1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Post Reply
User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:33 am

Built a dolly for the tub, I'll try to make do without a rotisserie, we'll see how that works out. Trying to just cut out the spot welds to "everything" without cutting away good metal with a cut off wheel is one heck of a challenge! Some spot welds are really hard to find and the rear wheel wells tore away a bit from the outside of the tub. Am I supposed to cut the spot welds from the outside? A bit painful to drill new holes :(

Anyho, I haven't had a day off or so since last christmas so I'm dragging my feet a bit and working slow :D
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162


User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:53 am

Ah forgot to post the pictures. Yeah I'm trying to save as much of the tool boxes/wheel wells since while I have the drawing for the tops, I don't think there is some available for the side panel that goes against the rear floor. I'd like to save most of it to make new ones/patch. But yeah I think at this point I'm better off cutting across the tops of the wheelwells.

Trying to price out panels from Joe motor pool, just gotta figure a way to get them in Canada and all.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:52 am

Thanks for sharing Luc!

Yes that's what I realised too yesterday, its still a bit heart wrenching!

I must be 10 cut off discs in and I barely have half a toolbox out!

Currently trying to find a way to get Joe Motor pool panels in Canada, might have to do a bit of a road trip down south. I do not want to touch MDJuan bits again!
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sat Dec 30, 2017 1:02 pm

Thanks for sharing Luc! That's one big puzzle! Where did you find the corners for the tub you welded in one of your pictures? Did you make them yourself?

I'd love to buy a a metal brake. Unfortunately the biggest one I can afford is only 40" accross and only a simple brake, not a box and pan one. So no go for the rear floor although the rear wheelwells would be doable. Just don't know if its worth buying the tool rather than buying the JMP panels instead!
I built an aircraft aileron piece in school, we had access to a 10-12 feet shear and another just as big bender! And we were only bending aluminium, it was a breeze and very fun to work with! Except for the rivetting part!

Would you have the measurement between the two reinforcement plates for the corner handle inside the tub by any chance? I'd like to brace it and make sure its square.

In this picture :

Image

Also had to cut a piece out of the corner of the tub to get rid on the welded on tube for the bows :(

Image
Image
Image
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:01 am

I'd like to brace the tub like in this picture

Image

Except, instead of welding it to the tub, I made some brackets that fits onto those reinforcement plates I pictured above. So that when both wheelhouse and rear floor are out, the side panels don't droop down/twist. It should be fine once a new rear panel is welded in but since it might take a few weeks/months for me to save the money needed, I'd prefer bracing it sooner rather than later!

Thanks for the info on the tub corners, I don't have as many tools but I might outsource that bit out to a local shop :lol:
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:55 am

Thanks to Jason Meade out in New Brunswick, the mesurement I was looking for is 57". Seems to be the proper dimension on my tub too.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:05 pm

Thanks ! I braced it today, now I just gotta clean up and remove the spot welds/remains of the cut panels off the tub "walls". I also ordered a cheapo 30" metal brake that I'll reinforce to make small bends in the many patch panels I'll need to make. :D

I think I can save a fair share of the front floor, I'll make a Wanted thread to see if someone might have a part of the transmission hump (and both rear corners, maybe someone has 'em!) that they'd be willing to part with.

Happy new year :)

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Also, I'm noticing that at least on the right side, there are a few cracks that were welded up. I'm guessing I should cut those welds off before trying to bump the metal back flat? Or should I still be able to shrink the metal with the welds?
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sat Feb 03, 2018 12:26 pm

Been busy a bit at work and my volkswagen decided to be stubborn and left me stranded home, preventing me from going to the shop for a weekend. I also dropped the engine in the frame to free up some room around the shop and give me a small moral boost. Drop being the keyword as I almost dropped it when one of the straps shifted. At least I know I welded on the motor mounts true :mrgreen:

I thought about it too, and I really will have to split up the metal as you did Luc. Just cleaning up the metal and removing the brackets will keep me busy for a while. Found a few cracks too that'll need to be drilled out and rewelded properly. The rear right corner had broke off at one point or close to it :O

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
hell-fire
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 3443
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:06 am
Location:

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by hell-fire » Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:29 pm

Hi Boyso,

The brace in my tub in the photo above is not welded in, Simon the metal guy usually puts it there when the tub is going back together, his meassurements are so precise there is no way it will move, he uses this on all the Jeep tubs he rebuilds.

You may be able to get Joes parts via Ron or maybe Willys Acres will wake up and start stocking his stuff and give MDJ the wake up call they deserve.


Keep up the good work on your Jeep.
John
Australia
Member VMVC #192
1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
Image

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Tue Feb 06, 2018 4:41 am

Hi John,

Good to know, thanks for sharing! I've read your thread at least 5 times over, its a great ressource :D

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like WillysAcres will ever import Joe motor pool panels but I'm in discussions with a new local jeep parts dealer that imports from France by container. Just a matter of figuring out if its cheaper to fit it all in a container in Europe if there's room to spare or for him to start a 2nd distribution line thru the US.

I might just drive down and enjoy the scenery while my wallet gets lighter ! :D
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sat Feb 17, 2018 1:40 pm

Luc, do you have a photo of the spot welds on the driver side panel (tool indents) by any chance? I just wanna be sure I'm not drilling imaginary spotwelds.

Image
Image
Image
Image

Can see all the different paint layers in the last pic haha
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:53 am

Thanks Luc, I'll tackle it next weekend as right after I posted that, I got hit by a piece of debris/dust/rust right in the eye, even though I had safety glasses on and had to rush out of the garage to wash it off. Thankfully, no damage but my eye was too irritated to continue working. Gives me more time to rest my back after being slumped over with the grinder over this thing for a few hours at a time :lol:
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

Ralph
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1649
Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:17 pm
Location: Florence,Kentucky
Contact:

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Ralph » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:25 pm

Saw your post,thought maybe this could help.The original of course was rotten but a small piece was left for us to pattern the distance.FYI this is an MB.
Image
Ralph

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Tue Feb 20, 2018 5:19 pm

Thanks! Will be useful, I have to drill those as well :oops:
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738

Post by Boyso » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:40 am

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162


Post Reply

Return to “Original Unrestored WWII Jeeps”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 66 guests