A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
Post Reply
Martyn 2261
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:30 am
Location: England

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by Martyn 2261 » Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:31 am

Fantastic story,many good pics,I'm impressed, I'm just starting my first jeep adventure..a 44 willys
The dodge truck looks a lot of work,is it mainly body and finishing?


User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:22 am

Martyn 2261 wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:31 am
....,is it mainly body and finishing?
Hello, you're going to have so much fun with your Jeep! We did in our first year of Jeep ownership.

The Dodge is mainly cosmetic work. Chipping away the black and white checkers to avoid building up another layer of paint, grinding out any rust spots, sand, prime and repaint in olive drab. There's a few bits of welding to do here and there, but only to be expected for something made in 1944.

September 23rd to 26th

On the 23rd, I began to strip the paint from the lights and brackets. It took most of the morning which included stripping the lights apart. Most of the rest of the day was spent sanding the paintwork on the left side. The welding repairs and some other bare metal areas were given a coat of primer to protect them.

Image

Image

For most of the 24th, I was doing surface preparation. There were a number of gouges from the chisel that needed filling. I'm not worried about a perfect finish, but the chisel marks needed dealing with. There were also a number of small rust spots to grind out, prime and fill. It took some time to sand and grind out the rust in the depression around the fuel filler cap and very few of my tools would fit between the depression and filler neck. To end the day, I stripped the paint from the front bumper. There were multiple layers that were very hard and needed quite a bit of steaming to soften the paint enough to scrape away.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:29 am

September 25th - Paint Stripping

On the 25th, I started stripping along the right side, with the hood and fender under the chisel. As with the left, the two right side sections of the hood had no primer. I sanded one small section of white to reveal the olive drab below, but stipping it away showed no primer other than my rust touch-ups.

Image

By the end of the day, most of the right side fender was back to olive drab and the Dodge looked more green than black and white.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:33 am

September 26th - Paint Stripping and Priming

First thing on the 26th, I carefully drove the Dodge out of the garage and snapped some photos in the sun before turning it around and parking up again in the garage. This gave me better access to the right side which still needed stripping. It's hard to believe it's a little over a week since I started. I'm desparate for the builders to come and start modifying the garage to make it easier to get in and out.

Image

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:35 am

It's still a tight squeeze to work in there, but by moving the GPW backwards a little, it gave a bit more room at the rear right corner where I have some welding to do. I carried on stripping the fender first, uncovering some shipping data stencils. They appear to be on a more recent layer of paint, so probably applied by the Norwegian collector and not original.

Image

At the bottom of the fender, the doubler had badly rusted and would need cutting off and replacing, but not today. The stripping continued along the side of the cab and under the screen seal. Time was getting on, so I switched to wiring brushing the bare metal hood and then got a coat of primer on to finish the day.

Image

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

MP45
G-First Sergeant
G-First Sergeant
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:59 am
Location: New England

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by MP45 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:03 am

Looking good, keep up the great work.

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:00 pm

Cheers! It's hard work, but quite satisfying.

September 27th/28th - Stripping, Welding and Priming

I started the 27th by stripping the step, the rest of the cab side and the front face of the rear body. I quickly moved on down the side until there were only nine checkers left on the whole truck. Other than the windscreen, the Dodge was all olive drab or primer. As I stripped away the paint, I found an old filler repair on the rear corner which needed proper attention. Many years ago, I didn't have a suitable welder to make repairs, only a 100AH stick welder which would blow holes in the thin metal. The area had been cleaned as best I could, primed, then filled with body filler. With a MIG welder in my tool inventory now, it was time to glue some metal in there. Having prepared some replacement metal the day before, I started the 28th by welding in new sections, starting on the rear right corner.

Image

There was some additional rot at the front corner of the rear body, just behind the step. This only showed up as surface rust discolouration on the checkers, until the rotary wire brush came out. One spot was just a few small holes which I welded up straight away. Just behind was a more rotten area that needed cutting out. The metal framework behind the rusted areas was cleaned with the grinder and wire brush, then given a coat of red oxide. It was all slow progress. I clamped a chisel across the damage area, pinning the new sheeting against it. This kept the old and new pieces flush while I added some tack welds. The chisel and clamp were then moved and a new area tacked.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:01 pm

With both pieces welded and primed, I thought I was finished welding until I remembered the front fenders. The design of the structure creates a perfect moisture trap, which has rotted out the fender skin at the rear between the supporting hat channel and doubling plate. The rust then slowly forced the two layers apart over time, allowing more water in. The fender had to come off to start the work. The doubling plate was riveted with six large, coach-bolt looking rivets. I needed to grind the heads off to remove the rotten doubling plate.

Image

The next picture shows the mess with the doubler removed. I cut out the rot with the grinder and cleaned up the mess. The hat channel came loose and fell off as I was cutting out the rotten fender skin around the remains of the rivets.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:02 pm

The hat channel was cleaned up as best as I could while loose. The fender was bolted back in place to keep all the holes lined up and the hat channel was then welded to the fender to keep everything in the correct place.

Image

The fender was then removed again and the hat channel red oxide primed. Tomorrow's job is to cut and fit the new fender skin. I have a feeling I need to do the same on the other side, though it doesn't look as bad at first glance. Part way through the day, the dark olive drab paint arrived. For just twelve days work, I'm really happy with the way it's going.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

Martyn 2261
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:30 am
Location: England

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by Martyn 2261 » Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:19 am

Looking a different truck now!! Good work,I've gone plenty of vw Van's over the years and I know cleaning down and preparing can be soul destroying!!

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:39 pm

Martyn 2261 wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:19 am
Looking a different truck now!!....
Thanks. I'm two weeks into the project now and quite enjoying it. It will be like having a new vehicle again once it's done with lots of new photo opportunities. I'm not too far away from applying olive drab. Latest updates below.

September 29th - Welding, Sanding and Priming

I began the 29th by cutting and welding a new piece of metal into the front right fender. I'd just finished welding it in place when I ran out of welding wire ( more on order ).

Image

Inset in the second picture is a new doubling plate, cut and primed, ready to fit. The original doubler was riveted, but I'd be replacing the rivets with coach bolts, as the heads looked very similar. I plan to use mastic between the doubler and fender to prevent water getting between them and starting the rust again. At present, the bottom of the fender is bowed out as it needs the rivets/bolts to hold it against the hat channel.

Image

Once the welding wire ran out, I switched to sanding the old paint, completing the fender, cab side and front end of the rear body. Rust spots were ground out and bare metal was primed. The lights on the right fender were also stripped, sanded and some areas primed.
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:41 pm

On the 30th, I started stripping paint from the screen. It turned out that the inner frame was another area without any primer and the paint flaked away very easily. A little chipping on the outer frame showed it was primed and the paint was more stubborn to remove.

Image

Due to the difficult shapes, the wiper motors and the inner frame needing some rust treatment, I decided removing it and moving it to the workshop was the most sensible move. I'd have more space to work on it there.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:42 pm

With the screen off and out of the way, it left the cowl over the instrument panel easy to reach and so the remains of the paint, which had been under the screen, was stripped off. Some areas were wire brushed, the whole area sanded and a number of areas primed, along with some small fixings from the screen.

Image

The right side of the body was next, sanding paint and grinding rust spots and quite a lot of slight surface rust. So much of the body was stripped to metal, that after sanding the remains of the paint, the whole side of the body was red oxide primed.

Image

With the colder and more damp weather coming, I may finish the welding on the fenders and then get on with the painting of the olive drab. I can get the garage fairly warm with a heater and the paint can bake. The olive drab can then be left to harden fully while I work on the windscreen. By the time that is painted and can be refitted, the truck paint should be hard enough to climb over for the screen fitting.
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Oct 03, 2021 1:20 pm

I will get back to some Jeep stuff sooner or later, but for now, it's all out to get the Dodge repaint complete. By the end of the month, the clocks will change back to Greenwich Mean Time and the nights will draw in earlier. Fine for my other hobby of astronomy, but not so great for working on the vehicles. I'll have to get a new family portrait of the three vehicles once the Dodge is done. Wifey wants to know when I'll take up warm hobbies!

Anyway.....

October 1st/2nd - Filling, Sanding and Priming

October 1st - The last couple of days have been spent doing odds and ends on various parts of the Dodge. The passenger step was sanded and primed, followed by the front bumper. Much of the rest of the day was spent with the fine surface filler, applying and sanding it. On the instrument cowl, where the rubber screen seal sits, it gathers water and created a pitted line. There were also a few Norwegian Army welds that hadn't been dressed very well, allowing water to gather. More grinding, filling and sanding to smooth it all out.

Image

In most places, the toothpaste like filler is only one coat of paint thick. Filling the chisel marks and sanding the filler is easier than trying to sand them out of the previous coats of paint. The rear body needed quite a few patches of filler, mainly where the original paint was ground away to metal to clear rust pits. By the end of the day, it was all back in red primer.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites

User avatar
armyairforce
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1010
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:13 am
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Contact:

Re: A B-17 Fortress, Two Jeeps and a Dodge - My Ongoing MV Journey

Post by armyairforce » Sun Oct 03, 2021 1:21 pm

October 2nd - I started by centre drilling the large rivets on the driver's side fender doubler, followed by larger drills until I broke through the rivets. This wasn't as badly rusted as the other side. While the fender was pitted, there were only a few holes that could be welded up, rather than cutting large chunks of metal out and replacing it. What was there was sound enough to re-attach the fender to its hat channel. A new doubling plate was cut and both it and the hat channel primed. On the other side, the fender and doubler were given a coat of semi-gloss green. These faces wouldn't be seen, so I didn't want to waste the proper olive drab on unseen areas.

Image

I'm awaiting some short coach bolts in the mail, which will be used to attach the fenders/doublers. Part of the grille was painted in primer, with the other side to be done when it's dry and I can turn it around. I also did quite a bit of cleaning up of nuts, bolts, reflectors and tailgate hinges with the rotary wire brush, followed by a prime. Last job of the day was sanding the tailgate and giving it a coat of primer.

Image
Steve Carr - Only dead fish swim with the stream
My Websites


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Restoration Projects”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 50 guests