Neal's GPW Restoration

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
kneelhurst
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Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:16 am

Good Morning Everyone,

I thought I would start a thread for my first restoration project. This is going to be a long term project for me.

I was able to purchase from a fellow G503 forum member this tub along with MB axels, two exterior windshield frames, hood, fenders and a few other small pieces. The toe board gusset number is 58790, making it a late May 1944 ACM2 tub. Now I just to start hunting for everything else. :D

More photos to come when I pick it up next week!

Neal Hurst
Williamsburg, Va
IMG_9027.jpeg
IMG_1136.jpeg


70th Division
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jun 14, 2021 4:52 pm

Hello Neal,

Welcome to the great G503 !!
I am glad you were able to get this nice original body for your jeep project build.

It looks to be in pretty decent shape, and with the additional parts you are well on your way 😁😁

Keep a look out for what you need, and it will be found.
Plenty of things show up here on the G, Ron has most of the parts you will need, also look on craigslist, and also facebook marketplace, which seems to be the new place to find abundant jeep parts and projects.

I am building and restoring a 1943 GPW right now, that is being built from spare parts that others have cast off, and sold to me, as being to much work for them, or in just too rough condition. Not all the parts, but many take a little extra effort to get them back perfect.
I am making great progress, and I enjoy saving and rebuilding an entire jeep, all from parts.

Keep us posted on your efforts, and more pics when you get body picked up .

Best Regards,
Ray

kneelhurst
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:10 pm

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the encouragement! Slowly starting to find more and more parts! Will post more photos this weekend

Neal

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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by Scratch » Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:38 pm

Congrats on the project! Looking forward to more pics.
43 GPW 93487 Blk
44 GPW 230283 OD
46 CJ2A 48990 Blk
46 CJ2A 77632 Wht
47 CJ2A 141681 Grn
48 CJ2A 156240 Red/Yel
48 CJ2A "Lefty" 181341 Red
61 CJ5 123120 Tan
76 CJ7 Camo
03 TJ Inca Gld

kneelhurst
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:51 pm

Thanks Scratch! Looks like you have done a few :)

Neal

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YLG80
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by YLG80 » Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:15 am

Congratulations for that nice tub acquisition.
Now it's time to think to build a "rotisserie" to work on it :wink: (repair, painting, assembly and wiring)
Drawings
viewtopic.php?t=58005

I have used available wooden support which was more simple.
rotissoire_jeep.JPG
Good luck with your restoration.
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by htc » Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:01 am

YLG80 wrote:
Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:15 am

Now it's time to think to build a "rotisserie" to work on it :wink: (repair, painting, assembly and wiring)
I agree with Yves about the rotisserie. There are many designs possible. Different posts also about the 'rotisserie'. Just do a search.
If I would redo mine, I would start with two engine stands as support.

Good luck with the restoration. It is a lot of fun!

Greetings
Hans
Living in Belgium
MB 379881
GPW 253827

kneelhurst
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:06 am

My goal is to build a late war GPW marked to the 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. My great uncle was a pilot with the 96th who was KIA in March 1945. I have been collecting images of Jeeps from the BG and have added them here for reference.

Neal Hurst
Williamsburg, Va
Attachments
107713228_10221208262463711_4099303252328278528_n.jpg
83654626_3380737488619504_3638725146761494528_n.jpg
72428663_1889476481199232_1385998174191091712_n.jpg
70505782_1354056994776874_1903720820610433024_n.jpg

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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by twinflyer17 » Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:20 am

Neal, welcome and I'm looking forward to following along as you complete your project! Never hesitate to ask a question on the G, no matter how how "stupid" it may be. Some guys will be critical, but the rest of us will make sure you receive the correct answer, and plenty more!! Good luck!
Sean

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

MVPA
AOPA

kneelhurst
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:40 am

Thanks Sean....there will be a lot of dumb questions!

Neal

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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by Scratch » Tue Jun 15, 2021 11:07 am

I love it when people restore or mark their jeeps in honor of some personal connection. Be it military or otherwise. I love a good story. I'll be looking forward to your build!
43 GPW 93487 Blk
44 GPW 230283 OD
46 CJ2A 48990 Blk
46 CJ2A 77632 Wht
47 CJ2A 141681 Grn
48 CJ2A 156240 Red/Yel
48 CJ2A "Lefty" 181341 Red
61 CJ5 123120 Tan
76 CJ7 Camo
03 TJ Inca Gld

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armyairforce
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by armyairforce » Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:02 am

Will be good to see another 8th Air Force Jeep. Mine are all 100th BG, 3rd Air Division. Looking forwards to the progress.
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by Tim Shanteler » Fri Jun 18, 2021 5:12 am

My 45 MB and 44 MBT are setup for my dad who was in the 496th Service Squadron attached to the 484th and 461st Bomb Groups of the 15th AAF in Torretta Italy. Luckily, I found an original photo of a 496th jeep (very scarce info on service squadrons) to replicate the bumper markings. Interestingly it shows XV instead of 15 which was used earlier.
Tim

1945 WC-57 81674456
1944 WC-52 81750129
1945 MB 430629
1943 Ford GPW133609
1943 Ben Hur 0347395 (Gertstenlager)

kneelhurst
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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by kneelhurst » Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:42 am

Finally got the tub and a bunch of other parts and pieces home over the weekend. Been slowly going over her with a fine tooth comb to figure out next steps. First thing was to remove a brass plate that was placed over top of the trailer socket hole. Thankfully whoever put the plate on used the original holes and did not drill any others. Interestingly, the remains of the original rubber gasket were still there, intact, but very brittle. More to come...
Attachments
socket 2.jpg
sockets.jpg

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Re: Neal's GPW Restoration

Post by 70th Division » Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:18 am

Hello Neal,

Looking forward to more pictures of your tub !!

I think it was a great tub to start with !!

I see the the tool box bottom looks good in that pic, that is a great thing !!
It looks like the original paint may be under the primer, if so look for markings on the body, especially any name stenciled over the wheel wells !!


Best Regards,
Ray


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