1943 GPW 108175

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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twinflyer17
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:34 am

Thanks, gentleman. I always appreciate positive feedback from other jeep enthusiasts!

I actually have a few additional updates to post - mainly a few tedious little items completed in this painful winter months! Though my GPW has been "finished" since last July, I've ended up doing quite a few little things which I either blew off previously, or I've ended up fixing a few little things I didn't have the chance to get to previously.

First, my valve cover gasket began to leak on me, as well as my intake/exhaust manifold gasket. Before:
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During - you can actually see how leaky the old gasket was...I can honestly say it runs quite a bit better with the new one!
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After - with some fresh Ford gray :D
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Also ended up rigging together a new license plate bracket. I just used a couple pieces of scrap metal and bolted them to the bumperette bolts. I used to have the license plate mounted to the spare tire, but I think this turned out much better:
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Lastly, thanks to another G member, I was able to pick up a used Beachwood top. I've been torn on whether to buy a new one, since I'm fairly tall and I have a hard time seeing through the windshield because of that. Fortunately, I ended up straightening my windshield over Thanksgiving and even with the top installed, I now can see out of it much better than previously. Can't beat the smell and the look either!
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Now, the absolute last two things I have to do to actually complete this project is to install the pintle hood eye bolts and bonding straps I recently bought. Then, it's just a countdown to nice weather to finally enjoy being finished!
Last edited by twinflyer17 on Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Ralph
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Ralph » Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:10 am

Sean,
I've enjoyed your new pictures...a really faithful restoration.Tough luck about the head gasket but looks like you powered on through it.Now this Spring you can hit the road again.
Can you say what was needed to straighten the windshield? Good job-
Ralph

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:32 am

Thanks, Ralph! I'm certainly counting down until nice weather again. Wintertime is such a tease...

In regard to straightening my windshield, all I used was an acetylene torch and a pipe bender, similar to the one in this link (http://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/medi ... B-17-3.jpg). I was fortunate that my dad, an old electrician, has a bender which he would use for bending conduit that was a perfect fit for the windshield frame tubing. I ended up first measuring from the bolt holes at the end of the frame to the very top corner, then heating where the frame was bent and using the bender to straighten exactly where the bend was. It was tedious to keep both sides at the same angle, while also ensuring the width between the two ends of the frame remained the same, but I was able to make it work and it turned out almost perfect.

I hope my description makes sense! I've read of guys using pipes and other friends to physically muscle the frame into bending. I think my way was a bit easier than that and worked great.
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Ralph » Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:59 am

Sean,
You answered what I was curious about; reconciling the sides/stresses...nothing like having the right tools too.And nice having Dad to help.The top canvas fits great so you did find the correct angle.I like your license plate setup...nuanced..
Ralph

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 am

Ralph wrote:Sean,
You answered what I was curious about; reconciling the sides/stresses...nothing like having the right tools too.And nice having Dad to help.The top canvas fits great so you did find the correct angle.I like your license plate setup...nuanced..
Thanks!! I was nervous about the windshield angle before installing the top...thankfully it worked perfectly. And I agree that the right tools make all the difference. Thankfully, my old man has a garage stuffed with tools. Throughout my entire resto, I think I was forced to buy two, or maybe three new tools that he didn't have. I really have no complaints :lol:
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Michael O.
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Michael O. » Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:38 pm

Very nice looking GPW. I'm hoping mine will be looking like yours really soon!

Thanks for sharing....well done!
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Sun Feb 12, 2017 9:27 am

Thanks, Michael! :D
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
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Chuck Lutz
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed Feb 22, 2017 12:47 pm

She's looking really nice now Sean....and you will have the whole summer to enjoy your GPW for the first time!

My jeep did not come with its data plate, but I do have info that GPW <-> 108552 had a USA number of 20371278 and shipped from Louisville on 4/21/43 in a Pennsylvania RR boxcar. I'm always looking to see if a GPW has an original USA number that is close to mine and has an original data plate so I can narrow down the day mine was produced....

So....can you confirm if your GPW DOD and USA number were found on the jeep? Did it have the original data plate and did you find the USA number on the hood?
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:55 am

Thanks, Chuck! I'm counting down the days until summer is finally here and the weather finally remains consistently warm (we've been having quite a few teaser 70+ degree days in the mid-Atlantic region the past few weeks).

I regard to your question about the original data plate, I was lucky and my GPW did have all three data plates when I bought it. I opted to keep the original tags on the original glove box door, as I bought a more solid original body which I fixed and installed that came with another glove box door. I now keep the original data plates in my glove box, for display purposes, while I put repros on the current door. Here's what my original tags look like - these match the frame number, too, though the frame number is hardly legible due to rust pitting:

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Although I was lucky enough to have the original data tags, I wasn't lucky enough to find the original hood number. My hood had way too much surface rust on it. I managed to determine my hood number and delivery details due to a few of the other members on the G. It's confirmed that # GPW-108175 was assembled at the Ford Louisville Plant and was shipped on shipping order C-136523 on 4/15/43 by Central Truckaway (car hauler), indicating that the vehicle was delivered on wheels and not crated. USA Registration number was 20371070, and it was delivered with 5 synthetic tires.

Hope this little bit of info will help you nail your GPW's details down!
Last edited by twinflyer17 on Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Chuck Lutz » Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:29 am

Thanks Sean....it does get me a bit closer to the DOD simply based on the correlation to the known USA numbers!
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Wed Mar 01, 2017 5:16 am

I'm glad to hear it was a help, Chuck!
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:06 am

Finally installed some bonding straps. Still have the tedious ones to get to, but should have those complete before the diving and show season completely kicks off!

Image

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Last edited by twinflyer17 on Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Fortyeight2A » Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:17 pm

If it helps anybody, note that AAWII, page 187 shows GPW 118398 with a DOD of April 7, 1943.
Is it true real Jeeps have flat fenders?
Alone cannot you it resist!

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twinflyer17
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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by twinflyer17 » Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:27 am

Fortyeight2A wrote:If it helps anybody, note that AAWII, page 187 shows GPW 118398 with a DOD of April 7, 1943.
Hmm...that number and DOD seem a little off?
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

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Re: 1943 GPW 108175

Post by Fortyeight2A » Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:51 am

I couldn't say. It's just what is there in the book, apparently from people who reported it to Mr. Cowdery.
Is it true real Jeeps have flat fenders?
Alone cannot you it resist!


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