Ford gpw f head swap

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial WWII field mods NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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hamster123
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Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:19 pm

Would it be worth it to put an f head in to my 1943 Ford gpw ?
Right now it has a motor out of a Chevy Vega .


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Scoutpilot
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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by Scoutpilot » Tue Dec 14, 2021 1:24 am

What is your goal with this exchange? My personal opinion? No. Not worth it.
'70-'71 'A' Batt., 377th FA, 101AB
(Slicks and LOH's)(Col's LOH Pilot)
'71-72 CHARLIE TROOP,
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LOW LEVEL HELL.
'46 CJ2A
'47 CJ2A
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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by W. Winget » Tue Dec 14, 2021 5:12 am

The bottom half of the F head is the same basic block as the WWII L-134, they just put some plugs in for the intake valve seats and drove pushrods up to the new head to open new intake Valves on the opposite side (using rocker arms).
Problem you would have is hood clearance for the carb that sits vertically on a higher Intake manifold. (hence the higher hood on 3B and CJ-5's) I solved this for a guy in the desert with an MB, by using a 90 degree pipe fitting and building two flanges to mount a side draft M151 Carb onto it.
Note the below photos from the block deck upward are the differences, and exhaust manifolds.

Point is, the bottom of the engines are the same size, so if you want to 'restore' the jeep, go with an original L-134 or genset engine (with flange cut down) L-134.
V/R W. Winget
L134.gif
L-134 cross section
F Head.jpg
L-134 F Head Cross Section
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:17 am

I don’t want to restore the jeep but instead make it into a typical
Farm jeep without the bubba mods. that’s why I want to put an f head in to it.

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by W. Winget » Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:22 am

Ok, cut a hole in the hood and let the carb stick up. Might need to also chop away metal to clear the valve cover as well...a nice long slot with side recess.
For Bubba effect, use an Oxy /Act torch, and make sure it's an original F marked hood before chopping to add to the insult. :roll:
Last edited by W. Winget on Tue Dec 14, 2021 8:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by Scoutpilot » Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:50 am

Please pardon my candor. An F-head in an MB is a bubba mod.
'70-'71 'A' Batt., 377th FA, 101AB
(Slicks and LOH's)(Col's LOH Pilot)
'71-72 CHARLIE TROOP,
16TH AIR CAV, 1ST AVN BDE (AEROSCOUTS)
LOW LEVEL HELL.
'46 CJ2A
'47 CJ2A
'48 CJ2A
'48 B1PW126
'69 CJ5

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Michael O.
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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by Michael O. » Tue Dec 14, 2021 8:24 am

What’s the serial number of your 43 GPW?

This may sound odd but I’m looking for some specific 43 GPWs that were shipped in the same box car from the Louisville assembly plant as my March 1943 GPW.

You never know!
Michael O’Connell

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hamster123
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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Tue Dec 14, 2021 9:30 am

Here’s a picture https://imgur.com/a/SPOpupt

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Tue Dec 14, 2021 9:34 am

W. Winget wrote:
Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:22 am
Ok, cut a hole in the hood and let the carb stick up. Might need to also chop away metal to clear the valve cover as well...a nice long slot with side recess.
For Bubba effect, use an Oxy /Act torch, and make sure it's an original F marked hood before chopping to add to the insult. :roll:
Lucky the hood on my gpw is off a cj2a I don’t think I could bring myself to cut up a gpw hood

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Tue Dec 14, 2021 9:50 am

Scoutpilot wrote:
Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:50 am
Please pardon my candor. An F-head in an MB is a bubba mod.
My gpw is the poster child of bubba’s handy work but is repairable

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by Michael O. » Tue Dec 14, 2021 11:44 am

Thanks for sharing your serial number. Your GPW-91076 would probably have been delivered in the first week of January 1943. Do you know which assembly plant she came from? Do you still have the original nomenclature plate on the glove box door?

While it’s not one of the four other GPWs shipped with my GPW-104111, I still appreciate your reply! Looking forward to seeing some photos as you get her back on the road. It’s always nice to learn of another ‘43 GPW that’s still with us!
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by hamster123 » Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:39 pm

The plates are gone unfortunately but I’m going to get reproductions and I remember someone said jan 4 or 5th on the Dod

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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by dpcd67 » Wed Jan 05, 2022 6:54 am

Do not put a F head into a GPW. If you want a farm jeep, sell the GPW to someone who will/can restore it, and get yourself an early CJ2A to be your farm jeep, which they were.
It's just a waste of time and money and you still end up with ____. Can't say it here.
Winget explained how to do it best though, and Scout said it too; it will be classically Bubbafied when you are done.
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Re: Ford gpw f head swap

Post by Marty, SoCal » Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:21 pm

My GPW is serial# GPW-92098. Just had the 79th anniversary of its date of delivery on January 8th, 1943.
43 Ford GPW 92098
53 Dunbar Kapple M100
Sold: 61 CJ-5, 41 T207 WC-1 Dodge closed cab pickup
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