Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

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DDTrustee
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by DDTrustee » Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:31 am

how do you tell? the ser no. is 6988
the mantlette is mismatched because the hole does not match up with where telescope is located on the mount.
reenacting and WWII history


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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:36 am

Hi Dan,

Do you mean this part? I don't have any spares sorry. I can email you a bigger picture if this will help.

I fabricated a seat base and locking arm for my co-driver seat and found a double torsion spring at a scrap dealer that appears to do the job. If I could get an original seat base I'd be interested.


Hi PDQF,

Yes, from what I've been told about the ordnance number on mine, mine would have been built at the St Paul plant.
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by DDTrustee » Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:05 pm

I CAN MAKE THAT IF I HAD A BUNCH OF DIMENSIONS......LENGTH, DIAMEER OF THE HOLE, DIAMETER OF THE SHAFT......SOME MORE CLOSE UP AND VARIOUS ANGLE....GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I DO NTO AHVE A SPARE OR KNOW WHERE A SEAT BASE IS - I CAN PHOTO MINE FOR YOU.
reenacting and WWII history

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:48 pm

Hi Dan

I'll send you some photos.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:55 pm

Hi all,

The sandblasters have started on the M8 so I took the opportunity to check for serial numbers before they put any paint on it, to see if I could learn a bit more about the hull.

As I previously mentioned, the ordnance serial numbers ‘7373’ are in each lower corner of the front hull. These were nice and clear. I was hoping to locate the other number on the front armour plate in the centre below the front hatches. The metal on the hull here is quite rough and I could not make out a lot out with any certainty. I thought I could see a ‘6’ but then again it could have been a ‘C’. I took some pictures of this area but even blowing the photos up didn’t reveal anything. Whatever was there was very hard to see and nothing like as clear as the ordnance serial numbers on the lower front corners.

There are a range of other numbers on the hull in various places. There is a series of numbers on the top of the hull at the rear above where the radiator is. There are other numbers in the front armour which I figure are plate drawing numbers. All in all, not a lot more learnt!

I’ll send through some more photos once they’ve got some paint on the hull.

Along with cleaning up a few other parts, I’ve just about reassembled the generator. I had to fit a new electrical stud and make up a new insulating plate and insulating sleeves for the two studs. The repair appears to be okay. I’ve made up some new gaskets, replaced one of the bearings and have some new brushes coming, so hopefully not a bad repair cost overall, excluding all the hours I put in! Everything seems to check out so far but we’ll see what the auto electrician says. He’ll tell me how good (or bad) I am!

I’ve also had some other radio/interphone parts arrive. It seems a shame to open these boxes up.

That's it for today.....
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:26 pm

Hi all,

I had another look at the hull today after they put the primer on it. As you can see, we dropped the turret ring down enough to blast between the surfaces, and get some paint in there.

Some of the other numbers on the vehicle became more apparent with the coat of primer on it. It’s amazing how a coat of paint transforms the vehicle!

After we looked closely at the front armour we can see that a grinder or similar has been used in a number of places on the front armour; the middle panel where that other serial number would be, and the top panel. You can actually see some of the dips in the surface from the grinding, and it appears that other number has been ground away. The lower panel where the Ordnance Numbers are shows no signs of any grinding.

I guess there could be a few reasons for the grinding but it was certainly done some time ago and prior to at least the last coat of paint it got in its service. Maybe the hull sustained some frontal damage at some point and the steel was repaired and grinded smooth. Who would know….

Anyway, on Monday, the gloss white goes on. After that, the plan is to leave the paint to harden for a few days before masking the white off in preparation for the OD to go on.
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by dgrev » Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:59 pm

Darryl

It is finally starting to look like a Greyhound rather than a jigsaw.

It reminds me of a 1:1 scale Tamiya kit now, you have all the bits,
just a case of painting and bolting. The downhill run.

Regards
Doug

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Tapper02 » Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:25 am

dgrev wrote:
Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:59 pm
Darryl
It is finally starting to look like a Greyhound rather than a jigsaw.
Ditto here! Been following this for some time and generally keep quiet, but you have to be commended Darryl. Can’t wait to see the white and OD go on! Then comes the rest of the fun....

-Tom
1944 Autocar M3A1 Halftrack
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer

MVPA # 30507

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Fri Jan 26, 2018 10:37 pm

Hi Doug and Tom,

Thanks for the replies. Yes, still a bit surreal seeing it at this stage. It has come a long way!

I am certainly looking forward to getting it back to the workshop and throwing all these parts on it!
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:09 am

Nice! Keep going, it is coming around ..!
M

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:57 pm

Buongiorno M,

Thanks! I am getting there!
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:16 pm

Hi all,

Just a few more progress photos along with a funny story.

The gloss white has been applied to the interior of the hull. The hull is being masked off now in preparation for the OD to go on. Unfortunately there is a problem with the OD paint and the finish is not matt! We are talking to the paint supplier now to see what has happened there. Hopefully we will have a resolution soon.

Back to the funny story. There was a major scrub fire last night in the suburb of Burnside (how ironic!) in Dunedin. It raged for about 6 hours and took out a few industrial buildings, pine trees, and damaged some homes leading to the evacuation of a number of residents.

The sandblasters where the M8 is being painted, are based right in the area where the fire was! The fire got to about 100 metres from their premises, but fortunately did not get any closer to the building. If it had reached the nearby LPG gas bottle plant, things might have been different.

The guys had to clean all the ash and soot off the hull this morning before starting the masking.

As you can expect, I was sweating on things for a while, but it appears that on this occasion, the gods were smiling on me….
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by dgrev » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:03 pm

Darryl

Perhaps it is my monitor, bu the paint looks Navy Mid Grey here?

By the way, especially where you live, doing a first coat in gloss or semi-gloss is very good protection, then a final coat in matt.

Regards
Doug

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:21 pm

Hi Doug

That is the grey primer you can see there. The OD hasn’t gone on yet. The gloss white is being masked off for the OD paint. In ‘playing around ‘ with the OD paint before applying it, the painter found it didn’t have a matt finish, so he hasn’t put it on the hull yet. We are now in discussions with the paint supplier!

Good point about the semi gloss finish first up. I’ll mention that to them and see if they have considered that.

Thanks.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by dgrev » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:36 pm

Darryl

Problem is that the primer is porous. So is the red zinc chromate normally found from the WW2 factories. So is the OD drab/matt. This is why it is normal to find NOS parts, all nicely painted but with rust underneath the paint. The moisture (atmospheric) has been absorbed into the paint as if it was a sponge and got through to the steel and rust is the result.
Now imagine what happens when the vehicle is washed or out in the rain or overnight dew.

All that restoration effort needing to be redone far too soon.

So look upon this goof as an opportunity.

Likewise, the reason why the Poms painted all their military vehicles semi-gloss in peace time is to:

a) Stop oil and fuel wicking into the paint. Which is a real issue with any armoured vehicles as the fuel filler is usually on top and spills (especially diesel) soak into the paint immediately. Likewise all the hatch pivots etc that have to be oiled to stop them seizing, semi-gloss means you can wipe off the excess, matt/drab means it soaks in and is visible forever.

b) Try to slow down the rust problem in their wet climate.

There must have been some sort of provision for war, but I have not heard what it was. May have been as simple as a quick spray with a light oil so that the dust would stick. Does anyone know?

Regards
Doug


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