Willys MB found in Chile
-
- G-Civilian
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:43 am
- Location:
Willys MB found in Chile
Hi everyone,
After more than 5 years searching around in Chile, finally I found a WWII Willys MB to start my restoration project. It is a fairly complete jeep, with two previous owners since the army sold it in the 80's. The last one used it as his daily drive to sell bolts and nuts around town so the engine is running fine, but there is a lot to do to restore it to its glorious WWII days.
Let me know what you think and if you see anything out of the ordinary. I would appreciate any information you can provide from the serial numbers I found. It is registered as 1942, but I think it is a late 1944.
The engine number is 440_49369 so I think it is 440 a pre-war engine, it have a lot of parts missing and it is running with a Chevrolet carb.
The serial number on the frame tag is MB 39701(?). I presume MB397019 and it does not match the numbers on the dash.
Looking for any information on the model year, DOD, etc.
Thanks for all the help and I promise to keep posting about the restoration process.
Cheers,
Jose
After more than 5 years searching around in Chile, finally I found a WWII Willys MB to start my restoration project. It is a fairly complete jeep, with two previous owners since the army sold it in the 80's. The last one used it as his daily drive to sell bolts and nuts around town so the engine is running fine, but there is a lot to do to restore it to its glorious WWII days.
Let me know what you think and if you see anything out of the ordinary. I would appreciate any information you can provide from the serial numbers I found. It is registered as 1942, but I think it is a late 1944.
The engine number is 440_49369 so I think it is 440 a pre-war engine, it have a lot of parts missing and it is running with a Chevrolet carb.
The serial number on the frame tag is MB 39701(?). I presume MB397019 and it does not match the numbers on the dash.
Looking for any information on the model year, DOD, etc.
Thanks for all the help and I promise to keep posting about the restoration process.
Cheers,
Jose
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1649
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:17 pm
- Location: Florence,Kentucky
- Contact:
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Jose,
Welcome to the G and congratulations on the MB...very cool that it runs.
The glove box door data tag is from a Cross Country MB,neat...cross continent/hemisphere in this case maybe...
The frame data plate appears to be original,agree 1944 type,the serial number pages (Home page) will help you more closely plot the DOD.
Frame stamping may include a hood number,the 206....
Script F bolt on the starter bracket...
Check for a body number on/at the D/S gusset.get the markings at the front of the head under OF bracket if you can.
More pics please,the guys here will tell you what else is noteworthy...good luck!
Welcome to the G and congratulations on the MB...very cool that it runs.
The glove box door data tag is from a Cross Country MB,neat...cross continent/hemisphere in this case maybe...
The frame data plate appears to be original,agree 1944 type,the serial number pages (Home page) will help you more closely plot the DOD.
Frame stamping may include a hood number,the 206....
Script F bolt on the starter bracket...
Check for a body number on/at the D/S gusset.get the markings at the front of the head under OF bracket if you can.
More pics please,the guys here will tell you what else is noteworthy...good luck!
Ralph
- macaddict23
- G-Major General
- Posts: 2832
- Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:49 pm
- Location:
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
The numbers 20658735 stamped on the frame is your hood number. Here's more info on a similarly stamped Jeep: viewtopic.php?t=106014&start=15
Dexter
Dexter
"Originality . . . It just needs to be what it is."
- Chuck Lutz
- Gee Addict
- Posts: 26829
- Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:00 am
- Location: Jeep Heaven
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Welcome Jose!
I believe the frame tag is original so you know the correct Serial number to use when you replace the replacement one currently on the glove box door. At some point the misread the "3" on the frame tag as an "8" and stamped the data plate serial number beginning with an "8".
You also have the USA number, 206xxxxx which would be the hood number and probably correct for an MB produced in Feb or March of 1944 as yours is based on that frame tag number.
As you suspect, the "440" is a pre-WWII Willys engine.
Post more pics as the guys here can point out things you probably want to know before starting the restoration. There are a couple G5o3 members just over the hills (that would be the Andes) in Brazil that may have parts sources closer to you than Europe or the USA
I believe the frame tag is original so you know the correct Serial number to use when you replace the replacement one currently on the glove box door. At some point the misread the "3" on the frame tag as an "8" and stamped the data plate serial number beginning with an "8".
You also have the USA number, 206xxxxx which would be the hood number and probably correct for an MB produced in Feb or March of 1944 as yours is based on that frame tag number.
As you suspect, the "440" is a pre-WWII Willys engine.
Post more pics as the guys here can point out things you probably want to know before starting the restoration. There are a couple G5o3 members just over the hills (that would be the Andes) in Brazil that may have parts sources closer to you than Europe or the USA
Chuck Lutz
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
- Michael O.
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 6131
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2003 12:29 am
- Location: The Great State of Nebraska
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Welcome to the G!
I have MB 379204, DoD 10-12-44. My original registration number is 20640967.
I have MB 379204, DoD 10-12-44. My original registration number is 20640967.
Last edited by Michael O. on Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Michael O’Connell
Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.
MVPA 13861
Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.
MVPA 13861
- twinflyer17
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1349
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:49 am
- Location: Washington, D.C.
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Welcome to the G, Jose! Always neat to see an enthusiast from South America. I was actually in Santiago for a month last year and didn't meet many people who knew much about WWII, or even cared to learn anything about it, for that matter. It probably would have floored me to see an old WWII jeep cruising through the streets! Definitely looking forward to following your progress. Good luck!
- Chuck Lutz
- Gee Addict
- Posts: 26829
- Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:00 am
- Location: Jeep Heaven
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Michael....I believe that Jose's frame tag is an original...I also would suspect that the jeep in Germany with that as the frame tag number has a repop frame tag on it and a repop data plate....the tub number was probably used to come up with the possible data plate/frame tag stampings.019.....
Hey Michael....his is 397019....not 379019
Hey Michael....his is 397019....not 379019
Chuck Lutz
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2473
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Welcome to the G Jose, there are teams of jeep surgeons on here willing to help and advise you. Looks a pretty solid original jeep, well done on your find.
- Michael O.
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 6131
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2003 12:29 am
- Location: The Great State of Nebraska
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
That’s what I get for using my tiny smart phone to look at photos....thanks Chuck!!!!!
Michael O’Connell
Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.
MVPA 13861
Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.
MVPA 13861
-
- G-Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 5:46 pm
- Location:
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
That will be a cool project for sure. Keep us updated, and welcome aboard!
-
- G-Civilian
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:43 am
- Location:
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Thank you very much guys for your warm welcome, it is a honor to become part of the G and to share with such great group of people from all over the world.
Ralph I am curious about the cross country tag on the glove box you mentioned. It is a special version? Actually I was thinking that it could be a post war tag, as it doesn´t look like the regular ones...do you have any clue?
Thank for the info Chuck, I am trying to connect with enthusiast from Chile and Brazil to expand the chances for parts. There is a small community here, so this website will be my main source of information.
Some more pics:
(Against my will the prevoius owner applied a layer of olive drab that now I have to remove...)
As you can see, there is a lot to do, and the fact that the engine is running, doesn´t say much, as it is the wrong engine. The fuel tank is missing and they added an old truck plastic tank in the back.
Every comment it is most welcome, I am trying to define the DOD, but I don´t know where to look in the forum. the same with the number stamped on the frame that might be the hood number. I have heard that it is possible to determine the company it was assigned to. Any info on that?
Cheers,
Jose
Ralph I am curious about the cross country tag on the glove box you mentioned. It is a special version? Actually I was thinking that it could be a post war tag, as it doesn´t look like the regular ones...do you have any clue?
Thank for the info Chuck, I am trying to connect with enthusiast from Chile and Brazil to expand the chances for parts. There is a small community here, so this website will be my main source of information.
Some more pics:
(Against my will the prevoius owner applied a layer of olive drab that now I have to remove...)
As you can see, there is a lot to do, and the fact that the engine is running, doesn´t say much, as it is the wrong engine. The fuel tank is missing and they added an old truck plastic tank in the back.
Every comment it is most welcome, I am trying to define the DOD, but I don´t know where to look in the forum. the same with the number stamped on the frame that might be the hood number. I have heard that it is possible to determine the company it was assigned to. Any info on that?
Cheers,
Jose
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1649
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:17 pm
- Location: Florence,Kentucky
- Contact:
Re: Willys MB found in Chile
Jose,
Regret that I don't have ant more knowledge about your CC data tag, beyond its own markings...I defer to the more learned members.Robert DyReuter,the gentleman in the Netherlands who makes such fine repro data plates could possibly have some info...
The new pics you posted are neat,you have quite a good jeep to start with.
Regret that I don't have ant more knowledge about your CC data tag, beyond its own markings...I defer to the more learned members.Robert DyReuter,the gentleman in the Netherlands who makes such fine repro data plates could possibly have some info...
The new pics you posted are neat,you have quite a good jeep to start with.
Ralph
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 64 guests