FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Feb, 1942 - GPW1 thru end of first contract, April, 1942 - GPW15000 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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Chuck Lutz
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FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Chuck Lutz » Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:48 pm

Ian...and you other VEP GPW guys, listen up. I discovered something the other day and after a conversation with Tom W., we have come to the conclusion this is an Early/Late identification feature. While true Ford tubs do not have a number like the ACM tubs due, we have been generally able to tell if a tub is original to a frame by virtue of several mfgering differences.

So, here goes. If you have an original Ford tub, be it a script or a slightly later one, can you check to see which style of a captured nut plate is spot welded to your tub for the left front leg of the driver's seat. The one in front of the gas tank well.

Here is what the consensus is so far...
1) April 42 GPWs have that rectangular plate with the clipped off corner spot-welded perpendicular to the tank well...
April 42 Angled Mounting.jpg
April 42 Angled Mounting.jpg (187.76 KiB) Viewed 5098 times

2) August 42 GPWs have that plate spot-welded on an angle to the tankwell....
Dec 1942 - Angled mounting.jpg
Dec 1942 - Angled mounting.jpg (150.1 KiB) Viewed 5144 times
So, to help with determining when this change occurred and by that, enabling Tom and others to narrow down the production date and thereby tell if a tub is original to a frame in the middle of 1942, can you guys post the answers to the following questions. Please keep this to what appears to be ORIGINAL Ford tubs between April and August 1942.

1) Does the glove box have a FLAT floor?
2) Is there a gas can strengthening plate spot-welded to the rear panel of the tub? (PS....the plate came before the carrier was added!)
3) Is it a "script" FORD tub?
4) Is there a trailer socket inn the tub? (original, not a hack job)
5) Are the reflectors on the rear panel off-set like later tubs that DID have a socket or not? (PS...the off-set mountings came before the socket was added)
6) Can you confirm if your tub has the "raised rib" behind the tool box lid?

BONUS QUESTION!!!

The small plate that the captured nut for the left front bolt on the driver's seat has a "clipped corner". Have you figured out WHY that is?
Last edited by Chuck Lutz on Fri Dec 22, 2017 9:41 am, edited 2 times in total.
Chuck Lutz

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


Fabrizio
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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Fabrizio » Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:28 pm

Hi Chuck; you might also look at the ridge on the small flat area between toolbox lids and rear panel
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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Fabrizio » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:25 am

If that is of some help:

Gpw3606 3/3/42 Dearborn 2055994S has:

-plate welded perpendicular
-flat glove box floor
-no can plate
-script
-no plug
-offset reflectors
-no rib behind toolboxes
GPW #3606 “LIBBY”
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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by gpwmke » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:41 am

BTT

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by JAB » Tue May 08, 2018 10:10 pm

Chuck Lutz wrote:
Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:48 pm


1) Does the glove box have a FLAT floor?
2) Is there a gas can strengthening plate spot-welded to the rear panel of the tub? (PS....the plate came before the carrier was added!)
3) Is it a "script" FORD tub?
4) Is there a trailer socket inn the tub? (original, not a hack job)
5) Are the reflectors on the rear panel off-set like later tubs that DID have a socket or not? (PS...the off-set mountings came before the socket was added)
6) Can you confirm if your tub has the "raised rib" behind the tool box lid?

BONUS QUESTION!!!

The small plate that the captured nut for the left front bolt on the driver's seat has a "clipped corner". Have you figured out WHY that is?
GPW 37718, DOD June 18, 1942, is a script tub with most of the features you're asking about rusted away. I may be able to figure out #'s 2,4, 5, and 6 on the weekend if it would help, but that plate under the seat is gone, so....would it do any good?

GPW 24953, May, ?, 1942, is a script tub (from Dave K.) with a flat bottom glove box (about the only thing on it worth saving, probably for 37718) but the rust is too bad to prove much else at this time. With some speculation I might find evidence to determine #'s 2, 4, 5, and 6.

Script tub of unknown date (from Leo J.) has no glove box floor but it has the plate in question, sitting at a slight angle. Again, #'s 2, 4, 5, and 6 might be visible on the weekend, if it would help I can try to determine those features based on what's remaining.

I ripped a new pair of Cabela's jeans climbing on top of "the pile" to get this info, so please do tell, why is the corner clipped?!
-Jeff

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed May 09, 2018 9:04 am

Jeff.....just a guess here, but if a similar captured nut plate was needed in another location, maybe the Ford engineers just decided to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Chuck Lutz

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

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Finn42 » Mon May 14, 2018 6:29 pm

Mine is clipped Early April
Flat glove box.
Its the same plate as the one under the trans hump that’s cut at angle for the angle of the hump. They just used the same plate—my guess
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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed May 16, 2018 9:19 am

Me too...same plate I think in multiple locations.

Jeff...and chance you can salvage those pants and make them into shorts for the summer season of jeep driving?
Chuck Lutz

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

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by JAB » Wed May 16, 2018 2:18 pm

Chuck Lutz wrote:
Wed May 16, 2018 9:19 am
Me too...same plate I think in multiple locations.

Jeff...and chance you can salvage those pants and make them into shorts for the summer season of jeep driving?
Lol! I did sew them up pretty good so no cut-offs for now! Otherwise they would be another pair of "jeep pants"!
-Jeff

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by ShawnB » Wed Jun 06, 2018 5:30 pm

3-2-42 4312 GPW

) glove box has a FLAT floor
2) Ithere is no gas can strengthening plate spot-welded to the rear panel of the tub
3) it is a script
4) undetermined about trail;er socket at this time. i can see where it looks like a welded patch fromt he inside but there is some bondo on the outside i have not removed yet
5) no reflectors are present on the rear
6) there is no raised rib behind the tool box
7)The small plate that the captured nut for the left front bolt on the driver's seat is perpendicular
42 MB 139548
42 MB-T 2569
42 GPW 4312

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Chuck Lutz » Thu Jun 07, 2018 10:44 am

Thanks Shawn...

You will probably find that the PO welded up that Trailer Socket hole and used the dreaded "B" to smooth it out. That might mean he did a less than neat welding job and you have to cut it out and put in another slightly larger patch.

That is probably where the rear panel reflectors went as well...

If you are going to sandblast the tub and get rid of the bondo on it, try going around the tub with a magnet now to discover where it has been applied. You may also find out the bad news that the PO used it where the metal was very thin from rust over the years and once the bondo is gone, so will some areas of metal that just faded away with the sandblasting. More patches would be in order.

Wow...GPW-4312 is getting into the rare zone! Very early!
Chuck Lutz

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

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by ShawnB » Tue Jun 12, 2018 1:16 pm

thanks Chuck.
GPW 4312 has a lot of rot to it, but when i do get around to restoring it, i am hoping to be able to use as much of the original body as possible.
I hope the info i submitted earlier helps you out with your database of info.
42 MB 139548
42 MB-T 2569
42 GPW 4312

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by shaun1986 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 2:11 pm

Hi Shawn my tub is 4383 just checking if u have confirmed if the trailer plug is required as l have just started restoring my tub it has one but could be cut in.

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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by Fabrizio » Sat Jun 16, 2018 2:38 pm

Hi Shaun, what is your frame number?
Early Ford tubs should come without a serial
GPW #3606 “LIBBY”
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Re: FORD TUB DATING FEATURE

Post by lowbonnet » Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:23 pm

The first image of yours is what I have on my tub.
gpw32978
dod June 25 1942

1) FLAT floor
2) No gas can strengthening plate
3) "script" FORD tub
4) No trailer socket
5) No
6) My tub has the "raised rib" behind the tool box lid
June 1942 Ford GPW (script)
Transportation Equipment Co. T1, 1/4 ton trailer


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