small).JPG
DSCN3752 (Small).JPG (110.04 KiB) Viewed 1921 times
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16


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